6 Places That Hold Free (or Nearly Free) Events for Toddlers

Toddlers are active, like, super active and they need to constantly do something every second that they are awake. During the summer it is easy to let them run around the backyard or at a playground but as the weather gets colder we lose those options. So what can we do? If you're anything like me, you're trying to keep your toddler entertained without always having to open up your wallet. I'm here to tell you it is not as hard as you would think to find free, toddler friendly events near you in fact, you may not have to look any further than your local mall.

6 Places That Hold Free (or Nearly Free) Events for Toddlers

Your Local Library

Don't sleep on your local library. Chances are your local library has story time multiple times throughout the week. My local library has story time broken down into different age groups. baby story time for children 6 months to 18 months, toddler story time for children 18 months to 3 years and preschool story time for children 3 years to 5 years of age. The latter also makes a craft. 

Barnes and Noble

Did you know Barnes and Noble bookstores across the country hold free story time events on the weekends? Upcoming story time themes include Jack Frost vs. the Abnormal Snowman and Frozen 2. Sundays are for baby story time, ages 0-24 months, currently they are featuring a different Sesame Street character each week; upcoming baby story time characters are Elmo, Cookie, Abby and Big Bird. Sometimes Barnes and Noble will hold character meet and greet events, last spring we were lucky enough to meet Madeline!

Target

Today Target held an in-store, Paw Patrol themed, trick or treat event from 10AM to 1PM. This is not the first time Target has held an in-store event, for the past few years in March to celebrate Read Across America they've held a Dr. Seuss story time in store complete with free, take-home activity sheets. While they are not as frequent as other stores or as predictable, Target does announce an in-store events throughout the year so be on the lookout. 

The Disney Store

Recently I shared all of the events the Disney Store has planned for the next two months. They are often holding free events where children can color, interact with characters on screen, dance and sing along to their favorite songs and so much more!

Pottery Barn Kids

This was a surprise to me! I had no idea PBK held in store events. First they hold weekly story time, they often hold events where you can make crafts and I see on their schedule for November alone they are holding TWO Disney themed tea parties! The first being Toy Story on November 9th and the second, Frozen on November 16th. The website does not say how much these tea parties are but states that proceeds will benefit St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.

Michaels 

Michael's Kids Club is a crafting event held weekly for ages 3 and up. Each week there is a theme; Halloween frame, Snowman ornament and things of the like. This event costs costs $3 to cover the materials used.

This winter take your toddler to your local mall to check out some of the offered in store events, while we're on the topic of malls, most have playscape areas for toddlers to run around and climb on different structures. If you're really lucky your mall is one of the few that has a Disney Junior Playzone. Have you taken your toddler to any of these events? Is there a store near you that holds events that I missed? Tell me in the comments! 

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