Beat the Winter Blahs in KC: Ideas from A to Z

Beat the winter blahs for little ones in KC with these ideas from A to Z:

A) Art: Visit the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, where admission is free. Bring your baby in a stroller or carrier for an adult-focused, yet infant-friendly, visit to the museum. You’ll find brochures and maps at the information desk with suggested itineraries.

B) Bounce: Head to Urban Air Lenexa or Urban Air Overland Park. Their tubes playground is designed for children under 52” to climb, crawl and slide. Check the calendar on KCParent.com for their Jumperoo sessions especially for little ones.

C) Ceramics: Make a ceramic keepsake with Baby’s handprints or footprints at Ceramic Cafe. They supply the ceramics, the paints and the brushes—you just supply the creative budding artists!

D) Date night: Ward off cabin fever for new parents with a night on the town. Enlist a friend or relative to babysit and check out the ideas featured in our Date Night column.

E) Enjoy the outdoors from the indoors: Something is always blooming at Family Tree Nursery (FamilyTreeNursery.com). Family Tree offers some of the largest nurseries in the area with wide selections to enjoy through one of the most unique and fun shopping experiences in the city. Little ones love the fairy gardens and displays.

F) Find freebies: Discover the freebies for kids at your local supermarket. Many grocery stores offer birthday clubs for children with giveaways or discounts on cake and party goods. Grocers offer free cookies, fruit and treats, and sample day at Costco or Sam’s Club is always a favorite time to shop.

G) Go to the movies: Matinee movies during the week are always a better value. You can feed Baby in the theater and catch the newest release on the big screen.

H) Home sweet home: Have fun at home! Make play dough, color, cuddle, play with bath toys, finger paint, make cookies and enjoy quality time at home.

I) Investigate the zoo: The Kansas City Zoo is open year-round. Choose a warmer winter day to visit all the indoor exhibits—polar bear, penguins, Discovery Barn, Tropics—and remember to pack a lunch.

J) Just do what you love most: Your little one isn’t begging for a day at the children’s museum yet, so enjoy what YOU love most. Find creative ways to continue your hobbies. Read your favorite books during naptime, listen to podcasts while driving or cooking, schedule time with friends, tackle small projects while Baby plays in his high chair.

K) KidScape: This indoor exhibit features a child-sized village where kids love to play at the Johnson County Museum’s new home. The play area is perfect for toddlers and preschoolers.

L) Lunch at Legends Outlets: Bundle up and spend a day walking around Legends Outlets. Shop, take in a movie, eat lunch and relax. Visit Cabela’s and look at fish in the aquarium.

M) Make things: You’ll find dozens of ideas from KC Baby & Maternity’s Craft Corner on KCParent.com. Try a new DIY project or visit your local craft store. They often sell inexpensive kits for simple projects for all ages.

N) Nature exploration: Kansas City is home to many wonderful nature centers, including our two favorites. Burr Oak Woods offers a large aquarium of Missouri's freshwater fish, snakes, turtles, toads and more. Lakeside Nature Center is home to some of the best animal exhibits in the area.

O) Observe pets: You can enjoy the pleasure of pets without owning one. Head to your local pet store where you can watch fish, see reptiles and admire puppies and kitties at play. If you’re looking to add a furry friend to your family, Great Plains SPCA is one of Kansas City’s no-kill animal shelters, or visit Wayside Waifs, a pet adoption center (WaysideWaifs.org).

P) Plan ahead: Take advantage of your local grocery store’s delivery or drive-up/pickup options to simplify shopping and keep Baby out of the winter elements. For even simpler meal planning, pick up freezer meals at Dream Dinners.

Q) Quell your curiosity: Spend a day among the shelves at the local library looking for new books and exploring sections of the library you’ve never explored before. Increase your chances of making a new discovery with a visit to a new branch.

R) Read: Do you have a favorite book from your childhood that seems long forgotten? Try to find a copy at the library or a local bookstore and reminisce while sharing the classic favorite with your child.

S) Swim: Community centers, YMCAs and local gyms are home to indoor pools offering swim lessons for infants and toddlers. Winter is an oft-overlooked time to take swimming lessons. We have your guide to indoor pools in KC.

T) Take a walk: Ward off cabin fever by bundling up and braving the elements. Head to your favorite park or discover a new one in our Going Places directory on KCParent.com.

U) Underwater exploration: Walk through an underwater tunnel at Sea Life Kansas City. Enjoy up-close views of more than 5,000 sea creatures.

V) Visit loved ones: Do you have a loved one or friend in a local nursing home? Are grandparents nearby? A visit from you and Baby is sure to brighten everyone’s day.

W) Water play: Science City at Union Station offers several wonderful exhibits with little ones in mind. Some of our favorites are the water play table, infant and toddler area and a variety of places for sensory play. This is a favorite indoor outing.

X) eXplore: Try something new from the Kansas City calendar on KCParent.com.

Y) Yum: Check out our Kids Eat Free Guide on KCParent.com and take the family out to eat.

Z) Zero: The number of days you’ll be bored with all of the above ideas!

Kristina Light’s girls spent many days in strollers exploring museums and bookstores as infants … and now they share that interest with their mom.