The older Charlotte gets, the more fun we have. Yes, we are constantly on the go and plenty busy, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. This summer has been a blast so far. With my Charley Bear being the ripe ol’ age of 17 months, she is soaking up every little adventure with such fascination and amusement. It really is the best to see her explore new things and then to see the reaction that comes along with it. Because we live in Texas (hello, heatwave), sometimes our outdoor activities are limited, but we find the fun in anything and everything we do. Here are our top five favorite activities that we are loving this summer, and I bet you and your toddler will love them, too.
Along with playdates, mini-me dates are always times I cherish. Charlotte and I hop in the car for some mommy & me time and find a favorite place to sit and eat to get out of the house and out of the heat. Chick-fil-a is of course a favorite.
One of my favorite things to do with the whole family is to sit outside on our patio and enjoy some fresh air. Most of the time when we’re out there, the husband is grilling our dinner. It gives us the perfect chance to put Charlotte in her swing and spend some quality time together relaxing. Charlotte absolutely loves it. You can find the same swing here.
Swimming lessons are also practice for the real deal. Because if we do get a chance to hop into a pool, we take it! You should, too. We love some fun in the sun.
We love getting some fresh air, getting some exercise, taking our pup for a walk, and enjoying the views of our neighborhood lakes with our little tot. She is so fascinated by the animals she sees, like the ducks in the pond, the dogs barking, and the birds chirping. Find a trail near you that has a nice breeze in the evening with tons of scenery for your little babe to enjoy. I always make sure to have water on hand. But because this Texas heat and humidity is no joke, I’m on the search for a fan to clip to her stroller. We sure don’t want to give up these walks.
Another favorite for rainy days is watching her most beloved TV shows (Mickey Mouse Clubhouse) or movies. Right now she’s at an age where her attention span is good for about 10 minutes before she gets bored. In order to make TV time a little more special (and last a little longer), we pull out her chair and she brings along all of her babies to sit with her. She becomes hypnotized by the one and only wonderful world of Disney. I’m also excited to share with her some of my favorite classics like The Wizard of Oz and The Sound of Music. I have some of the best childhood memories watching those movies with my family, and I can’t wait to share that with my baby girl.
To balance the TV time, we have lots of reading time, too. Thankfully, Charlotte LOVES books. She wants to read anything and everything all at once. Just like her mommy. Here are her current favorites.
Granted, none of these things are new inventions or novel ideas, but they’re plain and simple ways to have fun with your toddler. Still on our bucket list this summer is a trip to the beach, the aquarium, the zoo, and the children’s museum. In the meantime, we’re soaking up each day and filling them with all of our favorite activities. We hope you and your toddler are having an amazing summer, too!
What are some of your favorite summer activities with your mini?
Those are all favorites of ours too! Our favorite family outing we took this summer was by far the children's museum. Kennedy had a ball and it was a major bonus that it was indoors!
We can't wait to try that out! :) It's kind of a drive for us, so it just may be a fall activity once we stretch her awake time in the morning. Thanks for stopping by, Carol!
Charlotte is such a cutie! Great pictures! We love Ten Little Ladybugs too. My son's favorite from when he was Charlotte's age is The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry and the Big Hungry Bear. All of my littles have enjoyed that one, even the ones who don't absolutely love to read. Swimming has been a ton of fun this summer! My youngest middle daughter is old enough now to swim some on her own and let me have a little time in the pool on my own too.
Thank you! We will most definitely put those books on our list. I can't wait until she's old enough to let me have some pool time, too. :)
What a lovely post. Charlotte is absolutely adorable!
I loved these suggestions as there's lots of posts about what to do with older kids for the summer months… but not much for toddlers.
Thanks for sharing (and for linking up to the #SHINEbloghop).
Wishing you a lovely weekend.
xoxo
Thanks, Jennifer! Toddlerhood has its challenges, but it also has been tons of fun. Thanks again for your bloghop!
Hi Kristy! I'm Marifaith from theeangeltree. Loved this post! I have a 2 1/2 year old boy that I've had to keep busy all summer and water/the pool is definitely our go-to outside activity, weather allowing. I love having little "dates" with him…I'll take him to the mall and/or shopping and then do lunch. We love "Noodles & Co.". I treasure the dates we have, as he won't always be so willing to hang with mommy! :)
Nice to meet you!
http://pinklady08.wordpress.com/
Thanks so much Marifaith! I am loving this time with my little girl. I'm so happy to hear that you're still loving these things with a 2 1/2 year old. ;) It's amazing how fast they grow, so soaking up the sweet moments is so important to me. Thanks for stopping by! :)
Those are some of the best times! My girls are now 8 and 10…and while 8 and 10 are my new favorite ages ;) I remember the 2's with much fondness. Such a time of learning and exploring. Everything is an adventure. Thanks for sharing and bringing me back to those times.
Thanks, Crystal! I look forward to life with her being a little older, but I'm definitely soaking up these sweet times right now. I'm glad I could bring back some memories for you. ;)
Oh my gosh, what a little doll!!
She is the cutest ever! I love the idea of swinging while grilling! How fun!
Mia is obsessed with books so that's a must in our daily routine!
Thanks so much, Courtney! Pushing her out there on her swing while her daddy is grilling is one of my favorite things. And books! Yes, we read them all the time. :)