Today, Kate reports on an indoor spot for kids to stretch their legs:
“For those of us raising kids in the city, we all know that space – space to play, space to spread out, space just to run – is precious. Playgrounds and parks are great, but are often crowded, and the weather doesn't always cooperate. For those days when you need an alternative, check out IMAJINEthat in Lawrence.
Some days, no playground structure seems tall enough for my climbing monkey. And once Laurel is old enough, clearly, it’ll be time to hit the Boston Rock Gym in Woburn. Offering novices to experts plenty of room to rock, we dig that this climbing facility offers courses exclusively for women, as well as an impressive dedicated youth program for kids 5 and up. Youth programming includes daily classes, flexible summer camp sessions, climbing teams, and birthday parties for 7-12 year olds. Talk about a perfect way to burn off the cake-induced sugar rush.
Want to win a BRG Family Intro Class*? Here’s how:
Looking for a family adventure where you can enjoy creatures and creature comforts (e.g., ice cream)? Here’s a great lead from my mama pal Evadne:
"We recently went strawberry picking at Smolak Farms and the whole family (grandparents included!) had such a blast. The fruit picking experience in and of itself was wonderful, but the farm had so many extras! My 2-year old loved seeing the deer, peacocks, and llamas at the petting zoo, and he expended a ton of energy on the climbing structures (especially the tractor). I was even able to nurse my 4-month-old under one of the umbrella picnic tables, while downing some pizza & ice cream. We definitely plan to visit again and next time we hope to squeeze in a hayride."
Artbeat in Arlington may be small in square footage, but they manage to both house an impressive selection of cool crafty goods (and if you don’t see what you need, ask; they appear to keep large stock such as foam core downstairs or out back), and host a busy studio workspace for classes. Now through April 20th (10am – 6pm) kids and adults can create pattern or chaos using paper ‘tiles’ and sand grout, or glass tiles and marbles during Mosaic Magic Week ($12 and up for materials).
In addition to their workshops and walk-in studio time, Artbeat also offers evening adult creativity classes and art themed birthday party services in their store or at your home.
Artbeat, 212-A Massachusetts Ave., Arlington; Tel: 781-646-2200
If your kid loves arts and crafts (and you’re in need of a couple hours on your own this week), check out the April Vacation Camp at The Kids Place for Fun in Newton. Now through April 20th the morning session (9:30am – 12:30pm) includes painting, crafts, and games for kids potty trained and up. The afternoon session (4:30 – 6:30pm) offers pottery painting for kids 7 and up. The starting cost for one child is $40 per day (+$3.00 for pizza lunch/dinner per child); click here for pricing details for siblings. Reservations may be made by phone. The Kids Place for Fun also offers birthday party services.
The Kids Place for Fun, 188 Needham Street, Newton; Tel: 617-527-0500
Despite the rain this week, you can keep alight your anticipation of spring growth at The Children’s Museum in Easton. Now through April 22nd the museum’s Let's Get G-R-O-W-I-N-G! program includes nature inspired art and science projects.
The Children’s Museum in Easton offers exhibits and programming geared towards kids from 1-8 years. They also host birthday parties. Admission is $6 per person, or free for members and children under one year.
The Children's Museum in Easton, The Old Fire Station, 9 Sullivan Avenue, North Easton; Tel. 508-230-3789
If your child loves books and art, be sure to check out The New Art Center’s current exhibit, The Visions & Voices of Children’s Book Illustrators. Running now through May 20th, this cross-genre, cross-cultural collection features over 100 pieces from 13 contemporary children’s book illustrators, showcasing original illustrations, books, drawings, computer generated images, sketchbooks, and videos. And it’s not all look but no touch; hands on activities are available throughout the gallery, a mini-library allows for relaxing with a story, and kids and adults can create books, collages, and drawings with provided materials. The gallery is open from 9am-5pm on weekdays and 1-5pm on weekends. Admission is free.
In addition to the gallery, the center offers an impressive roster of art classes for kids, teens, and adults (including special programming for April vacation week), weekly story times, and art party hosting services.
The New Art Center, 61 Washington Park, Newtonville; Tel: 617-964-3424
When I was a kid, birthday parties were just immediate family, due in part to the facts that: 1) there were barely enough chairs for our household of 7 kids, parents, and grandparents; 2) activities like sleepovers, field trip chaperoning, and friend birthday parties were off my parents’ cultural radar; and 3) our home was in a fairly steady state of disrepair and disarray.
And while Laurel’s birthday guest list tends to be long due to the many wonderful friends and family we have in the area, part of me is acutely aware that the reason I become, for example, a lunatic baker around her birthday is pure residual overcompensation. I don’t need my therapist to tell me that.
Just in time for another chilly weekend…a local reader wrote in with high praise for Together in Motion in Arlington. This drop in play space offers Motion & More play sessions geared towards children ages 0-6 (every day of the week!). Admission rates are $7 for kids 1 year and up and $5 for kids under 1 year (infants under 6 months are admitted free when tagging along with a sibling). Group and individual multi-pass discounts also are available.
Together in Motion also soon will offer group exercise classes for women, including parallel sessions where kids can play while mom is working out. Check out their current schedule; birthday party services also are available on weekends.
Together in Motion, One Broadway, Arlington, Tel: 781-643-1377
If cabin fever is getting to you and your little monkey, a visit to Kids Playground in Woburn will be worth your while. My mama pal Nic was impressed (if not initially a little overwhelmed) with this enormous indoor playground (16,500 square feet to be exact), which includes a 5-level tunnel and tube structure (shown), tree house, multiple theme pretend play village, and rock wall. Climbing structures are particularly suited to pre-schoolers and up, but a toddler area with smaller structures and toys is available.
Admission for walkers up to 18 years is $8.99; each accompanying adult is $3. No outside food or drink is allowed so plan your visit around meals or partake in the snack bar. Kids Playground also offers standard and themed birthday party services.
Kids Playground, 15 Normac Road, Woburn; Tel: 781-935-2300
My parents elatedly thought I was destined for a career in medicine when I opened my very own Animal Hospital as a kid. This glimmering hope likely was the only reason I didn’t get in trouble for depleting the household toilet paper supply with my bandaging techniques.
If your babe has a bear in need of repair, save your TP supply by visiting the Well-Bear Clinic tomorrow (Jan. 25) at 10am at The Discovery Museums in Acton. Bears, stuffed animals, dolls, and other well-loved toys are encouraged to visit the clinic for an annual check-up; “bear repairs” by an in-house seamstress will be available. The clinic is free with paid admission (admission is free with membership).
The Discovery Museums include two complementary museums filled with interactive exhibits designed for toddlers and pre-schoolers and school-aged children. Click here for hours; the museum also hosts birthday parties.
The Discovery Museums, 177 Main Street, Acton, Tel: 978-264-4200
Hooray for more local indoor play spaces!
Kid's Fun Stop is suitable for children up to 6 years old, and offers drop in play (they have some impressive looking indoor climbing structures!), birthday parties, movement classes, and craft classes. Bring snacks for your babe to enjoy in the snack room, or purchase from the selection available.
Kid’s Fun Stop is open Monday - Friday 10am - 6pm and for birthday parties on the weekends. Click here for rates (starting at $10 for two hours of drop in time); repeat visitor punch cards are available, as well as periodic discounts on admission and birthday party booking.
Kid’s Fun Stop, 1580 VFW Pkwy, West Roxbury, Tel: 617-325-0800
As Laurel and I were enjoying an unusually warm day at the park last week, another mom and I expressed – as our preschoolers ran amok around the playground – mutual concern about limited park access during bitterly cold winter days.
Drop-in play spaces are tough to come by so I’m pleased to pass on word from my mama pal Kate about Guggies in Brookline. Kate reports that Guggies is “a comfortable space with lots of toys and mats and little nooks for kids to play in, along with a whole arts/crafts area and various neat tactile displays and puzzles, games, an indoor sandbox, etc. I think it would be great for a birthday party…”
Current drop-in play and art rates are $5/hour (no charge for adults and babies under one year who are accompanying a child/sibling who is paid for); discounted rates are available if you sign on as a member. Guggies also offers 8-week art class sessions ($120) and birthday party services ($250). They are open every day of the week, although they ask that you call to check weekend availability, which is subject to party scheduling.
Guggies, 368 Boylston St. (Rt. 9), Brookline, Tel: 617-731-2388
UPDATE (6/20/07): Sadly, effective immediately, Guggies has closed their doors.
Looking for a wild outdoor adventure before the rain hits this weekend? The Massachusetts Audubon Society’s Drumlin Farm offers a host of activities, among them a fully functioning farmyard, animal exhibits, learning gardens, hayrides, and hiking trails (during the summer, they also offer camp programs). The farm has free parking, family bathrooms, a picnic area, farm stand, and gift shop. They also offer birthday party hosting services during the school year.
Drumlin Farm is open from 9am-5pm March - October; 9am-4pm November - February. The farm is closed Mondays except on federal Monday holidays. Admission: $6 for nonmember adults; $4 for nonmember children (3-12) and seniors.
Drumlin Farm, 208 South Great Road, Lincoln; Tel: 781-259-2200
Isn't it marvelous that play = learning for little ones? If you need a change of scenery from your current toys, space, and recycling bin (location of some of our babe's most fascinating finds), check out the Play Academy in Medford. Highly recommended by a Boston area mama, the Play Academy was founded and developed by a mother of two. Weekly classes (ages 3 months and up) are designed to stimulate cognitive, social and emotional development; you can register for sessions in blocks of 10 ($140), 15 ($195), or 20 ($240) weeks. Play Academy also hosts birthday parties.
Play Academy, 25 Riverside Avenue, Medford; Tel: 1-781-738-PLAY
Too exhausted to think about having your babe’s next birthday party at home? Full Moon, the perennial top rated family-friendly restaurant in Cambridge, offers birthday party hosting services; choose from one of five themes: wild animals, trucks & engines, dinosaurs, under the sea, princess tea party. Full Moon provides the decorations, balloons, drinks, cake and ice cream, set-up, service, and clean up. Basically, all you need to do is show up.
Party slots are weekdays from 3 - 4:30pm and weekends from 3:15 - 4:45pm (the restaurant is closed during your party); size limit is 10-18 kids (plus parents). Cost is $15 per child, plus 18% gratuity and 5% MA sales tax. You also can pre-order food platters (fruit, cheese and crackers or hummus, pita and olives) for grown ups. Adult cake and drinks charged separately.
Regular service hours include lunch (11:30am - 2:30pm Monday – Friday), dinner (5 - 9pm every day), and brunch (9am – 2:30pm weekends).
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