[MARBAR]

We're visiting the Villages on Jan 10, 11 and 12th to check things out and our daughter is meeting us with our grandson. Are there any activities we can take advantage of that might include a 1.5 year old such as parks, wading pools etc? Thanks for responding.

[Ohiogirl]

Playground near Sonny's BBQ in LSL. Can park a car or golf cart across the street (behind Sonny's) No wading pool but all the family pools (just like the adult neighborhood pools) have wide shallow steps - an adult can just sit on a step and play with a toddler. Bring swim diapers and floaties or lifejacket. Supposed to just be allowed to bring a plastic pail - but would think you could get away with bringing a couple of bathtub type toys AND a pail, or maybe some plastic measuring cups or something similar. Today is warm enough for a poolday, but might not be while you're here - January is the coldest month historically.

My grandsons - 2-1/2 and 5-1/2 will be visiting on Martin Luther King weekend, thinking of taking them to Silver Springs if it happens to be warm and maybe the Carriage museum and/or Homosassa Springs state park near Crystal River if it's cooler. They also love to ride around in the golf cart, even just taking them to the grocery store is fun. Got seat belts installed for the golf cart. Have to admit I can only handle one at a time at the grocery store, need help to take both of them. Guess I am out of practice, or getting old (or possibly is it both? .

They also like chasing geckos on the patio of our CYV and using sidewalk chalk there, along with cars and trucks, etc. Indoors, Playdough keeps them busy for awhile if you have a non-carpeted area available.

While digging out zoysia sod today along my CYV wall, thought of another activity for when they come. I have really sandy soil, almost like a sandbox. Going to get some sandbox toys and clear an area of my planting beds for them to play in - figure even after I have it all landscaped there will be a spot big enough to clear mulch out of and have them have at it. Can take their cars and trucks out there too.

[Tbugs]

By all means, have seatbelts put in your golf cart BEFORE the grandchild comes and insist that it is worn. Having the toddler on your lap or on a passenger's lap is an accident waiting to happen.

It is ridiculous to see what some grandparents allow. I actually saw one child around 6 or 7 standing in the golf club area in the back of a golf cart and he was strapped in by the bag holders as the grandparent was going along at around 20 mph.

[JenAjd]

I'd be careful about letting kiddos dig in the sand of your yard. Fire-ants reside and the bites aren't something to be trifled with. Kids visiting here would be just as if visiting your home elsewhere. What others here have posted are all good ideas.

[redwitch]

My grandson is 17 months. He LOVES the golf cart. Take him outside and he makes a beeline to it. He could sit in it all day if I let him. Doesn't matter if it's moving or not. I have taken him to the park in LSL. It's great at his age, but not so much for 4 and older -- too small not enough stuff there. The boat ride around LSL is also fun.

[MARBAR]

Thank you all so much for your help. I'm sure we'll find that park near Lake Sumpter Landing as well as some of your other suggestions. Happy New Year!

[graciegirl]

Russ?

[Ohiogirl]

Originally Posted by JenAjd

I'd be careful about letting kiddos dig in the sand of your yard. Fire-ants reside and the bites aren't something to be trifled with. Kids visiting here would be just as if visiting your home elsewhere. What others here have posted are all good ideas.

Good point - I will check carefully when I clear out my sandbox play area. At least in our small CYV backyard it's pretty easy to do a check. Plus I just had it treated a couple of weeks ago.

When I lived in Houston in a previous life, my then 5 yr old daughter had some bad fire ant bites - I also stepped in them a few times. Here I think I've gotten bites about 3 times (I'm always digging in the yard somewhere, or pulling zoysia grass roots out from under - and they don't seem to be as painful as the Texas ants, plus the last time (I got about 10-15 bites) they seemed to be even less painful and smaller - do you build up some kind of semi-immunity?

[downeaster]

Originally Posted by MARBAR

We're visiting the Villages on Jan 10, 11 and 12th to check things out and our daughter is meeting us with our grandson. Are there any activities we can take advantage of that might include a 1.5 year old such as parks, wading pools etc? Thanks for responding.

If you want to use any of the rec facilities you will need guest passes. Take a look at: http://www.districtgov.org/idservices/idServices.aspx