What to Do with a 16 m.o. Boy During the Winter??

Have you tried the library where you live or nearby towns? They often have programs for children, or even just to hang out in the children's area. They also often have free tickets for local museums, etc.

I love his name! I know, winter is hard, mt son is 16 mths old too and if it is over 40 degrees out we go outside for at least 1/2 hr. If he does not get outside time I notice he is pretty restless. I am kinda new to the area so I didn't know about the great escape. I wish I had ideas for you but I'm kinda in the same boat! Good luck!

My sister is a mom to three boys, 4, 2, and 5 months old. She has two blogs where she constantly has new events, travel ideas, local day trips, etc. Many being very family friendly. Check them out: http://bostonmama.blogspot.com/ and http://byeboston.blogspot.com/ .

I also have a blog where you might occasionally find things to do locally (but not at the moment) http://ecobabyz.blogspot.com/

Hi J.
Try going to the library. It's a great place for kids. It will help him be comfortable there and hopefully spark an interest in reading. Better still it is free. Also alot of libraries have discounted passes to local museums/activities
Good Luck

We have the same problem -- except i have a 3yr old, 22m old, an infant, a husband and two very large dogs all in a cramped 2 bedroom apt. it's HARD to have so many people in such a small space! We go to Mc. Donnalds in Glastonbury a lot. I get a 4 piece chickn nugget for each girl ($1 each) and a small soda ($1) for me that i keep re-filling. They have a great playplace in there and if you go in the middle of the week there is generally no one there to knock your little one down. The Buckland Mall has a nice playplace that if you go to in the middle of the week generally has only a few kids in it. My kids also love the carosel in there. We get pizza and make a day of it. There is also another place in Old Saybrook called Stay and Play. It is perfect for his age group and cost $5 per child. It's far away but i have found that the car ride kills time as well :)

We also do library classes -- which are free. WE live in Vernon -- but my favorite classes are in South Windsor and Tolland.

Another option -- that is more expensive-- is gymnastics classes. My 22 month old LOVES LOVES LOVES it. That one is fifty a month but worth every penny to me.

When he hits two -- or closer to two -- you can sign him up for Creative Playhouse in Ellington. They are relitivly inexpensive and it will get him out of the house and learning things like sitting still in circle time etc.

Then, of course, there is the mom's club.

Hope this helps!!

Hi-
You could try your local library or Borders. They usually have a storytime hour. Don't worry about your son being a little loud, because there will be other children there his age. Good luck!

Check out the Lutz museaum in Manchester. It's exit 3 off of rt 384. Just follow the signs. It is perfect for toddlers through age 6 or so. They have two themed activity rooms and another room with live animals. So much fun and not overwhelming.
There is also Kid City in Middletown. I haven't been there in years and it has since been expanded. From what I hear there are some areas there geared for the younger toddler.
We also try to get the library when we can.

J.- Im not sure where you live but in Hingham there is a place called Mammasmove they have classes for little ones, ie musice classes etc... they also have a play area that is great they have 2. One for bigger kids and one for little ones that is not overwhelming.... Hope that helps and good luck

Hi J., I have a 17 month old son, we live in NH but I actually grew up in Hebron so I do know where you are located! You've gotten some really good responses, I'm going to ask my mom & sisters for you too & see what they come up with. Hang in there and keep getting out of the house! I was new to my town when my son was born and knew no other moms. It took a few months but eventually you start meeting other moms and kids. It's good for both of you. I don't know what the Douglas Library offers but I just went to KidCity and it's fun and not too far. Just as an FYI, this age kids seem to "max out" at about two hours -or a little sooner if its really stimulating....Good luck!

I lived in a two room apt with two small children, so I can empathize with you. My suggestion is to go on-line and find your local Mom's Club, check out the library for story hour. If your mall has a play area go there. You'd be surprised how many Moms/Dads/Grandparents are there in the morning or early afternoon.

Hi J.!
Have you tried your local library or bookstore for toddler story hours where your child can sing, play instruments etc and hear an age appropriate story? Also, I sometimes took my son (now three) to Barnes and Nobel in the Winter to play with the train set and interact with other kids. I'm not sure if you have any money to spend on classes but if you do a local Gym class for toddlers is also good it should be unstructured for this age group and they should be able to run around the Gym, climb the toddler safe equipment etc. I do this just in the Winter to save money, after all in the nice weather, playgrounds are free. :o)

Good luck!

Krissey

My first child was the same way. The ball pit and the tunnels and all that are just too disorienting and not trustworthy enough. My second child is being watched by my father during the day and is constantly looking for places that are not home (where she also gets cabin fever) but not destructible like a store. Museums are your best best. Yesterday they went to the Mystic Aquarium where there was lots of room to run around, and the stimulation was all behind glass and therefore not a threat. The Niantic Children's museum is also great as its just for exploration and the scary things (like the pyramid) can be avoided. The Crystal Mall also has a great play area. These all may be out of your way, but it gives you an idea of the kinds of places to go. The pay-to-play places are just too forced and not very fun--oddly enough!

I don't know where you live but there is a new childrens museum in Dover nh. It's awesomw. My 10 month old loves it.
There are also fymnastics gyms that have open gym, or a drop in playgroup. It's worth investigating
Good luck
D.

Unless its really crummy out I bundle up my little guy and we run around outside for a few minutes just to get some fresh air. Find a local playgroup or join a gymboree, gymboree goes by age so he might not be has overwhelmed with kids his age. Our town library holds story hour that we sometimes go to he likes the coloring and crafts that they do after they read a book. Just getting him outside for those few minutes might help with the cabin fever.

My son is 18 months old and we went to Petco today. We looked at all the fish, mice, hamsters, snakes, birds, etc. Sometimes they will have dog training sessions there where you can see puppies getting trained. Call and see if they have anything coming up. We were there for about 45 minutes or an hour. We also just walked around the toystore today. It is hard to find stuff to do in the winter, but sometimes just getting out of the house is enough for him. He even likes the grocery store and saying hi to everyone.

I have a 18 month old and live in the mystic area. We play outside as much as possable and go to any free event we can find. Mystic is great at having light parades, strolls ect. Good luck!

Yes, he was probably overwhelmed by all the stimulation. Perhaps start small and then work up to bigger things. At 16 months, you have to get him out to socialize!! I suggest looking at your local library, which should have free toddler story times and you can meet other moms and kids. Is there a YMCA nearby? An indoor swimming pool? Most children's places have a small start up fee, but includes all the activities for the entire year. (Our Y is $35 a year.) Especially in winter, my daughter and I have to get out of the house at least once a week to play somewhere! Don;t forget your local bookstores, too. They often have a children's section that is fun to walk around, grab a book and read. Just getting him out of the house is what will help-- you too! Good luck! D.

I have a 14mo son who is very active and found that the local Y is great. I only have to get a kid membership to take him to gymnastics classes and other actvities. And it's only $10 /month at the Y I go to.

Good luck and pray for a mild winter!

J.

1.There's a toy store in Colchester called Hide and Seek Toys. They have a playroom in the back of the store that has lots of things for small children to play with. I think it is $5 to have free play there.
2. Kid City in Middletown is always fun and they have a play area in the basement called the toddler sea caves which is just for his age group and the rest of the place is fun too!
3. The grocery store Stew Leonard's in Newington is fun too. Every food department has a different button to push which starts a song along with a mechanical character. My kids beg to go there and there are tons of free samples and then an area upstairs to eat lunch.
4. If you are a stay at home mom or only work part time you could join your local MOMS Club. It's an international group with chapters in most towns. It was how I found things to do in the area when i first moved to CT and I met lots of moms with kids the same age as mine. The club offers playgroups you can join that meet once a week and they try to put you in with a group that matches your child's age. The group also has a calendar that people put activities on and you can pick which ones sound fun.

Winter is such a long season here in New England and it looks like everyone has a lot of great ideas to keep you busy. Have fun!!

My Son Is 11 Months Old Now. I've Realized That He Has A Great Tension Spand...But He Is Starting To Get Bored W/His Toys At Home. And You Can Only Vacuum The House So Much For Entertainment! (He Loves Chasing It Around)
You Said He Doesn't Get Out Much, And Didn't Like The Ball Pit. My Son Used To Cry A Lot When We Went Out Too BBQ's Or Friends Homes W/A Lot Of Music And/Or People. (Kept Me From Being Social) Then Eventually He Grew Out Of It After I Started Taking Him To The Mall, It Got Him “Familiar” W/The Surrounding People And Music In The Stores. He Loves People Watching In His Stroller! They Also Have Lots Of Interesting Display Lights (All Yr.) I've Tried Petco & He Likes The Bird Area, And Watch The Dogs Getting Groomed In The Window!
If You Can Try Taking Your Son Back To The Ball Pit At A Time There Are Not Much People Or Kids, Ask The Manager (If Possible) If You Can Join Him In The Balls While You Try To Help Your Kid Get More Comfortable Being In There. Then Hopefully He’ll Make A Friend And Forget All About His Fear.
There Are Two Other Stay At Home Mothers Where I Live Who's Daughters Were Born The Same Month As My Son. So Occasionally I Will Visit Them And We'll Share What Our New Experiences Are W/Our Children. And Of Course My Son Loves Their Toys Better (LoL) Even Though They Are About The Same Things As His.
I’m Still Stuck On Trying To Find More Things To Do For Him This Winter As Well That Are Inexpensive…. I’ll Definitely Check Out The Library Age Thing.
You May Also Try Bundling Him Up And Check Out The Seasonal Lights And Ice Fixtures At A Stating Ring.

~C.

Are you in Glastonbury? We are!
-Go to McDonalds with a playground
-Go to Barnes and Noble - kid section has a train table
-Go to Buckland Hills mall - indoor playground
-Go to Lutz museum (Manchester) or Kid City (Middletown)
-Library has tons of free programs. They'll be starting another story hour in Jan.
-YMCA in Fox Run Mall - check flyer for programs
-Parks and Rec - tons of inexpensive programs for little ones
-Join the Moms Club - google moms club international - sign up for your local chapter for about $25/yr
-Stew Leonards - Newington
-Timbergyms - Newington - swingset store that you can play/climb at

Try the library. We live in Farmington and my 18 month old has been going for several months to a Tots n Tunes class every Friday morning and loves it. Your local library might have the same types of classes and its a great way to meet other Moms.

Weather permitting I take my kids with me to the grocery store and the mall. We just walk around and look at different things. This keeps them from going stir crazy inside and they don't feel overwhelmed. Plus with all the lights and decorations up for the holiday's it's even more interesting to them. Hope this helps and good luck.

All of the moms have awesome ideas that I'll try myself! I've found that going to the mall, grocery store, etc is always fun and gets you out of the house. Also go to your local library (or those in surrounding towns) - most libraries have a story time or sing along time for little ones. We've also started checking out Gymboree and Little Gym and will be going to My Gym next week. All of them have a free trial class so you can see if it's something you and your son can enjoy. My son has really enjoyed both the Gymboree and Little Gym classes, so now we'll just have to decide which to go to on a regular basis. They are definately well worth the money.