Baby’s First Field-Guide to Kansas City

Life is full of firsts: first car, first date, first day of school. But many of the most special firsts are celebrated in the first years of life.

First Birthday

If you’re looking for the perfect venue and entertainment for your little one’s birthday celebration, look no further than the Party Guide on KCParent.com. You’ll find great places to host parties, entertainers to add some fun and ideas to celebrate.

First Indoor Playdate

These adventures are perfect for getting the wiggles out and making new friends for Mom and Baby. The KidScape exhibit at the Johnson County Museum is a wonderful interactive hands-on child-sized exhibit perfect for young children.

Little ones especially love three experiential, hands-on exhibitions at Science City. “Let’s Play!” is designed especially for babies, crawlers and toddlers with

multiple sensory and role-playing activities. “Creative Corner” is where art meets science in a whole new way with cool interactive activities and visit “All Aboard”, an exhibit that celebrates Union Station’s rail history.

Crown Center hosts delightful exhibits for children throughout the year. These indoor exhibits on Level I are free and interactive. Through May 1, enjoy Animal Tales & Trails. Children will experience what it's like to prowl in a wild animal's world. Kids can swing like a monkey through the jungle, climb up to an eagle's nest, slide down an iceberg like a penguin, tunnel through an ant hill, ride a camel through the desert and so much more at this fun, wild and FREE exhibit. A new exhibit will be available summer 2022! Watch the calendar on KCParent.com for details.

First Swim Lesson

Little ones love to play in water. You can enroll your child in age-appropriate swimming lessons at your local YMCA, where parent-child classes are offered for the youngest swimmers. These sessions are a perfect introduction to pools and water fun.

First Smiles

Keep those smiles healthy with a visit to a pediatric dentist. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that babies visit the dentist by their first birthday. Parents are able to hold their little one during the exam and get great tips on the teething process and caring for Baby’s teeth. Starting Point and LeBlanc & Associates are two local dentistry offices known for top-notch, kid-friendly care and customer service. Your child is guaranteed to receive extra TLC at his first checkup.

First Baseball Game

Take the family to a baseball game at Kauffman Stadium and cheer for the Royals. Infants do not require a ticket, but you may purchase Blue Crew kits with discounted tickets and souvenirs for children. Print off this certificate to commemorate your child’s first game at the K: MLB.com/royals/ballpark/first-game-certificate.

First Park Day

Swing and slide at the park. Here are three of our favorites: Meadowbrook Park is home to 80 acres of green space featuring the Treeline Adventure destination playground, a pavilion, pickleball courts, fitness equipment, lakes and more. Antioch Park has several great play areas, including Old Dodge Town, a Wild West village. T.B. Hanna Station includes a new playground with a train theme and splash pad that is inclusive for children of all abilities. For more fabulous local parks, visit KCParent.com and click “Going Places” then search Parks to find the best park near you.

First Cultural Experience

Cultivate that love for art at an early age with a visit to the stroller-friendly Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, where admission is always free. For added fun, check out our Nelson-Atkins scavenger hunt the kids will love! On the third Friday of the month, participate in the museum’s Junior Jaunts program. Bring your baby in a stroller or front carrier for an adult-focused, yet infant-friendly, mini museum tour. Enjoy discussion of a few favorite art galleries.

Nearby, enjoy the flowers at Kauffman Memorial Gardens. This free, small but exquisite garden is the perfect size for a toddler outing.

First Hike

Meet animals on a nature walk at one of Kansas City’s local nature centers. Lakeside Nature Center is home to falcons, owls, eagles, toads, frogs, fish and insects. Burr Oak Woods Nature Center features fish tanks, turtles, bird watching, a giant indoor nature play area, walking trails and an outdoor discovery center. Ernie Miller Nature Center has paved trails through the woods; this a great place for a stroller walk.

First Zoo Trip

When the sun is shining, head outside and visit the Kansas City Zoo, where you can watch penguins, sea lions, polar bears, tigers, elephants, giraffes, kangaroos and other beloved animals. Be sure to enjoy a carousel, train, boat or Sky Safari ride while you’re there!

First Trip to the Farmstead

Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead is one of the most affordable family outings in Kansas City. Children enjoy bottle-feeding baby goats, seeing cows, pigs, chickens and bunnies, playing on the playground, riding kid-sized tractors and enjoying the great outdoors. The park and petting zoo are the perfect outdoor field trip for little ones.

First Roller Coaster

When the sun is shining, take the family to Worlds of Fun, where your child will enjoy tyke-sized fun meeting the Peanuts gang and enjoying rides in Planet Snoopy, a themed section of the park with more than 20 rides and activities for young children.

First Visit to the Lake

Feed the fish at Longview Lake Marina. One exciting way to enjoy this is to take your little one on the dock in his favorite life jacket then head to the marina’s shop that’s located on the dock to purchase fish food affordably. Children love watching the fish eat from the dock.

Or visit Shawnee Mission Park Marina or Lake Jacomo, where you can rent pontoon boats, paddle boats, kayaks and canoes (boats available vary with each lake) for a family excursion.

Kristina Light enjoys making memories with her daughters.