Where to Take a 3YO

I never let my kids eat fast food but we do eat lunch at home and head to McDonald's anyways. You can also go to Cherry Creek Mall, they have a really fun play land that looks like breakfast food. Last but not least, it may be cold but kids love to bundle up and go outside anyways. Go play in the snow!

Happy winter!

library for story time.. some offer a toddler story time. you could also go to the mall if they have an area for kids to play... just a few sorry I dont have more but I live in Colorado and I dont know what you have to do there... we have a really cool butterfly pavillion.. nice and warm and my kids love it!

Layer on the clothes and go to the playground even though its cold. Fresh air is good for them - and wears them out fast! We got to the playground year round. My son absolutely loves to play outside no matter what the weather is.

I take my kids to the play place at Mcdonalds but I don't order the food. I tell them ahead of time we wont be doing that and I feed them before I go. I order a coffee for my "fee" to get in.

You could also hit the library or the bookstore, just make sure if you go to the bookstore they know you are only there to read and not purchase. Then take them to the library on another day to get books. Reading daily is a great pastime and should never get boring if you have exciting books that keep their interest. Don't forget the libraries carry books with cassette tapes that read aloud along with them. Some kids really love these. There are also good educational videos (science and animals).

Others have said it but library (story time or just go there to play, look around, read together, winter kids programs, etc) and the play places in the mall. You could still go to fast food play places with the understanding that the kids are going to play and you are going to chat with a friend, read book,etc but not eat. Eat before you go ofcourse. You can promise to get an ice cream or milk shake if well behaved and not begging for fries, etc, or just have a special treat at home before/after. Find a mops group (check your church or go to mops.org) and there are mommy and me fitness things that go one indoors (and out) that is fun and good for both of you! Also look into maybe finding an indoor pool,etc. I know the local Y around here is crazy expensive (especailly for a family of 5) but we have a friendly house that has open swim and swim lessons,etc pretty inexpensively, they also have a gym to run in and play ball,etc.
Hope this helps:)

Crafts are good... see what you can pick up for little to no $ and create things from those items. Even collages with paper, glue, macaroni, or 'found' items can be fun. Popsicle sticks, pom poms, pipe cleaners, etc can be a great foundation for making houses or animals or whatever your little ones think of. Paper bags or old socks into puppets (and then a puppet show). If you have a way to play some classical music (we use the channel on On Demand tv), little girls sometimes love to do ballet, or other music might inspire some hip-hop dancing among boys and girls. One day here my 4 yr old started talking about a platypus, and I showed her a photo online. That led to us making an animal book - we found lots of pix, printed and cut them out, and made a little book... that was a lengthy activity she really liked.

Colorado mills in the mornings and race with him. usually few people there in a.m.

Check your local mall our mall has an indoor play area that is free. We also have a play date once a week and alternate houses. Look into your library as well many have "story time" etc.

Mall play areas, walk the toy sections at a store, go to the library, go to a book store.

Have you heard of Meetup.com? It's a website that puts people with similar interests together. If you go there you can enter in your area and your interest such as "mom's group" and I'm sure you will find at least a few groups. I belong to one in Colorado Springs and it has been so wonderful. We do in house play dates, park play dates, and other outings around town during the week and weekends. Even if you are still indoors at some one else's house, I think having a different environment with unfamiliar toys is very exciting for toddlers!

Play area at the mall is great. Pack a lunch so you won't have to eat at the food court. Libraries are also great. Some Barnes & Noble bookstores have train tables in the children's section. Do you have a local rec. center? There is one not too far from us that has a play area similar to the ones at McDonald's etc. but bigger and free for the kids.

Where do you live?? There is a great gym called Garrison St. Gym in Old Town Arvada, CO and they have a huge gymnastics room that is open to toddlers at different times during the week. Entrance is $2! I would call for open times- I've never been able to find the info on their website.

does your church have a gym or big room that can be played in? a group of moms from my church get together twice a week to exercise in the church gym. we close the doors and let the kids run around while we walk/run laps or whatever exercise we want. it's a good place for kids to play with bouncy balls. another mom suggested the radio. we like to listen to www.pandora.com to expand our music selection.

VIP Golds Gym membership; free playroom access at any location once a day.
Get "What your Preschooler needs to know." It is the best book, and very fun to read with your child. Colorful and cute. There are also activity books available. My 3 yo and I are having a great time doing "preschool" every day! The book as different "sections" and there is a lot of variety.
Also,
Storytime at the library. Our library does stories and a craft. They learn how to listen, and cut, color, etc.
Maybe take a trip down to BYU Bean Museum? It's free and children love to see all the animals. There is a little playroom there too. Stop off at the Creamery for lunch and an ice cream cone!
Alpine has a candy factory (Peppermint place?) that is fun for the kids to see how they make candy too.
Enjoy!

Some of our cold weather favorites are:
1) the mall - we actually run around and burn energy and bring our own snacks
2) Home Depot - big wide aisles to run up and down, he loves to watch the guys running the fork lifts
3) Petco - we call it the zoo, he loves to look at all the animals
Winter can be hard! But spring will be here some day I'm told, so we just try to make the best of it and be patient.

South town mall- Free play area, Merry-go-round and train cost money though
The living planet Aquarium- $15 per year membership
Bouncin off the walls Wednesdays- $5
Toddler book time at the library, or just to play
I'm in a Moms group, Mother and More, and we have play groups and we do open Gym at a church. I also put together a whole list of indoor places in the valley for the group that I can send you.

GREAT QUESTION! since you live close to me, how about a play date? My son is just over four. Send me a text ###-###-####

*I wrote the reply below and then realized you are in UT rather than in the Denver area. While my response will be most helpful for families in the Denver area due to specific locations mentioned, maybe it can spark some ideas for places that you can find locally.

Most libraries have scheduled story times for various ages each week. Just check your local library website or call to find times.

Cherry Creek Mall has a large (and busy) play area that my children enjoyed when they were young. It used to be closed at certain times of day for cleaning. So, again, you might want to check the schedule before heading out. Colorado Mills Mall also has a play area. (These are both free.)

The Littleton Historical Museum is free and open to the public. There are some indoor exhibits to view (some hands on) and then the entire farm to explore outdoors. Fore more details visit http://www.littletongov.org/museum/default.asp.

I also agree with the person who said bundle them up and get outside if at all possible. It doesn't have to be for too long but it is good for them as long as their hands and feet are warmly covered. Check out new parks/playgrounds and they will be distracted by the unfamiliar equipment enough to play longer despite the chill in the air.

Free factory tours can be fun. Hammonds Candy in Denver has one as does Celestial Seasonings in Boulder. I know there are others in this area but can't think of them right now.

Have fun!

Have you been to the Arvada Apex? It's part of the public park system so it's free. It's basically a huge indoor park. http://apexprd.org/facilities/apex-center/apex-virtual-to...

You've asked a wonderful question!

Two words: the library! Get a card if you don't have one, and let your kids indulge themselves in good books. Some libraries also have special free programs for children. If there are any museums near you, take your children on a free day and pick one room per visit - just so they can see something different. You don't have to get all academic about it - just go to look at the curiosities!

Got a little bit of money? If you have good thrift stores where you live, you might find children's books (for very little money) to take home. I also find dvds for my granddaughters - ones that are great fun to watch and in perfect shape that somebody else's children have outgrown.

At home you can read together. You can stock up on crayons and big paper (even kraft paper) and your children can draw. You can check out the various radio stations within your listening area that play good music and let your children hear the different kinds of music while they do other things in the house. Grab the six toys nearest at hand, sit down with your three-year-old and make up a story involving those toys - the sillier the better. Encourage him/her to do it as well.

Do you have recipes for simple treats your children would like (maybe some sort of cookie)? Let your three-year-old help you make them. It'll take longer and be messier but it's fun and creative.

I know you'll get lots more suggestions - and probably better ones - than these. Your children can have some very good times without your having to break the bank. It just takes a little thinking outside the commercial box, and you sound like a person who can catch on to that quickly.

Check your local Chamber of Commerce for Museums. There are several museums that a child might enjoy. Toys, Trains, Planes, ect. Sometimes they are even free of charge.

Your local public library probably has a day or two a week where they read stories, play games or do some sort of interaction with children of the same ages... ours had a story time, then the kids danced it was fun to watch little 3 & 4 year olds having fun. it was only a half an hour, but it was FREE and I could just sit and watch all the other parents.
Good luck, entertaining on a budget is difficult unless you want to just plug them in to the TV! :) Maybe try other children that you know in your neighborhood, their moms are probably bored and want to get together too. You could eat lunch at someone's home and let the kids play. Take turns monthly... more of a Girls Lunch Out, but it would be fun too!

V.

check and see if you have a mom's club or something similar in your town http://www.momsclub.org/links.html#Idaho it is just a group of mom's that get together with other moms in the community and plan lots of cheap to free things to do. Like potlucks and pancake breakfasts infant/toddler playgroup at each others homes, book clubs etc.

get a membership to a chidren's museum or zoo (about 50-70 for 2 people here for the year) and go A LOT ....we have our zoo memorized

When my kids are sick and tired of being cooped up inside and it's too cold outside to play, I take them to Toys R Us. It's fun for them to just look around, limited play with the toys. You don't have to buy anything just take a stroll around the store. Or they also like to go to the pet store. We take our kids to Pet City and let them look at the reptiles and birds and fish and things, they think it's a hoot! A miniature zoo in the middle of the winter for free!! Hope this helps.

First Monday of the month is free admission to the Utah Museum of Natural History. Lots of traffic, I would get there before they open so I know I would get a decent parking space. They will also validate your parking so don't worry about putting money in the meter. They had a really cool frog exhibit last year. Take your camera. DH said they wouldn't allow them and I believed him and missed some really cute shots with the chilren. The zoo has a free day on one Wednesday a month during the winter-I believe its the last Wednesday but you can check their website and it will tell you.
Plant some fast growing seeds. I think both your children will enjoy watching them grow.
Antelope island is fun. There is an old ranch house there which was fun to see.
Call the vistors center in Salt Lake or Sandy (if they have one) They can give you lots of ideas that are free or low cost. I'm sure they even have a website you can check out.
There are great ideas inthe boy scout books, the girl scout books (which you may be able to borrow or buy at a thrift store) and the 4-H books.

Our mall here has an indoor play area designed for little bodies. No fee, no cold weather and no fast food. Sometimes I take my little ones to a pottery place. they can paint a little knick knack for like $2.50 each...and it takes about an hour. Indoor skate rinks do toddler skate sometimes for lowered costs. Good luck with the remainig winter time with your little ones.

Library and rec center are probably your best bets. I would check with your library to see about local mom's groups to get involved with. You will find an abundance of resources there.

Check out your local mall, some of them have play areas. They are free, not the coin opporated things. We go to ours on the weekends, really gets the kids to burn some energy.

How about the mall? Our mall doesn't have a real play area, but it has a bunch of "insert a quarter" mini rides. My kids don't know that they actually do anything. They just like to climb on them. Once, a nice man started digging in his pocket and was going to pop a quarter in. I told him he'd better not! He almost ruined it for us all!
They also like to look at certain stores, and walk around and be where so many people are.

But before we moved here, the malls all had play areas and they were our salvation.

Also, we go to play places without buying much food. When I had just one kid who could eat solids, we'd go to McD's and play for over an hour, then share an ice cream and play some more. Not bad for $1. Although that doesn't really help since you say it's a dietary thing. But we only went maybe 2 times a month, just to change things up.

Or just bundle them up and haul 'em to the park, anyway. In the Fall, we think 40 degrees is so chilly, but after a cold winter, it starts to feel not so bad. We just had a picnic when it hit 50 because it felt so nice to be outside!
Okay, so I checked your weather, and 33 is pretty cold for a high. But it looks like you're getting snow. Go build a snowman or find a sledding hill. It's a lot of work, but it wears them out and they'll either take a long nap or go to bed early, so you can make up for the time you spent bundling them up!