6 field trip ideas for homeschooled toddlers
Somehow summer flew by. I know y’all feel what I’m talking about. Thankfully my toddler and I had quite the adventurous summer. We took several field trips this summer which included lots of exploring and learning. Use the guide to cut down on time planning time as you’re preparing for this upcoming year with your little.
Go to the library: Visiting our local library is one of our favorite FREE places to go. They host several classes for various age groups. We thoroughly enjoy the ones tailored to my toddlers age so she can attend and participate. Some of the classes offered include sing-a-longs, STEAM activities, preschool story time, arts and crafts and so much more. Check your local library to see what events they may be hosting throughout the month. Another great thing about the library is there wide variety of books, puzzles, and learning games. Use your library as a teaching partner. There’s much to explore.
Children’s Museum: There are Children’s Museum located all around the world. We’ve been to the in Buffalo, NY and Washington, DC. Both are very interactive yet different experiences. It didn’t feel like we were repeating the same journey. The Children’s Museum does a great job at providing unique hands on experiences for children. They, too, offer STEAM activities to engage children. Plan ahead as you may need to order tickets in advance.
Spend time in nature: This is another free activity you can easily do. And you likely won’t need to travel far! Exploring nature together gets you out of the house, allows you to breathe in fresh air and gets your body moving. Go to the playground and hop on the swings. Go on a walk and observe what you see. Find some freshly fallen leaves or find a flower to bring home and create an art project. Trace the leaves or draw the flower then display your artwork. Plant some seeds and watch it grow. There’s so much you can do in your backyard. Get creative.
Visit the Zoo/Aquarium: Naturally, visiting a zoo or an aquarium is a fun activity to do with toddlers. I think it’s safe to say most adults are still captivated by seeing live animals. Would you disagree? This fun activity is also an easy learning environment. Ask questions like what animal do you want to see most? Which animal is your favorite? Share your answers with them as well. Then take the week to learn about your favorite animals together.
Go to a themed park (Kings Dominion/ Six Flags/ Busch Gardens/ Disney World): Theme parks are centered around the thrill of riding rides and cooling down by the waterparks. However, you can still embrace the learning environment theme parks provide. Before or even after your visit challenge your little engineer to redesign a roller coaster out of legos or blocks or whatever they can imagine with. Allow your little artist to practice their skills by drawing their favorite cartoon character. You can also talk to little one about facing their fears by trying new rides or hugging one of the characters.
Ride public transportation: I didn’t know riding the metro would be such a fun activity until we hopped on one. That hour long trip was the best experience for my little. Plan a trip and instead of driving take the Megabus or the plane. Plan a day out in your area and include riding the metro or train. Talk about various modes of transportation then allow them the experience. I definitely believe my toddler was more excited about her first metro ride than visiting our actual destination.
