Indoor Play Spaces Are The Bomb
When the temperature outside drops and the weather turns nasty, we head for indoor play spaces. Thankfully, we have many in Brooklyn that we frequent, it's the one saving grace to being an urban parent. My friend and fellow comedian Karen Morgan lives in Maine. The closest thing they have to an indoor play space is her local PetSmart store. She tells her kids it's an indoor zoo.
When I was growing up indoor play spaces were called something else: other people's houses. Today, between most moms working and daycare, Lily and I have made many lasting friendships at play spaces that graduated into play dates. An Indoor play space is like a mom's MySpace: you can network with other lonely, desperate women who are dying to speak with someone over 3 years old. And if you're new to the indoor play space or party gym experience, it won't take you long to get over the whole ball pit phobia thing. I think all the germs they pick up in the ball pit only make them stronger in the long run. In fact, when Lily dives into a ball pit now I literally hear that song Stronger by Kanye West in my head.
Here are some great indoor play spaces that I highly recommend if you find yourself in the New York area:
The Brooklyn Children's Museum - the family membership only costs $50 and with each visit costing $5 per adult the membership pays for itself in like five visits. Unfortunately, the museum is closed through Spring of this year due to renovations. If you're really desperate and are prepared to bear the traffic the Children's Museum in Manhattan is marvelous. A great alternative altogether is the tremendously underrated, best kept secret to all Brooklyn moms: the Staten Island Children's Museum.
Kids 'N Action on McDonald Avenue in Brooklyn. This place has a giant (at least two stories high), softplay structure: complete with connecting tunnels; slides; several ball pits. It also has indoor rides for a little extra dough. A visit for you and your child will run you about $14 so plan on spending some time there to get your monies worth. The only downside, you can't bring any outside food in because they are strictly Kosher. Believe it or not, their Kosher pizza is delish. Lily loves this place.
The Party Gym on Avenue Z in Brooklyn is fantastic for your little ones. This place only costs about $5 ($7 if you want the pizza lunch) for three hours of open play. Like most places in New York, it can get a little crowded but I guarantee if it's a nap you desire for your munchkin, after several hours of running around like a maniac, they'll be out like a light.
The New York Aquarium at Coney Island is also a personal favorite of mine because it's educational and has a lot of cool rooms with hands on displays to keep kids busy for hours. It can be expensive so I recommend purchasing a Family Membership. For only $150 you can visit the aquarium, Bronx Zoo, Queens Zoo, Central Park Zoo & Prospect Park Zoo for free for one year. (Personal Tip: When you feel out the application put down that you have 8 kids so you can bring your friends along for free too.) One visit to the Bronx Zoo for a family of four can run you like $80! I'm not kidding! So, after two Bronz Zoo trips the pass pays for itself. Also, I find that when you purchase these memberships you don't feel you have to stay for hours even after the children become exhausted just to get your monies worth - that's what my parents always did to us when we were growing up. I'm not complaining. I loved the Catskill Game Farm but after six hours I was ready to leave already.
If you've got any great tips on indoor play spaces in your area (and give us the skinny too) please feel free to share. It takes a village to keep our kids occupied over the holidays and in bad weather....an iVillage. So, give us your recommendations.
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