6 Things to Do In Kansas City Before You’re 3 Ft. Tall: Summer Fun in KC for Tiny Tots

Summer Fun in KC for Tiny Tots

The commercials say, “You’re a big kid now,” from the first time you wear a pull-up, but it still seems that so many fun outings and activities are really for older and taller kids. Can babies and toddlers have some fun too?

• Play at the Farm. The Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead (13800 Switzer, Overland Park, KS, 913.897.2360) is a favorite find for many first-time Kansas City moms. Moms love it because of both the FREE admission Mon.-Thurs. (and it’s still a terrific bargain at $2/person Fri.-Sun.; 1 and under free) and the kid-friendly attractions at the 12-acre farmstead with 200+ animals. The farmstead features a petting zoo, butterfly garden, dairy barn, ice cream shop, toddler tractors… all helping little ones learn about animals, plants and the outdoors at an early age. Plan to make it an annual tradition to visit the farmstead and capture a great photo op of your little butterfly or caterpillar in the butterfly garden. Take the same photo each year to watch your little one grow up. Bonus Tip: Read our article, "Where our Food Comes From: Tour 4 KC Farms" to discover more agricultural outings for KC Kids!
• Travel by Train. Screaming in the tunnels, listening to the rhythm of the tracks and waving at passersby… memories of train rides are a highlight of childhood. Kansas City is home to several affordable train rides for families. You can enjoy a full-fledged excursion on the Midland Railway in Baldwin City, KS, or an ice cream trip on the Belton, Grandview & Kansas City Railroad. Or, go simple with a 50-cent ride on the Kansas City Northern Railroad, or a loop by train around the Kansas City Zoo. Either way, train rides are fun for the whole family and are especially loved by toddlers. Read our guide to Kansas City Train Rides to find complete details on local train rides.
• Earn Your First Summer Reading Rewards. Our local libraries offer terrific incentives for children to develop a lifelong love for reading, and even babies and toddlers can participate! Join the summer reading program at your local library where kids earn free books, prizes and treats for reading or listening to age appropriate books all summer long. While you’re there, check out the library’s story time schedule. Many libraries offer free weekly story time sessions, which may include puppets, songs, snacks and crafts. We have your guide to Summer Reading Programs in Kansas City: 2011.
• Pick Your Favorite Park. Kansas City is home to hundreds of beautiful parks, each with different amenities and many with unique settings. You may already be partial to the neighborhood park where Mom can enjoy her morning latte while catching up with the neighbors as the kids play, but you can add some new park play dates to your summer planner with a visit to one of Kansas City’s best parks. Read our feature, “Best Parks in Kansas City,” where you’ll discover a list of our faves: Penguin Park in the Northland (a great side trip for Southland families on their way to pick up visitors at the airport) with gigantic friendly elephants, penguins and kangaroos decorating the beautiful playground with age appropriate equipment for all ages; Antioch Park with a distinctive Wild West village for future cowboys and cowgirls; and numerous super cool parks with playgrounds designed as pirate ships, castles, fire trucks, and surrounding rose gardens, butterfly gardens and trails. 
• Splash the Day Away. Little ones love to play in water, but using the family sprinkler can be costly and muddy… check out one of the local spraygrounds (see our complete list of  “Kansas City Spraygrounds”), where local parks offer giant playgrounds made of sprinklers. Bring a towel and some snacks and play all day. Our favorites are the John Anderson Park in Grandview, MO, with a great pirate ship theme, and the classic enjoyed by the generations of Kansas Citians—the Crown Center fountains where you can cool off after enjoying this summer’s FREE Rainforest Exhibit for kids. The exhibit, inside Crown Center, features a rainforest-themed play area. 
• Build a Sand Castle. Spending a day at the beach picnicking, swimming and building sand castles is a favorite childhood memory for many families. Treat your toddler to his first day at the beach without the expense of airfare and a hotel with an ocean view. Our local lakes are perfect for a low key day of play with sand toys, inflatable water toys and a picnic. Remember a waterproof camera to capture the splashes and smiles.

• Blue Springs Lake (Jackson County, MO, 816.503.4870, www.JacksonGov.org).
• Longview Lake (Jackson County, MO, 816.503.4870, www.JacksonGov.org).
• Shawnee Mission Park Beach (Johnson County, KS, 913.312.8847, www.JCPRD.com). 
• Kill Creek Park Beach (Johnson County, KS, 913.312.8847, www.JCPRD.com). 
• Smithville Lake Beach (Clay County, MO, 816.407.3400, www.SmithvilleMO.org).
• Watkins Woolen Mill State Park Lake (Clay County, MO, 816.580.3387, www.MOStateParks.com).

Kristina Light and her girls look forward to each of these outings as annual family traditions… all of which began before her oldest daughter’s first birthday.