Activities for single mum and 1 year old DD

[CherryBlossom100]

Hi everyone am trying to plan some nice activities to do with my DD next year for her Christmas present as she already has so many toys bought by family. Does anyone have some nice ideas? Am planning on 1 per month and already have a splash pool in Guildford for January, a model steam train ride in May, Southend seaside in July and panto in December. Does anyone have any other suggestions? She will start the year at 14 months and finish at just over 2. Was thinking about maybe a theme park or other ideas. We are based in Essex but would travel a little way out for lovely activities. Thanks in advance.

That's a lovely idea.

There are quite a few pottery cafes near me so may be your way, you paint a piece of pottery together or do foot/handprints on it.

How about a farm, Godstone Farm is lovely (in Surrey) and you can spend all day there (but not sure how long it would take you).

Peppa pig world in September? You used to be able to get quite a good deal with an overnight stay

Colchester zoo, Clacton Pier (it has a soft play that’s lovely) Walton beach and pier is lovely in the summmer too, not too busy and a sand beach, don’t know if is any good but check out “Story time in the Forrest on Facebook, they are mainly north Essex I think but they do lovely little book themed groups, find a local Forrest school there are lots, messy play, the 3 foot festival is usually in June in Chelmsford, a day out with Thomas at the East Anglia Railway museum, get to ride some big trains, took my one to the festive one last year and she loved it!

At this age not a lot,she won't remember unless this is more for you.Going out regularly to the park,feeding the ducks is better and save the more expensive stuff for when they are older and can really enjoy it.
Maybe start next Christmas with something like the Santa Express.

Misses the point...

What splash pool in Guildford please? I live down the road and would be interested!

If you fancy a lovely trip to the Isle of Wight there are some fab places there or Brownsea island tonsee the red squirrels?

Mouikey www.guildfordspectrum.co.uk

Thanks for all of the lovely ideas. I love Isle of Wight too but think I’ll save that one for when she’s older.
I love the pottery and story in the forest ideas especially.

I'm in Essex too.
Have a look on the east anglia pass website on Facebook; they have loads of good places with children and some amazing savings.

@CherryBlossom100 not sure where you're based but my DN loves Hadleigh rare breeds farm, we also took her to Colne valley steam railway, they have days with certain characters - we went to the paw patrol one, they also have a mini railway you ride on. Colchester zoo is nice or if you drive and are willing to go a bit further whipsnade, Woburn abbey or port lympne are more Safari park types. We took DN to the Norman castle at Stansted mountfitchet this summer but she's three now, she enjoyed climbing up the towers, trying on some of the armour/helmets and helping demonstrate the giant catapult (water balloons) and they have goats, deer and chickens just roaming around that you can feed, there's also an area for picnics

Little farm yard with petting area? (Cuddling a rabbit would be just as exciting as seeing an elephant for both of mine when they were that age).

Pottery painting (for when she's closer to two).

A trip to a new park/playround.

At that age most kids prefer lower key activities rather than theme parks and big days out.

Gullivers kingdom (there's two branches) if down in Devon I recommend crealy theme park

Ooh meant to say Latham's for strawberry picking in the summer DN comes out smothered in juice (we told her she had to wait to eat them but then a nice man who worked there told her she was just tasting them to make sure they were good ones and it was ok 🙄) . The places I've mentioned other than the Safari parks are all Essex based so doable on a budget and as a day trip especially if you drive