Cheap indoor fun in Seattle with a 6yo

[RosieTR]

I have to go to Seattle for a work trip, and get to tack on a couple extra days visiting my sister and niece, who is 6yo. Of course, if the weather is nice decent, we can hang out in a park, go for a short hike or mess around on the beach somewhere. But, from the admittedly not necessarily accurate 10-day forecast, it's looking more like crappy for when I'll be there. Not being a parent myself, I am not certain what would be fun for a 6yo to do, either in the house or out and about. She particularly likes animals and science, and I think art/drawing. My sister may have ideas, but sometimes it's fun to mix it up a little, KWIM?

Any ideas for cheap or free indoor activities with a 6yo? Especially, but not limited to, the Seattle area? Or, is there a good project book for that age that might be a nice gift + useful for this?

[MerryMcQ]

Where in the Seattle area? It can take an hour or two to get places, because of traffic, so if you let folks know the neighborhood, you can get some suggestions that won't involve an hour commute. :)

[RosieTR]

Thanks, MerryMcQ- Ballard. The zoo is an obvious choice but may suck in the rain. Also not that cheap.

[11ducks]

Having a youthful exciting aunt that is willing to play with her is way fun!! I'd stick to creative home things that parents often don't have the time /energy to do. Build an awesome indoor fort with pillows and blankets (then tidy it up at the end). Play dress up and wizards and snap and hide and seek. If it's raining go for puddle walks or race leaf boats in the gutter. Do makeovers and crazy hairstyles, face paint, watch a movie together with popcorn. Do crafty stuff, paint faces on rocks, make bead necklaces, go to the park and go on all the equipment with her. I adored my Aunty Judy because she was like a big kid, and spent time, rather than money, on us. She really seemed to enjoy hanging out with us (or faked it well!) as opposed to parents who were less enthusiastic about those kind of energy-intensive activities.

[Noodle]

I was thinking back to when the Seattle kids in our family were that young, and the first thing I remembered is that we used to go out even when the weather wasn't great. Seattle "rainy" often means cloudy and misty rather than downpours, and with layers and good shoes, you can be outside doing all the fun things the city has to offer (parks, ferry, Sculpture Garden, Pike Place, etc.) with occasional stops for hot beverages (why do you think Seattleites drink so much coffee?)

If it really is too wet to be out, some of the things we used to: ride various forms of transportation--the monorail and light rail were big hits, but even the buses were fun. The ferry has plenty of inside space so you can ride as a walk-on even if it's rainy.  If you are there during the week, you can go up to the 40th floor Starbucks in the Columbia Tower and get a nice view of the city. Going to Central Library, riding up and down on the escalators for awhile, and then going to the children's area to pick out some books was a hit. My nieces and nephews used to enjoy being taken out for a small treat at one of the zillion bakeries around town on a special "aunt date." Conveyor belt sushi was also fun when they got to be in charge of getting the food off the belt. The Frye Art Museum and the Bainbridge Art Museum are free--a lot of the other local museums are free once a week or once a month, or are free to children so only the adults would have to pay. (I also think that if you're going to spend money on a trip, supporting a local museum is one of the better ways to do it...) If your niece is interested, going to Pike Place Market (which is undercover...the neighborhood farmer's markets aren't)  to get a few of the dinner ingredients and then helping cook is fun especially if she also gets to pick out one of the $5 bouquets to bring home.

[ceeteebee]

I saw a billboard the other day, advertising a Hello Kitty exhibit at the EMP museum, if that's something she'd be interested in. Also, the science museum is right there, as well - that's usually a ton of fun for kids.

If your sister has a library card, she could get free tickets to a bunch of museums around town, maybe check out their site to see if any of them might have some interesting stuff for kiddos?

http://www.spl.org/library-collection/museum-pass

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[Dee18]

+1 11ducks--just play!
When my daughter was 6 and we were visiting friends in another city, she was entertained for hours playing Yahtzee with a friend of mine.  We had been to the children's/science museum, etc, but what she liked most was the undivided attention of someone willing to play a game with her. 

[MerryMcQ]

Perhaps walking to the Ballard library and getting a fun book or too. Then there is an ice cream place by the library where you could get her a cone. There's a park by the library as well.

Then maybe walk to the JoAnn's craft store by the Ballard library. Often JoAnn's have free or cheap weekend craft sessions for kids, where they do little art projects. If there are no classes, you could just take her to the store, pick a cheap craft or art kit, then go do the project with her at home.

Many craft stores also have fun science kits, so you could pick something (like making rock candy or building a robot from a can) and do that together too.

Home Depot has a free build-it class for kids the first Saturday of the month, and I think it is a butterfly house on April 2nd.

Personally, I would avoid Pike's place with a 6 year old.

We're on a long streak of lovely weather here in Seattle, so I bet you will have plenty of outdoor options. Maybe visit the dollar store and get sidewalk chalk, and create a masterpiece in her parents' driveway?

Then, maybe the two of you could curl up and you could read the library book to her to relax in the evening?

[SailorGirl]

http://www.infobarrel.com/Fun_in_Seattle

Also; the aquarium, the ferries oe brave the drizzle and watch the machines digging the tunnel.