Category Archives: Toddler Date

Cheap Dates with Toddlers: Farm Parks

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Spring is coming, and the baby animals are appearing at local farms.

A few years ago, I took this picture of a 2 week old calf  at Farrell-McWhirter. He was shorter than my 3 year old! (Sorry that it’s not a great picture… my son was really ready to go have snack, so we only got a really quick look at the calf… but wow he was cute!)

calf

At any time of year, toddlers love outings to meet farm animals. Lots of children’s books, games, and videos feature farm animals, so kids tend to be familiar with them, and get very excited when they can recognize and name the “real thing.” Seeing and hearing (and smelling) the animals in person make the idea much more real. At farm parks, you can check out chickens, sheep, bunnies, cows, pigs, and goats. Some times you’ll get an opportunity to see fresh eggs in the coop, or see a cow or goat being milked.  This is a great outing for a child who has just learned to answer all those vital questions like “What does a cow say?”

For my readers in the Seattle area… here are some free outings:

Farrell McWhirter Park in Redmond. When last I visited (it’s been a while), they had a small pot-bellied pig and a really big pig, bunnies, chickens, 2 goats, a calf and horses. Animals are on view 9 am to 4 pm.  It is not a petting zoon – you  can’t pet or feed the animals – just see them. They do offer farm classes and pony rides. You can register for programs here. Farrell McWhirter is also home to Nature Vision preschool. There are great hiking trails, streams, swings, and tire swings too.

Kelsey Creek Farm Park in Bellevue. They’ve got sheep, pigs, cows, goats, ponies, bunnies, and chickens. (Learn about their animals.) Again, they’re on view, but this is not a petting zoo and you can’t feed them. It’s free to visit – animals are on view every day from 9 am to 3 pm. They also offer horseback riding and farm classes, including a great program for toddlers called Little Farmers. They also have a nice playground and walking trails. Learn about farm tours and farm classes.

Sammamish Animal Sanctuary. They have alpaca, goats, mini horses, mini donkeys, llama, cows, pigs, sheep, chicken, ducks, bunnies and guinea pigs. For a small donation, you can purchase treats to feed the animals, or you can bring your own spinach or carrots. You do have to make reservations. It is free, but they encourage donations to support their work.

Farms with a Fee:

Red Barn Farm in Redmond. They do farm visits on Wednesdays – you need to reserve. Feed the animals and walk around the farm! Price is $25 per car up to 4 guests. Additional guests beyond 4 are $10 each children under 2 free. They have cats, chickens, dogs, donkeys, ducks, goats, pigs and rabbits. (See pictures.)

Fancy Farm in Fall City. By appointment only. (Check their Facebook page for availability.) $10 per person, or $20 for family for a one hour visit. They have emu, goats, pigs, horses, chickens and ducks. Pony ride for an additional fee. I believe they let you hold / pet the animals.

Remlinger Farms Fun Park in Carnation. Opens for the season on Mother’s Day. They haven’t announced 2023 fees yet – a few years ago, they were ~$20 per person (babies under 1 are free). They have horses, pigs, sheep, alpaca, goats,  rabbits and donkeys. They have pony rides for an additional fee. They also have some amusement park style rides, and a train ride. Plus a hay maze and a hay barn to play in.

Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle. Adults $27.00. Kids are $16.50. Under two years is free. By the south entrance, there’s the Family Farm area, which includes a petting zoo where kids can meet goats up close. There’s pigs, goats, sheep, cows, bunnies, chickens, and a donkey. Plus, of course, lots of more exotic animals.

When visiting  farm parks: remember bring a change of clothes and shoes for your child! They can get pretty muddy in any of these places. Please teach your children to be calm around animals and gentle. If you’re at a petting zoo, always remember that these are animals – if you stand behind a horse and spook it, you may get kicked. If you annoy a goat, you may get bit. If you stay calm and quiet around petting zoo animals, you’ll do fine.

Updated March 2023.

Cheap Dates with Toddlers – Winter Outings to the Playground

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winterplayground

During the summer, the most obvious place to take your toddler is on an outing to a playground.

But in the winter, parents hesitate to go.

Playgrounds are just as fun in the winter – you just need to plan ahead!

Bundle up your child for the weather – gloves and hats help a lot. Even more important for your enjoyment is to bundle up yourself! Your child will be kept warm and distracted by running around – you’re the one more likely to get cold. Bring along an old towel or two to wipe down wet slides and wet swings to keep your child’s bottom dry. And bring an extra set of clothes, just in case!

I keep our rain boots in the car to allow for spontaneous outings in the winter. Some day I’ll remember to keep old towels in the car so I always have one available. (Instead, I’m the one whose kid gets soaked pants every time we go – good thing I always have extra clothes in the diaper bag!)

In the Seattle area, you can also take a quick and free day trip up to Snoqualmie Pass to sled and make snowmen.

For lots more ideas for fun, cheap outings with a toddler, click on the category Toddler Date on the right…

Cheap Dates with Toddlers: Going to the Dog Park

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img_20160724_152718837I have an on-going series of easy, cheap or free activities that toddlers love. Here’s one in honor of today’s lovely sunshine…

Off-Leash Dog Areas: If you’re feeling down and lonely in the winter, when the sun comes out (even if it’s cold) head to the dog park, and you’ll find lots of people and lots of very happy dogs, which always lightens my mood! It’s great for exercise, socialization, and learning new things: Dog parks are a great place to teach your child adjectives: big dog, little dog, white dog, fluffy dog, and so on. (As they get older, you can work on memorizing dog breeds – it’s a great way to train their brain to notice distinctions between things, categorize them, and remember those categories.) FYI, you don’t need to have a dog of your own to go to the dog park. Even if you do have a dog, you might find it easier to leave him at home when you take your toddler on her first few outings.

Note: wear boots for puddles, and wear clothes that can get wet and muddy, as you may encounter a dog shaking off, or a friendly dog who jumps with muddy paws.

A few important safety notes: even the friendliest and ‘safest’ dog can bite if circumstances are right. Consider carrying your child in a front pack or back pack that puts them up and away from the dogs. If your child is walking, tell them they need to hold your hand whenever a dog is nearby. Never approach a dog without its owner’s permission, and once you have permission, have your child first hold out a closed hand for the dog to sniff before petting the dog. Here are more tips on teaching your child to be safe around dogs.

For folks on the Eastside of Seattle, here’s where to go:

We love Marymoor Park‘s off-leash area in Redmond, because you can go for a nice long walk. But you’re definitely in the middle of the action when you go for a walk there, and should expect close encounters with 20+ dogs of all sizes and behavior as you walk. If you’d rather view dogs with a little more distance, check out Jasper’s in Kirkland. There is a fenced off-leash area where you can keep your toddler outside the fence where they have a good view of the action, but may feel safer to them. Another option is Robinswood in Bellevue, which is a smaller “corral” where on weekdays, I often find only 2 – 3 dogs and their owners, so it’s a little more low-key.

For more animal fun, check out Pet Stores and Farm Parks. Considering a pet of your own? Find my recommendations on Best Pets for Kids.

Cheap Dates for Toddlers – Pet Stores

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petstore

[This series is filled with “cheap date” ideas for something fun and simple to do with your toddler. The big picture ideas apply to any locale. Specific examples are on the Eastside of Seattle.]

Every time we need dog food, it’s an excuse for my son and I to go to “the small animal zoo” which is what we call our local pet stores. It’s great for 30 minutes of rainy day, educational entertainment for free.

We listen to the birds and watch them flutter, we count the fish in the tanks and talk about all the different colors we see, we search for the reptiles and talk about the ways that animals hide themselves from view, we admire the kitties that are up for adoption, and watch the dogs play at the day care. I find it easiest to put my son in a shopping cart rather than letting him walk around – he gets into less trouble that way.

As children get older, you can talk about what makes the reptiles different from the fish, and how the rodents differ from either of them. You can talk about the characteristics of mammals. You can talk about herbivores, insectivores, and carnivores. The pet store becomes a biological science class. (Here’s a kid-focused post on animal classification.)

If you don’t have a pet of your own, consider picking up a treat to share with a neighbor’s dog, or buying a toy to donate to the animal shelter. (These offer excuses for future outings!)

On your trip to the “small animal zoo”, don’t be surprised if you run into other parents of toddlers enjoying the same thing!

If you’re considering getting a pet for your child, check out my recommendations on Choosing a Pet for Your Family.

This ParentMap article recommends a few specialty pet stores you can check out: http://www.parentmap.com/article/critter-fix-for-kids-in-seattle.

Cheap Dates for Toddlers: Sushi-go-round

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sushi

[This series features “toddler date” ideas for something fun and simple to do with your young child. The big picture ideas apply to any locale. Specific examples are on the Eastside of Seattle.]

If you have a baby or young toddler who is not-yet-very-mobile, and you’d like to have a meal out with your partner or a friend, try having lunch or dinner at a sushi bar with a conveyor belt that goes round and round. This ever-changing view can be a great mesmerizing distraction for your child.

Another advantage is that the food comes immediately, so you can eat quickly. If your child melts down pretty early in the evening, you can make a fairly quick escape. But it’s also self-paced, so if you’re lucky and your child stays happy, you can slow down and relax and wait for that éclair to come around a couple more times before you decide to take it.

Note, once your child can stand and move, sushi places are NOT much fun. You may find yourself frantically trying to prevent your child from grabbing all the plates of food as they go by! Wait to go again till they’re old enough to know that’s not OK.

The best place to take kids for sushi? Kura Sushi in Bellevue. They have robots that bring your drinks, and a system where every time you turn in five plates it shows a video, and when you reach 15 plates you get a prize. There is often a long wait, so go at off times like a Tuesday afternoon.

[Photo credit: from yelp review of Sushi Maru in Bellevue, WA)