Helena Activities for Toddlers and Parents

HELENA Activities for Toddlers and Parents

Finding activities for toddlers can be tricky. Sports, camps and classes are often reserved for children ages 3 and above or are riddled with big kids unaware of the tiny humans underfoot. Luckily, Montana Parent has sleuthed out some of the most toddler-friendly activities in Helena.

Every parent’s goal is to wear children down with fun and educational activities, and to tire them out so they can’t fight nap or bedtime. Let your child burn off energy by taking them to toddler hour at the Flying Giant Trampoline Park. Toddler hour is on Thursdays from 10–11 a.m. and is a perfect way to meet other families with kids the same age. Besides toddler networking, you and your kid can jump together on a variety of different foam pits, trampolines and climbing walls. The cost is $11, including one child and one parent. Can’t make toddler hour? They offer the toddler-friendly soft play park that was specifically built for children ages 6 and under.

The Lewis and Clark Library recently finished their renovations and are back open to the public.

The new kids’ area is jam-packed with things to do. While the 3D printer may be a little advanced, the play kitchen, reading cubby holes and fun chairs will spark your child’s imagination. In addition to being a great place to hang out (with a coffee shop), the library offers FREE classes a few times a week.

» Books & Babies is a program designed for babies from birth through 18 months.

This 20-minute session is structured around songs, lap rhymes, fingerplays and stories. » Toddler Tales is for kiddos 18 months to 3 years old. Your tot will spend a half-hour dancing, singing, rhyming and reading. Activities in this class are designed to help toddlers acquire fundamental knowledge such as shapes, numbers, colors and more. » Preschool Story Time is interactive and geared toward children ages 3 to 6 and is an energetic class that brings out the lifelong learner in all of us. Your child will have a great time and get to take home a craft for later. Win-win. Visit lclibrary.org/ to find times and classes. Siblings are allowed to attend classes, so it’s perfect for families with multiple children. Just outside of the library is one of the best toddler parks in Helena. Make a day of it and picnic at Anchor Park, followed by playtime inside the fenced playground. Bonus activity: End the afternoon by doing a nature walk down the Walking Mall (race twigs down the streams, find pinecones, cool leaves and more), take a make-believe trip on the trolley and end with an ice cream cone from the Big Dipper.

Cherry Park is hands down the best toddler park in Helena. This play area offers two toddlerfriendly zip lines, musical instruments and equipment sized appropriately for children ages 5 and under.

Montana Wild is located on the 5-acres overlooking Spring Meadow Lake State Park. The education center has something to do for all ages. The Montana Wild staff will take the time to teach little ones about Montana’s wild animal population and, more often than not, always has a handson craft or exhibit to participate in. They offer monthly classes, including bat walks around the lake and more. Learn more at www.fwp.mt.gov/education/montana-wild.

Spend the day exploring the Great Northern Center in the heart of downtown. The outdoor space is fun to climb on, bang on the chimes, or explore the water feature with animal statues.

The open area is perfect for outdoor play and a picnic, followed by ice cream and a carousel ride. The Great Northern Carousel is a whimsical place for young children. Once they’ve entered, little minds can wander as they climb atop bison, grizzly bear, cut-throat trout, all carved by a renowned Disney carver. While riding the carousel, make sure to collect the plastic rings and throw them into the circus bear catch net. If you get the metal ring, you earn a free ride. The carousel has more than two dozen flavors of Montana-made ice cream, which are sure to please teethers and toddlers alike. Ç After the Carousel, walk the 50 feet over to Montana’s best children’s science museum, ExplorationWorks. This place offers two levels of hands-on activities, all geared for young minds. Preregistration is recommended to keep families COVID safe. We highly recommend bringing an additional T-shirt (probably throw in pants, socks and shoes to be safe) as the water table, (while being one of the best features of the center), can get kids messy pretty quick.

Lastly, because we can all use new friends, we highly recommend the MOMS Club of Helena. This group of amazing women is a chapter of MOMS Club International, which offers Moms Offering Moms Support. They are an engaged group of moms who often do fun activities together, like toddler play dates in the

Thank you to Blair Fjeseth, our local Helena resident and mom of toddlers, for putting this together. Be sure to read Blair’s column in Montana Parent each month, Keeping it Real and follow her on Instagram @blair_mt for more adventures.

And don’t miss... The Painted Pot » Open seven days a week » www.paintedpothelenamt.com (406) 388-4988