Medical

Favorites with Comments

Websites

Dental Pediatric

Bob Coyle

 

 

Lori Henderson “Fantastic kid-friendly office and exam room”

 

Pharmacy

D&H Pharmacy

www.dhdrugstore.com

 

Kilgore’s Medical Pharmacy

www.kilgoresrx.com

 

University Pharmacies/ Green Meadows, Fairview, Veterans Hospital & Columbia regional “Give you better prices and larger quantities to MU employees & dependents”

www.muhealth.org/pharmacy/regionla.shtml

 

Maternity

Clothing

Old Navy Maternity

www.oldnavy.com

Nursing Supplies

Prange Intimates “They have a large selection of nursing bras.  Owner, Jean Prange will custom fit you!”

www.prangeintimates.com

 

D&H Pharmacy

http://www.dhdrugstore.com/

 

Kilgore’s Medical Pharmacy

www.kilgoresrx.com

Nursing Support

Kilgore’s “Ask for Pat Stewart—She’s an angel”

www.kilgoresrx.com

 

Child Care/Education

Sitters

Sitter Solutions

www.yoursittersolution.com

 

Preschool

La Petit Ecole French Immersion Preschool & Kindergarten

www.petiteecole.org

 

 

MU Robert G. Combs Language Preschool “Very low student to teacher ratio. Language rich environment”

www.umshp.org/csd/preschool.htm

 

Activities

Sports

The Ice Arena in Jefferson City “They rent skates for the tiniest tot”

http://www.rinktime.com/skating_rinks/mo/washington_park_ice_arena_skating_rink_arena_jefferson_city_mo.cfm

 

Swimming

*The ARC in winter; Pirates’ Cove (Little Mate’s Landing) in summer

www.gocolumbiamo.com/ParksandRec/Aquatics/facilities.php#TLRA

 

 

The ARC’s Little Swimmer’s Hour

www.gocolumbiamo.com/ParksandRec/ARC/

 

Outdoor Play

Stephen’s Lake Park

www.gocolumbiamo.com/ParksandRec/Parks/Stephens_Lake/

 

 

MU Francis Quadrangle “A great place for kids to run free and roll down the hill. No busy streets or water hazards. Also a great place to ride a tricycle.”

www.missouri.edu/

 

 

Feeding Fish at Shelter Gardens “BYOFF” (Open year round from dawn to dusk. Ponds are drained in the Fall)

www.shelterinsurance.com/shelterwebnew.nsf

Indoor Play

Lend & Learn Library “For toys in the Parkade Center

www.columbia.k12.mo.us/pat/

 

 

*The ARC’s “Little Gymmers” hour

www.gocolumbiamo.com/ParksandRec/ARC/

 

PAT Resource Center & Playroom on Vandiver  “call first for hours”

www.columbia.k12.mo.us/pat/

 

Seasonal Play

The “Spray ground” at the new Flat Branch Park “soon to be at Stephen’s Lake park too”

www.gocolumbiamo.com/ParksandRec/Parks/Flat_Branch/index.php

 

The sledding hill at Stephen’s Lake Park

www.gocolumbiamo.com/ParksandRec/Parks/Stephens_Lake/

Municipal Park

Stephen’s Lake Park

www.gocolumbiamo.com/ParksandRec/Parks/Stephens_Lake/

 

Lion’s Stephen’s Park

 

Health Club

 

The ARC “They have child care starting at 6 months” “The ARC also allows strollers on their indoor track”

www.gocolumbiamo.com/ParksandRec/ARC/

 

 

Wilson’s “Childcare starts at 3 months” “Since Wilson’s has an adjacent restaurant it’s a great place to eat lunch or dinner while the kids are in childcare, 2 hour max”

www.wilsonsfitness.com

 

Learning

Museums

*The Museum of Art and Archaeology

www.maa.missouri.edu

 

Library

*DBRL “Terrific Twos” “Seems to work well for all ages”

www.dbrl.org/calendar/storytimes.html

 

 

DBRL “Family Story Time” “The librarian story tellers are super stars! It’s only 30 minutes, kids are riveted”

www.dbrl.org/calendar/storytimes.html

 

Nature

Bass Pro Shop “The closest thing Columbia has to an aquarium. The giant native species fish tank is a great rainy day destination.”

www.basspro.com

 

Music

Margaret Waddell’s First Steps in Music

 

Art

The ARC’s Preschool Picassos

www.gocolumbiamo.com/ParksandRec/ARC/

 

“First Sunday” family events at the Museum of Art & Archaeology

www.maa.missouri.edu

 

Other

The Parents as Teachers Program & all their programs (especially Down on the Farm & Tons of Trucks)

www.columbia.k12.mo.us/pat/

 

Weekend Activity for the family

Local

Columbia Farmers’ Market (Early May through mid November)

www.farmersmarket.missouri.org/

 

*Shelter Garden Summer Outdoor Music Series (Sundays in June and July at 7:00 PM, Free)

www.shelterinsurance.com/shelterwebnew.nsf

 

 

Nearby

Cooper’s Landing “Listen to live music and hang out”

www.cooperslanding.net/

 

 

*Peach Tree Farm Pumpkin Patch (October only)

www.thepeachfarm.com/location.htm

 

 

The Runge Conservation Nature Center in Jefferson City

www.mdc.mo.gov/areas/cnc/runge/

 

Activity for Grandparents and kids

Local

Watching baby geese in spring at Stephen’s Lake Park

www.gocolumbiamo.com/ParksandRec/Parks/Stephens_Lake/

 

 

Eating homemade ice cream and cookies at the Columbia Farmers’ Market (Early May through mid November)

www.farmersmarket.missouri.org/

 

 

*Feeding the fish at Shelter Garden “BYOFF” (Open year round from dawn to dusk. Ponds are drained in the Fall)

www.shelterinsurance.com/shelterwebnew.nsf

 

 

*Shelter Gardens Summer Outdoor Music Series

www.shelterinsurance.com/shelterwebnew.nsf

 

Festivals

Local

Twilight Festival & Heritage Festival

www.twilightfestival.com/

 

www.gocolumbiamo.com/ParksandRec/Activities_and_Programs/heritage-festival.php

 

Road trips

In-State

Central Dairy Ice Cream Parlor in Jefferson City

 

 

“Mark Twain stuff” in Hannibal and the Wooden Train Factory in Louisiana, MO.”

www.visithannibal.com

www.louisiana-mo.com/

 

Nearby states

Cahokia Mounds State Park and Interpretive Center (across from St. Louis)

www.cahokiamounds.com/cahokia.html

 

 

Chicago “Especially for the festival of Light the weekend before Thanksgiving”

www.choosechicago.com

 

 

Best things to do with kids in the big cities

St. Louis

The Magic House Children’s Museum

www.magichouse.org/

 

 

St. Louis Zoo “Free admission, small cost for children’s zoo & train”

www.stlzoo.org

 

 

City Museum

www.citymuseum.org

 

Crown Candy Kitchen “An old ice cream store, near downtown”

 

 

Kansas City

The Zoo “2nd Saturdays between Memorial & Labor Day are Children’s Days. Painting Elephants, camel rides, children’s zoo, etc”

www.kansascityzoo.org/

 

 

Country Club Plaza holiday lights (Thanksgiving through Jan. 13)

www.visitkc.com

 

Baby Clothes

New

Janie & Jack in St. Louis

www.janieandjack.com/index.jsp

 

 

The Children’s Place Columbia Mall “They have great sales, if you catch them at the right time”

www.thechildren’splace.com

Shoes

Dillard’s “Used to be good, but they scaled way back & lowered their quality last year, still probably the best” “Dillard’s is especially good for wide feet”

www.dillards.com

 

 

Dryer’s Shoe Store “They have a good selection of Robeez”

www.discoverthedistrict.com/members/dryers.html

 

 

Target “Nicest and cheap!!”

www.target.com

Pre-owned/Resale

Ask friends and playgroup members for clothes to borrow

 

 

Once Upon a Child “Two locations Manchester Rd. & Kirkwood Rd.

 

 

Craig’s List

http://columbiamo.craigslist.org/

 

Freecycle

www.freecycle.org

 

Toddler Clothes

New

Strasburg Children’s Outlet at the Outlet Mall at Lake of the Ozarks

www.strasburgchildren.com/

 

The Children’s Place Columbia Mall “Great sales”

www.thechildren’splace.com

 

 

 

Pre-owned/Resale

Craig’s List

http://columbiamo.craigslist.org/

 

Freecycle

www.freecycle.org

 

Once Upon a Child

 

Shoes

Dillard’s

www.dillards.com

 

Dryer’s Shoe Store “A lot of variety but a little expensive”

www.discoverthedistrict.com/members/dryers.html

 

Baby Supplies

Diapers

*HyVee “They give you “Baby Bucks”-- $10 back for every $150 spent. They also give a free cookie, a token to ride Henry the pony & they have the most kiddy grocery carts.”

www.hy-vee.com/

 

 

Sam’s Club “Diapers by the bale”

www.samsclub.com

 

Regional Medical Pharmacy “Pampers by the case at cost” (Must be a MU employee or student)

www.muhealth.org/pharmacy/regional.shtml

 

Feeding

*HyVee “The best selection of Earth’s Best Baby Food”

www.hy-vee.com/

 

 

Sam’s Club for Formula “They will take the $5 & $10 dollar Similac & Enfamil coupon/checks”

www.samsclub.com

 

Gear

HyVee “They have an impressive selection of baby gear for a supermarket and it’s generally at least a dollar cheaper than Wal-Mart or Target” “Employee owned”

www.hy-vee.com/

 

 

Toys & Gifts

New

*Butterfly Tattoo “Butterfly Tattoo used to have toys but not really any more” “Be sure to let them know if you are purchasing a gift. They will add tissue and cute ribbons to the bag”

www.thebutterflytattookids.com/

 

 

Tuesday Morning “Often has a good selection of fun, European toys.”

www.tuesdaymorning.com

 

Boutique

Keeping Good Company

www.keepinggoodcompany.com/columbia/index.htm

Learning

*Ann’s Teachers Store “Almost always has a coupon for $5 off any purchase over $25 in Columbia Marketplace Magazine.”

www.annsteachersstore.com/

 

Resale

Once Upon a Child “Great variety and nice prices!”

 

 

Ask other play group members for toys out grown.

 

Kids Books

New

MU Bookstore “knowledgeable employees”

www.mubookstore.com/

 

Kid Friendly Bookstore

 

*Barnes & Noble

www.barnesandnoble.com/

Hair Salon

Boys

*Goldilocks “Be sure to tell them if it’s a first hair cut. They have a certificate and little plastic keepsake boxes”

 

Girls

*Goldilocks

 

Photos

Studio

Sears “Cheapies—they do a great job”

www.searsportrait.com/cpi/en-US/

 

Photographer

Anastasia Pottenger “Will come to your home—Expensive”

 

www.anastasiapottingerphotography.com/

 

Film developing/Processing

Columbia Photo “They’re fabulous!”

www.columbiaphoto.com/Default.aspx

 

50 Minute Photo “Professional quality prints”

 

Scenic background for holiday card photos

MU Columns

www.missouri.edu/

 

 

Shelter Gardens

www.shelterinsurance.com/shelterwebnew.nsf