This is my first post and I am having such a difficult time finding an activity in which all three of my children are able to enjoy together. Summer is coming up and going to the park in the blistering heat is no fun! I have a 5 and 3yr old and an 18 month old. They will be home all summer and I didn't want to spend too much money on activities/classes. Do you moms have any ideas for me? I've racked my brain and came up with one idea. Swimming. I took them to Chuck E Cheese and that wore me out! My 18 month old was running all over the place while I was trying to keep a close distance to my daughter (she's like two kids in one). I wanted some kind of activity where it's in a semi-secured area because my 18 month old does not want to stay in his stroller anymore. Please help! Thank you in advance!
Thank you, thank you, and thank you ladies for all your ideas! I failed to mention that my daughter (soon to be 4) is like 'two kids in one' and is not fully potty trained. Therefore, she is unable to participate in many activities for her age group. I can't watch her on the side lines while assisting my 18 month old in an activity. IMPOSSIBLE! LOL I'll let you all know how it all turns out this coming summer. Hopefully I'll be in one piece with no added gray hair! Les
Try Ready, Set, Play in Round Rock. Tons of inflatables, staff supervision, a toddler area and inflatable, a place to eat food that you have brought, complementary coffee, and even couches for moms (if you have the time to sit).
Have you been to the Brushy Creek Water Park at Parmer and Brushy Creek Rd (on Brushy creek but the east side of Brushy Creek Rd., just down from the Shell gas station)? It is free. Take your lunch and picnic blanket and sit under a tree. It's a large concrete area (mostly fenced in but your toddler can escape from one area). There are all kinds of water spouts, and such, shooting water out. The earlier you go, the better. It can get fairly busy at times. It is free. There is also a really good park off of El Salido Parkway in Cedar Park. Large and mostly shaded. There are several different play areas but all in close vicinity to one another. Central Market is a favorite as well. Great shaded playground. It's nice to pick up a lunch, coffee or ice cream and sit in the shade while you watch your kids. Good luck to you! Brandy
Look for the Concert in the Park. It starts in June and continues every Wednesday at 9am during the summer months. The cost is one quarter per kid, there is always a new kid artist playing, clowns, balloons, storytime, art activities, face painting and lemonade for a dime. I have 4 kids ages 10 to 3 and they look forward to it every summer. It will be advertised in the Austin Family Magazine.
*Indoor playlands: Chick-fil-a, Burger King, McDonald's
*Library has summer activities for various ages
*Book store story times
*Family Connections has a play area & toy lending library
*Jumper places usually have 1/2 price admission on Tues./Thurs.
*Check ParentWise Austin (www.parentwiseaustin.com), Austin Family (www.austinfamily.com) & Mr. Johnny's (www.kidevents.com) activity listings
*Texas Memorial Museum
L., my name is S., I'm a MOPS mentor living in NW Austin. The Anderson Mill Swiming pool has great swimming instructions for preschoolers up. They also have a swim team for kidss 4-17. Wonderful coaches for lessons and swim team 2 of my sons were on the swim team and are now swim instructors and swim coaches. Check it out . Ask to speak with Coach Jaimie. She is supercalafragillistic.(per Mary Poppins.)
I would like to suggest that you get the kids involved with a bowling program. Its indoors. once a week and all three can participate. I am a youth coordinator at one of the centers in Austin but the center in Round Rock also has a program. I currently have two boys, 20 and 22 months bowling in my bumper leagues(have rails that come up to keep the ball out of the gutter most of the way). It is a great life long sport. All ages can participate. You learn to improve yourself, gain self confidence, etc individually and learn to take turns and be a part of a team. And NOBODY ever has to "sit on the bench".
Once they are off the "bumpers" there are leagues that have youth and adults on the same teams so you could bowl as a family.
You can travel as they get older and participate in tournaments. Our sons have gone all over the state and country for tournaments/events. One even has gone to Australia with youth bowling.
You can build up scholarship money that can be used for any type of education after high school, trade, technical 2 yr or 4 yr colleges. Girls have the ability to get a full scholarship for college. Our oldest paid for all 5 years of college with money won and our youngest has enough for about 3 yrs(he is the more common bowler).
Check out the Austin Nature and Science Center: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/ansc/. Zilker park is across the street, they have a great outdoor play area although it can get very crowded.
If you buy a membership to the Austin Children's Museum you also get $2 off Texas Jumping Beans, an indoor inflatable place; as well as pay for one child/one gets in free to RadiJazz http://www.radijazz.com/index.html (near Highland Mall)there are a few other perks...we use the ones listed the most.
The Brushy Creek Water park is great. There is a new park just down the road called Champion Park. It has a covered Dino pit, swings and a rock climbing wall. There is also a trail you can walk along.
The Libraries have great programs for kids of all ages. Check their websites for their locations and calendar of events.
L., I was born in Austin and I found that Crenshaw's is a great day camp for children. I don't know the cost now, but it was very reasonable for me many years ago. Also check with different churches around the city. They will charge alot less that most camps. Good luck.
Family pass to the Austin Children's Museum; Join the YMCA for minimal amount to join and each child can participate in sports activity as you see, have access to pool, gym, etc.; Annual family membership to the San Antonio Zoo; Your local library may have different events during the week and weekend that is age appropriate. Clifford is coming to Barnes & Nobles this next weekend or so, but there are things happening all over that are free or low cost and age appropriate (This one is not summer, but this is just an example of stuff to do).
My daughter has a 3 1/2 yo and is in charge of a 2 yo (both can be counted as two on their own, but she has very low income and always finds something to do at different times during the week and on weekends.
Just a few of my suggestions. Hope it helps.
I had that same issue last summer with my daughter. I needed to look for something cheap, because my little trips to Walmart and McDonald's were adding up quick. We started going to as many Library Days at Cedar Park and Leander Libraries as possible. Plus it teaches them how to sit quietly for a short time frame. There are tons out there. There are also free water parks out there. My girlfriend told me about one off of 1431. This stuff changed my life. Some days, we just went for a walk, and she was so tired, that she was screaming for a nap. We also set small play dates with my friends and their children who were off during the summer.
I stay home with my kids in the summer too. Fun times don't have to be expensive. Just look to preschools for inspiration. They have to entertain young children on a budget all the time. You and your kids could start a garden in the back yard. Get the sprinkler out and let them run through. Go on a nature hike and let them collect things in a little baggie. Then take them home and glue all your treasures on to a poster. Make playdough. There are lots of recepies on line. Also Go to your library and get there calender. They usually have things going on all summer. Keep and look out in the newspaper for free events for children on the week end. there is usually something fun.
Good luck
K.
raddijazz
