February is the month of love, so we thought we’d take this opportunity to share some of the places that we love in and around Chicago, particularly during these cold winter months. These places are all wonderful spots for engaging your little one in play that promotes healthy child development.
The Chicago Public Library
With every last book available through the internet, it’s easy to forget just how wonderful your local library can be. Spend a half hour letting your little one pick out books that she likes and reading them to her. Do some puzzles, or play a game that you don’t have at home on one of the children’s computers. Each branch also has plenty of interactive programming every month, ranging from homework help to story hours to arts and crafts. Find your local branch and check the event schedule here.
The Little Gym of Chicago
We can’t say enough good things about The Little Gym. This place specializes in classes that involve active play. Some classes are for parents and kids, some are just for kids, and the age range is from four months to twelve years old. (So many places that offer children’s classes start at age two, so this place can be a real life-saver for new parents.) Choose from gymnastics, dance, sport skills, karate, and more. Visit the website here to check out the current class schedule.
Kid City
This indoor play space is over 3,000 square feet and has everything from a play grocery market to a dress up boutique. This is a great spot for toddlers and pre-k kids in particular with big imaginations. You can bring a friend along or plan a session with one of our occupational therapists at this great playground. Learn more about the rates and hours here.
Little Beans Café
A perennial parenting problem is figuring out a way to take your kids on fun adventures and feed them well at the same time. Little Beans Café solves that problem by serving an assortment of drinks (including coffee) and snacks that both parents and kids will enjoy, all within a family play space. This could be the perfect spot to meet with one of our speech therapists to practice socializing, instruction following, and more. Learn more here.
Exceptional Wiggleworms at Old Town School of Folk Music
If your little guy loves music but has sensory sensitivities, then Exceptional Wiggleworms may be the perfect solution. This set of music classes is specifically designed for children with special needs and children with sensitivities to loud noises. Every class follows the same structure and is taught by someone educated in the field of special education. Learn more and sign up for a class here.
These are just a few of the spots we love. For more recommendations, feel free to give our office a call any time. We can also answer any questions you may have about our occupational, speech, and physical therapists or our approach to pediatric therapy.