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March 2009 - OPEN GYMNASTICS There are numerous places to go in the area for open gymnastics. Many of the facilities require you to be a member to participate, or charge additional fees for a non-member rate. The gymnastics facilities are large and vast and can sometimes be overwhelming for both the parent and the child. A great solution to money and size is the Downers Grove Park District Open Gymnastics. Downers Grove Park District offers open gymnastics almost on a daily basis. There is a wide variety of things to do in their gym area beyond just gymnastic skills. The staff seems to rotate the items available to offer a new and interesting environment each time you arrive. You will almost always find preschool size balance beams, vaulting equipment, uneven bars, and padded mat areas. Most times I have gone, I have also found that they will bring out bouncy balls, hula hoops, hoop targets, ribbon streamers, a miniature roller coaster (similar to the one from One Step Ahead), and foam pits. Although this is a parent supervised activity, there is always a staff member available to help the children or answer any questions you may have. Although this place is great for the little ones because it is not very crowded, the park district does limit the maximum age to children 7 years old or younger. Due to the age limitations, this open gymnastics does seem to be a good place for play groups while your older ones are in school for the day, unfortunately, their hours seem to also be during naptime. So if you have the toddler who has given up naps, and you are looking to burn all that energy……this is the ideal place for you and your little friend. The Downers Grove Park District is located at 4500 Belmont Road, Downers Grove, IL. Their phone number is 630-960-7250. Their website is www.dgparks.org. The fee is $3/resident, or $5/non-resident. The hours are Monday-Friday, typically between 12:00pm-2:00pm, but the schedule does vary each day and each month. To get up to date information, visit their website. Parental supervision is required and don’t forget your socks! There is so much to do within our reach, keep reading and get ready for our next adventure. #GlancerMagazine #KristenKucharski #MomsLittleBlackBook #MBBPlaygroundsPlayscapes #MBBSportsRecreation #March2009 #KidsTeens #FeaturedBlogger #FeaturedBlog

September 2009 - INDOOR WATER PARK This indoor water park is large enough for the kids to be entertained for hours, yet, small enough that you can see the entire park from one spot. This is a great water park for all ages, including young toddlers and infants. You can also choose to leave your little ones in the babysitting room and enjoy the water park with your older children. The babysitting room charges $2/hour, 2 hour maximum. Should you keep your little ones with you, the water park has some fantastic features such as a zero depth pool, a small teeter totter, baby swings, and ride-on toys, all anchored in the shallow water. A small river like stream leads to the pool area for active swim. There are various size life jackets available for your use. For older children there are two story water slides; a tube slide and a body slide. You must be at least 48” tall and you must go down solo; though they will allow you to wear a life jacket to go down the waterslide. A favorite for our group was the anchored log pads and rope monkey bars. Our group went across these pads hundreds of times using the ropes for balance, jumping from pad to pad, holding hands as a team, and timed races. There is a HUGE water bucket that is the main attraction for the splash pad area. This is a gated area within the water park that offers a small tunnel slide, water guns, pumps, troughs, and interactive water play areas. The bucket fills up every few minutes and then a bell rings and the bucket dumps tons of water down on the children. Bring your own picnic lunch or there is also a café. The indoor pool facility also offers a therapy pool, lap pool, and diving boards. The Vaughn Athletic Center is located at 2121 W. Indian Trail, Aurora, IL 60506. Phone number is 630-907-9600. Their website is www.FoxValleyParkDistrict.org. The fee is $6/resident, $8/non-resident, students discounted, under 2 is free. Hours are Monday-Friday, 4-8pm, Tuesday/Thursday 9-11am, Saturday-Sunday 12-5pm. Always check for special hours on days off of school. #GlancerMagazine #KristenKucharski #MomsLittleBlackBook #MBBPlaygroundsPlayscapes #KidsTeens #September2009 #FeaturedBlogger #FeaturedBlog

November 2010 - KIDS GIVE BACK We live in a community that offers many advantages and has won awards for Best Places to Live and Most Kid Friendly, etc. We are fortunate in so many ways. Since our community has provided so much free fun to us, our next adventure took us to a place where we could give back. Our next adventure proved those words to be oh so true. Our group had the most fantastic time at Feed My Starving Children in Aurora. You may have been there before, but checkout their new website and registration process. They have lowered their age to permit children as young as five years old to participate. The new registration process also permits for individuals, and/or families, and/or groups to volunteer. You no longer need a minimum group size to sign up for a volunteer day; but please note the child to adult ratio when registering. Any day you choose to help, log into their website and volunteer for a packing session. It’s that easy. On a recent day off of school, we opted to take our family to this incredible organization. Obviously a free activity to volunteer, but what surprised even the youngest participant (age 5) was that it was so much fun. We were joined by friends and we all sang and danced and yelled out victory chants, as we packed food for starving children in other countries. Our children learned that there is not always food in the pantry, nor a wide variety of choices. Our children learned that some children in other countries eat mud pies – literally – just to feel full, even though it offers no nutritional value. So the group of us stood around a large funnel surrounded by bins of chicken flavoring, dehydrated vegetables, soy, and rice. We filled bags; sealed bags; and packed boxes of nutritional meals for two hours. We packed 8,856 meals that will help feed 24 children for an entire year. We had a blast and considered this one of the best adventures of the year. Feed My Starving Children is located at 555 Exchange Ct, Aurora, IL 60504. Phone is 630-851-0404. Website is www.FMSC.org. Check their website for packing sessions. Admission is FREE. – Kristen Kucharski #GlancerMagazine #KristenKucharski #MomsLittleBlackBook #MBBGivingBack #KidsTeens #November2010 #FeaturedBlogger #FeaturedBlog

November 2011 - BOUNCE JUMP FLIP Extreme fun can be very affordable if you gather your friends and go together. A few months ago, I talked about the power of group rates. This is one adventure you will want to work in numbers, to get the best rate possible. Xtreme Trampoline offers hours of indoor fun, laughs, thrills, and exercise for everyone. On a recent day off of school, it was very easy to gather over 35 people and pay only $6 for two hours of bouncing, flipping, dodge ball fun. The normal rate per person is $16 for two hours, so you see how planning with friends can save a bundle. Form your group, have everyone pay you cash, and use with your credit card to secure your rate. Easy! The building is huge and overflowing with excitement. Trampoline pits positioned by foam pits provide plenty of opportunity to flip, twist, and dive. Trampolines formed to make a dodge ball court give a competitive edge to those who want to form teams to throw balls, jump, and lunge to avoid getting hit. There is a trampoline area specifically for the young ones so they can feel free to leap, hop, and bounce without being pounced on by older counterparts. There is a specific area for older kids so they can have their own space and feel free to push the boundaries of gravity. There are trampolines on the walls to give added dimension to your imagination and padding everywhere in case you fly wild. There is no admission rate, so if you choose to go and watch, there is no fee, but if you choose to participate, it’s a great form of exercise, a fun way to burn calories, and a fantastic way to tire the kids out. Xtreme Trampoline is located at 485 Mission Street, Carol Stream, IL 60188. Phone is 630-752-1400. Website is www.xtremetrampolines.com. Admission varies by the hour and by group size. The more people you bring, the more money you save! If you bring friends, be sure to have the waiver signed by the appropriate guardian prior to leaving home, there are no exceptions to their waiver rules. – Kristen Kucharski #GlancerMagazine #KristenKucharski #MomsLittleBlackBook #MBBPerfectForTweensTeens #MBBSportsRecreation #MBBPlaygroundsPlayscapes #FeaturedBlogger #FeaturedBlog #KidsTeens #November2011

January 2009 - WINTER ESCAPE Ahhh – what people have said they would pay me for my little black book of things to do with little ones! I have managed to entertain many kids, over many years, during the winter, spring, summer and fall, without breaking the bank. There is so much to do within a 30-mile radius of Bolingbrook, if you are willing to take a little drive and journey to the fun. Most of the activities average about $3/child/visit. I can tell you from personal experience, each activity is very much worth the short drive. So grab a friend, and their kids, and let’s go on our first adventure. The Romeoville Jungle Safari Indoor Playground is located within the Romeoville Recreation Center. The playground offers a climber with platform stairs for the younger kids, and a rope climber for the older kids. Both climbers lead to a rope, tunnel, and slide system. There is also a mini-moon jump within the climber. For infants and toddlers that are too young for the climber system, they also offer a toy section of many imaginary play items including a vanity, kitchen set, trucks, cars, books, dolls, horses, and so much more. This playground is so well designed that it allows for all ages to enjoy themselves, while mom and dad benefit from the well-positioned chairs and benches throughout the space. Infants are stimulated by the activity and older children love the variety of things to do. Bring a snack and take a break on the upper level of the recreation building where there are tables and chairs overlooking the gymnasium. The Romeoville Recreation Center is located at 900 West Romeo Road, Romeoville, IL (815-886-6222). Romeo Road is just east of Weber Road and is also known as 135th. Their website is www.Romeoville.org. The fee is $1/resident, or $2/non-resident. They also offer a 20-visit punch card for $15. The hours are Monday-Friday 9am-12:30pm, 3pm-8:30pm, plus weekend hours. Don’t forget your socks! #GlancerMagazine #KristenKucharski #MomsLittleBlackBook #MBBPlaygroundsPlayscapes #January2009 #KidsTeens #FeaturedBlogger #FeaturedBlog

March 2010 - CLIMBING SWIMMING FUN Let’s go, let’s go to Aurora. There is so much fun to be had within the Fox Valley Park District. Here you will find a very distinct indoor playroom in the Vaughan Athletic Center. The playroom was designed as child care area for the members that workout at their facility, but they are also open to families that want to come and play with their own children. Inside the Vaughn Athletic Center there is an expansive climbing and cube system, offering slides, playhouses, swinging balls, and plenty of space to go exploring. Big wheels, tricycles, push carts, and a basketball hoop complete the space for all ages and energy levels. This playroom is designed for ages 3 and up. There is also a second room within this main space that is full of toys, playhouses, a coloring station, and plenty of books. This room is the main area for the infants and smaller children. What is unique about this indoor playground is that you can stay and play with your children Monday through Friday from 2:00-4:00pm, Saturday from 4:00-6:00pm, and Sunday from 8:00am-Noon; or you can leave them with the attendants and enjoy a coffee and snack at their café, or walk the 1/8 mile track for $3/hour/non-resident. With the long winter coming to a head, it might be nice to let the kids burn some energy while you and some friends walk and talk. The playroom is visible through a wall of windows from the café, so you can also choose to watch your children while peacefully reading a book or working on your laptop on the other side of the windows. Their drop off hours are, Monday-Friday 8:00am-2:00pm, 4:00pm-8:00pm, Saturday 8:00am-4:00pm, and Sunday 12:00pm-4:00pm. Their fees are $2/hour/resident, $3/hour/non-resident, and parents are free. Discounts are applied for additional hours beyond the first hour. The fees are the same for staying with your children or leaving them with an attendant. The Vaughn Athletic Center is located at 2121 W. Indian Trail, Aurora, IL 60506. Website is www.FoxValleyParkDistrict.org. Phone number is 630-907-9600. Socks are required. A 48 hour advanced reservation is necessary for children under age 1, if you are considering the drop off option. –Kristen Kucharski #GlancerMagazine #KristenKucharski #MomsLittleBlackBook #MBBPlaygroundsPlayscapes #MBBSportsRecreation #March2010 #KidsTeens #FeaturedBlogger #FeaturedBlog

July 2010 - SPLASH AND PLAY ALL DAY On a hot, humid day in June, we headed to Ty Warner Park in Westmont, IL. This park is both affordable and fun for a variety of ages, but it is probably best suited for up to age 10. Our group ranged in age from 17 months to 9 years old and we spent several hours at the splash pad and park and the kids were reluctant to leave. The splash pad is a zero depth surface with multiple sprayers over a padded area. It feels like playing in your backyard sprinkler, but more like playing at a sprinkler amusement park. The sprayers range from bubblers that come straight out of the ground to poles that shoot water out in all directions. The kids enjoyed collecting the water in buckets and chasing each other around, as well as simply going through, under, and over the various water systems. Within the splash area there are chairs, loungers, picnic tables, and a large umbrella to provide shade. There are also two additional areas equipped with playground equipment. A smaller park designed for children under 5 and a larger park designed for children over 5. The smaller park has an expansive sand area with a train structure installed in the middle of it, as well as many other climber systems and swings. The larger park had individual merry go rounds, unique rock wall climbers, monkey bars and slides. The campus also has a concession stand, bathrooms, pavilions, baseball, and soccer fields. The general play area is enclosed in a country style fence so the boundaries are clear for the children. The children are tagged with wristbands and can freely go from park to splash pad with adult supervision. If you are with multiple children going different directions, it is fairly easy to keep on eye on all three areas at once. Ty Warner Park is located at the corner of Plaza and Blackhawk in Westmont, IL 60559. The phone number is 630-963-5252. Website is www.wpd4fun.org. Hours are 10:00am-8:00pm daily. Admission is $2 residents, $4 non-residents. We brought our own snacks and drinks. #GlancerMagazine #KristenKucharski #MomsLittleBlackBook #MBBOutdoorAdventures #MBBPlaygroundsPlayscapes #KidsTeens #July2010 #FeaturedBlogger #FeaturedBlog

May 2009 - CRAWLING CLIMBING CREATIONS Well, you can’t beat FREE. For the budget conscience family with energetic children, you don’t have to travel too far to the Bolingbrook Park District’s Imagination Station. For an environment that is not oversized or overcrowded, Imagination Station is open to all ages but is probably best suited for the younger crowd, perhaps under the age of 10. They offer a climber system that is a combination of nets, pads, rollers, and a slide. A nice feature of this playroom is that it can offer just as much stimulation for a crawling baby as it can for the active climber. The website says that children can burn energy, work on their motor skills, use their imagination, and make problem-solving decisions. The younger crowd can meander through some triangular padded posts and make their way around the maze to find more padded rollers and turns. There are also steering wheels installed for a child to pretend to drive their tractor, car, or bus. With the wide variety of climbing opportunities for the older crowd, and ground level activities for the younger crowd, this free active zone is great for a wide variety of ages. The playroom also provides child size tables and chairs if you wanted to bring any color books or added play materials for a child that may not be interested in the climber/play system. Also provided in the room are adult size chairs and coat racks. If you bring a stroller, you may want to leave it outside the room due to the limited space. The Bolingbrook Recreation & Aquatic Center is located at 200 S. Lindsey Lane, Bolingbrook, IL 60440. Their phone number is 630-739-1700. If you are familiar with the Pelican Harbor in Bolingbrook, the Imagination Station is at the same address. Their website is www.bolingbrookparks.org/services. There is no fee unless you come with a group of six of more, and then there is a $1.50/child fee to ensure the park district maintains enough space for their residents. The hours are Monday-Friday 11:00am-1:30pm and 3:30pm-8:00pm, and Saturdays 11:00am-4:00pm. Parental supervision is required and don’t forget your socks! Where else can we go? Keep reading the following issues to find out more about what’s going on in the communities around you. #GlancerMagazine #KristenKucharski #MomsLittleBlackBook #MBBPlaygroundsPlayscapes #KidsTeens #May2009 #FeaturedBlogger #FeaturedBlog

June 2009 - TONS OF SWIMMING FUN Why do the subdivision and public pools open at noon? Don’t they know that nap time is soon after? If you have kids like mine, they are up at the crack of dawn, overflowing with energy. Sometimes by 10:00am, it can feel like half the day has passed! How do I love Pelican Harbor in Bolingbrook? Let me count the ways: 1. Morning Parent/Tot swim hours for children under 7 2. Indoor pool, so when June temperatures are not so warm and it’s raining in July 3. Huge sand area with pirate ship and slides 4. Four outdoor water slides, body slides and tube slides 5. Two indoor water slides plus a water chute 6. Indoor toddler size, water slide 7. Indoor/Outdoor Zero Depth Pools 8. Indoor splash tower 9. Outdoor splash play pad with a tire swing, interactive spray play, & tunnels 10. Lazy River offering both single and double tubes 11. Diving board and drop slides 12. Sand volleyball courts 13. Lap lanes 14. 10 person hot tub 15. Picnic area with tables and umbrellas 16. Events with kid triathlons, flick & float nights, wacky weeks, etc. 17. Indoor playroom with a climber system 18. Indoor/outdoor locker rooms with plenty of showers and bathrooms 19. A babysitting room so you can go down the waterslides too If you have a subdivision pool that is great but I bet it doesn’t open at 8:00am, have an indoor option, a babysitting room, lazy river, or diving boards. I love this place because it opens early, caters to young children, the preteens, as well as the teenagers. It is so well designed with the various water slide heights, zero depth pools, cushioned interactive spray play area, and diving pit! They have a snack bar or you can bring your own picnic lunch or treats. Pelican Harbor is located at 200 S. Lindsey Lane, Bolingbrook, IL 60440. Phone number is 630-739-1705. Website is www.BolingbrookParks.org. Summer public swim hours are Monday through Saturday, 12:00pm-8:00pm and Sunday 12:00pm-6:00pm. Member hours begin at 11:30am. Call for Parent/Tot hours. Check for coupons. #GlancerMagazine #KristenKucharski #MomsLittleBlackBook #MBBOutdoorAdventures #MBBPlaygroundsPlayscapes #MBBPerfectForTweensTeens #KidsTeens #FeaturedBlogger #FeaturedBlog #June2009

December 2009 - HIGH SPEED RACING Whenever I see coupons for something FREE, at a new place we haven’t been to yet, we get very excited. I recently came across coupons for a free 5 minute race at Speed Alley Racing in Westmont. Five minutes didn’t sound like a lot of free time, so I was a bit concerned that this might be a pricey outing with six children in tow. Much to my surprise, this was a very affordable, very fun, new adventure for our crew. With the coupon, each child got a slot car and a five minute race. I paid $14 for four kids to each get a total of 20 minutes to race (so only $3.50/child). The two 3 year olds were content with their 5 minutes and playing with the remotes. The atmosphere is interesting as you kind of feel like you are in someone’s unfinished basement, but the staff is informative, helpful, courteous and especially nice. The room is filled with super sized race tracks for slot cars. There are many different tracks and different slot cars to choose from. Each track is color coded to a remote and matched to your color on the tv screens above to count your laps and keep track of your time. This sport is simple enough for three year olds and competitive enough for teenagers and adults. We learned very quickly that slot car racing is indeed a sport and can be competitive. We learned that it takes more to race your car than pulling the trigger on your remote, as hard as you can, to make your car go as fast as it can. Without skill and personal talent to corner the curves, you can wipe out very quickly. At times, the 3 year olds seem to do better than the older children because they didn’t pull the trigger so hard. Speed Alley Racing is located at 201 W. Ogden, Westmont, IL 60559 (630-493-4100). It is located inside Suburbanite Bowling Alley. Website is www.speedalleyracing.com. Hours are 11am-9pm, Monday-Saturday, Sunday 12-6pm. Car rental is $2/car, track rental starts at $2 for 5 minutes up to $17 for 60 minutes on the weekends. #GlancerMagazine #KristenKucharski #MomsLittleBlackBook #MBBPlaygroundsPlayscapes #MBBPerfectForTweensTeens #KidsTeens #December2009 #FeaturedBlogger #FeaturedBlog