Anonymous wrote:You are very nice to host these parents and their kids...especially as a non-parent. I personally dread guests with small children. It used to be that adults could tell off a child but woe betide you if yoy do that in tgis day and age. I fucking hate kids, but worse are their starry-eyed parents.

Agreed, and I’m a parent.

If these are the kind of parents who think their spawn hung the moon, plan a child-centered day.

If the parents are the kind who thinks kids are just lucky to be along for the ride (like myself), plan an adult day with little child-friendly intermissions (like parks, pastry shops) in between.

One additional suggestion: The Postal Museum next to Union Station. It's designed for kids ages 3 - 5. lunch nearby with lots of options and parents can say "oooh there's the Capitol"

And the Museum is free (like most of them here)

You've gotten a lot of great suggestions, but really think about taking a 3 and 5 year old to some of these places. They'll run off in different directions and give you a heart attack (I have kids these ages and they make ME nervous doing these things). Local parks are good (NOT Clemyjontri or Chesnut Hills, which are too big). Not the zoo. Frying Pan Park is great if you're OK driving them places.
But you can think really small. Ask their mom to bring their favorite things: play dough, chalk to color outside, paper with kids scissors, etc. Oh and my kids love doing nature walks-- go and pick 10 of your favorite leaves, put them on paper and make a leaf book...that'll take some time!

Anonymous wrote:They're 3 and 5. They'll get bored in literally seconds. They don't care about Udvar Hazy, the Portrait Gallery, The Mall, Roosevelt Island, or any of the other tourist crap suggested here.

They're little kids. They'd be happy throwing rocks in puddles and then helping make hotdog-spaghetti squids for lunch.

All these people suggesting really elaborate things obviously don't have kids

I listed a bunch of things upthread. I suggested Udvar Hazy because it's a bit of a drive, so it takes time. Op is trying to kill time, and if it's raining, it's a wide open space for little kids to run around. No, they don't care much about the stuff in the museum, except maybe for the space shuttle I have 6 and 3 year olds, and I stay home with them, so we literally did stuff like this every single day this power summer. The kids are on vacation in a strange house. They can't just sit around and do nothing for 13 hours a day.

People have mentioned a lot of good ideas.

I have wanted to check out Hidden Oak Nature Center.

Anonymous wrote:They're 3 and 5. They'll get bored in literally seconds. They don't care about Udvar Hazy, the Portrait Gallery, The Mall, Roosevelt Island, or any of the other tourist crap suggested here.

They're little kids. They'd be happy throwing rocks in puddles and then helping make hotdog-spaghetti squids for lunch.

All these people suggesting really elaborate things obviously don't have kids

OP here. Yes being bored is my fear.

They're 3 and 5. They'll get bored in literally seconds. They don't care about Udvar Hazy, the Portrait Gallery, The Mall, Roosevelt Island, or any of the other tourist crap suggested here.

They're little kids. They'd be happy throwing rocks in puddles and then helping make hotdog-spaghetti squids for lunch.

All these people suggesting really elaborate things obviously don't have kids

We have museums and a free zoo

You are very nice to host these parents and their kids...especially as a non-parent. I personally dread guests with small children. It used to be that adults could tell off a child but woe betide you if yoy do that in tgis day and age. I fucking hate kids, but worse are their starry-eyed parents.

Don't over think it. Just don't park them in front of the TV or IPad. Pray for good weather and do stuff outdoors. You don't need to do over the top stuff, you just have to get down to their level and play with them and be a kid again. Ask them what do they love to do to have fun and then do it. Just don't hurt yourself.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you hosting their parents as well as the kids?

Yes. From out of town. Sort of along for the ride for whatever we do for the kids.

Go to the zoo - after do lunch at Comet on Ct. (Parent's can talk that they were at THAT pizza place) - take a nap and make thanksgiving styled cookies with the older one.

After nap - go to the playground in McLean that I can never spell correctly. Swing by starbucks for hot chocolate on the way home.

Anonymous wrote:Are you hosting their parents as well as the kids?

Yes. From out of town. Sort of along for the ride for whatever we do for the kids.

Jumping Joeys either in Arlington or falls Church city. You have to make a reservation online ahead of time though.

Udvar hazy. Tons of room to run around. Go up in the watch tower.

Record curious George on pbs tomorrow morning just in case.

Arlington has a bunch of nature centers that kids love. I like the one behind the medical building on S Carlin Springs and the one off Military Rd. Closer to Chain Bridge.

Play area in the Tyson's corner food court. They also have a little train to ride.

Get Duck donuts on Harrison St and then go to Chestnut Hills park afterwards. Quincy park is also great for this age. The kids section in the central library next door is good.

Book on Lee Highway.

Busy Bees in Falls church. Then lunch at chick FIL a and then checking out toys in Target or the animals at pets mart.

Check Pinterest for kids science experiments. They love doing easy experiments.

Bubble wrap. Chalk. Balloons. Cardboard boxes to knock down. Go on a nature walk. Pinterest will have printables for a scavenger hunt.

Early dinner for Mickey Mouse pancake at metro 29 diner or pie tanza.

Barnes and noble in clarendon and the toy store on n Fillmore st both have train tables for kids to play with. My kids love to ride the escalator at B&N.

Postal museum is next to union station. There is alway parking right in front. My kids love this museum. It has a Mack truck to "drive".

Botanic garden is like being on vacation. You can walk around up near the ceiling which kids love. You can get a passport for the kidstonstamp in each area. Indian museum is across the street. Always parking available in front. Cute kids area on the 2nd or 3rd floor.

My kids love the carousel at National Harbor. There is a little play area attached too.

Frying Pan Farm is not too far out the Toll Rd. It's free so no big deal if they don't want to stay long. A few farm annuals to see and tractors to sit on. Also a carousel, playground and hay ride. Sometimes they have horse shows in the
Pavilion on the weekends. Chuck E. Cheese is around the corner as is a drive through Starbucks.

If they are up super early in the Morning, zoo is open. Park on Connecticut Ave to save $22 parking. Pandas are usually out early. There are some free sport just north of the entrance.

Basic play on Wilson.

OP, with little kids, the process is more important than the outcome. So the key to a good time will be to have a good time as you are getting to/from your destination ... and to not fret if you only get one "experience" done.

As adults we are programmed to think that the "destination" is it. But little ones like the ones you will have with you will be more focused on how enjoyable you make the experience. Don't try to do too much. Honestly, most kids that age are thrilled to go to Target. Tell them ahead of time that they can get 1 thing (game, ball, etc) so that their expectations are managed.

Honestly, a breakfast with foods that they like (bacon!), go to the zoo & eat lunch, drive home (they probably will zonk out in the car), then a quiet afternoon at home with some puzzles or a game or a walk to the park or a walk around the block or a walk to get an ice cream cone. Or make cookies (slice and bake is great because they probably won't have patience for scratch) or brownies. Or get play doh or bubble or something similar that you can pull out if they get bored. Dinner, baths, some play and then bed.

Repeat on Sunday with a variation for your destination, or just have an extended breakfast.

Finally, pre-talk is your friend. By pre-talk I mean that you talk ahead of time (in small chunks) about what you're going to do. At breakfast, "we're going to have a yummy breakfast then we will go to the zoo. We will have lunch at the zoo and then come home." At lunch you say "When we're done with lunch we are going to drive home. Then maybe we'll have naps. After our naps we will walk to the park." Etc. Also, when you are getting ready to end an activity, don't just say "okay, it is time to go home" and expect the kids to run joyfully to you and climb into the car. Instead, say "Hey, Laslo and Larla, we are going to head to the zoo in 5 minutes" or "We're going to head home in 3 minutes". The children won't have any concept of time so you don't have to race around after 5 minutes have elapsed but the more times you give a little call out the better off you will be.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What area are you in? Don't stress. We can give you tons of ideas.

Thanks!!!! Arlington. Playground is a fine filler but I have an entire day.

Play ground, indoor bounce houses, a hike at Roosevelt island