5 Spring & Summer Activities for Wichita Preschoolers {and Their Siblings!}

Now that the days are growing longer and the temps are slowly creeping up, mamas have begun to dream about what fun spring, summer and NOT being sick will bring! For those of you needing a few ideas, I’ve made a list of my favorite cabin fever-busting activities for pre-schoolers (and tag-along siblings) right here in Wichita:

Art Start :: Wichita Art Museumwichita preschoolers
This program {Tuesdays at 10am and 1:30pm} is free for kids ages 3-5, and there is a $3 charge for kids 6+. Munchkins under 3 need to be in a stroller or carrier of some sort, and all kids must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Kids start on the glass bridge while waiting for the class to start. A curator quickly breaks down the behavioral expectations, and they set off through the museum to look at exhibits corresponding with the current month’s theme. The group stops for a storytime/discussion at the end of the tour, and then everyone heads downstairs for craft/project time. Not only are children learning about art, but they learn museum etiquette, too. It’s win-win! Online registration required.

Working Mama Tip :: Admission to WAM is always free on Saturdays, and once a month they host Family ArtVenture – also free!

Garden Storytime at Botanicawichita preschoolers
Every Thursday at 10:30am, children of all ages can enjoy interactive stories, music, rhymes, movement, and a mini craft to take home. Each week will feature a different theme to delight the senses, and help children connect with nature. 

NEW! Summers at Botanica are something special, too! Daily drop-in activities for the kids are offered from 10-2 during the months of June, July and August (free with membership or paid admission).

Working Mama Tip :: On Saturdays in March & April, there will be special events in the children’s garden – the event is free with paid admission ($7 adults, $5 kids, Free for members) and includes a bounce house, dress-up, forts, and crafts!

Sedgwick County Park :: Boundless Playground
Our neighborhood playground is the easiest option, but for a change of pace, we love the Boundless Playground at Sedgwick County Park! There are different age-appropriate sections, so little brother {not quite 2} can still have fun while big sister {almost 5} is playing on the “big kid” equipment. There are covered picnic areas for lunching, and there is a lot of sand (and sometimes water) – so don’t wear your church clothes! If you can tear your kids away from the playground, there are fun walking/stroller trails and neat new “photo” feature, too. Find the Memories Park and snap pics of your kids in an old pickup, riding a {stationary} bicycle built for two, or perched atop a giant rocking chair!

Riverside Park and Zoo
Those of us who grew up in Wichita probably spent a lot of time in this downtown park which dates all the way back to the 1880s! Of course, the famous {infamous?} rocket slide is out of commission now, but with the addition of the Celebration Plaza splash park, you won’t hear too many complaints. The wildlife exhibits display 25 species in 8 cages, and are tons of fun for little ones to scout. There are playgrounds, a half-mile walking path, and if you’ve got any spare bread the geese and ducks are always up for a snack! The bathrooms, however, get an F- if you are potty training or in need of a diaper changing station – be prepared to drive to a nearby diner or do a back seat diaper change!

wichita preschoolersTot Tuesdays @ SCZ
Another fun free activity for the Pre-K set is offered at the Sedgwick County Zoo. Pre-registration is NOT required, and while the material is geared toward ages 3-5, siblings of other ages are welcome. Classes meet the 4th Tuesday of each month from 10:30-11:00 a.m. in the Cargill Learning Center. Again, I like to make a lunch date out of it & tour the zoo with my monkeys afterward (a zoo pass is well worth the price tag!). If you’re looking for something a little more substantial, Ewe & Me is a class for 4-5 year-olds lasting 90 minutes and including a zoo walk, storytime, and take-home craft {$8 for members/$10 for non-members}.

Working Mama Tip :: Many other evening & weekend family activities (Sunset Safaris & Pajama Parties) are also offered for a fee – click here for a full schedule!

Erin Bartel
Erin is a marketing consultant in Wichita KS. She spends her days helping local businesses and non-profits navigate the ever-changing waters of digital marketing and homeschooling her kids. She and her daughter also own Sassy Squid Ink, an imprint designing notebooks, journals, and sketchbooks. Married to her college sweetheart and the mother of 2, Erin's hobbies include bribing herself to exercise, traveling with (and without) her family, and trying to remember where she hid the chocolate.

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