Cheap/free days with toddlers?

[Toppppopp]

Just some ideas really! Feel like we do same old but I am part time so alone with my 3 and 1yo 2 days a week (husband is with us weekends ) so we do lots of days out but with christmas coming and both birthdays being close to Christmas, I need to be mindful of money this month

I struggle a bit as my youngest is now refusing her pram but tries to run off then my eldest gets excited and laughs snd tries to run too so sometimes it feels like im just running after the and I panic when they do this out and about

It might help if you could share roughly where abouts you live OP? There are some suggestions that would apply to most places, things like feeding the ducks, going to the park, toddler mornings at soft plays can be really cheap, a walk to collect sticks/leaves and then craft morning in the house with the bits you found, christmas card/decoration making etc…

But some areas have quite a bit of free/cheap stuff on. So for example where we are there is a local community farm with quite a few animals, free to enter and you just pay £1 if you want a bag of animal food to give them, my toddler loves going and it’s a couple of hours fun out the house for £1.

There are also quite a few free activities in the town here, free entry museums which have quite a bit in for kids including little soft play/play cafe type set ups, an art gallery in our town also free entry has a little soft play area for kids, there is a book place the same too that is free but does events for kids

Get some reins for your youngest. And your eldest if they can't be trusted not to run off as well.

Libraries often are good, church hall playgroups are often enclosed and good for bolters! Museums that are free or you pay once but get a year's entry. Wacky Warehouses do monthly play pass with sibling discount so can work out quite cheap too!

Find all the parks and woods in your area and get out there. Do scavenger hunts or learn the names of trees and birds.
Find local toddler groups. Churches often run them.
Find what your local library does. They may have some activities.
Look on your council website for free activities for toddlers.

Check if there’s a Mumbler in your area - their websites are packed full of ideas.

General tip - you don't have to over think or over plan with under 5s. The same ol' same ol, might be a bit boring for you - but the toddler will love it. Frankly the cheaper the better. Don't build things up as 'This will be amazing' as that always leads to disappointment. Keep things simple. A friends used to take her kids on the double decker bus into town, buy them a pack of sweets and come home again. They'd count red cars or dog walkers or similar. One afternoons entertainment for the price of her bus fare and 2 packs of sweets.

Libraries are good for story times throughout the year.

Ask on you local Facebook groups too for activities and groups.

Our local library is good. Get the bus if you usually drive will kill and few hours.

parks etc with puddle suits l

local museum

bikes

If you are in London ( or other City) I used to find early afternoon at the science ( the garden) or natural history museum absolutely fab. The school groups had left and the helpers were so kind and friendly. DS has just got a first in a pure science from Oxbridge, I like to think the foundations may have been laid on cold November afternoons in South Ken.

Have you got a city farm? There's two in our city and they're free to get into.