Today was a low key day at Casa de Cisco. We met up with one of Grace's friends from school at Sunny Hill Park in Streamwood. This park is located on Rt. 19 west of Rt 59 between Streamwood and Elgin.
I don't even know where to begin with how awesome this park is. The Streamwood Park District got this park 100% right. There is literally something for everyone here. The first thing you notice when you pass by the park is the AWESOME skate park located at the front of the park. Really cool ramps and jumps for skaters of all skill levels. The park district was even offering skate board lessons for a while not sure if they still are.
There is not only one playground at this park there are two. One at the top of the hill with plenty of swings for big and little kids as well as two different size jungle gyms for monkeys of all sizes. Molly was very adventurous today and went done the biggest slide there, first with big brother Ben then on her tummy all by herself.
The playground at the bottom of the hill is a bit smaller but still plenty of things for the the kids to play on.
Besides the playgrounds and skate park there are tennis courts and a Frisbee golf course. In the summer time there is a Splash Pad or as I call it the sprinkler park. The park operates almost all day, every day, June through September. The only issues I have with the sprinkler park is there is no shade within the gates and sometimes the pumps get over worked and the water turns off for 30 mins or so. Any time that has happened, I have called the park district and they have come over and fixed it. I just love the sprinkler park for kids of all ages. It is super easy to keep an eye on all my little monkeys and no matter how big or small they all like to splash in the water.
In addition to all the fun things to do this is one of two parks in Streamwood that has bathrooms and a shelter. For me a bathroom at a park is HUGE. With three kids someone always has to go to the bathroom. When we go to this park the fun doesn't stop cause someone has to use the bathroom.
Check out the park district website for more information www.streamwoodparkdistrict.org/parks_facilities.html
Friday, March 19, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Money Saving Tip- Museum Membership
We have what is considered a "big" family. There are 5 of us, me, my husband Russ, Benjamin 7, Grace 5 and Molly 5. While I don't really consider us a big family it does seem to cost "big" bucks to go out and do anything. Especially anything that is fundacational (my word for fun and educational).
I think I may have stumbled on a solution, at one that seems to be working for my family. While we were at the Rockford Discovery Center I was able to purchase a family membership. However, this is no ordinary membership. For the $100 fee our membership card gets us into a whole bunch of children's museums around the country as well as discounted or free admission into a variety of science and technology museums. I figure we just need to visit 2 museums for the membership to pay for itself. As of todays posting I have done those two visits.
To see if there is a museum in your area that participates in either of these programs check out the following websites. www.childrensmuseums.org or www.astc.org
I think I may have stumbled on a solution, at one that seems to be working for my family. While we were at the Rockford Discovery Center I was able to purchase a family membership. However, this is no ordinary membership. For the $100 fee our membership card gets us into a whole bunch of children's museums around the country as well as discounted or free admission into a variety of science and technology museums. I figure we just need to visit 2 museums for the membership to pay for itself. As of todays posting I have done those two visits.
To see if there is a museum in your area that participates in either of these programs check out the following websites. www.childrensmuseums.org or www.astc.org
Rockford Discovery Center
Back in February, I took my little monkeys out to Rockford to check out the Discovery Center. While this is not a great big museum I though it was just great for my kids, Benjamin 7, Grace 5, and Molly 18 months. There was not a lot of things that were great for Molly to do so the museum is probably suited more for kids over the age of 3, in my opinion.
When you first go into the Discovery Center there is a great little play area for kids under the age of 3. This was really the only place that I let Molly out of the stroller. There is a kitchen / house area, an airplane with cargo center as well as some other little things for little ones to do. The Discovery Center is currently in the middle of a renovation and I believe one of the areas they are expending is this area for smaller children.
My big kids Ben and Grace had a great time exploring the rest of the museum. On the first level were exhibits on weight, levers and space. The 2nd level was focused on physical activity and health. There is lots of hands on stuff to do for the big kids on the 1st and 2nd levels.
For more information check out their website http://www.discoverycentermuseum.org
When you first go into the Discovery Center there is a great little play area for kids under the age of 3. This was really the only place that I let Molly out of the stroller. There is a kitchen / house area, an airplane with cargo center as well as some other little things for little ones to do. The Discovery Center is currently in the middle of a renovation and I believe one of the areas they are expending is this area for smaller children.
My big kids Ben and Grace had a great time exploring the rest of the museum. On the first level were exhibits on weight, levers and space. The 2nd level was focused on physical activity and health. There is lots of hands on stuff to do for the big kids on the 1st and 2nd levels.
For more information check out their website http://www.discoverycentermuseum.org
DuPage Children's Museum
Today I took my three little monkeys to the DuPage Children's Museum in Naperville. The museum opened at 9am today and I managed to get everyone up dressed, fed and to the museum before 10am. I thought that was pretty impressive given the fact it was a 45min drive from Streamwood to Naperville.
The DuPage Children Museum is a great spot for children of all ages. There are a bunch of wonderful sections through out the entire museum called "Young Explorers". I think of this area as for the under 3 set. I saw babies as young as 4 months crawling around exploring all the different wooden toys in there as well as lots of mirrors at "baby" level. There were lots of tunnels to crawl through and things to jump on.
They have divided the museum up into different neighborhoods. We spent a lot of time in what I call the exploring with light and sounds area. The kids explore shadows, colors, glow in the dark as well as music and sounds. There is a whole room with a variety of musical instruments for the kids to bang on.
The big area that all children and parents really seem to enjoy is the water works. This is a wonderful water table filled with all sorts of spurting and squirting water that the kids try to control. Molly, my 18 month old just enjoyed splashing in the water. Grace, my 5 year old loved pouring the water over the water wheels and watching the wheels go round and round while Ben, my 7 year old, had all sorts of PVC pipe trying to control the direction and flow of the water.
Right next to the water works is a mini wind tunnel and series of tubes shooting wind all of the place. The kids are encouraged to try to direct the wind as well as sending small balls and scarves through the winding pipe.
There is so much to see and do at the DuPage Children's Museum there is no way I could describe it all. For more information check out their website http://www.dupagechildrensmuseum.org/
The DuPage Children Museum is a great spot for children of all ages. There are a bunch of wonderful sections through out the entire museum called "Young Explorers". I think of this area as for the under 3 set. I saw babies as young as 4 months crawling around exploring all the different wooden toys in there as well as lots of mirrors at "baby" level. There were lots of tunnels to crawl through and things to jump on.
They have divided the museum up into different neighborhoods. We spent a lot of time in what I call the exploring with light and sounds area. The kids explore shadows, colors, glow in the dark as well as music and sounds. There is a whole room with a variety of musical instruments for the kids to bang on.
The big area that all children and parents really seem to enjoy is the water works. This is a wonderful water table filled with all sorts of spurting and squirting water that the kids try to control. Molly, my 18 month old just enjoyed splashing in the water. Grace, my 5 year old loved pouring the water over the water wheels and watching the wheels go round and round while Ben, my 7 year old, had all sorts of PVC pipe trying to control the direction and flow of the water.
Right next to the water works is a mini wind tunnel and series of tubes shooting wind all of the place. The kids are encouraged to try to direct the wind as well as sending small balls and scarves through the winding pipe.
There is so much to see and do at the DuPage Children's Museum there is no way I could describe it all. For more information check out their website http://www.dupagechildrensmuseum.org/
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
1st Post
Ok here is my first post of what I will hope will be many. I am a 30 something mom to three fantastic kids, Benjamin 7, Grace 5 and Molly 18 months. As soon as Ben learned to talk it has been the same question everyday...What are we going to do today Mom?
It struck me today, I can't be the only Mom that hears this question over and over and over again. Some days I have a great answer, other days I have no idea. I am hoping to use this blog as a clearing house of idea of things to do with your kids. Kids of all ages.
My plan is to review different place, and activities that we do as a family. I would love to hear what you do with your kids, doesn't matter what part of the country you live in or the ages of your children all ideas and reviews are welcome.
It struck me today, I can't be the only Mom that hears this question over and over and over again. Some days I have a great answer, other days I have no idea. I am hoping to use this blog as a clearing house of idea of things to do with your kids. Kids of all ages.
My plan is to review different place, and activities that we do as a family. I would love to hear what you do with your kids, doesn't matter what part of the country you live in or the ages of your children all ideas and reviews are welcome.
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