8 Useful Ideas for Taking a Toddler to the Park
Visiting to the park is one of our family ‘s ways to enjoy an afternoon together. Nothing beats a park for inexpensive outdoor fun. Though taking a toddler to a busy place that is filled with both fun-looking rides and ridiculously long lines is bound to have both it’s highs and lows. In this article we will give you some useful tips for taking your kids especially a toddler to the park.
1. Bring a towel!
The first thing I always throw into my stroller or over my shoulder when we go to the park is a towel. It can be tossed on a wet bench or a damp spot on the grass for sitting. It can go in a baby swing underneath a little one if the swing is hot (or wet). You can also use it to wipe down slides or playground equipment that is covered in morning dew or sprinkler residue. You may also want to use it after you wash off a super sandy kid who has had way too much fun in the sandbox. I have never regretted bringing a towel (or two) to the park.
2. Wear park appropriate shoes
Parks are created with of all sorts of materials. I still haven’t totally decided which materials I dislike the most, but tan bark and wood chips are some of my least favorite options. Wearing crocs, flip flops, and other shoes with holes can result in constant trips to take shoes off, dump the tan bark out, and then put them back on again. If we are going to a park with tan bark or other bumpy particle pieces, we make sure to wear close-toed shoes. There is nothing worse than slipping while climbing on the bars or a play structure wearing flip flops as well. We know from experience.
3. Do a little research ahead of time about the park
- Where is the closest bathroom? (especially for newly potty trained kids, or pregnant mamas!)
- Are there water fountains? (just in case my beverage stash runs out)
- How far away is the parking lot? (if two kids have meltdowns… is it close enough I can carry both?)
- Are there any water features? (if so, we like to bring swimsuits)
- Is there shade/picnic areas?
- Is there a sand area? (otherwise I don’t usually like to lug all my sand stuff)
- Is the park gated? (this is especially helpful to know when I have a toddler who runs… I might avoid any that are not gated!)
- Are there swings? (If so, I like to sit AWAY from them… otherwise I spend 2 hours pushing my toddler on them)
- Does the park have any specific rules that are different from your regular park? (ie. one park we go to doesn’t allow ANY food, because of squirrel problems… good to know so we don’t get attacked by squirrels!)
4. Bring a picnic blanket
5. Pack a few snacks and beverages
6. Meet up with a friend
7. Dress kids in layers in comfortable play wear
Play is hard work and kids need to be dressed to get messy, create, explore, and MOVE. I am not opposed to kids choosing their own clothes or even leaving the house in costume, but I highly encourage my kids to choose comfortable clothes to wear to the park that they can move around easily in and that feel comfortable. We dress in layers since it is often cold at 9 or 10am where we live and then by 10:30 or 11:30 it can get hot! Playing in long sleeves in the heat is no fun! I usually encourage my kids to wear long pants (even in the summer) since our playgrounds get hot and I want to avoid any burns!