Need some indoor, afternoon kid activities

[The Velvet Bulldog]

Ok parents and nannies, I need your creative powers and insider knowledge here. I’ve been taking care of my 5 year-old “honorary” nephew a couple of days a week and I’m running out of things to do. I feel like I can drag him to the library only so many times. And I probably shouldn’t take him to play at Coffee to a Tea TOO often… “He’s had a lot of sugar, and may have drunk some of my coffee. Here ya go–buh-bye!” Other places we can go hang out/play/read on the rainy days? Thanks!

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[luckymom30]

Parks can still be fun for kids on rainy days but here is a list of places to take him, I am sure you will receive tons other suggestions on this blog:

Childrens Museum

Indoor Playgrounds:

http://www.seattleschild.com/article/indoor-play-spaces-offer-haven-for-restless-kids-and-parents

West Seattle Kid’s Gym and Swim Lessons

Nice weather should be around the corner (we hope) so a bike ride

Curious Kid Stuff Art Classes:

http://www.curiouskidstuff.com/art-classes.html

Take a trip to To The Artic 3D is now playing, he could checkout the dinosaur exhibit.

Does he like music? SoundBridge at Benaroya Hall is great.

Checkout the classes at the Community Centers.

Buy some clay, or construction paper and washable paints and let his imagination go wild. Or take out some Legos and build together.

Just have fun!

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[Julie]

Bake cookies, or make a meal together.

Find some cardboard boxes, lids, and other junk. Use zip ties, duct tape, etc. to assemble a robot, car, house, cartoon character, nuclear reactor, or whatever your nephew is fascinated by.

Involve him in your ordinary tasks (just don’t expect them to be as efficient as usual!)

Make couch forts.

Visit the pet store to say hello to the animals.

And remember, boredom is a great fertilizer of imagination; children can be entertained into dependent mindlessness.

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[Diane]

you know about the community center toddler gyms, right? they’re only $2

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go for an adventure ride on the bus; the water taxi shuttle is even free; kids love the bus

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longer day adventure, bus to downtown tunnel and take the light rail

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[Irukandji]

I love long-ish car rides for the conversation, so we often go out to KidsQuest in Factoria and KidzBounce out at the Preston/Fall City exit along i90.

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And if you haven’t had a chance to check out Young At Art over where the Beer Junction used to be, they have great space for semi-structured art and minimally structured play.

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Or you could pick up a game of Twister : )

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[The Velvet Bulldog]

Julie: I keep trying to convince him that mopping the floor is all kinds of fun, but he’s not buying it. He did help me unload the dishwasher the other day, so it’s a start. :-)

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[jissy]

TVB: Congrats on being an honorary Auntie! Here’s some more ideas (not sure what hours you actually have him, so not all may apply):

Check out http://www.sandboxsports.net in Georgetown — couple days/week they open up the sand volleyball courts to be huge sandboxes with all the sand toys you can imagine. Think it’s $6/kid and called Lil Diggers Playtime.

Arena Sports also has some drop-in soccer opportunities & my husband has taken our kids to the Magnuson location for their Fun Zone inflatables offered at several times throughout the week.

We love to amble through the Pike Place Market –great opportunity to take the bus, too — they often think that’s really cool!

REI (Downtown) is always good for an hour in their kids play area — there is a massive treehouse structure for kids to play on (and mom’s/aunt’s to shop in the kids dept. next to it!) ** Careful, may be a VERY expensive activity if you really like to shop! There is also an hour of free parking in their garage.

RE: Diane’s suggestion: Open Toddler Gym’s are now $3/child and the times have recently changed but you can usually find 1 open on any given day. He may be a little bored as it’s geared more toward toddler’s…. my 3 1/2 year old is just about done with it.

Our new favorite is Sky High Sports in Bellevue — basically a warehouse full of wall-to-wall trampolines! You’ll have just as much fun and will seriously tire him out!

Not sure if he has a bike or scooter, but we’ve ridden in the parking garage under Jefferson Square before (I know, can be dangerous, but some days they just HAVE to get out and get some exercise!!!)

Similar idea of Coffee to a Tea is “Twirl” up on Queen Anne hill — coffee shop with a built-out play area for the kids… I think they also actually have drop-off times.

I haven’t been before, but I hear BellSquare has a huge Gymboree play area in the mall.

I’ll post as I think of more!

(And never hesitate to take advantage of a rainy day for some good ‘ole puddle stomping! Great idea on bath days!)

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[EarlGray]

If the weather is decent a ride on the water taxi and then walking along the waterfront is nice. Ye Olde Curiosity Shop and the arcade area are always entertaining. Or just a ferry ride. I am not sure how much time you are looking to fill by the kid and I like to go to play at REI the tent section is fun and so is the play area upstairs. Playing around in all the display rooms at IKEA is fun too. The Museum of Flight is fun if he is into that. It is expensive for individual visits but a membership is pretty reasonably priced. My son (almost 3 yrs old) also loves to visit Goodwill. He really likes to play with all the stereo equipment (so many knobs and buttons!) and odds and ends there but that might not appeal to all.

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[kayo]

We are big fans of the indoor playground at Seattle Gymnastics Academy in Columbia City. http://www.seattlegymnastics.com/columbiacity/

We are also big fans of The Jungle Gym in Burien which has multiple open gym times for kids to get out their energy.

http://www.junglegymfun.com/

The West Seattle YMCA and Matt Griffin YMCA both have childcare and open swim times so check their websites if you can join. The childcare is worth the membership and the kids have lots of fun.

There is also a great FREE Play and Learn group at the Fauntleroy YMCA that is for kids under 5 with fun activities. I believe it is on Wednesdays from 12:30-2. I would call to confirm, but it is fun and you don’t have to be a YMCA member to participate.

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[The Velvet Bulldog]

Thanks for all the great recommendations! I’m definitely going to be the “Cool Auntie” after this!

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