Dear San Francisco Mom,

Lol, I know what you mean! Once they start walking, they want to run and run and go, go, go! In this process they begin to slim down and take on less of a baby look, and before you know it they are toddlers! The more things you start doing with him now, the better, especially if your goal is one good quality nap and 12 hours of sleep a night!

At 16 months a typical toddler is self-centered, demanding, into everything, moody, and pushing for independence. I always think of the time between 15 months and 28 months as a preview for the teenage years. This is also when we learn how to evaluate which of our parenting skills are working, and which need adjustment for surviving the years to come.

When your son is out, it will be typical for him to just play inside his own little bubble, leaving you to explore and play, but coming back to recharge, only to break away again. Don’t expect him to play with other kids yet, as he is too involved in his own expanding universe to notice others, unless they interrupt his focus. Also, don’t expect him to share at this age; it is not natural and can’t be taught yet. In fact, if you can, I would suggest buying two of any toy you plan on taking to the park. What you can do at this age is teach “gentle hands” and model kindness.

I know you asked for ideas outside of the house, but I know there are times when you are home that he will need to burn some of this extra energy too, so first here are some ideas for inside!

I would definitely check out my recent post on what toys are great for 12 month olds; these toys were chosen to grow with your toddler during their second year, so they aren’t just for one year olds! In addition to the toys listed, I would buy a tunnel for inside. A tunnel provides a great place to hide as well as roll and be silly! You can roll balls through it, put it under your dining table, or add it to a pillow-and-couch-cushion obstacle course!

To go with the tunnel, get a pop up play tent. There are so many out there to chose from, but my favorites are the ones that aren’t plastered with television characters. A simple tent in the shape of a castle or circus bigtop is gender neutral and will grow with your child while encouraging him to use his own imagination. Now you can use the tunnel as an entrance to the castle! A tent is a great hiding place as well as a wonderful place to cuddle up and read a book. Use this tent inside, outside, or when you go to the beach!

The last thing I always tell parents to buy for younger toddlers that are just starting to walk and climb is an indoor climber. This will be an extremely valuable piece of play equipment for you as well as your son! It will offer an appropriate outlet for the excessive energy your toddler has, and encourage muscle development. Some toddlers are born “climbers,” and some are not, but they ALL will, at some point, try to climb on precarious household objects. To help distract and redirect this behavior, a climber offers a safe option for your toddler that is all his own! (Add a slide and you’re set for hours!)

When it comes to San Francisco, we are blessed with almost a whole year of weather in which we can play outside. Here is a list of AskaNanny favorite playgrounds for ages 12 – 24 months, as well as some other activities from around the city for those rainier months!

“Where have all the babies gone?”

Playgrounds in San Francisco appropriate for 12 – 24 month olds:

I think a great playground for a young toddler consists of a few attributes: not too many big kids or babies, lots of sand, a good size area just for running around, and an appropriate climbing structure.

(Click on each name for maps and more details from GGMG.org)

The Moscone Recreation Center or the Marina Playground: (Chestnut Street btw Webster & Buchanan)

If you go to this playground before the end of the school day, it’s all toddlers, all over! The climbing structure is nautical themed and may seem a bit tall, but there are many entrances and exits that work with each age and ability level. There are four bucket swings which are great, but its best feature is loads of sand!!! Just to get to it you need to climb into a pit, which on its own is a wonderful challenge! I also like that there are varied ground covers: concrete, safety rubber surfacing, sand, and grass. Located behind the park is an enormous playing field just perfect for running and kicking balls around. Another bonus to this park is it is directly connected to the library which has one of the best Toddler Tales in the city (but more on that later!).

Alamo Square Playground: (Steiner Street and Grove Street)

I like this park because it has a toddler section that is fenced off from the main playground, so if you pay attention to keeping the gates closed, you can take a minute to breathe – maybe! The climbing structure is a reproduction of the Painted Ladies, which you can view while standing within it. You can find loads of sand here, too! Four bucket swings are safely located away from the structure. I also like that the playground is surrounded by trees, so it’s shaded most of the year.

Upper Noe Recreation Center: (Day Street between Sanchez Street & Church Street)

This playground is definitely great for 16 month olds because of the amount of toddlers that congregate there! Even on cool foggy days there will be a sprinkling of three or four brave caregivers and their little balls of energy! Most of the equipment at this playground is appropriate for toddlers, but big kids do show up after school, so beware! There are four bucket swings and a great wooden climber with many different entry points and a double slide that’s just the right height! There is an okay sand box, and the surfacing is mainly rubber, which can get a bit hot in the summer. For me, the best part of this playground is less the play space, and more the other areas of the recreation center encompassed within the city block. There is an indoor play area open to toddlers daily which really does help on those days the fog turns to rain. And for the sunny days their soccer field is large and fully fenced in! My favorite place to play though is the basketball court (bring lots of balls), which has high walls on three sides and benches lining the fourth, so your toddler never goes chasing a ball anywhere out of your sight!

Rossi Playground: (Inner Richmond: Edward at Arguello Boulevard)

I like Rossi Playground because the toddler section is pretty separate from the big kid section. There are two bucket swings and a great wooden climbing structure. I really love the space actually connected to the toddler playground, where there is a good sized hill of grass. You don’t find this too often, and it’s a nice feature! It’s also completely enclosed, so you can let your toddler run free with a ball and not worry too much! Rossi Playground is also part of a Recreation Center and has humungous soccer fields which are great too! This playground is last on my list because it doesn’t have sand, but the grassy hill and the beautiful tree that all the kids climb within the play area make up for that oversight! (Although I would still like to write to the city and complain – no sand?? Come on!)

“Oh great now it’s going to rain for 2 months!!”

Great indoor activities for 12 – 24 month olds in the Bay Area:

SF Library Events: Toddler Tales

There are the good and not so good versions of this weekly sing-a-long throughout the city. I give the librarians credit, as entertaining a bunch of cranky cooped-up toddlers is not easy (and some people are just better with older kids). But there are some real gems sprinkled throughout the city that all parents should know about. These are the types of programs I have spent 20-30 minutes on Muni with a toddler to get to – they are that good.

The AskaNanny favorites are:

Park – 1833 Page Street – Haight Ashbury – Tuesdays, 1030-11am

Noe Valley – 451 Jersey Street – Tuesdays, 1015-1045 or 1100-1130am

Marina – 1890 Chestnut Street – Mondays, 1015-1045am

Make sure to tell us your favorites on our Facebook page!

Habitot Children’s Discovery Museum: Berkeley, CA

I LOVE this discovery museum for toddlers. It is so appropriate! Some of it’s best features are:

It is small, which means you can do it all in a morning before nap or lunch.

Its small size makes it manageable for your toddler (and you can’t lose him if he decides today’s the day to be chased!).

They have a wide variety of creative drop-in classes.

There’s just a “you can do it” atmosphere throughout the place!

If you live in the city, it’s worth the trip over the Bay Bridge!

Muir Woods: Mill Valley, CA

Even on a foggy day, Muir Woods is perfect for an active toddler. The paths through the redwoods are paved, which means you can bring your stroller (not that you’ll use it!), and the atmosphere has a calming effect on even the most energetic toddler. Fall is the time of year I love the most to go to this beautiful national monument; the summer tourist season is just ending and it’s still warm enough that the shade of the trees is a welcome respite.

AcroSports: Toddler Play 639 Frederick Street, San Francisco, CA

AcroSports offers a great 1 hour open-play option on Thursdays from 1-2pm. I love this space because of its no-nonsense gym feel, as well as its central location! At $5 for the hour, it’s an affordable rainy day option, and a great idea for a playdate! This drop-in playtime is also a great way to get your little one excited about joining a more structured older toddler class. (Bonus: the perfect activity to ensure a night of quality sleep!!)

I hope you enjoy sampling the wonderful activities our city has to offer for young toddlers! Enjoy him and his energy – jump, bounce, and run along with him and you will feel like a kid again too!

Stef