The weather outside is frightful and the snow isn’t so delightful… memories of snowmen and sledding seem magical and nostalgic, but reality is often something quite different if you’re home with little children and it’s cold or snowy. Entertaining small children without cabin fever setting in is a challenge. Fortunately, there are many family-friendly venues in Kansas City where you can enjoy a winter’s day of learning, exercising and beating the winter blahs!
Cultivate a Love of Learning
Young children learn best when the opportunities are hands-on and engaging. These venues offer FREE educational outings for little ones:
- KidScape at the Johnson County Museum (6305 Lackman, Shawnee, KS. 913.715.2550 www.jocomuseum.org) is a FREE hands-on child-sized city. The exhibit features a hospital where children pretend to be a doctor, city hall with cars and trucks, theater with costumes and a real stage, shops with items the children can sell, and a park with tot-sized mini golf and fishing. Kids love to play and explore the adult world through their eyes.
- Crown Center’s Animal Tales and Trails (2500 Grand, KCMO. 816.274.8444 www.crowncenter.com) is a FREE exhibit for children at Crown Center Feb. 4-April 29 during regular shopping hours. Children learn about the most interesting creatures as they join the polar bear in his cave and help him ice fish, slide down the penguin iceberg slide, jump with the kangaroo on a small trampoline and much more.
- Library Story Time. Your local library is one of the best places for young children. Offering lap time for infants and toddle time and preschool story time for older children, librarians engage kids with books, snacks, crafts and games. Check your library’s calendar for additional events, including puppet shows, children’s concerts and special holiday programs. Read our Storytime Guide to find a story time near you.
- Visit a Local Museum. Whether you’re home with a baby who is too young to talk, or toddlers who are beginning to explore, many local museums offer a great outing for mother and child. Spend an hour exploring the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (4525 Oak St., KCMO, 816.751.1278 www.nelson-atkins.org) with little ones in strollers (for toddlers, bring a copy of our Nelson-Atkins Scavenger Hunt), or take your tikes to the Toy and Miniature Museum (5235 Oak St., KCMO, 816.333.9328 www.toyandminiaturemuseum.org) where many exhibits are at stroller height. Visit right after mealtime when children are content and spend an hour or so before you go. Refueling mom’s think-tank can be just as beneficial to your family as an afternoon of abc’s for your child.
Walk on the Wild Side… favorite winter animal outings!
We often think of petting zoos and parks as a summer outing, but many venues offer indoor animal exhibits that are perfect for less-crowded cold months:
- Visit the Zoo! The Kansas City Zoo (6800 Zoo Dr., Kansas City, MO, 816.513.5800, www.KansasCityZoo.org) is open year-round. In fact, winter is one of the best times to visit, as the animals are especially playful and the zoo isn't crowded. The indoor exhibits at the Tropics, Discovery Barn and Snake House are great on chilly days, and the highlight of your trip will be a visit to the Polar Bear Passage, where your little ones delight in watching Nikita swim and play right before their eyes! Pack a picnic and eat inside as you watch Nikita’s antics. Bonus: Weather permitting, enjoy a ride on the carousel or train for more fun.
- Animal Watching at Local Nature Centers! Kansas City is home to many wonderful nature centers, but these are some of our favorites: Burr Oak Woods (1401 NW Park Rd., Blue Springs, MO, 816.228.3766 http://mdc.mo.gov/regions/kansas-city/burr-oak-woods-nature-center), one of our favorite outings on a cold afternoon. You’ll meet an animatronic Smokey Bear teaching children fire safety, see a large aquarium of Missouri's fresh water fish, snakes, turtles, toads and more. Best of all, they offer wonderful free educational programs for the family, including Babes in the Woods for infants and Little Acorns for preschoolers, with hands-on activities kids enjoy. Lakeside Nature Center (4701 E. Gregory Blvd., Kansas City, MO, 816.513.8960 www.lakesidenaturecenter.org) is home to some of the best animal exhibits in the area, with falcons, owls, eagles, toads, frogs, fish, insects and wonderful exhibits on the animals in our city and in our homes. Lastly, Prairie Park Nature Center (2730 Harper St., Lawrence, KS, 785.832.7980) features reptiles, amphibians, birds and mammals, as well as a hands-on center for preschoolers, including nature puppets, puzzles and activities. Looking for more? Read our article, "Exploring Nature" to find a center near you.
- Window Shopping… or not! If your children love to watch fish swim, they’ll enjoy visiting Cabela’s (10300 Cabela Dr., KCKS, 913.328.0322) or Bass Pro (Olathe: 12051 Bass Pro Dr., 913.254.5200 and Independence: 18001 Bass Pro Dr., 816.795.4300), each home to large aquariums with fish and animal exhibits. Toddlers also love trips to the local pet store where they can watch birds, fish, gerbils, puppies, kittens and bunnies as they play. You may even be able to visit during pet feeding times or demonstrations for more fun!
Get the Wiggles Out!
Children need to exercise and play, but that can be tough when it’s too cold for the backyard swing set. Consider a day of swimming or indoor play!
- Go for a Swim! Kansas City boasts dozens of terrific indoor pools (see KC Going Places for listings), from lap pools to full indoor water parks complete with slides, lazy rivers and more. Best of all, many offer terrific toddler areas and you don’t have to worry about big crowds if you swim while school is in session. Our three favorite inexpensive but fun-filled options are: Matt Ross Community Center in Overland Park (913.895.6350), Legacy Park Community Center in Lee's Summit (816.969.1550) and The View Community Center in Grandview (816.316.4888).
- Indoor Play: Inflatable play places, gyms and local churches with indoor play equipment and coffee shops for moms are popular places for play dates. See KC Going Places to find a great play place near you!
Kristina Light loves to combat cabin fever with visits to the library and local museums.
