Aquarium/zoo age?

[cece]

At what age do you think a visit to the aquarium or zoo would be fun and not a complete disaster?

[redheadbaker]

We got a membership to the zoo when DS turned 2, and he loved it. We wanted to go to the aquarium over this past summer but I was unemployed and admission + parking was priceyn

[cece]

Oct 1, 2014 10:11:21 GMT -5 @this said:

I'm taking 16mo DD to the zoo on Sunday so I'll let you know! lol

Also I am totally bringing a child leash.

Excellent!  Hope it goes well!  

I am dying to take DD to the aquarium but DH and a bunch of our friends keep saying don't bother until at least 3.   I am tempted to anyway, but what the hell will I say of we go and it turns out to be the total suck?  Oops my bad?

[shellbear09]

We just went to an aquarium and had fun (17 months). We took dd to the zoo at 10 months which was fun but I'm much more looking forward to it this fall when she will be running around. At this age I don't think she is up for an all day thing but a few hours is usually great for an activity.

[thebreakfastclub]

I still haven't taken my 19 month old to the zoo. He has enough fun at Pet Smart, going to a nearby lake, etc that I don't see the need to spend $$$ and commit to a drive across town. Maybe next summer.

[YahYahs]

Something magical happened with DD1 around 3.5yo. Amusement parks, the aquarium, etc., all became SUPER fun with/for her.

[brooklyn]

We went to both around 15 months. Jack preferred the aquarium. And we totally put him on a leash! @this

[cece]

Oct 1, 2014 10:18:17 GMT -5 thebreakfastclub said:

I still haven't taken my 19 month old to the zoo. He has enough fun at Pet Smart, going to a nearby lake, etc that I don't see the need to spend $$$ and commit to a drive across town. Maybe next summer.

Yep!  This is exactly what DH says.  And maybe I should visit Pet Smart more since it is right next to Target and TJMAXX.  

[thebreakfastclub]

Oct 1, 2014 10:21:42 GMT -5 cece said:

Oct 1, 2014 10:18:17 GMT -5 thebreakfastclub said:

I still haven't taken my 19 month old to the zoo. He has enough fun at Pet Smart, going to a nearby lake, etc that I don't see the need to spend $$$ and commit to a drive across town. Maybe next summer.

Yep!  This is exactly what DH says.  And maybe I should visit Pet Smart more since it is right next to Target and TJMAXX.  

We don't even have pets, LOL.  DS has fun looking at the birds, fish, lizards, etc.   I call it the free zoo.

[cricketwife]

I'm dying to take DS to the zoo or aquarium, but sadly we have neither where I live. Sad panda. (He's too young anyway....)

But PetSmart....there's an idea I can get excited about ladies! Thanks!

[kitty]

Even at 3 my DD is more interested in running around the aquarium and trying to get other kids to play with her than she is in looking at the fish.

The zoo went better for some reason.

Good luck!

[cece]

Oct 1, 2014 10:24:44 GMT -5 @vicmo said:

I feel like at 15 months, ds is really interested in things like tiny ledges or climbing in and out of the stroller or banging on glass or eating a snack. The actual location of these activities appears to be irrelevant. So I wouldn't take him to the zoo or aquarium unless it was close and cheap/free. If I really wanted to go for myself, I might do it?

We went to a (free) ren faire and a ($$$) highland festival this year and I'm not sure ds noticed. Oh, he liked the lemonade at the highland festival and the pile of dirt at the ren faire.

Valid.  And neither are cheap or even close by for that matter.  

[Deleted]

We took j to the aquarium at about 4/5 months and he was fascinated by the bright colorful fish. We wore him in the ergo and were only there for about an hour/hour and a half. It was definitely worth it though. He wasn't too interested in the larger animals like seals and penguins but loved the fish tanks. We plan to take the girls in the next few weeks once we wrap up all of our outdoor fall activities.

The zoo wasn't as big of a hit until j was about 18mos or so. Before that he liked some things but didn't get too excited about it.

[greencrayon]

We have a membership to a local science museum/zoo/aquarium and A loves it. She doesn't get that they're fish or penguins or goats or whatever, but she loves watching the colors and such. We mostly go because I love it, lol. She's 8 months. We went to the big state zoo last week and she slept the whole time in the ergo.

[thatgirl2478]

We took DD1 to the zoo & wildlife park around 15 - 18 months or so (before she was 2) and she LOVED it - maybe she didn't understand everything, but she loved running around & looking at stuff. Sure 3 yr olds get a little more out of it, but younger kids like it too!

[stretchad]

We took DS to the aquarium at 12 months, and the petting zoo at 12 months. He loved the petting zoo. Aquarium was fine, but for the price I don't think we'll go back for a while.

[arch01]

We took DS right after he turned 2 and it was a waste of time/money. He really didn't care. Petsmart on the other hand... I have taken him there a couple times and he enjoys it for about 10 minutes. It shows me that he still isn't up for a huge outing.

Our local aquarium recently started a kids get in free day and adults are a reduced price, so for $14 we'll try it.

[catbus]

Pretty early, really. We've had zoo and aquarium memberships since E was right around 12 months old, and they've both been big hits. Having a membership helps, IMO, because there's less pressure to make every visit "worthwhile." We go to the aquarium for 1-2 hours on a weekend morning once a month or so. Zoo less often, just because it's not as close to home, but same concept--fairly quick visits without the pressure of seeing everything. 

[blueberry10]

DD started enjoying the zoo around 18 months. We have a membership now and I love being able to drop in for just an hour or two and not feel pressured to see everything/do everything/stay long enough to make the $$$ regular admission worthwhile even if she's getting cranky. At this age, it's hard to tell if she's going to be fine for a long visit or lose her cool after only an hour!

We took her to the aquarium for her 2nd birthday, and she seemed sort of interested but didn't seem to like it as much as the zoo.

[jenn248]

We took DD to the zoo for the first time around 18 months and she loved it. I think she would have enjoyed it a couple of months before that as well. We haven't been to the aquarium yet, but it should probably be on our to-do list.

[mpc]

DS is 18 months and I'm just waiting another month or two for it to cool down a little. We took him to a farm recently and he loved the animals there.

[mrs07]

My DS has loved the zoo since he could toddle. If you'll have your car there, I don't really see the big deal, just pack 'em up and leave...you can't expect to 'do' everything in a trip to the zoo with a tot. We had a membership and went weekly, and I think the only animals we always saw were the elephants, his favorites.

[jr009j]

We started taking DD1 to the aquarium/zoo at 6 months and she was fascinated by the fish in the aquarium. She started loving the butterflies at the zoo around 10 months. She didn't really get into the animals until 18 months. Now at 2.5 she loves all the things at the zoo.

[ladygrey]

We took DD to the zoo for the first time when she was 13 months and it was great. She was very interested in the animals, and loved standing next to the glass enclosures watching the penguins, gorillas, and tigers. It was a bit of a pain to take the stroller in a crowded area, but still better than carrying her or letting her walk.

[Deleted]

I am taking DS to the national aquarium next week, he's 2.5. I expect his attention to last about 2 hours, which I bet is like 1/8 of the whole aquarium. I'm sure I'll be sad that I won't get to see more of it!

[cece]

I am thinking maybe the aquarium over the zoo right now.  I know there are parts she would enjoy but it is so big I know we would never get through most of it...and is that worth the cost?  I am leaning toward probably not.

[Deleted]

We just went to the zoo for the first time this past weekend, O is 14 months. It was really fun and she loved it!

[holly116]

I've done all of these thing really early but they're all 15/20 minutes from my house. We've had a zoo membership since DD was 6 months old. It's a nice play date/place to walk around for an hour or two, our zoo is really great, the membership isn't expensive and is partially tax deductible. Same thing with the museum. I got our first membership when DD was a year and no longer free. It's a children's museum though and there's a ton for kids of all ages, the under four section is basically a large indoor playground. Perfect for crappy or cold weather and when I was pregnant and needed to let my toddler run around in a safe and controlled area lol.

We've only had the aquarium membership one year because it's a 1 hour long activity and kind of expensive. But I think my little kids enjoyed it. We may get it again this winter because I think both boys would like it and we can go when DD is at preschool.

[cinco]

We had a membership to the zoo and aquarium around the time DD1 turned 1. DS and DD2 have always been toted along. I think any age is great, but after 2 they really get into it.

[hermione]

We've been going to the zoo since C was 2 weeks old. It's never been a disaster. Even when she wasn't really interested it's a good place for me to get some walking in or her to run off some energy.