I have a daycare in my home and I need ideas for my daycare. I like to have "fieldtrips" once a week at the house but I need more ideas that aren't too expensive. We already have a bounce house, and the Fun Bus scheduled. I do charge the parents to help with the cost. Does anyone have any creative ideas? I live in the New Lenox area.
story time at the library, a local pool, the post office, free days at the museums and zoos are usually Tuesdays...
good luck!
If you are in New Lenox then try
- Pots and paints by Bluestone bay. The kids can paint an inexpensive piece of pottery (votive holder is about $5) and they will fire it for you and you go and pick it up the following week. They might even give you a tour/explanation of how the kiln/pottery process works.
- The New Lenox Library has tons of free stuff to do in the summer - almost daily!
- Frosties will do tours of the ice cream shop if you call and set an appointment.
- the Childrens Farm in Bourbonnais (spelling?) is a great place that has daily programs of which many are free or low cost.
- Sometimes on Fridays the 4H Field has horse shows that are free
- The fire department will do a tour for free of one of the firehouses
- the police department will do the same thing as the fire department
- the Nature center and Schmule school on 30 and Schoolhouse
I don't know what your purpose/focus of the field trip is but many of them are educational and are places that the local preschools go.
Hope that it helps!
S.
I do not know how many kids you have on a daily basis, or the ages but here are some ideas:
The Bourbonnais Childrens Museum is FREE on Tuesdays. Frankfort also has those splash parks where the kids can run around in sprinkler things (we have never been there).
I would also suggest going to parks, picnics, walks on the Old Plank Road Trail (nature hunts). Pilcher Park is also at Gougar and US 30 - wonderful Nature Center there.
If you are up to traveling a bit there is the Little Red Schoolhouse in Palos. It is tons of fun also.
Lincoln Park Zoo is also free, with the exception of parking. We always picnicked by the seals there as a child.
There is also a Moms Club of New Lenox that you can join, they plan fun things for each day. Stroller rides, parks, play groups, reading time at the library, etc. The membership is $25/year. Some of the events are free, others cost just a little, but totally worth it when you want to get out of the house.
If you are interested in joining the Moms Club please let me know.
B. Dalseth
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I used to nanny in New Lenox and the people I worked for took their girls on nature walks with a really cool lady who leads them for small kids. They do projects like look for animal foot prints and make things. The girls loved it, this woman is legendary. All I know is that it's through the New Lenox Park district. Hope that helps!
Pilcher Park Nature Center (way in the back) has animals, etc to look at as well as some paths for short or long hikes.
Chicago Dough does some cool stuff with the kids - ask for a tour & they will get to make their own pizzas!! The owner told me the Cub Scouts & Girl Scout do it all the time.
Bowling in Lockport - I think Mondays or Tuesdays all you pay is $1.
Camp Manitoqua is AWESOME - and so is the Frankfort Park right across the street from it.
Bike ride on the big path... perhaps with a goal of the ice cream "Creamery"?
New Lenox library - lots to do there & they also have storytime & activities.
I also am in New Lenox with 2 little ones & am hoping to find a group of moms that gather at different parks one day a week throughout the summer.
Moms... anyone interested in putting something together PLEASE drop me a line!!
