Free/cheap Ideas to Do with Toddler on the Weekends

Try www.oakleesguide.com for some ideas around the suburbs. There are coupons in there, and several of the events cost money, too. But occasionally there is a great concert or festival that is free!

You live close to Cosley Zoo and Klein Creek Farm... both are free. Just bundle up before you go.

We spend some time at the malls and Cabela's when it's too cold to be outside or when there are no other events. Cabela's is near I-90 and Rt. 59, and it has a lot of stuffed animals (stuffed as in taxidermy).

Lastly, check with your library and park district and the ones in surrounding towns. Usually you will have to sign up ahead of time, but the events are frequently free. You can get the Museum Discovery Pass from your library if your library participates.

Have fun!

Editted to add: Cantigny Park has free admission on patriotic holidays. It is very affordable during the weekends if you wanted to bring a carload of friends on a sunny day. There is a museum and beautiful grounds for walking around. You can see tanks on the property and read the history while the kiddos climb on them.

If you are off of work today for Presidents' Day, the Shedd Aquarium has free admission today thru Fri.

Other ideas...La Grange Park District's indoor playground. Non-resident fee is $5 per kid. I took my 3 year old there a few weeks ago and he has been begging to go back. It's very clean with very convenient restrooms, drinking fountains, and benches for the parents. They also have a huge gymnasium, but their toddler programs in the gym are only during the week.

Park District of La Grange
www.pdlg.org
536 East Avenue
La Grange, IL 60525-6815
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Free--Yorktown Mall's indoor play area--can get quite busy, but is free and fun for the kids. There is also a little train next to the play place that is $1/ride.

Woodfield Mall also has an indoor play area, but it's VERY busy.

We too are sick of the cold and are feeling the cabin fever set in! We have been to Little Monkey Biziness in Western Springs. My 5 year old and my 2 year old loved it. We also like the indoor playground in LaGrange (on East Ave). There's also an indoor water park in Elmhurst (Mayan Adventure). I haven't been but it sounds fun and it's a smaller water park--so a bit more manageable than a large one. Good luck

Kids Town in wheaton is also good for 2 -3 years old..

Register at Kidswinks.com .. I find it very useful in finding activities to do with my kid..

Hi D.,

Check out www.kidwinks.com. We list all sorts of activities and events throughout the area, including a Kids Eat Free Calendar (click on a day to find where kids eat free) in our Restaurants Section. You can use the Advanced Search feature to search for free events, even on a particular day or range of days, and we always include free days at the museums on our Events Calendar, as well as free events at libraries, nature centers, etc. If you haven't been to River Trail Nature Center in Northbrook, I highly recommend that - it's free and they have a huge play area for kids as well as another huge room with exhibits. Outdoors they have several birds of prey, a skunk, a fox, etc. in cages and you can watch them being fed in the afternoons (around 3pm I think). Become a member of kidwinks (which is free), and you can sort all search results, including calendar results, in order of distance from your house. We'll also send you a newsletter each Monday with ideas of things to do for the coming week.

Hope this helps!

J.

Hi, my son just turned 3 so I feel your pain! We go to Starbuck's once or twice a month and bring books to read. He gets a yogurt parfait or their new snack box that has apples, cheese, raisins and organic grahams. You can also check out the YMCA for swim lessons and My Gym for gymnastics. We just hosted his birthday party at Pump It Up in Lisle and they may have free play when they're not having bday parties. A trip to the library is always fun. You could check out your park district for sports or crafts classes. Also, we've done Players Indoor Sports for soccer and he really liked that. Lastly, Phillips Park Zoo (in Aurora) is free and has both outdoor and indoor exhibits plus an outdoor park. It's small but just enough to pass an hour or more. I hope that helps! Good luck - spring is almost here, thank goodness!

I belong to a M.'s Working Group and activities are generally in the Western Suburbs area. Pretty much all the activities/playdates are on the weekends since we all work. Great group of women!

Search for:
Western Burbs Working Moms Meetup Group on www.meetup.com