Welcome to Kiki's List
But children change your perception of many things. And since I didn't grow up in cold weather, I find it rather daunting and isolating. The thought of being cooped up in my house, locked away in a basement for months makes me want to fling myself out a window. Not to be dramatic or anything...
So if you are like me - have toddlers, don't care for another housebound play date, & generally have a burning desire to get out of the house - check out my review of kid-friendly places in the greater Chicagoland area. And if you have any recommendations, please let me know....We are always up for exploring a fun, new indoor play area.
Before you read on, you may want to know a little about me. I live in the 'burbs and am a full-time mother of two boys: 23 months & two months. As you can imagine, this impacts our selection & critique of activities. We are looking for locations that will hold the interest of a very active toddler as well as offering areas to care for the baby.
Over the past couple of years, we've tried everything from church basements to cultural institutions like the John G. Shedd Aquarium. And we will continue to try new venues and let you know what we think.
Our Rating System
Because my son likes to cheer "YAY!" for things he likes, I've chosen this as our rating scale. Four "YAY!s" is the highest ranking, and one the lowest. Our ratings are based on the following:
- Offers hands-on learning for a toddler
- Engages an active toddler in play for a sustained period of time
- Provides interaction with other children
- Allows children to play without long waits
- Is clean
Just My Opinion
I realize people have different needs so what works for us may not work for you. Feel free to provide any feedback or comments. And again, any suggested places to visit.
