One of my favorite things to do as a mom is curate experiences for my kids. It’s nothing like hearing “ Mommy, I had so much fun” or “when are we doing this again” after creating a memory with them. I want to make sure they enjoy and experience everything. From traveling to a simple daily activity. We either, intentionally or un-intentionally, want to raise our kids two way: Giving them they type of life you experience as a child going up OR the complete opposite in which we are trying to give them what we didn’t have.
For me, it’s both. We grew up taking few family trips or doing anything as a family at all (besides going to church). I grew up envying other kids and talk about the things they were doing. My parents did what they could and I greatly appreciate that but has a parent myself I can want different for mine own. My sister and I love planning trips for the kids. She as a 3, 5, and 12-year-old. Summer vacay, thanksgiving and Christmas is planned around the kids and always months in advance. We have our own adult trips, but this isn’t about me right now lol.
Let’s be honest it doesn’t take a lot to entertain a toddler but here are a few things I constantly love doing with the kids:
1. Children’s Museums – One of the many things to love doing when my 12-year-old was younger and will continue to do with my 1 years has he grow, Children’s Museums! I LOVED taking him to the different children museum whenever we went to a new city because they’re all different. However, they all offer fun, engaging, and educational things to do for young kids.
2. Toddler play centers – I love play centers that cater to the little human! Everything is just so cute and depending on what that center offers, it teaches the independence
My 12-year-old, when I am working on things for him, I focus on thrills, water, and personal time.
1. Water Parks – He loves water parks! We have been to so many, and it caters to both kids. We mainly focus on indoor/outdoor water parks that offer multiple attraction to get a bang for our buck. I listed some of our favorites below.
a. Great Wolf Lodge (Multiple US locations) – I will never not recommend this place for kids of all ages. We go once a year. Its an indoor waterpark with arcade, character meet & greets for kids, daily activities such as story-times and dance parties, mini bowling and golf, build a bear, and so much more!
b. Kalahari (Round Rock,Texas) – This place is amazing and worth it. It has the same concept as great wolf but on a bigger scales. While great wolf is cater toward kids Kalahari is for everyone! And the indoor amusement park is just as big as the their indoor waterpark.
c. Tropic Falls at OWA (Foley Alabama) – This a great family day location with outdoor shops, restaurants, and coaster.
2. Family date night – Being an only child for so long and it being just the two of us after I moved away from home for work and my sister moving away as well for her job, he craved being around family (This broke my heart for a long time. Story for another day). So, he just loves when we’re all together doing anything as a family. It could be taking a walk, and he just loves it. So, once a week, my partner and I make sure to carve out family outing/night rather it be game night, movie night or bowling (his favorite), we try to make sure he gets that connection.
3. Cruise – Now, we have only been on two cruises (Disney and Icon of the Seas), but my son LOVED them and did not want to get off. He’s always asking when we’re going on another. So, in the future we are going to TRY (because life comes at you fast sometimes) to go at least one a year, even if it just a quick weekend one.
I created a travel planner to help stay organize with the many ideas and trips we think up instead of compartmentalizing it all or having thousands notes in my phone and tab of social. I allow me to plan multiple trips at a time and stay organized.
At the end of the day, we don’t need to be experts at this. Our kids just need us to be there and present. Curating experiences for my kids is just another way of saying “I want to spend time with you. Let’s make some memories.” My 12-year-old remember so many of the things and places with have been and done from when he was younger and that make me so happy to give him those memories.
