🌼😎 The 2023 Toddlers Around Town Field Guide

A lot for activities for our amazing tiny tots.

Author

Elise Entzenberger
October 11, 2023

The 2023 Toddlers Around Town Field Guide

Toddlers are known for meltdowns: frustration, hurt and a need to feel in control. But they are also melty in a loving way: toddlers are kind and curious, they love to laugh and have fun, they have real empathy and a deep desire to help. It’s impossible to not smile at them.

A toddler is coming into the full range of their feelings, and in a sense, their full range of being. They remind us adults (sometimes triggering us into remembering) that the most human experience is to feel, to express, to be with our whole hearts.

For this reason, I believe toddlers are tiny royalty among us. It’s an honor to witness and love a toddler, to teach them and learn from them, and to provide new experiences for these vibrant, new individuals.

Library Storytimes

A librarian reads books aloud and guides activities for the kiddos at the local libraries. Free!

📚Smithville Public Library Storytime
🕰 10:30am Wednesdays
📍507 Main St. Smithville, TX 78957

📚 Bastrop Public Library Preschool Storytime
🕰 10:30am Wednesdays and Fridays
📍1100 Church Street, Bastrop, Texas 78602 

📚 Elgin Public Library Bilingual Storytime
🕰 10:30am Wednesdays
📍310 N Main Street, Elgin, TX 78621

Garden Kids

Come play, make stuff and explore art at the Smithville Community Garden. An outdoor, educational hangout for kids and their adults.
🕰 10:30am Fridays
📍107 SW 2nd Smithville TX 78957

Daytime Playtime

Texas Aces and Cheer hosts Daytime Playtime at their Smithville location for young children who need an outlet and for their parents who need some adult interaction. Texas Aces coaches man the floor while the kids play so parents can take breath and have a chat. This program is for ages 0-6 years old. They have fun stations, bounce house, and soft mat section for little babies.

🎟 Pricing
Drop-in class, $7 per child.

🕰 9:30am Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Grown up & ME!

Hosted by Pathways Gymnastics in Bastrop, Grown Up & Me! is a class for children ages 0-3, with their adult, plus music, games, and brain pathway opening activities. Balance, rolls, jumping, gripping and more!

🎟 Pricing
This class is not drop-in, but set up more like a monthly class membership. $45 annual membership fee plus $60 monthly for four weekly classes. Choose from one of the class times below.

🕰 5:45pm Thursdays, 11:30am Fridays, 10:30am Saturdays

Dinosaur Park

🦕 The Dino Park features realistic life-size dinosaur exhibits ranging from the 2-foot long Compsognathus to the 123-foot Diplodocus. The realistic statues show skin and color variations to show how the dinos really looked when they were alive.

A tree-lined nature trail, fossil-dig, playground, picnic area and Dinosaur Store make this spot educational and fun!

🦖 Open:
Wednesday - Sunday
10:00am to 4:00pm - Last trail entry at 3:30pm

Open on most school holidays. See calendar for more details.

🎟 Admission:
- Adults and Teens: $11.00
- Children (ages 2 - 12): $10.00
- Children 23 months and under are FREE.

Note: Prices subject to change without notice and admission tickets are not available for purchase on-line.

🦮 Pets: are allowed, but must be under 30 pounds and leashed. Owners must clean up after their dogs.

RC’s Playhouse

🧩 RC’s Playhouse is Bastrop’s very own indoor playground for children under 10 features a special smaller playground geared towards ages 4 and under, with a cushioned climb, a giant bubble, several fun simple obstacles, multiple activity panels and a double slide.

They also have a gated crawler's section for little ones (ages 23 months and under) to play in safely and have fun in a soft environment! It includes an Exersaucer, and activities suitable for crawlers. RC’s also has an activity center with a table and chairs, puzzles, books, magnets, educational activity boards, and other toys.

☕️ Free wi-fi, a comfy couch and free coffee for adults while watching the kids play.

🧦 Everyone, children and adults, is required to wear socks. If you forget, you can buy a pair.

🎪 Open Play Hours
Monday – Thursday 10 am – 6 pm
Friday 10 am – 4 pm
Closed Saturdays for private parties
Sunday 1:30 – 5:30 pm

🎟 Pricing
$10* per child ages 2 – 10
$7* per child ages 12 - 23 months

Children under one year are FREE!
Please call or email for groups of 10+ children

Socks - $2.
Snacks, juices, sodas and water - $1.

11 and older are free but may only get on the playground when assisting younger children. Parents are also very welcome to accompany children throughout the playground. And, there is no time limit, so stay for an hour or stay all day!


Mom’s Stretching Class and Pound Workout

Aerial arts studio Gravity District hosts two weekly workout classes for moms with tinies. There is no dedicated childcare, but children under age 4 are welcome to hang out in the class, and it’s totally okay if you have to step away from your workout to attend to them at any time, everybody there gets it!

🎟️ Pricing
$28 drop-in class. Class packs and monthly memberships available.

MOPS - (MomCo at River Valley Church)

MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) is a mama’s monthly opportunity to have a meal and a conversation with other moms without being interrupted. MOPS is a faith-based group that meets at River Valley Christian Fellowship on the first Wednesday of each month. You don’t have to be a member of that church—or any church—to join.

At each monthly meeting, childcare is provided by the church nursery while Mama participates in a meal, coffee, speakers, activities, and fellowship with other moms.

They also have a ton of playdates throughout the month, including meetups at playgrounds, occasional clothing swaps, Mom’s Night Out, and interesting events. A few weeks ago, the Austin Police Mounted Unit came out to the church. We met their horses and learned about their training.

MOPS also maintains a very active Facebook group with great information, encouragement and resources.

Yearly dues are $70 per year (totally worth it for the amount of activities) and the amount is prorated if you join later in the year. To join email [email protected] and tell ‘em Mama Network sent you. 😄 

Thank you.

If you found this helpful, please share with a mama who could use this. I create these free guides as a service to other moms like me, who care about building community but are also very busy.

I’ve seen many people share on socials that there is nothing to do in Bastrop County, and that is simply not true! But … activities can be hard to find, especially if you are new to the area and aren’t sure where to start.

If someone shared this with you, congratulations, you have a nice friend. You can subscribe here to get more guides likes this as well as a weekly newsletter with upcoming events in the area, encouragement and tips for living well right here in the pines.

P.S. You might also like our 2023 Pumpkin Patch Guide. Check it out for a full listing of nearby patches, their hours, locations, and pricing. Cheers!