Need Recommendations for Inside Play Places

Here's a resource you need to become familiar with: www.kidwinks.com. It covers the entire Chicagoland area for kid-friendly events, activites, restaurants, shops and services. Go to the events section and click on any day on the calendar to get a list of what's going on for that day. Or browse through the Ongoing Activities section - you can browse by category along the left rail. In the Restaurants section, you can click on any day on the Dining Deals Calendar and get a list of restaurants offering "kids eat free" or other deals, for that day.

You can also sign up for the mailing list, and twice a week you'll get upcoming events emailed to you. It's fantastic! There are also reviews from other parents, and if you become a member you can also write reviews, get email reminders of upcoming events that you choose, and also see the distance to any of the businesses from your house.

J.

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Yes, the Elk Grove park district has a great indoor ball play area and an indoor carousel. The area is called Jumps and Jiggles - it is on Biesterfield road in Elk Grove just East of the hospital. It is in the Pavilion building - phone number is ###-###-####

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I've learned about a lot of things to do in the area through my meetup.com group - you might want to check out the site for groups in your area and join one to meet people and find out what's out there. I'm a member of NW Suburbs Moms of Babies and Toddlers.

Also, our park district has open gym time for little ones every week - for $1 each time you go. Maybe yours will have something like that too. Good luck!

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You live close to a great place: Kohl's Children's Museum at the Glen. Also try the Exploratorium on Oakton in Skokie. That has an indoor climbing apparatus, dress up area, water area. Northbrook Court has the tree house play area for a quick shopping break. There is always Chuckie Cheese when you are out of options. The closest one to me is on Touhy.

By the way, and sorry to be preachy, but a 3.5 year old is not too young to learn about taking turns and standing in line and I think you will find that even at the above places other moms will expect a certain level of behavior.

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Chicago Parent Going Places has a lot of good information on that. I used to take my son to Ceaserland(now closed, unfortunately), My Corner Playroom, Little Village Playplace, Chuck e. Cheese... I'd check out the magazine for more resources.

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pretned play ground in Mundelein/Vernon HIlls and the Play place in Arlington heights and there is one in teh city too for got the name but it is right on the river by the old Wards building.
the local park district hae tons of open gym times too and pump it up on Tuesd and Thrus are open in the am for open jump time. Get an oakley guide too and there you go winer is doen for one day week at least!
J.

It is not open yet but Woodfield Mall is building a play area. I can't wait for it to open! I am not sure when it will be opening. Check with the local park districts. Arlington Heights used to have open gym days.

Try Fantasy Kingdom on Kingsbury- don't know the exact address, but it's on the 1400 North block- my kids loved going there. Good luck!

I am a big fan of bundling kids up and letting them play outside. That's what we did. Of course, at thier ages you have to supervise, but what's wrong with the great outdoors? I was always surprised when I would take my son to the park and even on a mildly cold day we would be the only ones there. Where I grew up we played outside all year round. Maybe it's a city thing?

Try enrolling them in a Gymboree class; it's once a week and tons of fun. The nearest location to glenview is at the Northbrook court mall in northbrook, or old orchard mall in skokie. u can go to www.gymboree.com for more specific info and listings.

Other places are Kohl's Children's museum, The playlab at Field Museum in Chicago. the kids' play area at Northbrook Ct Mall or Golf Mill Mall, The Exploratorium in Skokie (U can google the exploritorium for more info). If u want to meet more moms, go to www.meetup.com and type in your zip code to find moms' groups and activities in your area. Good luck!

I've passed a place on Rand Rd in Arlington Heights called Go Bananas. The sign says its in an indoor family theme park. I've seen lots of families coming in and out. You may want to check it out since it should just be a few minutes from Glenview.

Does your apartment have a gameroom or basement? What about your own frontroom? Can't you move tables up against furniture to make it safe for them?

The Pretend Playground in Mundelein has a nice indoor place to play. It is unstructured. They have different areas with different materials and toys. Parents supervise their own children so the children just move around at their own pace or interest. Really a fun place.

Also, in Vernon Hills there is a Pump It Up. They are a franchise so they are located all over. They have open time in the mornings for the children to go in and use the huge inflatable slides and jumpers.

McDonald's, of course. But also look into Parents Who Care, parentswhocare.org. They are a group of suburban moms of little ones who have all kinds of activities for kids, including open gym once a week.

My Gym, Kohl Childrens Museum. Both those places are really great for the cold/rainy weather in winter.

Another recco for the Exploratorium in Skokie. We go there all the time and the kids love it, and they have different areas for older and younger kids.

Five free places I take my 2 year old:
1. McDonald's in Winnetka has an indoor playplace and it is pretty nice.
2. Menard's on Oakton (near intersection of Oakton & Caldwell) in Morton Grove has a lot of playground equipment set up in their Garden Center. It isn't inside with heat, but it is covered and shielded from wind. We bundle up and head there to burn off energy.
3. Local libraries. I especially like the Morton Grove and Niles Public Libraries. Lots of books (obviously!) and toys to play with.
4. Target. We run around the aisles, look at toys, etc.
5. Westfield Hawthorn Mall in Vernon Hills has a play area.

Join a Gymboree class. They have a class once a week but they also offer free play for 2 hours, 3 times a week in the afternoon & you can bring siblings. You have to pay for the class but you don't have to pay for the free play times. I signed my son up for 1 class, but we ended up going to almost all the free play times with his sister so I felt we really got our money's worth.

Hi there ,

I don't live by you however there is a place called Monkey Island in Melrose Park , 15th and armitage . Great place to let the little ones run around . Monkey Island has several moon jumps and a huge gym area , they also have an area for toddlers . They serve snacks and drinks . I take my boys there often enough to get a monthly passes . They charge 8.00 for kids and 4 for P's . And during the day its sahm and dads .
Also pump it up has several locations through out the city and its very similar to Monkey Island . As another mom suggested jumps and giggles in Elk Grove is another great place .

Try to pick up this months Chicago Parent they have great ideas from free and up . You can get them from your local park district and your library .

I joined a wonderful parents group 4 years ago and have found it so valuable. One of the things Parents Who Care offers to members and nonmembers is an Open Gym from September through May. It's on Mondays from 10:30-11:45 at the Hoffman Estates Park District Gym on Higgins road. It only costs $1 for members and $1.50 for nonmembers. Nonwalking children and parents are free. Parents Who Care (PWC) supplies a lot of different toys and space to run, jump and play. I used to meet my other Mom/Dad friends there and made lots of new friends there as well. Now that my boys are in morning school we can't attend it anymore. But they also sponsor a Wed. afternoon Open Gym at the same place the 1st and 3rd Wed. of every month. It is from 3-4. Also the $1 they collect goes to the Hoffman Estates Park District and not PWC. Parents Who Care is a parent support group for stay at home Moms/Dads with newborns through the age of 6. If you would like more information, let me know. Membership is only $25 a year for the entire family and they have lots of resources and activities, including a Kids Club at ELk Grove Library once a month. L.

Hello

I know of the Kohl's Children's Museam in Wilmette-I am due in December so I haven't been there yet, and don't know if it is a run-jump-kick place, but I've heard it's fantastic. Since I live far from you that is all I've got! Good luck and welcome to the area.

M.

Welcome to the area! A couple of places that we like to go to are Nibbles Cafe in Northbrook (http://www.nibblesplaycafe.com/) and Little Village Playplace in Arlington heights. (http://www.littlevillageplayplace.com/). both are great and nibbles serves food!

Enjoy!