Princess Kids' Activities in Miami: Day-to-Day Fun Ideas for Your Miami Princess

If you scroll back a few months on this blog, you'll read the entry about Disney Princesses on Ice, which I attended with Elle, who at the time was so unaware of the Disney princesses existence and story lines that I had to whisper the plots to her while we watched the skating. We even left early, in the middle of the Cinderella finale. Well, no more. Elle hit full princess-fanatic stride about a month later, and now has princesses on the brain, uh, most of her waking hours from what I can tell. I walk into the living room to find her sprawled on the sofa "asleep" in full princess garb, waiting for a handsome prince to awaken her. She asks people who are ill if they ate a poison apple. She has commandeered the family globe as her spinning wheel. Needless to say, I've got a full-fledged princess on my hands, and from talking to other parents of young girls, this particular phase could last for a while.

So, here's a little list for all you fellow princess parents; a list of a few ways you can indulge your little princess in Miami on a small scale. Meaning, yes I know Disney World is only a four-hour drive away, but we aren't going to be making that drive on a weekly basis, now are we? So here are some Miami princess activities on a smaller, more doable scale:

* Princess cupcakes at Publix: So quick, so easy. My Publix has a princess-tastic cupcake on display that features three Disney princesses, and bright frosting. It is very...elaborate... shall we say, and will make your little princess's heart beat faster with sheer desire when she sees it. Only tip--save it for the end of the shopping trip, because all that multicolored frosting is sure to stain anything it might come in contact with.

* Visit the Disney Store: I rarely buy anything at this store unless a birthday or Christmas is coming up, but just browsing is fun for Elle. The store is large and well laid-out, and if you do feel like making a purchase, they've always got a sale going on, and they've got a wide variety of price points, including really inexpensive trinkets by the register. There are 8 Disney Stores in the Miami area, you can use this store locator on their website to find one near you.

* Daytime Dress Up: Make a day of errands special by letting your little one wear one of her princess dress-up costumes out and about. Strangers can't help but smile and compliment, and it makes a day of errand running fun and special.

* Cool-de-Sac: I know y'all think I'm on the payroll at this place because I pimp it so much, but I swear I'm not! But I have to mention that they recently restocked their dress-up area, and have lots of princess dresses in really good shape in the closet right now.

* Make a "princess music mix" from Itunes and burn it to CD: Here's the deal--some kid music I'm cool with, and other kid music makes me wish my eardrums had an on/off switch. So. Do searches for YOUR favorite princess music, and make a CD for your little one. Itunes has most of the Disney music for individual download, and whatever else you can convince your little one is "princess music"--you can get pretty creative with the power of suggestion--I've managed to sneak in some of my favorite classical tunes this way.