Being a parent is quite possibly the most rewarding thing most people with do in their lives, however it might also be the most challenging and frustrating thing a person might do. When you bring those precious, long awaited bundles home from the hospital survival is the key, literally. Those first days and weeks are consumed with the nitty-gritty of feeding, diapering and trying to get a few continuous hours of sleep. Keeping your baby alive and your sanity intact is the goal. Over time your baby grows and begin to demand more than food and sleep, they require entertainment and stimulation for their overall health. Pretty soon you realize as a parent you are in fact a cruise director, party planner and event coordinator answering the unending question, “Where do I find the best things to do with kids?”
Luckily for us all, there are people out there who have made careers out of answering this question and these talented folks have imaginations that will blow you away when you enter their kid centered extravaganzas. Children have and insatiable apatite for fun and new adventure, the good news is that in today’s world feeding this hunger is easier than ever. Finding things to do with kids has evolved into catering to the entire family, because keeping mom and dad happy is just as important as keeping the little ones happy.
The latest trend in family entertainment is the indoor playground. These amazing facilities put traditional parks to shame offering children from 6 months old and up, a safe environment to explore and learn at the same time. These play areas include climbing walls, bouncy houses, jungle gyms, video games and much more. You can stroll in on a rainy day for nonstop fun. There is typically a small fee per child but adults or caregivers are usually free and many places sell healthy snack options or you can bring your own picnic lunch. Indoor playgrounds are also a great place for birthday parties or other group celebrations.
For another twist on this idea, parents might find a great thing to do with kids is to combine a great coffee house with a scaled down play area—less intense than an indoor playground. These family friendly hangouts are popping up all over. Most brew fantastic coffee, have a wide variety of coffee drinks and sell delicious pastries and healthy kid friendly snacks. Usually designed for children birth to 10 years, these funky family-focused coffee houses are a mellow atmosphere for children to socialize, pretend play, and get the wiggles out. Most have separate area for babies and making these café a great place to do things with your kids and your friends.
For more hands on and creative things to do with kids, parents can turn to local arts and craft centers. Like indoor playgrounds, these shops have become a great place to spend time as a family while creating one-of-a-kind keepsakes that you will cherish for years to come. But that is not all. Arts and craft shops usually provide all inclusive birthday parties that will do all the work for you as you enjoy your child’s special day. Many of these shops also provide music lessons, dance lessons and other amazing things to do with kids including cooking and sewing for children, allowing children to be exposed to a wide variety of hobbies.
Trips to the museum and zoo are great things to do with kids and open their eyes to the wonderment of our world. Children also thrive when they are active in sports. Team sports like soccer and baseball gives children self -confidence and increases coordination. Individual sports like gymnastics and dance are also amazing for our children’s development.
Another great thing to do with kids is getting involved with your local Girl and Boy Scouts of America. These programs are dedicated to teaching boys and girls valuable life lessons that will carry through their entire lives as well as giving them an opportunity to give back to their communities. Being involved with community-focused organizations allows children and families look beyond their own needs and connect with the world on a very different level. Scouting takes you into the world with community service, camping, hiking, and learning first aid and survival skills. This provides parents another option in the search for things to do with kids and really allows for growth on a very different level.
The good news is that as parents we have an unlimited variety of things to do with our kids. In every community across the nation there are people dedicated to helping us entertain and contribute to their growth. As someone once said, “it takes a village” to raise these bundles into contributing members of society. Make sure you are taking full advantage of what your community has available to make this huge responsibility a lot of fun, while creating memories at the same time.
Need a new adventure? Find things to do with kids. Create, learn and have fun with your kids.
Post new comment
Please Register or Login to post new comment.