There are few things that I enjoy more than spending time with my kids...in fact, I really don't know of anything I would rather do. I jump at the chance to spend some quality time with both my daughter and son. For my son, who will soon be 9 months old, our time consists of lots of snuggles, rocking in the chair, playing outside, and working towards new milestones. I love every second.
My daughter, who will be three in April, is a whole new kind of fun. I adore my mini me more than words can say. I'm continually amazed by how much she picks up on, how her interests change, and how big her personality has become. We have the best time!
Since before N was born, I have made an intentional effort to spend one-on-one time with G. As she gets older, our outings become that much more fun. I thought I'd share a few of our favorite Mommy-Daughter dates.
The Park
Free is always good. We have a couple of local parks near us, but their playground equipment is limited. We have to venture a little further into town to get to the "good" playgrounds and I must say, they are totally worth it. During the summer, we take full advantage of early morning romps and a light lunch under the shade of the trees.
Plays
G has finally become old enough that she can sit through and enjoy movies. I decided to take advantage of this new milestone and took her to a play. Recently, our local high school presented The Little Mermaid. The students did an AMAZING job. They captivated her for almost the entire length of the play. I definitely look forward to taking her to more in the future.
Educational Centers
We have a local educational center geared towards children. I would be a full time member if I was a SAHM. It would be well worth the money. I've taken her up there a few times and her favorite parts of the center are the paint room and the farm area. My girl loves some art and animals.
Zoos and Aquariums
These outings almost always include the whole family. We all LOVE animals and these trips are some of my favorites. We make amazing memories as she learns about new animals and we are able to share God's creation with her in such a fun way.
The Spray Park
On the grounds of one of the "good" parks, there is a Spray Park. It is awesome and free. She gets to sport her cute bathing suit while playing with other children in various sprinklers and waterfalls. It is a blast. We typically pack a lunch and make a full morning of it.
The Movies
Before our dollar theater closed down, it was the place to go. We had no problem waiting for new releases to become a little older so that we could pay $1.50 to watch them. In fact, it was at that theater that G had her first movie watching experience. Unfortunately, we only have the "high dollar" theaters left so our movie outings are very few and in between. They do make for a fun treat though.
The Library
During the summer, our library usually hosts various kid centered activities. If you are able to make things work, they also have weekly programs for babies and toddlers. Unfortunately, the morning hours that these are held do not work with my schedule. All that aside, we love taking trips to the library. We venture out early, grab something fresh, and homemade from the local bakery and then head over. She has the best time picking her selections and playing with the sensory bins. We both love reading so it is a definite win.
Homebound
Every now and then my hubby will take N out for the day. This allows some down time at home. She and I enjoy doing little crafts, making hot chocolate or cookies, and watching whatever Disney movie is currently her favorite. We may get a good little nap in together before heading out to play with bubbles and sidewalk chalk.
Playdates
G is at the perfect age for playdates. We love getting together with her little friends and their moms for an afternoon of play. I enjoy the adult conversation and seeing G interact with other children her age.
Frozen Yogurt
G has acquired my love of ice cream. We have a few sweet spots that we love. However, one of her favorites is our local frozen yogurt shop. She gets a kick out of picking her flavors and then adding toppings.
These dates are simple and generally inexpensive. The most important thing is that quality time is spent together. I want her memories to be filled with good things. I want her to feel loved and invested in. She is a precious gift and it is such an honor to be her mom.
What types of places do you enjoy taking your littles ones to?
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These are sooo fun!! I'm excited to take my Little Fishy to some of these when he's a little older (almost 5 months!) - plays! Wouldn't have thought of those. Love! Right now, some of our favorites include long walks, petting puppies, nap time with Mama & picking out seeds at the garden center :) Sure he's tiny, but he is SO much fun!! We'll be hitting up our nearest splash pad when it's consistently warmer :)
ReplyDeleteWe recently moved from a large city with lots of fun things to do. Now we are in a very small town and struggling to find ways to stay busy. We love going to the park though! What a fun list :)
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