List of Area Activities/open Gym

I like to take my boys to the little "soft sponge" play area, in Spring Hill Mall just inside JCPenney?? It is small, and can get a little crowded?? (I have to really watch the younger one!!) But they have a baby emergency vending machine, right next to the foam playland, with everything from wipes to Q-tips, to diapers and oragel! So, if you forget something, no biggie. Also, it is JUST in front of the FAMILY BATHROOMs, which is SO nice, you can fit you, 6 kids, a stroller and your hubbie too. (Must wear socks, and children, of course, can NOT be left unattended.)
Also, Huntley Unlimited Gymnastics Association (HUGS) has "open Gym" for $5.00 for, I think?? 2 hours? It is on the far corner of that "airplane hanger" looking building across from the Huntley Library on Ruth Road?? We've been taking my older son there since he was 9 months. He is almost 5 years old, now.
Then, I, of course, rely on the old McDonald's Playland, (Burger King, too!) Get a cup of Joe, a small fries to split between 2 kids, and they can stay there for sometimes 3 hours. I read a magazine, here and there. Catch up on phone calls I have been putting off. The time really flies.
That is all for now. Hope SOMETHING sounds good? :)
~ C.

Hi, Tracy!!

There is a FREE Open Gym in LITH at the Joy Community Church (off of Lakewood and Rte 62, behind the strip mall with Dairy Queen) on Tuesdays from 4:30pm-6:00pm.

You can call the church for more details....###-###-####.

It is strictly gym time--lots of fun!

Hope to see you there sometime.
J.

Hi Tracy,

I know that this is not a free activity but I have to say that my daughter loves to go to the Coco Keys Water Park in Arlington Heights. They have a fantastic kiddie pool and will let you use one of their life jackets if you give them your drivers liscense in exchange. The cost ranges from $19 - $35 for a day pass and kids 2 and under are free. If you go during the week the cost is only $19 and you can get $5 off if you go onto their website and look under specials. They have a special price for mommy (or daddy) and me play for about 4 hours, I think. Loads of fun and my daughter and I bring our own lunch and drinks. www.cocokeywateresort.com

I'll love to have this list as well, let me know when your list is done. I'm desperate to keep my kids busy & out of the house as well. I'm glad I'm not the only bored mom!

HI Tracy,

Some of the moms in my moms group go to open gym in Huntley & Crystal Lake. We do kids activities each month. You can also try your library for storytime and Borders & B & N did storytimes as well. If you would like more information on our group, you can email me at ____@____.com a great day
C.

Pump It Up has open play time in Crystal Lake. www.pumpitupparty.com

Check out the library's as most all of them have story time and some have craft times. Also, they almost all have a little area for kids to play in at any time.

Park districts have tons of classes to sign up for. LITH has an open play time where you can just come on Tuesdays and pay like $2.

Color Me Mine pottery studio in Crystal Lake is a fun activity to do every once in a while. It's a little pricey, but kids love that stuff and the staff is great at helping.

Gymboree Play & Misic in downtown Crystal Lake has classes and open gym a couple of times a day if you are a member.

Check out the gymnastics places around for open gyms. Cary gymnastics is awesome and cleaner than any other place around that I have seen. www.carygymnastics.com

Chuck E Cheese in Crystal Lake.

Little Village Play Place in Arlington Heights. There is also a similar place in Mundelein, IL.

There is a children's museum in Naperville, IL and Glenview IL (Kohl Children's Museum). I think there is also a place in Glenview about a firetruck museum. There is a place in Algonquin I think that has a play area, but I can't remember the name. Check it out on the web.

Around places like the library there is a little free magazine called Oakley's guide. It lists a ton of stuff around all of Chicago land.

Join a mom's group in the area. I know there are tons around. Mom-to-Mom, www.carymomsgroup.com, look on meetup.com, etc.

I am part of the Lakeside Moms and Tots (LMT) group. Most members are from suburbs near Lake Zurich. Here is the activities calendar to give you some ideas: http://www.lakesidemomsandtots.org/activities.asp.

Here are some ideas:
Pottery Barn storytime
Barnes & Noble storytime
Activities at Ela Library (in Lake Zurich).
USGTC open gym (in Lake Zurich)
Nibbles Play Cafe (in Wheeling)
Monkey Joe's
Treehouse (in Lake Zurich). See http://www.thechicagotreehouse.com/.
Buehler YMCA in Palatine has special community family nights where they offer crafts, sports, and games for the community. This is a free event. See "Special Community Family Nights" in http://www.chicagoymca.ebookview.net/_pdfs_guide/buehler.pdf for more details.

In your posting, it was not clear which age group you were targeting.

Buffalo Grove park district has a lot of free events for families. See http://www.bgparkdistrict.org/events.htm. Some of the events in the list are free and some have a fee.

Hi Tracy,
We love to go to Pretend Playground in Mundelein. Worth the 20 minute trip from Lake Zurich. Another way to find out great activities in our area is by joining Lakeside Moms and Tots. For a small annual fee you get their monthly newsletters with usually 20 activities a month (or more). When we moved here that was how I found nearly everything to do! Plus I met some new friends in the process, they also have playgroups. You can check out their website:
www.lakesidemomsandtots.org
Good luck!
E.