Froggy boots

I decided to follow my son's lead today beginning with allowing him to chose his outfit for the day. He decided on his new froggy rain boots, striped pajama pants and a new red T, topped with pink beads. We had fun at the playground and hopping on the sidewalks and in and out of shops. Hopping like a frog! So adorable.

Funtopia USA - Queens Play Arcade

Funtopia USA is a great place to take toddlers and young children during the week when it is rainy or cold. The fee is $7 per child during the week ($9 weekend and holidays) and you get a free return visit if you save your receipt and bring it back within 30 days.
We usually spend a few dollars extra on games and bring a couple small soft balls to play with in the kids area. The place is large and well maintained. They have two designated play areas, one for younger children with slides, a small climbing area and tunnels and one is a very large climbing area with slides, tubes and ropes. Both areas are great for active play and fine tuning those motor skills and children who need to expel energy every day. The areas are matted and closed in so that you can always keep an eye on your little one and not worry about them getting lost. It can be a bit loud when it is busy with kids yelling and all of the arcade games and music but it is worth it when you have energetic kids who don't wish to be stuck in your apartment on rainy days. Going early and during the week is best so it isn't too crowded. It is best to drive to the location but there are buses and it is located at the last stop on the M train which is right next to the Metro Mall shopping Center. When arriving be sure to go down the ramp on the right side of the mall and park in the back of the mall because that is where the entrance to the mall is and where you can access Funtopia and the other shops.
We had our sons birthday party here and while it was plenty of fun I would highly recommend this type of party place for older children (age 6 - 10) and ask to have the room decorated before you arrive. The staff was a little disorganized and very busy because of multiple parties on a busy weekend but accommodated all of our requests with a smile. The laser tag and bumper cars sound like fun but of course were too old for our toddler partygoers. When my son gets older I would choose this place again and include all of the extras offered.

FuntopiaUSA.com
66-26 Metropolitan Avenue
Middle Village NY, 11379

Hours:
Mon - Thrs: 10am - 8pm
Fri - Sat: 10am - 10 pm
Sun: 10am - 9pm
FREE Parking

Playgroups - Finding the Right One

As my son grows he is need of social interaction with other children and I need some interaction with other moms and the outside world. I have searched playgroups and got plenty of suggestions from my sister in law, friends and research online. As a Stay At Home Mom funds are tight because we are living off of one income. We made the choice to have me stay home to care for our son but that doesn't mean we have a large disposable income, we live on a budget and can't afford to pay exorbitant prices for Mommy and Me, music classes and playgroups.
When looking for a affordable place to play in the colder months and even a regular hang out for your child there has to be some criteria. For us it needed to be safe, clean, close by and affordable.
When beginning to look for a playgroup consider churches and other places of worship. They usually  have a basement or spare room and sometimes offer free or low cost playgroups to the neighborhood. Sometimes they are hard to find because their websites aren't up to date or even online but ask around the neighborhood or go to your local church and ask about the programs offered for children. Elementary or pre-schools may also have a playgroup or Mommy and Me program available.
Some play gyms have open play but you have to be a member in order to take advantage of the free play time. The problem with scheduled groups is that things come up and there are instances where your child is sick or you are sick or you have relatives in town and won't want to go. I like the playgroups that let you pay as you go, this way we can go when we want and aren't committed to any program. Some are worth it and some are not. Take a look at prices and see what fits your budget.
We have been frequenting a playgroup now that I was introduced to by my sister-in-law. It is closer to her but it is well worth the drive. This playgroup is at a religious school and they have plenty of toys, mats, games, jumpers and chairs for moms to socialize and children from infants to toddlers to play and have fun. The cost is five dollars and is pay as you go. They have a small coffee and bagels tray for adults and juice snacks for the children. After free play the head of the group asks everyone to clean up and then we sit on a mat and are read a story, sing songs, march and play instruments and other group activities. It is well worth the money and is lots of fun for my son. I only wish it I wasn't always late from getting a slow start in the morning and getting lost on the way there. Hopefully in the future we can get our act together in the morning to get us there on time.
Another option we like is the church right around the corner on 37th Street. It is in the afternoon and they only ask for donations to offset the cost of the snacks provided and there is plenty of room for my son to run around. The only complaint is that the play area can be very warm and dusty but I guess it is to be expected in a basement of an old church and there is no real structure and I don't see why they can't read a book or sing a couple songs but I guess you get what you pay for.

If you know of a great place to play please comment on this post and share with other moms

Here are a few sites in Queens that helped me in my search
- nymetroparents.com
- mommypoppins.com
- nyparenting.com