West Seattle Blog...

WSB Forum » Open Discussion

(18 posts)

Winter Activity Ideas for active 2-year Toddler?

Started 5 months ago by birdygirl
Latest reply from Hawkeye

birdygirl
Member Profile

We have a very active 2-year old boy and would like any suggestions on what we can do with him on the weekends. He usually needs some sort of activity mid-morning and mid-afternoon - or he gets very cranky. We already go to the Seattle Childrens Museum, Woodland Park Zoo (when it's not raining - which isn't many days now), thinking about the zoo...Also thinking about Swimming at the nearby indoor pool. We try to take him down to the parks too - but it's really getting too cold.

Any ideas would be appreciated!

Thanks...

Posted 5 months ago #
birdygirl
Member Profile

oops. i put down zoo again...but meant aquarium.

Posted 5 months ago #
jissy
Member Profile

birdygirl: I'm with you on cold at the parks! Unless they have on longjohn layers, but then it seems like they can't even move.... we about froze in 40 degrees at Ercolini yesterday but I digress:

I have 2 toddlers myself and here's a few of our activities: the Treehouse/play area at REI downtown (and yes, we do buy something while we're there or at least have lunch/snack at World Wraps), Twirl Cafe on Queen Anne (a new find) & I've heard good things but have not gone yet to the KidsQuest museum @ Factoria. We've also gone on occasion to the carousel on the waterfront.

I hope to hear from other parents b/c I'm running out of things to do, too!

Posted 5 months ago #
LStephens
Member Profile

Both YMCA's offer kid activities and on Wednesdays they open it to the community for free. I would suggest checking in with both for more info.

Posted 5 months ago #
anotherwsmom
Member Profile

WinterFest is going on at Seattle Center now. Much is free! http://www.seattlecenter.com/winterfest/

Posted 5 months ago #
SpeakLoud
Member Profile

Messy Play Day is on Fridays at http://www.communityschoolwestseattle.org

And most all the community centers have a mini-gym scedule for a good price.

Posted 5 months ago #
hammy
Member Profile

Check out Arena Sports for indoor soccer (located SODO or Magnuson). They have some tot classes but I don't know when. The Arena Sports in Magnuson park has a bouncy house zone on weekends for a small fee which is fun. Also try Seattle gymnastic academy open gym in Ballard. I believe they have an open play time for tots for a small fee. I have not gone to Young at Art in the junction but that is another idea. Also-local offerings at community centers. I personally love The Little Gym of West Seattle and they do have Saturday classes.

Posted 5 months ago #
chrisma
Member Profile

High Point Community Center has the Open Play Toddler Gym on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm. They have a bouncy house, and a bunch of toys and bikes in the big gym there and it's just kind of a free for all, run, ride, bounce, play. $3 admission.

Hiawatha Community Center does the same on Monday and Thursday, from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm. Delridge Community Center has one on Monday and Friday from 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm AND on Wednesday from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm. Also $3 admission.

Also, Seattle Gymnastics Academy in Columbia City has a 1 hour Indoor Playground in their gym, featuring trampolines and a pool of foam cubes, and other fun stuff. That's $6 a visit, but you can get a punch card and save a bit. On the weekdays that's 11:30 am - 12:30 pm. On Saturday, it's 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm. It's a pretty fun place for the kids, with music and a good kid energy. Definitely worth checking out.

Posted 5 months ago #
birdygirl
Member Profile

Arena Sports at Magnuson and Seattle Gym indoor playground sounds awesome! I'll check out some of the other activities...
thanks for the great ideas...

Posted 5 months ago #
birdygirl
Member Profile

does the Little Gym of West Seattle allow drop-ins? the saturday class looks perfect...but there is no pricing information on the website

Posted 5 months ago #
fc43
Member Profile

As far as I know, no drop ins for The Little Gym. You have to enroll for a semester. You can do it at any point during the semester, as long as there is a spot available.

Posted 5 months ago #
luckymom30
Member Profile

Here are afew sugestions:

All That Dance:
http://www.all-that-dance.com/kids.aspx

8 Limbs Yoga:
8 Limbs West Seattle with Shana Hageman
Fridays 11:15am - 12:15pm

Moon paper Tent:

http://www.moonpapertent.org/

November 18 - December 16, 2011 (no class November 25)

January 27 - February 17, 2012

March 2 - 23, 2012

March 30 - April 27, 2012 (no class April 20)

May 18 - June 15, 2012 (no class June 1)

To register call 8 Limbs West Seattle at 206.933.9642.

Lil' Diggers

Lil' Diggers Playtime at Sandbox Sports Web site
Mondays & Thursdays, 10 am - 12:30 pm **Check our website for additional hours in the future!** Come enjoy our indoor beach, even when it's raining outside, and we're close to West Seattle.
Sandbox Sports, 5955 Airport Way S, 206-624-2899

YMCA - West Seattle

WS YMCA Parent / Tot Class Web site
tumbling activities; walking to 3 with parent
WS YMCA, 4515 36th Ave SW
(206) 935-6000

Jungle Gym http://www.junglegymfun.com/
Gymnastics classes for kids starting at 4 months, as well as martial arts, yoga and dance classes. We also do great birthday parties!
15216 2nd Ave SW, Burien
206.248.3547

Posted 5 months ago #
nighthawk
Member Profile

I will second the Seattle Gymnastic at Columbia City. We have been going to the indoor playground since it opened last year and my daughter loves it. I will warn you though Saturdays get very full and sometimes they are full to capacity, so just make sure you get there a little bit early. The first time you go get there at least 20 min early because you have to fill out a release form.

There is also a indoor Sand Volleyball place that opened in Georgetown. They have a Indoor Sandbox Times for kids. Usually only on Mon and Thur but this Sat they have an extra session and on some other Sat.
http://sandboxsports.net/kids-sandbox/

There are also indoor play areas at all of the malls.

There is a Gymboree in Ballard and I think they have drop in sessions but I don't know when they are.

Posted 5 months ago #
deanbean
Member Profile

Hi all!
I'm Dana, Program Director at The Little Gym of West Seattle. I saw that birdy girl asked if we do drop ins. Although we encourage families to register for the season, you can do drop ins on a space available basis. Feel free to email us at http://tlgwestseattlewa@thelittlegym.com or call us at 206.937.0311 to check availability. Our schedule is online http://tlgwestseattlewa.com.

Posted 5 months ago #
jissy
Member Profile

birdygirl: I remembered another we've done recently, SkyHigh Sports in Bellevue -- it's a warehouse of trampolines! And very fun. They have a separate area for under 8 years old (and even dodgeball & trampoline aerobics that I WILL try one of these days!).

http://www.jumpskyhigh.com

Posted 5 months ago #
ghar72
Member Profile

I hadn't heard of the indoor sandbox! My boys will be so excited to give that a try!

We too love the Gymnastics Academy. The people who run the indoor playground sessions are really great. I don't think it was mentioned, but they do an afternoon session on MTW, 2:15-3:15. Also, they require proof of medical insurance.

There's also "circus school" down in the Georgetown. We haven't taken the classes but I know a couple of kids who have and they seemed to like it. Classes for ages 2 and up, about $150 for 12 week session and they have weekend classes.
Thanks for all the ideas everyone...it's been cold out there!
http://www.sancaseattle.org/classes/sanca-circus-arts/class-descriptions/class-descriptions

Posted 5 months ago #
RainyDay1235
Member Profile

All great ideas. And feel free to LIKE my blog on Facebook for cheap and free activities for kids...updated all the time. Lots of WS stuff since that's where I live:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/dont-break-the-piggy-bank/10150113790795652?ref=ts

Posted 5 months ago #
Hawkeye
Member Profile

Wonderful ideas all, but don't fear (or overlook) the great outdoors as well! Two-year-olds are just smaller and younger versions of the rest of us--if we're moving (and just try to slow down most active toddlers) bundled appropriately in rain coats and warm hats & mittens, we're good-to-go most anywhere in these parts. Take a page from the outdoor preschool on Vashon Island, their motto: "Children cannot bounce off the walls if we take away the walls."

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011657278_preschool21m.html

Posted 5 months ago #