Hi mommy gals! I have googled this and am just not sure that I am finding what I need, so I thought I would ask the experts. I need to get the kids out of the house more on weekends but am having trouble finding things that occupy both of them. My 10-year-old gets bored with the 2-3 year-old crowd and vice-versa. Is there anything in the KC area besides parks, that might stimulate them both? Also, any restaurant suggestions for the eastern side of the area? My 2 year old has the short attention span that 2 year olds are oh so famous for and causes a scene whenever we try to take the family out. Any help would be much appreciated!!
WOW what GREAT ideas!! Some I had thought of and some I hadn't! Thanks so much to each of you for contributing - now I have a list of things to do to keep everyone happy! Thanks again mama's!
Here are a couple of ideas. On a nice day the KC Zoo or Powell gardens would be good choices. On any day, the library is always a great option (especially the downtown KC library which just renovated their children's dept) or Paradise Park in Lee's Summit which has everything from ball pits and a water table area to mini golf and go-karting. Hope this helps!! Have a fun summer.
Paradise Park in Lee's Summit near Colbern Rd and 291 HWY would be a good place to keep in mind. They have lots of play areas for younger and older children. My 2 year old loved the pretend area and the water play area. They have other activites like face painting, cooking class and outside play area for your oldest. You can catch lunch there too. Another nice feature is they stamp you and the children when you arrive so you can only leave with children with matching stamps. Nice to have that additional security. The link is below.
I've found KC Parent magazine is a good source sometimes...
http://www.kcparent.com/index.php?option=com_content&...
I go to www.kansascity.com and click on the calendar, sometimes I can find things to do. Of course I have a 2 year old so I'm not sure how much these ideas will help. Also if you can find a Mother and Child Reunion magazine, they are a great resource. I usually pick one up at my dentist's office but they may have them at the local library as well. And you can go online to www.motherandchildreunion.com. I just recently found another good resource at www.kckidsdirectory.com Hope this helps!
K.
I have been meaning to tour Shatto Dairy Farm. Here's a link to May's Moosletter: http://www.shattomilk.com/newsletter/May_2008.pdf. There is a piece about their (FREE) Family Day at the Farm on June 21. My sister has been with my nieces and she told me they LOVED it! It sounds like fun for ALL ages, so I plan to bring my son this year. You can go anytime (I think), but this is a big event. They also have an annual Easter Egg Hunt and field trips, among other things.
Have a Fun, Happy and Safe Summer!
PS: Thanks for posting this question! I have found some more wonderful ideas for things me and my son can do as well!
Matt Ross Community Center on 81st and Metcalf...I've heard great things about it!! I'm getting ready to join myself!
I have to put in a plug for Deanna Rose Farm as well. We just went there today and the kids had a blast! They have all of the typical farm animals as well as some not so typical ones. You can feed most of the animals and they also have some really fun activities like the mining camp and the fishing pond. You can checj out there website at http://www.opkansas.org/_Vis/Farmstead/ for directions and all the cool stuff. There is also a nature center in Swope Park that I think is free. I haven't been there yet but I have heard good things about it.
Take them to the zoo, I-max theatre, movies, Kalidescope, water parks, choose different resturants that they both can enjoy...Chucky Cheese, Game Zone or other little places like that. It was a grrrreat thing that your friend did by reaching out to help you in your time of need & those usually are the ones that remain your best friends. Do as she has requested & help someone in their time of need. As for your two grrrrreat & wonderful gifts from God love your kids right where their at & KNOW that God is with you. My son has eczema & I use extra emollient cream by Mary Kay & it helps a whole lot. I sell Mary Kay & I checked with the dermatoligist that we have staffed & they said to try it in small areas & if it works expand it in other areas. His isn't a chronic condition but it might help. Is Zoe on medication? She can possibly out grow her condition as she grows older. It's okay that Zoe was unplanned.....because she was in God's plan. What doesn't kills you makes you stronger & it sound's like you met a remarkable man to have adopted Zoe & take her & love her as his own....you go girl! I wish you the very best of luck & God Bless! If your interested in that cream let me know & I'll be glad to get it for you.
Y.
Hi S.,
I have a 3 1/2 year old Daughter and we have been going to Red Robin for a couple years now. They have a kids menu, on the back of a coloring page and provide crayons, for your older one there are a couple video games nothing to fancy though. The food is good, it is a family atmosphere, never quiet. They have a Kids night I think it is Monday, but it might vary by location they generally have a magician in those nights. I know there are locations in Independence, Overland Park, and Olathe. Now that it is getting to be summer water parks are something to consider, not sure where you live exactly but even the local pools have summer family passes and are fun for the whole family. Chlorine not the best thing for the eczema, but if you keep the skin moisturized before and after should be ok a couple times a week, my Daughter has had eczema since she was 1, and we swim all the time in the summer and she swims once a week at pre-school. Good luck, hope this helps!
M.
Deanna Rose Farmstead is a great place to go with kids. It's also free another plus!
Funhouse Pizza in Raytown is a great place for kids, they have Kareoke some nights and will let kids sing too. They had the little ones come up to sing the ABC song to start the night!
Hey S....my kids are 18,17 and 15 so the age difference was not much of an issue....but there are things. Kalidascope in KC...although the 2 might be to young to go there.....
We would hunt out festivals and hit all of them...always things for all ages. We also went fishing a lot...hiking - even at 2 he can do that. Burr Oak Woods in Blue Springs has paved paths and stroller you can borrow.
My kids always did ok at restuarants so I never worried about that but I always had things for them to play with....crayons and books...mini games that only came out when we where somewhere they had to sit for a bit....
There are kid friendly/adult ok places though such as pizza shops....where they can play video games and it's ok to run around some.
Barb
When it's nice you can go to Joe's Crab Shack. They have an outdoor playground that keeps my kinds entertained between bites! I'm not sure about the Carrabba's around here, but we used to go to them in Texas a lot and we would ask to sit at the counter that faces the kitchen. My kids would be mesmerized watching the flames and the chefs flying all around the kitchen. Mommy and Daddy had a nice meal out and the kids watched "the show."
As far as activities, that seems like the harder task. Chuck E. Cheese is probably a good bet. And a good place to try on a rainy or super hot day. Kaleidoscope would also probably work unless your oldest isn't into that sort of thing. My kids aren't really, but they loved it. You are only in there for a short enough time that they don't have time to get bored.
As it heats up, seriously consider the sprinkler park at Loose Park (52nd and Wornall). It's free and your 10 year old can do the bigger activities and your 2 1/2 year old will love it. I suggest going in the morning, around 10:00 before it gets busy.
