As a first time mom I always felt like I was late to the game with my first born when it came to finding fun events and activities that would keep the small ball of energy occupied and engaged! The resources below have become my go to’s in getting involved with our community, making memories, and growing and learning right along side my tiny tribe of 3.
Facebook Events: This may be an obvious one for some, but for a while I never thought to check it for anything but adult events or personal invitations. It can be a great resource for children’s events as well. We have found some wonderful story times, toy store celebrations, meet and greets with favorite characters and so much more.
Local Magazines: Our region puts out a local parenting magazine called Rocky Mountain Parenting and there are a few others as well. They incorporate a lot of local happenings for the month as well as preschools, gymnastics, sports, and after school or summer camp programs. I usually pick up a copy free at our grocery store, or my sons preschool.
Macaroni Kid: is a great online resource that you can tailor specifically to your city to find out about all the family fun going on in your town. You can subscribe to their email list and never miss a fun adventure or activity again. We have found a lot of our weekend and holiday fun through this. As well as some pretty great week day happenings too. Their website is chalk full of other goodies too!
County Resources: Be sure to check out your local recreation guide for more structured activities and classes to involve your little ones in if that’s your thing. Then get out of the bubble and think creatively on whats near you. Our local Sanitation Department hosts something called Garbage Garage where you can bring your preschool to elementary age children to learn all about recycling, reusing, and reducing trash. They host STEM learning classes as well at specified times where the kids can craft with recycled goods, or a set craft (such as Flying Bats for Halloween). You can also go to your local fire stations website and find out what the age limit is for touring for all those truck loving little humans.
Libraries: From summer reading programs, cultural events, story times, movement classes, and tech programs. Or just casually checking out books, and playing in their free play areas while you and your littles socialize with other mommas. Local Libraries are great community resources when it comes to getting your little ones out and about and growing the world around them.
Garden Centers: As I mentioned above we are fortunate enough to have multiple Garden Centers in our area that host a variety of things throughout the year. From big holiday events like candy free trick or treating to visiting with Santa and his Reindeer. To exploratory learning about plants, bugs, gardening, crafting, and even the occasional food truck rally!
Local Farms: From Farmers Markets, apple picking, pumpkin picking, fall festival, and pick your own vegetables local farms can be a wealth of fun and learning opportunities for little ones. Our area has a recreational farm run by the city that has animals to come and visit, and programs for youth like learning what a day on the farm is like. Or horseback riding. They even host a family friendly trick-or-treat event and other fun happenings throughout the year.
Gymnastics and Karate Centers: Often host preschool, and toddler gyms where you can take your littlest family members to safely play and get their wiggles out. Its a great way to burn energy and connect with other local moms and families.
Local Museums: Science Museums often have tailored activities geared toward small growing minds or specific play areas for tiny visitors. And Art museums occasionally have fun events geared towards families as well as craft days and hands on learning experiences. If you live close to one its definitely worth checking out!
Yoga Studios: Yoga Studios incorporate mommy and me yoga classes, as well as mom-to-be classes right into their regular calendars. And while this may not be feasible for mommas with multiple kiddos. It is definitely a fun way to get some activity in and connect with other moms. You would be surprised at how much even the tinniest of yogis get into it.
Painting/ Pottery Studios: Painting Studios sometimes host family specific days, or times where you can bring your children in for some wonderfully engaging art classes where they can take home their memory of a fun time with you. Some pottery studios offer special pricing and days for their youngest visitors to come enjoy creating and painting in their studios.
Local Toy Stores: We have one particular toy store near us that really tries to get involved with the community hosting everything from events for mothers to share about their birth stories to story times and carnivals for children to come and enjoy.
Instrument Shops: You can often find music classes geared towards babies through the preschool years at your local instrument or music shops.
I hope this list helped guide you in the right direction for resources near you. If not a great list of things to get Googling! If there are any I forgot, or that you enjoy checking out please don’t hesitate to comment and share below!
Have fun making memories Momma!