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Hip Hangouts to Keep Little Hands & Feet Happily Busy

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I hope I never forget the delight my Emily took in creating her first painting, or my Kayla found in discovering where fairies live in the forest. I remember how my Brielle thrilled at building the tallest tower she could possibly build out of LEGOs with her father, and I delight in my Lucy as she giggles with delight, playing and jumping at her favorite play places. We are often reminded that they are only young once… and how true it is! These are just a few of the ways our family loves enjoying those early years of play, joy and discovery at some of our favorite Kansas City places.

Appreciate Art

“All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” ~Pablo Picasso

Kansas City’s art galleries are committed to cultivating a love of art early and they happily welcome even the youngest patrons with special programs with little ones in mind. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (4525 Oak, Kansas City, MO, 816.751.1278) hosts story time for preschoolers at 1:30 on the second Sunday of each month. The event is free, as is museum admission, and no reservations are required. Watch their online calendar (www.Nelson-Atkins.org) for other family programs, festivals, concerts and shows. The Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art (4420 Warwick Blvd., Kansas City, MO, 816.753.5784, www.KemperArt.org) hosts Tots on Tuesdays on the third Tuesday of each month. Children explore bright colors and bold patterns in Dressed Up, play color matching games, try on crazy hats and read stories with a trendy twist. Both museums are free to the public.

Find Fairies

“Every child must remember laying his head in the grass, staring into the infinitesimal forest and seeing it grow populous with fairies.” ~Robert Louis Stevenson

Did you know that fairy homes are just waiting to be discovered right in Overland Park? There is a trail behind Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead (another favorite outing for little ones (http://www.OPKansas.org/Things-to-See-and-Do/Deanna-Rose-Childrens-Farmstead/), now lovingly known as Firefly Forest (see our story on Firefly Forest  for specific directions). The paved trail through the woods and across a creek leads the way to discovery where fairy houses line the path just waiting to be enjoyed. Local citizens designed and planned several (more are added often) fairy houses in the trees and forest lining the path. Young children delight in looking inside each fairy house and discovering the treasures inside. Tip: Plan a day of it and visit Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead, as well!

Explore Nature

“In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.”  ~Margaret Attwood

Burr Oak Woods (1401 NW Park Rd., Blue Springs, MO, 816.228.3766), one of the largest nature centers in the area, is home to a super cool indoor playground featuring a climbing tree and slide (for little ones), puppets and terrific interactive exhibits. Outside you’ll find miles of trails (some are paved and stroller friendly!) and an outdoor nature classroom with large hands-on exhibits for kids. The Little Acorns programs for preschoolers and Babes in the Woods programs for infants and toddlers are free, fantastic and offered year round, as are the family nature programs for all ages. Check the Burr Oak Woods calendar for upcoming events and hours (http://MDC.mo.gov/Regions/Kansas-City/Burr-Oak-Woods-Nature-Center).

Get the Wiggles Out

“Play is the work of the child.” ~ Maria Montessori

Sometimes little ones just need to wiggle and jump and bounce and play. Two of our favorite indoor play places for tots are:

Spark the Imagination

“Playing dress up begins at age 5 and truly never ends.” ~Kate Spade

Playing dress up, role playing and pretending are enriched at these favorite attractions:

Create and Play

"Play is the highest form of research." ~ Albert Einstein

LEGO has been one of the most beloved toys for generations, and now Kansas City kids are falling in love with LEGO all over again at LEGOLand Discovery Center (2475 Grand, Kansas City, MO, www.LegolandDiscoveryCenter.com/KansasCity/). At LEGOLand Discovery Center, little ones can play with giant LEGO blocks in the world of Duplo, where they can sit atop a LEGO giraffe and elephant and build their own towers and play structures. Children enjoy the Kingdom Quest and Merlin rides, the tunnel play and the 4D animated movies. Parents are impressed with Miniland, a model Kansas City made entirely of LEGO blocks, and play areas for older kids and kids-at-heart.

Kristina Light enjoys outings with her girls as much as they do…. Shhhh! Don’t tell!

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