Conference moira::parenting

    The one in Arlington is called Tot Stop.  It is located in a school, I
    believe on Foster Street (but, I'm not sure).  
    
    I have a friend with a 3 year old, who says that the place is WONDERFUL.  
    I believe that they charge $3 or so, and the facilities are terrific.
    
    Leslie

    The Tot Stop in Arlington, MA has gone up to $5.00 (free under 7 mos.)
    But there is so much to do that I have usually found it well worth
    the money.
    
    I hear that there is a new place in either Natick or Needham, MA.
    Does anyone know the facts? And doesn't Tot Stop have a second
    location as well?
    
    Lucy

    The new place is in Natick somewhere on Rte 9 near the Natick mall.  It
    is presently THE place for birthday parties, although strictly
    upper-crust, as I heard they charge $8 per kid.
    
    L.

    I also remember hearing that the Natick one has a 2-hour limit.
    The Tot Stop in Arlington has no limit that I'm aware of, and
    the rules are minimal.
    
    Lucy

    The one inNatick is called "The Discovery Zone" and cost $5.99 for 2
    hours and some amount for any time over two hours.  There is no "limit"
    per se, just how much your child and your wallet can take.  
    
    I took my 20 month old daughter and she had a ball!  It is seperated
    into two areas: a toddler area and an older kitds area.  The toddler
    area she can go on all the things herself.  The older section she can
    go on as long as I'm with her.  Which I really enjoyed!
    
    They seem to have plenty of staff that are dressed up like referees. 
    When I went it was in the middle of the day so it wasn't a zoo, and
    most of the kids were my daughters age.  I don't know what it is like
    during more peak times.
    
    Wendy

    There is a "Little Tykes" playhouse in the TJ Maxx shopping plaza in
    Tyngsboro across from the Pheasant Lane Mall.  I stopped in once, but
    was not interested in "paying" someone to let my kids play with toys
    that for the most part we had at home.  
    
    My kids really like the playhouses at the local fast food joints.  BK
    in Nashua has a "ball room" as does the BK in Chelmsford, MA.  Both
    suit the needs of my kids.
    
    My boys also like the outdoor McDonald's in Maynard, MA.  Much nicer
    than the old set they replaced!!
    
    -sandy
    

    
    I found Chuckie Cheese's to be a fun place for kids. They are located
    all over Mass. 
    
    
    Sandy

    For people who may not have checked out these indoor play places yet -
    The one I've been to has a block room, a sand room, a big babies-and-
    toddlers area with all the toys you could imagine, a 2-story "barn"
    climbing structure, riding toys, quiet toys, a changing room with
    sink and soap and wipes, a snack bar...the list goes on. The beauty is
    that you can just sit on a bench, read a magazine or talk to a friend, 
    and let your kids go -- everything is safe and there's something for
    everyone. One time my son and I stayed  for *four* hours - the best
    $5.00 I ever spent to keep my sanity on a gloomy winter day.
    
    Lucy

    I took my daughter and her friend to Discovery Zone and they had a
    blast! I even saw some adults in there also..going down the slides! 
    Anyway, the limit is 2 hours for 5.99. parents are free. But i did hear
    one negative comment from someone here regarding "germs". I mean, tons
    of kids running around..jumping into plastic balls..etc. 
    
    Also, I did check out the birthday party ad and its expensive!!! It
    does not include any food, drink or decorations. all you get is the
    room basically and admissions for the kids. The birthday party thing is
    7.99 per kid. (thats even more money than if you were to just pay for
    each kid separatly.) I guess what you are paying for is the room. 

    My sister in law is planning a birthday party for my neice
    and she called the Discovery Zone.  She confirmed that it
    is $7.99 per person and that includes cake and soda...THAT'S IT.
    
    She made sure she told them that they're prices were outrageous.
    She'll be going to Papa Gino's for $2.99, but that's another 
    topic  8-)
    
    	Linda

    I found my local boys club, YMCA, and YWCA offer children's programs. 
    Pete was in a swim and gym class for 6 weeks on Sat. mornings.  He
    liked it.  
    
    Classes fill quickly.
    
    Linda
     

    The Little Tykes Playhouse mentioned in -6 is right on the NH/MA
    line.  I agree with the -6 noter that it's pretty much a collection
    of the kinds of toys that most kids have at home anyway.  But I
    wouldn't disregard this place too quickly.  They have hundreds of toys out
    at any given time.  I'd say my son probably has about 20 of them
    already, so the rest are all new to him.  The value of these
    places isn't so much that there are toys for kids to play with.  To me
    it's more of a place to go to be with other kids/parents on a rainy
    day, to have a change of scenary, etc.  Also, it gives me a chance to
    see what toys my son really loves vs. isn't all that interested in, so
    when I go shopping for him for birthdays/Christmas, I'm more likely to
    buy the toys that he will really play with.  Best of all, kids can
    tear these places apart, and then the Moms can go home to a clean
    house.
    
    Can anyone give specific location/directions to a Chuckie Cheeses in
    the Northern Mass or Southern NH area?  
        

    There's a Chuck E. Cheese in Danvers, Mass.  There's also one I've 
    been to in Southern NH, but I can't remember the town.  I do know
    it was en route from Somersworth, NH, to Worcester, MA, if that helps!
    
    -Tracy
    

I think there's a Chuck E. Cheese in Manchester in the little mall just
across the street from the Mall of NH.  There's a Toys-R-Us, & Kids-R-Us
in the same sort of mall area that Chuck E's is in.

I think that's off S. Willow Street.

Leslie

    there is a new chuck e cheese's in burlington on rte 3a off of
    rte 128 north...it is in the strip mall just before the marshall's mall...
    on your left.
    
    this is brand new and very clean.
    
    bring your aspirin of choice for the guaranteed headache you will have
    by the time you leave.

    re: LIttle Tykes place in NH
    
    What's the cover charge??  Is there an area for parents to sit
    and read/socialize??
    
    thanks!

    Re: .-1  Just for the record... the place in Tyngsboro is called Tyke
    Town.

    I had heard that there is going to be a new Chuck-E-Cheese
    opening in Natick.  Does anyone know if this has opened yet?
    
    ..and where in Natick it's located?
    
    thanks! Linda

    Rt 128 north to the Endicott St.(Liberty Tree Mall) exit. Left at top
    of ramp onto Endicott St. left at first set of lights into shopping
    center. Chuck-E's located next to KMart on your right.
    
    As someone mentioned earlier, bring lots of asprins (and lots of money
    for tokens...)
    
    Freddie
    
    P.S. Thanks for all the replies to my basenote. Now I can't wait for
    the next rainy day...;^)

    Anyone know of one near Atlanta, GA (North of town towards Alpharetta,
    preferrably)?
    

    the Chuck-E-Cheese in Natick is on Rt. 9 West bound between a bowling
    alley and a pontiac dealership.  If you get to the 9/27 shopping plaza
    (the one with Super Stop&Shop and Building 19) you've gone too far.I 
    drove by there yesterday and saw tables and chairs in there but I'm not 
    sure if they're open yet.  

    I have 9 neices and nephews that live in Natick so I'm sure I'll hear
    about it when they do open!
    
    W-

    Thank you Wendy!  I know exactly where you mean.
    
    Doesn't look like it'll be open by Steven's birthday next 
    Thursday though.  Oh well.  
    
    		Linda

    
    The Chuck E Cheese in Natick is in the same building as Gallagher's
    Restaurant and it is opening November 17th (big sign on the door).
    
    -dorothy

    	Linda....what about the Chuck E Cheese in Shrewsbury.  I don't
    	think it's that far from you...it's not to far from UMASS
    	Hospital...off of route 9 on route 20.  Probably about a half
    	hour from your house....maybe less.
    
    	Ellen

    Thanks Ellen.  We were going to go on our way home from
    Boston.  I'll keep it in mind for the future though!
    
    		Linda

    Re .24:  The one on Route 20 is actually in Worcester (near the
    Shrewsbury line).
    
    -Tracy
    

    Can someone give the directions to the BK in Chelmsford? Thanks.
    
    Buddy

    Depends on where you are coming from, of course, but let's just say it
    is off Drum Hill Road across from the Caldor/Shop 'n Save Plaza just
    off the "rotary" in Chelmsford that is above route 3.
    
    -sandy
    

    I was at the Discovery Zone last weekend and had a terrible time.
    First, we waited 30 min. to check in and only 4 families were infornt
    of us.   The whole place was a zoo.  It was covered with people.
    The noise level was so high, I got a headache at the end of 1st hour.
    I went with my 2 kids (4 & 2 yr old), and had a hard time to keep
    my eyes on both of them.  Definitely a good place for kidnapper.
    Overall, it wasn't a good experience and I probably won't visit
    it again.  I like Chuck E Cheese better.  Although it's smaller,
    but it has no admission fees and a lot quieter.  Also I don't
    have to worry to loss my children.
    
    Wendy

I received a coupon for a new (I think) place in Ashland, MA called
Toddler Town.  It says it's an indoor playground for childer 5 and under.
They have a big sandbox, ball pits, ride on toys, birthday parties,etc...  
The admission was $5.00, $1 off with the coupon. It is on 300 Elliot St. 
which is near Shaws and Little Feet (a better landmark for parents!) I believe.

I haven't been there, but I'll try anything once!  It's probably like  the
discovery Zone, it's better if you can go in the middle of a weekday.

W-

p.s.  Anyone been to the Chuck-E-Cheese in Natick yet?

    re: -1
    
    Yes, I was at the Chuckie Cheese in Natick last Wednesday.  It was a
    madhouse starting at about 5:00 PM.
    
    /Deb

    The second location of the tot stop in Arlington, is in a mall
    in Salem MA. I have been there w/ my 3 girls, great place.
    6 bucks a kid w/ a max of 14.00 per family, no time limit.
    It is an ocean theme, houses ,a boat, minitaure rooms,
    a padded room, a ball pool, loads of slides. There are 
    educational areas (quiet w/ puzzles, games, computerized stuff)
    there is a sand room, a big "little tykes toys" area, IE: a 
    house, 4 or 5 cars, see-saw, there is a snack bar, birthday
    party area and so forth. Oh yeah the age limit is 6......
    I do not recall the name of the maill, however I beleive there
    was a Weyleus resteraunt in it. I am sure the tot stop in Arlington
    would know.
    
    fwiw/Bob

    Has anyone run a birthday party from STRIKE ONE in Burlington ??
    Indoor playground w/ soccer, batting cage, arcade, etc.
    
    Any comments appreciated.

Two or three children in our neighborhood have had birthday parties there.  The
parties have gone very well for both boys and girls.

Harold