Museum

Zoo

Library

Farm

Nature hike

Planetarium

Aquarium

One phone call can often net you brochures and even discount coupons (always a bonus to any parent!) Next, discuss with your kids what you and they both expect from the day. How long will it take to arrive at the spot from your home? How long will you be there? Are you visiting more than one place? If possible, plan your visit for off-hours or times of year. An atmosphere less busy will be a big plus.

Don’t overlook eating arrangements and bathroom facilities, especially if the spot you are going to is a large attraction. Will you be eating there, at a restaurant, or packing a lunch? The latter is my personal favorite, and I even go as far as working the menu into the trip. For example, a trip to the zoo included a packed lunch of different fruits and vegetables that several different animals around the zoo would include in their regular diet. My youngest son planned this out ahead of time, after he spent time looking up several of the animals he knew he wanted to make sure and visit while we were there.

Are there specific rules that need to be followed for the attraction you are going to? Many museums have a ‘No Camera’ policy. Nature areas often have rules pertaining to ‘Off Limit’ areas. Even if going for a hike in your own backyard area, use the opportunity to discuss basic safety and ‘do’s and don’ts’ about the outdoors.

Do any special activities at the attraction need to be worked around? Many farms and even zoos and aquariums offer special feeding times. Feeding a dolphin, or being privy to a calf nursing can be not only a fantastic learning experience, but also just plain old fun! Museums often have hands on areas. By doing just a bit of investigative work beforehand, you are sure to get the most learning and fun out of your visit.

Also, think of some questions that you want to ask your kids during the visit to get their minds going. How much does an average elephant weigh? What time period does a certain artist come from? Are the cows at the farm dairy or beef? What is the difference between a star and a planet? Why do some ‘twinkle’ and the other ones do not?

While in the planning stages, also plan for any follow up activities. Don’t let the learning end just because the day is over. If you used the library to research anything beforehand, make an after trip stop in. Have them look up that artist whose sculpture they liked, but never heard of before. Are you now being bombarded with questions? Have the kids make a list and for the next few days, let them see how many answers they can discover on their own.