Asking for Ideas for Stay-at-home Spring Break

I have two boys too - here is what helps us! FREE PASSES AT THE LIBRARY: If you live in Chicago, all of the Chicago Public Libraries have FREE passes to all of the museums. You check it out with your library card and I think you can have it for a week. You may have to pay extra for special exhibits, like you can't go downstairs into the Reef at the Shedd with the pass, but you can see the whole first floor, which is plenty. TRAINS: If they like trains, the Chicago History Museum has an old wooden el train they can walk in plus an old locomotive. TIME OUT CHICAGO: Also, pick up a copy of "Time Out Chicago" and check out the Kids section - there are always neat ideas in there plus many free things to do. GARFIELD PARK CONSERVATORY: Have they been to the Garfield Park Conservatory? It's heaven on cold days, nice for parents, and it's free! But there is a kids area with a huge slide my boys love. Plus there is a little education area where they can pretend they are planting plants, and get spray bottles to water plants in that room. Have fun!

You've had some great ideas suggested. I have a few others to add. If you children enjoy art, try one of the ceramic/pottery painting places like Color Me Mine. My kids always love going there. My kids also love walking through the forest preserve looking for deer or going to a local nature center.

Some parks have a nice path for roller blading or some of the ice rinks are open for the weeks during sprink break. I also try to bake cookies or cupcakes with the kids letting them take charge. If it is nice enough, let them wash the car.

Take them to egg harbor cafe!

Since you said money is tight I thought I would suggest bringing them to bowl. Thursdays we offer $1 days. Its only a $1 for a game of bowling and $1 for shoe rental. We have $1 hotdogs and $1 sodas as well. Its all day long but is busier after 3p or so.

Hi P.,

Check out our website, www.kidwinks.com - it's "The site to know with kids in tow". You can use our Events calendar to find things to do (including library listings, park districts, free museum days, etc.) on any day, or browse the Ongoing Activities area. Also check out our hugely popular Kids Eat Free calendar to find where kids eat free on any given day. Membership is free, and you can also sign up to receive our weekly email newsletter with links to upcoming events and activities.

Best regards,

J.

Hi P.!

Bowling!
Little Red Schoolhouse in Palos!
Lincoln Park Zoo -- free!
Indoor wall climb or swimming pool!
Miniature golf!
Are they in Little League? then batting cages!
Good luck, have fun!

S. F.

Here are some things to consider: a day in the city - a stop at the Art Institute, a trip to Millenium park, an elevator trip to top of the Hancock (you don't need to pay and go to the observatory - you can just go look at the restuarant), if you're flush you can go to the ESPN zone and play games or the old Rock-n-Roll McDonalds over there. I personally like the Aquarium b/c all the water makes me think of summer, but you might want to check b/c I think the Oceanarium where the dolphins and whales are is still under construction. Navy Pier is good for at least an afternoon - but again, its expensive! You could go to the indoor water park at Key Lime Cove (Gurnee I think). Good luck.

the library is always a plus. try to see which museums are free. try the chicago park district to see when free/open swim is during the day.

Mother of two very big boys now! at your service. Suggestions:
rent free movie at local libraries (I know we have free movies in our area and we have been doing that since I had to cut back on our cable. Take out books, magazines, and even puzzles.On good weather days, go for long walks, bike rides, if you have a dog bring Fido. Bring a picnic lunch (pb and j is great)
I checked where you live. It is very nice there with parks and a cute little downtown area, what if walk around there? Splurge on a breakfast visit if you have a car, to Denny's or somewhere there is a very cheap breakfast. Or bake things all week all together. Boys like that, too. Look for things in your house already waiting to be made!
Sing,wrestle,ump,and laugh. Visit your neighbors Enjoy it!
Search for anything free like displays, or children's museums, (one in Wheaton or Naperville I think). Get out bats, balls, and frisbees unless it snows, then perhaps a sled?

It amazes me that we have to come up with ways to "entertain" the children. Ok so I am an older mom but what happened to kick the can and flashlight tag and picnicking in the park? Why is everything so boring when I am sure there are thousands of dollars invested in toys in your house? What about a day at the library? Park District? or how about taking them to the movies for a day? My parents were from 1930 (literally) and I never heard of spring break having to go and be somewhere as a requirement while I was growing up. I had a great childhood and yes we went on family vacations (off season).

Don't buy into what our newer society expects us to be providing our children. (the newest latest most advanced newest model....)

What is important is not what activity you do it is that you are doing it together. You are building childhood memories. What ever you decide to do just make sure you do it with them.

Hi P.-

I see you live in Arlington Hts. like me. We have gone to Lake Arlington and rented the paddle boats for an hour. Great exercise and the price isn't too bad. Just riding bikes around there is fun and free and building sand castles too.

Party Palace (Des Plaines or Mt. Prospect) and Go Bananas has active stuff to do such as jungle gym and moon walk... both of these activities are free. (Go Bananas has a coupon on line for 6.99 for all day ride pass and they have tokens for arcade games.) My daughter rode on the bull and enjoyed it at Party Palace. They have laser tag and miniture golf too. I see coupons for this place sometimes... it's new.. it's on Golf and Elmhurst Rd.

My kids like Pioneer Park in A.H. and riding bikes around Kimball Hill School in Rolling Meadows and then going to Cardinal Park nearby and the Dollar Tree is always fun and cheap.

How about Brookfield zoo or a small petting zoo called Randall Oaks? There's also another petting zoo in Glenview... can't think of the name.

Indoor waterparks or swimming pools is always an option. Rock climbing I believe some YMCAs have it and Dick's sporting goods... not sure about the minimum age, though.

Bookstores and petstores are always fun to visit... and they can be inexpensive if you limit yourself! Take a ride on the trolley at Woodfield(free) and stop at Ikea. (I don't know the height restriction.... but kids can play for an hour while supervised so you can shop solo! (complimentary service)

Buffet type restaurants are always big with my kids... like Old Country Buffet. Rainforest Cafe is a fun eating establishment in Woodfield.

Bowling alleys have specials. I think the one in Elk Grove is 99 cents a game on a certain day.... I think Thursday.

The Buffalo Grove Theater has movies that have been out for awhile... BUT it's only two dollars to get in.

Check with the library. A.H. has so many free and worthwhile programs for kids. Maybe they might have something this week. In the kid section at the library they often have booklets called Oakley's Guide... take one... they are free and there are so MANY ideas as to where to take your kids... look for coupons in the back. You can also go to their website for info.

Well... have a fun week. It's also a perfect time to get together with friends you don't see a lot and just have playdates at home or at a park.