As things open up across the St. Louis region, families with toddlers are sighing with relief. After months of making stay-at-home fun with your rambunctious little ones, you can finally get those cooped-up kids out of the house for some summer fun! Here are some ideas for fun and safe things to do in the St. Louis area with children ages 3-5 years.
Fun Activities for Pre-K Kids in the St. Louis Area
Go to the Park
St. Louis offers a wide variety of parks in the area; from Forest Park to Tower Grove, all of the parks are perfect for you to spend with your kids. Best of all, it is free! Parks are perfect for all ages, including toddlers because there are limitless things to do.
St. Louis parks are very spacious. Being outdoors and having plenty of room makes it a safe and easy environment for social distancing. Forest Park has just reopened their restrooms for public use from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. They recommend that visitors bring hand sanitizer and use it often while enjoying the park. They also require masks for entry. They will be providing touchless water bottle fillers as well.
Visit Attractions
St. Louis also offers a wide variety of attractions such as the Zoo, Six Flags St. Louis, the St. Louis Aquarium, and much more. All of these offer a wonderful experience for kids of all ages. Here is some information to help you plan your visit during summer 2020.
The Saint Louis Zoo
The St. Louis Zoo is open to guests by reservation only. Attendance is still free. Visitors over the age of 9 are required to wear face masks while in attendance. They will also be limiting their attendance to help maintain social distancing.
Read About the Zoo’s Reopening Guidelines
The St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station
At the Aquarium, employees and guests over the age of 9 will be required to wear masks, but may remove them when practicing good social distancing (6ft apart or more), or when eating and drinking. Guests will also be required to reserve tickets in advance, for there will be limited capacity to make social distancing easier.
Read the St. Louis Aquarium’s New Protocols
The City Museum
The City Museum is open 7 days a week. Walk-ups will be accommodated while tickets are available, but reservations are strongly encouraged. Museum attractions that do not allow for proper social distancing remain closed for now, but there are still plenty of opportunities for your tots to climb, slide, explore, and play.
Read the City Museum’s COVID Update
The Magic House
The Magic House is welcoming families back for all-day play. They require reservations to limit capacity and help support proper social distancing. Visitors over the age of 9 are required to wear a face covering unless medically exempt.
Read About the Magic House’s New Procedures
Green Rivers Greenway
Have fun this summer doing the Life Outside Challenge! There are 40 activities to choose from – do 20 of them and you earn a bag full of goodies. The challenge starts July 1 and runs through September 30.
Read All of Green Rivers Greenway’s Details Here
Sign Up for Summer Camp
Thanks to a lot of planning and coordination by program providers and the community, St. Louis summer camp season is ON for 2020! St. Louis area summer camps offer supervised environments where young children can have fun while learning important skills.
A good summer camp program for Pre-K kids generally offers:
- Space for your child interact with peers
- Environment for active play
- Character building activities
- Development of skills through discovery
Early childhood summer camps offer a great opportunity for little ones to build character and confidence. Since camps targeted toward preschoolers tend to be shorter than camps for older kids, they can maintain the focus of younger campers so they stay active and engaged.
The Perks of Early Childhood Summer Camp
Fun Fact: The saying, “happy camper,” got its name from children’s camps because children are happy when they are at camp.
A Preview of Preschool
Summer camp is a great continuum of your child’s school routine. For tots who have not yet entered a school environment, camps are an opportunity to sneak a peek at what’s to come such as having a more structured day, following class rules and learning to organize their personal belongings.
Social Skill Building
Summer camps are a great way for preschoolers to learn to interact with other children. This is especially great for youngsters who have not had many opportunities to hang out with others their same age. Be prepared for your child to tell you all about their new friends!
Testing the Waters
With so many great options available, you are bound to find a summer camp that meets your preschooler’s interests. Camps also give kids an opportunity to try something completely new or hone a life skill such as swimming.
Taking a Break
For tots, attending a summer camp can offer a lesson that it is okay to be separated from mom and dad. St. Louis area camps offer short time spans of engaged activity while maintaining a safe space for children to be curious. Taking a mental break from parenting to “recharge” is a perk for adults too!
Find Summer Camps & Activities for Your 3-5 Year Old
Sending your toddler to summer camp is a big decision. Choosing the right camp is even bigger. Use Blueprint4Summer’s free and easy search app to find the perfect local summer camp for your toddler’s needs and interests. Click on the button below to start your search today!
