What Do You Do for Fun with Your Toddler?

I hear that the splash pads are fun. There is on in Lombard on St. Charles and then there is Ty Warner Park in Westmont. They have a park, sand play area, covered pavilion, and the splash pad. Google ty warner park and you will find it.

I like the four season park on Main and 16th street. The little kids area is nice and it is shaded, except for the swings.

The Arboretum is always fun, the kids area is really nice, it has some water areas so take extra clothing.

Cosley zoo is great and free.

I know that Borders in Oak Brook and Wheaton have a reading time and day. They read a book to the kids and then do a craft. Not sure which day, but I'm sure you can call them. Great for a rainy day.

Have fun this summer!

Check out meetup.com to find a playgroup in your area. Maybe you can join for the summer since it sounds like you're off for the summer only. When we don't get together w/ our playgroup (2-3 x per week) these are things we do (my son just turned 2, and I'm due in Oct. w/ #2 also!):
-Dupage Children's Museum
-Morton Aboretum (tons of kids stuff, $9 to enter for an adult)
-Water the plants & flowers in the backyard (he loves this!!)
-Play w/ toys in the house (he's extremely social but he's also content doing this sometimes, though I know not all toddlers are)
-Go to a pool or waterpark
-Go to the play area at the mall (if there is one)
-Go the the zoo
-Do a little project (we just did one for Daddy for Father's Day)
-Go to Target & then out to lunch (not all toddlers are good in shopping carts, though, so I don't know if this will work).
17mo. isn't too young to get her into a hobby. My son started watering plants & gardening w/ Daddy a few months ago & loves it. I also recently let him start helping me cook (minor, harmless things in the kitchen). Good luck!

DuPage Children's Museum is a fun place for toddlers. With gas prices being ridiculous, Cosley Zoo and Philips park zoo are nice alternatives to Brookfield Zoo and can keep the attention of toddlers, because they are smaller and not so overwhelming. Last summer, when my kids were 2 and 4, I let them play with shaving cream on cookie trays and they had a blast. Just have to make sure that she wouldn't try to eat it. Congratulations on Madeline and your new one. Mine are 18 months apart so I can relate to the closeness in age. I love it as it has worked out nicely! I think ty water park may be near you as well and that could be fun for the summer. I think it is mostly sprinklers and the floor is squishy. It is outdoors.

I'm mostly homebound with a sick daughter so not rife with suggestions, but want to share a website recently launched by two good friends (and book group cohorts):

www.kidwinks.com -- "The site to know with kids in tow!"

I'm the SAHM of two girls, six and four, with a third due in July...in a near NW 'burb. We loved MUSIC TOGETHER* at the same stage you're in (my second began the program at five wks...as a non-paying participant!).

*Check out www.musictogether.com for local instructors (we much preferred this program to others like it).

Baby pool for the backyard, bubbles, chalk and the park are all nice things to do with toddlers. Check your local library for story time and the park district for tot open gym. Have fun!