Filed under: Uncategorized
We had a pact with our son. If you potty train – you will be allowed entry to the IKEA playground. We frequent IKEA – and always showed him the sign that said, “All children must be potty trained. No pullups or diapers”. He was inspired and it worked.
The IKEA indoor playground – a place where you can drop your child off for 45 minutes to an hour and a half…..and go have dinner and shop in peace. It is free. To gain entry, your child must be at least “this high” – but also below a certain height in a range. The playground has very large glass viewing windows. Safety is of course – a main concern. You fill out a waiver and you are stamped with a number – which must match the child’s number. The doors are on a security system. I once wanted to ask my son a question and was stopped from even leaning over the half wall to get his attention. This actually made me feel good – that they were so on top of things. The playground has a ball pit, a movie theater, coloring area and lots of room to run around. The staff gives you a restaurant style beeper to carry with you and a slip of paper which has the pick up time listed on it. If there is anything up with your child while you are shopping or eating – they beep you to come pick them up.
I must admit, I stayed by the window for a long time………then kind of stood by the doorway for a long time before I was certain that everything was ok. I ate quickly and shopped quickly – and then just watched the kids play through the window until the beeper went off in my hand. It was still a treat for me.
If you must feed the troops, kids meals range from 99 cents to $1.99. Ice cream cones are a bargain (lower level) for 99 cents. Has anyone else been astounded by the cost of ice cream lately???
The day we went, we happened to come across the IKEA yard sale with a DJ. My son and I sang Abba karaoke and won tickets for Mama Mia the movie. Hooray!
