Entertainment for 16 month old

[Radiance]

I have to admit I spend money on taking my 16 month old out.
What are frugal things I can do with him?

Our personal favorite is to visit a science or animal parks (About $17 for me, he gets in free) The water park for toddlers is $8 for me and $5 for him.

I do take food for him and sandwiches for me, but still.
There ther is the bookstore, where I have a $4 startbook coffee...he plays with a thomas train there.

He loves the outdoors and seeing new things. I do too!
Ideas are welcome I live in broward county, Florida.

Thank you!

[disneysteve]

Have you considered an annual pass to the zoo or science place? Usually, an annual pass runs about as much as 2 visits. Then you could go an unlimited number of times at no additional cost.

As for the bookstore, skip the $4 coffee. Bring a water bottle or your own home-brewed coffee in a travel mug.

The outdoors are free. Take him to the park, the playground, the waterfront if there is something convenient to you like a lake or river where stuff goes on. Look in your local paper or online to find free kids' activiites like puppet shows, singers, kids theater, jugglers, etc. Around here, that stuff is always going on somewhere.

[Radiance]

Annual pass is a great idea, duh!
I think a kiddie pool for the backyard can be a good investment too, he loves water...

[disneysteve]

Yes, you can get a nice kiddie pool for $20-$30 and have a whole summer of fun, maybe longer in FL.

[stressedmama]

Our local libraries have tons of free programs for kids 1-5. For 1 year olds they have 45 minute "lap sits" with their mom/dads. They read stories to the kids, let them sing/dance, etc. Definitely check out your local library for similar free programs.

Our big movie theaters here in St. Louis offer free G and PG movies at the theaters two mornings during the week during the summer. It's completely free and you can bring your own snacks in (of course they sell refreshments as well). Check out your local theaters. It's great b/c almost all the people there are little kids and moms, so if your child talks it isn't the end of the world.

Visit parks, playgrounds (many public shcools let you use their playgrounds in the summer when schools are out), water play in your backyard, mall playgrounds (when it gets really hot outside), and take walks around your neighborhood.

[irmanator]

wow I think that a kid that age would be fine with a couple toys and a yard. Mine were thrilled to death with a empty cardboard box. Don't understand why people think kids that are that young need to go to such expensive places. Just the way I was raised, no offences intended.

[PrincessPerky]

I have a 13 month old (among others)here is a typical free day

-Let him put the stuffed animals/decorative pillows on the bed when you make it.

-Let him play with washclothes/bring you hangers/items to fold when you do laundry

- Let him put the silverware away/play with some plastic bowls and wooden spoons. (or wooden bowls plastic spoons) while you do the dishes.

-let him play in the tub while you wipe down the bathroom

-breakfast

-play with toothbrush/washcloth while you wash face/brush teeth

-mine plays in the other tub while I wash that bathroom.

-story outside, some coloring, songs, explore what the flowers are doing, put back the rocks (peek under for bugs)

-snack inside, some blocks (or help with laundry/dishes)

-different kind of story, picture or composer or other study (never too young to enjoy art/music, the internet brings it to you) usually mine colors again

-lunch/nap (of course mine 'helps' prep and clean up)

Or we might go to the pool in am (ours is in community, kiddie pool is good too, or just use the bathtub, but no splashing)

Or if raining maybe some paint, playdough, or science, or cooking (toddlers love having dough to play with. so long as no raw egg let em)

I never find my kids bored....though if I could drive there are plenty of great places, free and otherwise.

[marvholly]

In my area our local libraries and park districts have numerous programs even for VERY young (under 3) children. In addition to story time there are craft classes, musical programs, movies and short plays & puppet shows especially aimed for kids that are usually free or VERY cheap.

I know this is how my older DD started w/ my 4 y/o DGD. Younger DD is now repeating these activities w/15 month old DGS. Also, grocery shopping wile talking about what she is buying and why. Same w/ WAG & CVS purchases.

[Radiance]

Thank you PrincessPerky, good tips.

The challenge I have with mine is that he is not very good yet at following instructions, even at the preschool he didn't get good "grades" at picking up.
He pretty much does what he does. His teacher told me not to worry; he seems to be very intelligent, invent his own games and gets others to play the games he invents.
So, he will not put things away or bring things from one place to the other when asked...unless he wants to and fits his plans..

When I am doing something on one bedroom, he might interact with my activity a bit, but unless I make it into a big production, he will not stay for long, goes straight to the front door and asked to go out. Or asks to watch TV, which I generally refuse. I prefer to go out.

Even if it is to walk around the neighborhood, he prefers that to being inside. In rainy days I often take him to the mall.

He seems to have a thirst for being around new environments, lots of people, animals, etc. In the preschool he is notorious for "escaping" from one classroom to the other...

During his baptism, all the kids were more or less around their parents, mine was all over, non stop, I had to say my lines from all over the church. He was 14 month old then.

On the year end event at his preschool, he was not only the only one who didn’t cry, but he was the only one who actually performed the dance, it was so cute. He is fearless. God Bless him.

coloring does work for 5-10 minutes...Building blocks for 5-10 minutes, playing on the bathtub, maybe 10 min at the most
Wrestle and tickles might last 20 min.

The pool I guess is a place where he can be for over an hour, he loves water!
I have not done play dough yet, Will have to try.

This is why an animal park is so perfect for him, we walk a lot and there is a new thing or being on each corner, humans included.

He gets bored - and cranky - very easily.
I'll have to get more creative...

[mom-from-missouri]

Originally Posted by disneysteve

Have you considered an annual pass to the zoo or science place? Usually, an annual pass runs about as much as 2 visits. Then you could go an unlimited number of times at no additional cost.

Often those passes are also good at other zoos and science places. Our pass to science city in Kansas City also gets us in to several hundred also places around the US. We got in one in Indiana free with it several years ago and also in Chicago.

What we do....library, library toddler and story time, parks, free concerts & movies in the park, free bowling kidsbowlfree.com: Kids Bowl Free All Summer Long!, fishing (in MO kids under 12 can fish free without a license), we go to Smithville lake--it has 2 free swim beaches and lots of free walking trails, numerous free conservation dept parks and trails, work in the garden (kids love having their own little patch or plant to take care of).

Contact your local parents as teachers or head start. They will have a list of things for your area. Also, your park department will probably have some toddler programs such as mommy and me.

[PrincessPerky]

err, 10-15 minute sounds about right for a 16 month old attention span (bit long for some)..I can't see my youngest doing much more, though she is described as 'content'!

As to the door, try saying 'yes, in 5 minutes'..then regardless of his attitude, play something fun for 5 minutes before getting your shoes on (or do 5 minutes of work) once that is easy for him to wait (in a month or two) move to 10 minutes. (if you can't take 5 minutes of him 'waiting', try 2, or 1, or whatever)

My cousin has a VERY active toddler (almost 3 now) and he is a handful, but he has learned good things come to those who wait. Mom has to constantly be on the ball with good things for him of course (fun activities, not food). I assume you already make sure he has limited sugar, fake dyes, and lots of healthy protein/sleep.

getting blocks out only to have to clean them up in 5 minutes sounds silly, but it is worth it, and having him pick up one toy while you do 10 is still him helping you clean, and still him learning a very good skill.

[disneysteve]

Another good thing about a membership to a zoo or children's museum is that they generally have an ongoing list of special programs throughout the year that are included with your membership.

[Radiance]

Thank you Everybody! good stuff

And about sugar, I have a zero sugar, zero preservatives for him.
The most 'junk' he eats is some pizza or pasta every other week.

Thanks God he loves his lentils, pumpkin, green bens and peas. Beats and brocoli too.

Most times he will acept spleat pea or barley, but not among his favorites.
He is into tantrums, but I don't give in to those. He surrender easily as they don't work.

Now, you are right, if he puts one away, I put 20 and he takes the 21 back out... he still put one in and that is my glass half full!!!

Back to budget, I researched further into city parks and they are well equiped and they finally re-opened the pool at my clmplex, so we had a wonderful free pool day yesterday, he had a blast!.. And he went to sleep on time!

I tried a local parents group and it didn't work out very well, but there are others I can try. They say try 2-3 before finding one that works for me.

[arthurb999]

Library, kiddie pool, beach, grandma's house, yard work, dora the explorer

[PrincessPerky]

BTW, try going for a walk in a light rain sometime, you see lots of interesting things .

Also while I am a fan of following a kids lead, I also am a fan of leading them to something interesting. both are worthy. Both are good skills for a kid to learn (explore, and listen to what others find)

Also hope you don't forget books, even if he only gets through two pages, you just build on it.

[junosama]

Zoos were always my favorite thing as a kid. As much nature as possible is good in my opinion.

[mtsen]

I have to admit I was quite shock when I read this, these things you do are absolutely not frugal in places I live ... everything that can amaze a 16 months is right there at us and anything around us, FREE and obtainable easily, as long as the parent makes time.