| Entertaining kids in this fast paced world is getting | | | | libraries have moved beyond just story times to |
| more and more difficult. The days of card board | | | | teaching literacy through multiple forms of age |
| box trains and building forts in the back yard have | | | | appropriate media . Although, not every activity |
| been replaced with a consistent influx of digital | | | | will suit your needs as different events are |
| media bombarding children from the house to the | | | | geared towards different age groups, libraries |
| car. If you and your children are disillusioned with | | | | have made great strides to increase their |
| with video game and television entertainment but | | | | community appeal. I have found interactive |
| are struggling to find inexpensive age appropriate | | | | puppet shows, "carnival" type festivals, and even |
| activities here are five hidden hotspots for family | | | | live music shows for your babies, toddlers, and |
| entertainment in your neighborhood. | | | | young kids. For your older children many libraries |
| Utilize your local community both county and city | | | | offer SAT prep classes, tutoring, even Driver's Ed. |
| wide; local governments spend tax dollars to | | | | Check out your counties library webpage for a list |
| discover and fund ways to entertain you and | | | | of age appropriate events. Events often differ at |
| your family. In efforts to ensure that local | | | | each location so you can make the "rounds" and |
| communities are thriving and to draw more | | | | have an activity for everyday. |
| families to the area, your county/city is actively | | | | If you are still searching for ideas, your local baby |
| planning cultural and family events. You can often | | | | store is an undiscovered treasure when it comes |
| find clown performances or ice cream socials at | | | | to activities for you and your baby and toddler. |
| your local park; open plays at your local | | | | As a clever marketing strategy, many baby |
| gymnasium or city center; and even moonlight | | | | stores offer in-store classes and events that are |
| music on your riverfront (good for a free date | | | | often times, free or of little cost. While all stores |
| night)! Visit your city and county webpage to take | | | | vary, you may find lactation classes, infant CPR, |
| advantage of events in your surrounding | | | | even pre and post natal yoga. In addition to |
| neighborhoods also. While you're browsing be sure | | | | classes, I have found many stores that offer |
| to check out the city's Parks-and-Recreation | | | | age-appropriate story times and open plays...even |
| webpage which will also list parades, firework | | | | "Mommy and Me" style classes. These are often |
| shows, carnivals, and other local festivities. | | | | ideal ways to spend the morning because they do |
| If you are looking to introduce your child to the | | | | not require a steep financial or time commitment |
| arts, get in touch with your local museum and | | | | and they are geared towards the needs of both |
| inquire about their children's activities. Again, in | | | | you and your child. Ask for a calendar of events |
| efforts to increase visitor traffic, your local | | | | next time you stop in for binky. |
| museum offers a number of classes and events | | | | Finally, investigate your area school district. Many |
| that are often free or of minimal cost. Art | | | | districts offer community classes at very low |
| museums usually provide drawing or painting | | | | rates. They range from "Mommy and Me" classes |
| sessions for toddlers and young children - allowing | | | | for babies and toddlers to reasonably prices tennis |
| your children to express their artistic tendencies | | | | or ballet lessons for walking age and above. If you |
| without finger painting on your freshly mopped tile | | | | are looking to do something for yourself and your |
| floor. Science museums provide interactive | | | | partner will watch the kids - look into a class for |
| experiments in their classrooms. Children's | | | | yourself. These life-long learning programs run |
| museums usually provide free passes to the | | | | cooking, computer, foreign language, ballroom |
| schools that are made available to the parents . | | | | dance, and even cake decorating curriculums. |
| And most museums offer guided tours of their | | | | Getting out of the house, enjoying the fresh air, |
| exhibits geared toward specific age groups. Some | | | | and involving you and your family in your local |
| museums even offer summer camps! | | | | community is a great way to build neighborhood |
| Another great resource is your local library. | | | | and family morale. Take advantage of your tax |
| Mastering literacy at an early age is not only a | | | | dollars and enjoy wholesome education fun for |
| significant developmental milestone, it is essential | | | | the family whole tuckering out the kiddies. |
| for success even in mundane daily events. Today, | | | | |