Itty Bitty City

dEarly Spring mornings can be tough.  It is too cold to play outside for long periods without a lot of bundling.  (Or rather, Spencer would play outside no matter what the weather, but I don't want to stand around in 30 degree weather saying, "good sliding!" for very long.)  So today, we decided to try Itty Bitty City. 

We have heard a lot about the IBC, but had never been.  For $2 for two hours of playtime, though, how bad could it be?

In fact, it is not bad at all.  There were lots of toys of a wide variety - everything from Easter Bunny coloring stations to toy cars to two cozy coupes.  Lots of different kind of trikes, including ones to pedal and ones to scoot, were on offer.  There was a kid-size basketball hoop, an astonishing quantity of balls of all sizes, a giant parachute, two tunnels, giant building blocks, a trampoline, a balance beam...  They also have many pairs of roller skates.  Spence got to try them for the first time and did very well - he only fell once!  He was sorry to leave after two hours.

There did seem to be a lot of moms who didn't supervise their kids at all.  It is surprising to me that moms of preschoolers find this to be a relaxing place to sip their Starbucks and ignore their offspring.  While IBC seemed very safe, most two-year-olds still need help going across the balance beam, and learning to share (and not shove or swat) is easier when mom is nearby to say, "no - we share with our friends!"  There was free water and coffee outside the door, and the office staff didn't flinch at running a credit card for $2.  Apparently I am not the only mom who never has cash on hand.

Afterwards, we stopped by Once Upon a Child.  OUAC is great for used toys, and they are running a buy two, get one free special on their books.  I find this place to be very hit or miss.  Sometimes winter coats for toddlers are still $30+, even in March, which seems strange to me.  But Melissa and Doug wooden puzzles can be had for $2 or $4, and they frequently seem to have interesting toys - great wooden push toys, interesting Little People options, etc.  We got a Little People circus toy today for $4, and Spencer was in heaven.  They do not have shopping carts with lap belts, which seems like an odd failing for a children's store, but they do have a play area where you can trap your child while you shop for toys, and they sell great snack cups. 

If you find something great at OUAC that is missing a few pieces (like our new circus toy, or the wonderful Laugh and Learn Kitchen), check the manufacturer's website when you get home.  Most of the Fisher-Price/Mattel stuff has replacement parts available on the website for surprisingly reasonable prices - including replacement stickers, which can be great for used toys that have been well-loved.  A Laugh and Learn Kitchen with no accessories can cost around $6, and the manufacturer's website will send you replacements for the balls, shapes to sort, letters for the mailbox, keys for the door, etc., for under $10.  A used Laugh and Learn Kitchen with all the accessories can be more than $30 on craigslist or at OUAC.

Tonight, we are planning to go to Rope World.  We've been twice before, with good results, so I am hopeful for a great night tonight.