I am looking for activities to do with my son who will be a year old in a couple weeks for a few hours during the week, just to get out of the house. Does anyone know any places like indoor playgrounds, storytime or any ideas of what we can do.
Thanks in advance for any advice.
Hi K.,
The Museum for Youth in downtown Mesa is AWESOME. They have an area that is specifically designed for little ones from newborn to 4 years old. My son is 18 months and we have been going there since he was about 1. He LOVES it. If you haven't been, I would really recommend going!
A.
K.,
A few suggestions where you do not have to pay:
There are indoor playgrounds in a lot of the local malls, like PV, Scottsdale Fashion Square and Chandler mall. Many local Libraries have schedualed story times like Scottsdale Civic Center Library (check online). Other places to take him there are water parks at some of the area parks for kids to splash and play Desert Breeze park, Tempe Town lake, there is one near Scottsdale as well.
Some Ideas that may cost a little money:
Check with your cities parks and Rec online. A lot of them offer classes for moms/infants like singing and dancing classes. ASU also offers these (although I think they are for older kids).
There are moms groups that have stroller days as well (check through this sight).
There is a LOT out there!
Oh yes some of the large bookstores like Borders or Barns and Nobel also have story times, also Changing Hands Bookstore.
Hope this helps!
I know that they do story time at the Barnes and Noble here in Scottsdale and I think they have it at many of their stores. The times are listed on the website if you want to check with stores close to you. You should check with the libraries too as I know the Scottsdale libraries also have story times and puppet shows and the like.
There's an indoor playground at Paradise Valley Mall that is set up for toddlers. My son loves it there and we've been going since he was just a couple of months older than your son is now. He asks to go to "the stores" all the time. There's a little slide and stuff the kids can crawl on. It's all padded so I always feel that my son is safe. It's right next to JCPenney. They do close it down for an hour at 2 or 3 (I can't remember which) in the afternoon for cleaning, so I wouldn't go right at that time.
I don't know what your budget is like but you might also consider a membership to the zoo. It cost me $50 for a year membership for me and my son and we can go as many times as we want for the whole year (plus you get 2 free passes to take somebody else along). They have a water play area and a petting zoo, which are his favorites right now and when it cools down a bit I imagine we will spend more time checking out the other animals. They also have special events scheduled for kids. They have a list of events on their website. It think they usually last for an hour or two and cost about $20 (you get a discount with a membership). We haven't actually been to any yet but we are signed up for a couple later on in the year. If you do decide on the membership, they will send you a magazine periodically where they advertise events going on. For example, a couple of weeks ago they shipped in 24 tons of snow and just let the kids play in it. It was free with zoo admission. http://www.phoenixzoo.org/
I also hightly recommend the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park. They have a great playground and a train that you can ride around the park and a carosel (both cost $1, but admission is free). My son just loved watching the train go by while we sat and ate lunch. http://www.therailroadpark.com/index1.html
I hope that helps! Have fun!
B.
Depending on where you are in the east valley you could also look for a Kindermusik class, they are broken down by age group. I have to say that we really love the Zoo membership and we have been going since our daughter was about a year old and the Mesa museum area is wonderful. My friend takes her two kids to Tempe beach park to play in the water. You can also look for parent and child swim lessons, we took our daughter and she loved it.
Well I am not famailiar with exactly where you are at but most malls have indoor playgrounds, then there are the splash parks which are like sprinkler-type stuff and kids love them. You may also join some mommy group in your area and they usually plan stuff to get out and about with other mommy's and babies.
K.,
Check your local parks and recreation centers, and your local library, for any activities they have going on. Your church might also have ideas.
Hi! We just moved to the East Valley from Surprise. My son really enjoyed The Little Gym (we have yet to enroll him in the one out here, but I am certain there is one. Also try storytime at the library, or even Borders. I know, its tough at that age, it seems most programs you have to be 18 months, or three years. Also with it being so hot, you don't want to go to the park everyday. Good luck!
Hi K.-
We have a lot of different Baby Signs(R) Story times and Play Groups throuhout the valley, in addition to our signing mom&me classes. I can e-mail you a calendar of events if you want. E-mail me at ____@____.com and I will get it to you!
Most malls have an indoor play area for free. I know for sure that Arizona Mills Mall, Superstition Mall, and Chandler Fashion Square have them. My 14-month-old LOVES the pool. Public pools are all around and have a baby/toddler area that is shallow and have fun baby slides, waterfalls, etc.
