Family Days Out...Any Ideas?

Kimie

Call your local council and speak to Child Services... they can send you a load of stuff about local mum/baby/toddler groups and such like. They are really helpful and know a lot of information that isn't easy to come across. There might be another group you could make.

What about soft plays? Great couple of hours every now and again. Maybe there is a friend you could go with... one of you watch the toddlers whilst the other the babies and then swapsies? If your antenatal group say no newbies then you could always find an additional group of friends... netmums is really good for meeting local people.

Local woods? Again ideal for your 2 year old to explore and burn some energy. Mine loves it and will be into everything. They are like sponges at this age. We collect leaves etc to use in craft sessions. You could also do bark rubbing.

Any local children farms? I know they are getting a bad press at the moment but if you are careful and take antibacterial gel stuff they are fantastic for all children.

What about going to watch the trains at the train station?

If it's rained the night before.... wellies on and puddle jumping for the eldest? Nothing better in my little boys eyes than being able to jump in a puddle!

Mothercare? I know it's a shop but most have toys out to play with... we often abuse this and just 'browse'!

daphne_descends

Lots of good ideas here, I am a SAHM to my DS who is 2 next month and I make sure we go out every day - a) so he gets tired enough to nap and b) so I don't go crazy!

We do most of the things listed above, we have season tickets to our local farm park and take a picnic at least once a week, sometimes twice! He is happy just wondering around looking at the animals, and they have a little train that goes around the whole park, and a huge playground, I will be gutted when they close for winter!

Also check out your local libraries, we go to rhyme time and DS loves joining in the actions while I sing along, then to the park afterwards.. we go to the park a LOT. It might be boring to you the third day in a row but the children don't care.

I love soft play too, a couple near me have organised activities on certain days of the week too.

And I must agree with everyone who says find a toddler group - it is hard work and awful when you go to a crap one - been to one myself this week that was SO unfriendly - but you've got to keep trying, it'll be worth it when you find a good one!

sooz

Have you tried looking on netmums? you put in your postcode to find out what's on near you. I don't know the postcode for 'the highlands'

ask your health visitor about other mum & baby groups. Or perhaps the physio if s/he knows of any baby massage classes around. There will be some other mums groups who will welcome newbies

storytime at the library is also good. Or check out the notice board of the local baby friendly cafe, ours advertise all sorts of baby groups/classes, toddler activities etc.

poppyolivia

Hey I'm in the Highlands too and when my kids were younger we totally did the landmark thing over and over again....we sickened ourselves!!lol...what about places like fun zone (inverness) its not that dear to get in and they do cheap(ish) food too...it IS hard when they are that age...all they want to do is the park and it bores the living daylights our of you eh? But yeah we were park and landmark!!!lol

Sorry can't be much help x

RAS

Are there any cycle trails near you? Put a child seat on a bike each and head off together?

You have several major environmental organistations near you. Do any do stuff like mini-bug safaris or pond dipping sessions for the older one?

angelicmary85

Thank you for all your fab replies...RAS I never would have thought about pond dipping!

Got loads of great ideas now!

Poppyoliva - I've never heard of the Fun Zone but will be sure to look it up!