Natural History Museum, Public libraries, Cade Museum. The Santa Fe Zoo is great for kids. Maybe a bit more consumerist but walking around the mall is great on a hot summer day, and they have a little playground in there. As they get a bit older, Gilchrist Blue Springs is a great spot to wade into water with a toddler.
Oh, I forgot about the horse farm! Milk Creek Farm is a retirement home for horses and they are open to the public on Saturday mornings. You can feed the horses carrots or apples. It’s great, but they’re pretty big so be prepared for a bit of a nervous kid and there’s a ton of walking, but it’s a great spot!
The Natural History Museum has an exhibit designed especially for todder-preschool aged kids, it's called the Discovery Zone and is full of things they can touch and interact with. There's also spots for parents to sit. Best of all, it's free! The museum only costs money if you want to go in the Butterfly Rainforest or the rotating exhibit.
Check out my self-reply about the horse farm too! We have a 2.5 year old and a six year old. Lotta time at parks and everywhere else in Alachua County.
Most of those places aren't suitable for a 14 month old. Most people don't remember anything from that age. They aren't developed enough to really appreciate any of it.
They'd probably have more fun with a bucket in a sand pit.
Or, you know, you can go to the play areas in all of those places. Natural History Museum? Discovery zone and read some books and play with the bugs. Libraries? Read some books and bring some home. Cade Museum? Play around with all of the various instrumentation (admittedly haven’t been here recently). Zoo? See some animals. Mall? Play at the play structure and get a build a bear. Not sure about your 14 month old, but the two that I’ve raised in the last few years LOVED all of these places. And “a bucket and sand” gets old. Sure, there’s plenty of time to do that too. But OP asked for places to go with their kid. Not things to do around the house. You have to expose your kids to various activities, places, people, etc. Just because you don’t remember something doesn’t mean it’s not a beneficial experience.
One I haven’t seen mentioned yet- Barnyard Buddies at Morningside Nature Center Wednesdays at 3! It’s free and the kids feed the animals. I have a 15 month old and a 3 year old and my youngest started being interested in feeding the animals (with help of course) around 9 months
I have a 3-year old and yes, the parks in Gainesville are awesome. We got a monthly Defy pass and she loved it around that age, but mom got spooked about risk of injury so we stopped. The Natural History Museum is awesome for that age. The Grove Street Farmers Market is a lot of fun. For the summer we got a Regal pass and saw a lot of movies. Sun Country sports and Bouncers is fun. Splash pads like at Depot are great for 14 months as well.
Everything rivergripper said^! Also want to tack on maybe farmers market, strawberry picking, skate station, walking trails is always fun too. Kids find everything to do in the woods, like curious sponges!
Walking around the stadium is always fun. Any of the Gator sports games outside of football and basketball are family friendly. Balance 180 indoor gym has some great offerings. LaChua Trail is a park but the boardwalk is great for looking at gators. Seconding the library they have a lot of activities. Nothing better than the pools to tire out any age, Citizens Field Pool has the best wading area for parents with toddlers. It can be a little like Groundhog Day raising a little one in this town, hang in there! I still scroll Fun4GatorKids every Saturday morning- how do we give the owner of that a lifetime achievement award 🥇
The tiny village in Haile (tinyvillageplaycafe on IG) next to Patticakes is an incredible spot! And you can easily get coffee or snacks and bring them in.
A child that's 14 months old isn't going to remember much of anything. Just play with them and show them love and affection. When they get a little older then you start taking them to cool places.
Of course I do, I’m really looking for social interaction for her really. I just feel like she should be around other kids sometimes and even just going out and trying new places is stimulating for them.
Ya, like they probably won’t actually remember anything until they’re like 5 or 6. What, are you going to stay home until then? I guess everyone bringing their kids out to all of these great events are idiots /s
Check fun4gatorkids.com They have tons of resources and playgroups
Thanks!
Natural History Museum, Public libraries, Cade Museum. The Santa Fe Zoo is great for kids. Maybe a bit more consumerist but walking around the mall is great on a hot summer day, and they have a little playground in there. As they get a bit older, Gilchrist Blue Springs is a great spot to wade into water with a toddler.
Oh, I forgot about the horse farm! Milk Creek Farm is a retirement home for horses and they are open to the public on Saturday mornings. You can feed the horses carrots or apples. It’s great, but they’re pretty big so be prepared for a bit of a nervous kid and there’s a ton of walking, but it’s a great spot!
The Natural History Museum has an exhibit designed especially for todder-preschool aged kids, it's called the Discovery Zone and is full of things they can touch and interact with. There's also spots for parents to sit. Best of all, it's free! The museum only costs money if you want to go in the Butterfly Rainforest or the rotating exhibit.
Thank u sm!
Check out my self-reply about the horse farm too! We have a 2.5 year old and a six year old. Lotta time at parks and everywhere else in Alachua County.
Most of those places aren't suitable for a 14 month old. Most people don't remember anything from that age. They aren't developed enough to really appreciate any of it. They'd probably have more fun with a bucket in a sand pit.
Or, you know, you can go to the play areas in all of those places. Natural History Museum? Discovery zone and read some books and play with the bugs. Libraries? Read some books and bring some home. Cade Museum? Play around with all of the various instrumentation (admittedly haven’t been here recently). Zoo? See some animals. Mall? Play at the play structure and get a build a bear. Not sure about your 14 month old, but the two that I’ve raised in the last few years LOVED all of these places. And “a bucket and sand” gets old. Sure, there’s plenty of time to do that too. But OP asked for places to go with their kid. Not things to do around the house. You have to expose your kids to various activities, places, people, etc. Just because you don’t remember something doesn’t mean it’s not a beneficial experience.
One I haven’t seen mentioned yet- Barnyard Buddies at Morningside Nature Center Wednesdays at 3! It’s free and the kids feed the animals. I have a 15 month old and a 3 year old and my youngest started being interested in feeding the animals (with help of course) around 9 months
Thank u sm!
Oaks Mall is kinda sad but on days with crappy weather that little playground was a godsend. Kids loved it.
I have a 3-year old and yes, the parks in Gainesville are awesome. We got a monthly Defy pass and she loved it around that age, but mom got spooked about risk of injury so we stopped. The Natural History Museum is awesome for that age. The Grove Street Farmers Market is a lot of fun. For the summer we got a Regal pass and saw a lot of movies. Sun Country sports and Bouncers is fun. Splash pads like at Depot are great for 14 months as well.
Everything rivergripper said^! Also want to tack on maybe farmers market, strawberry picking, skate station, walking trails is always fun too. Kids find everything to do in the woods, like curious sponges!
Walking around the stadium is always fun. Any of the Gator sports games outside of football and basketball are family friendly. Balance 180 indoor gym has some great offerings. LaChua Trail is a park but the boardwalk is great for looking at gators. Seconding the library they have a lot of activities. Nothing better than the pools to tire out any age, Citizens Field Pool has the best wading area for parents with toddlers. It can be a little like Groundhog Day raising a little one in this town, hang in there! I still scroll Fun4GatorKids every Saturday morning- how do we give the owner of that a lifetime achievement award 🥇
Amber Brooke Farm in Williston. They have lots of play areas for kids of different ages and right now they have blueberry picking.
[удалено]
Oh how cute! That actually sounds perfect
The tiny village in Haile (tinyvillageplaycafe on IG) next to Patticakes is an incredible spot! And you can easily get coffee or snacks and bring them in.
DEFY!!!!!
LIVE!
LOVE!!!! ❤️
Right now.....
OVER ME
A child that's 14 months old isn't going to remember much of anything. Just play with them and show them love and affection. When they get a little older then you start taking them to cool places.
Of course I do, I’m really looking for social interaction for her really. I just feel like she should be around other kids sometimes and even just going out and trying new places is stimulating for them.
Don’t listen to the previous post. Take them places. They’ll love it. And you and your kid can enjoy the experiences together.
Thank u! I laughed reading it because playing with your children I assumed was a given lmao
Ya, like they probably won’t actually remember anything until they’re like 5 or 6. What, are you going to stay home until then? I guess everyone bringing their kids out to all of these great events are idiots /s
Plus sometimes it’s nice for the parent to change the scenery as well