Those that live in cold weather/snow and don't use FT daycare...

sunandsand

How often do you get out with your DC??

DS goes to a sitter 2 days a week (1 full day, 1 half day). DH takes him to a play group for an hour on Wednesdays. I take him out once on the weekends...either to lunch or an indoor playplace (tunnels, slides, etc).

Thats pretty much it. I don't take him to the grocery store or on errands, I do that on my own time. I kind of wish there was more to do with him in the winter but there really isn't for his age.

It's going to be a loooong winter. 

 

emberlee3

DS is in DC 2-3 days/week right now.  I can't stand staying in the house all day, so unless the weather is really awful, we go out every day.  We go the playground or take a walk outside if it's 35 or above.  If it's colder, we go to the library (storytime or just read books).  We walk around the mall or Target.  There are a couple of coffee shops with toys.  Sometimes we run errands just to have something to do.

rebus82

Do you not take him on errands because he fusses, or just because you prefer doing them alone? If I didn't take B with me to stores, I'd be royally fvcked during crappy weather.

The weather here isn't horrible, but if it snows you can forget going out because people drive like they've never seen it before. Otherwise, we go out nearly every day for an hour or two. He (and I) get stir-crazy just sitting at home. Even just walking around Target - even if we don't need anything - keeps us from getting cabin fever. We go to various stores, sometimes buying stuff, sometimes grabbing a snack at the snack bar, sometimes just wandering aisles and "talking" to one another about what we see on the shelves. 

We go to the library sometimes and he runs around the kids' area. Not often because he tries to pull everything off the shelves, but if we're desperate for something to do and we really can't spend money it's a nice option. We went to a fancy health food/grocery store last week just to see what there was to see, and ended up having a lovely time sampling some yummy cider, buying some fruit and juice, and otherwise just doing something a bit out of the norm. We worked on his fruit recognition while there, so it was educational too.

We aren't part of play groups or anything because our schedule is so different from most younger child families (we're night owls). We try to take him to see his cousin (six months older) once a week or so to get a bit of socialization (she needs it too) and that's nice.  

12bailey18

We don't get out much either. We live in a very small mountain town. There's not much to do here. We do go to play group one day a week. I save the errands for when DH is home on the weekends and we all do that as a family. We may run an errand or two during the week but for the most part we just stay in.

DTNZ4Ever

The library, the Y to go swimming, sometime we just go to my parents house they are retired to have a change of scene, we go for walks if it isn't too bad out.

amy5162

I take LO to playgroup on Wednesday's.  I take him to the grocery or wherever else I have to run.  We go on lunch dates every other week or so.  On the weekends we do outings as a family and go to lunch, etc.

hisaak

I SAH, and we try to get out at least once a day still.  As long as it isn't too cold (under -10F or so) we still generally play outside for a little while (even if just for 10-15 minutes) and we always head out one other time - whether to a play date, play group, running errands, or just running the hall at the local mall.

Both of us go crazy if we are home all day!

kelbrian

We don't use any daycare. I watch a baby twice a week, so I take DD with me over there. We generally have play dates on those days. I take her to the grocery store, to Target, pretty much every where. We also go to the zoo (when it's warm enough - high 30s and up), the library, the children's museum, the aquarium, out to lunch or to Starbucks for a girl's day.. Sometimes we just hop on the train and go on an adventure. We also still go to the park when it's not freezing out.

I will also be taking her to story time at our local library starting next month. Could you look into programs like that at your library?

mtnrider

hisaak:

 As long as it isn't too cold (under -10F or so) we still generally play outside for a little while (even if just for 10-15 minutes)...Both of us go crazy if we are home all day!

This.  Even if it's below zero he needs a little fresh air and a change of scenery every day, even if all we're doing is shovelling snow.

SusieQ1982

We go out Monday for a Babyfit class, Tuesday to do grocery shopping, Friday for playgroup, and Saturday for lunch out with Grandma and Grandpa. We go to the park the other days if it's not too cold and windy.

nurseamy

DD goes to daycare 3 days/week.  I don't always work those three days (I am a nurse and so some weeks I work 2 week days, some 3 week days). One of those days she won't go if I am home, or I will bring her and pick her up early and during that time I try to run the errands that are harder to run with her (bank, post office, sometimes groceries).  the other days we go to stroller strides workout class (currently at a mall)...afterwards we run errands in the mall, or play in the play area.  thursday afternoons she has physical therapy so that uses up some of our time.  if we have free time we get together with friends and their kids.  I want to start taking her to the library also.  Unless it is actively snowing or she's sick, I will usually take her out.