Cost:	- $3 per child for Tiny Tot Open Play
	- $1 per half hour for nursery services
	- Other program prices vary

Ages welcome:	- All ages
	- Tiny Tot Open Play is for children under 5 (crowd is mostly infants & young toddlers)
	- Nursery if for children one month to 11 years

Hours:	- Hours vary by program
	- Tiny Tot Open Play is open every Tuesday from noon to 2 p.m. in the Creative Activity Room (Special activities for parents the 2nd Tues. of each month)
	- Nursery is open 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. & 6 – 9 p.m. weekdays, 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, closed Sunday

Parent Comments & Ratings

For information about The Water Works, please see this review.

PROS

The Schaumburg CRC has a lot to offer young kids and families. Its Tiny Tot Open Play is an inexpensive activity for you and your little ones on Tuesday afternoons. It is located in the CRC’s Creative Activity Room, which has a ball pit, slides, tunnels and cushy mats. There are little teeter totter toys, a small playhouse and a Step 2 Clubhouse Climber. On the other side of the room, they often put out a little play kitchen area and some small basketball hoops.

I’ve seen a lot of moms bring their young infants to Tiny Tot Open Play. They help them explore different toys and socialize with other mommies. For the parents of toddlers, there’s a row of chairs where you can relax and watch your kids play. I’ve seen parents bring coffee to enjoy and moms with sack lunches for their children. It’s a very laid back setting.

The CRC offers nursery services, so you can attend a park district program, take a swim or use the workout facility (fees for adult programs vary). The nursery, called The Play Spot, is only a dollar per half hour, per child. The staff is great. They remembered my son’s name after his second visit, and he loves all the toys and activities they have. It gives me a nice break to do something on my own for an hour, and then take a hot shower without worrying about my son!

The Schaumburg Park District, like most of the Chicago area park districts, offers numerous sports, fitness, cultural and general interest programs for kids and adults of all ages. You can take a look at their Web site or pick up a catalog at the CRC to find a program for you or your little one.

One popular program for the little ones worth mentioning is called Friday Tot Lot. You can sign up at the CRC, but it’s held at the Sport Center gym. The gym is filled with balls, mats and riding toys from 9:30 a.m. – noon, and kids can have fun and burn energy. A 6-7 week session is around $20 for residents and $30 for non-residents, or you can pay a $5 drop-in fee.

The CRC also holds a lot of fun holiday activities. You can find more information in the park district’s seasonal catalogs or on their Website.

CONS

Many of the Schaumburg park district programs are considerably more expensive for non-residents. For non-residents who live nearby, I’d recommend taking advantage of the Tiny Tot Open Play, since it is $3 for residents and non-residents alike. The nursery is also the same price for all, but The Water Works and park district programs are different. Some of the programs are only $10 more, but many have a $20 difference.

Also, the hours of the Tiny Tot Open Play may be difficult, depending on your child’s naptime.

LOGISTICS

The CRC Creative Activity Room (where Tiny Tot Play is located) and the nursery are on the same side of the building. It’s easiest to park in the lot that is closer to the intersection of Bode and Springinsguth.

For Tiny Tot Open Play, you’ll want to pay at the front desk located near the nursery before heading upstairs to the Creative Activity Room.

If you’re using the nursery, you’ll also pay at the front desk outside the nursery room. If you plan to come often, you can buy a punch card and leave it at the nursery, so you don’t have to pay each time you come. When you sign in and out, the nursery staff will just deduct the appropriate amount from your card.

Nursery staff doesn’t change poopy diapers, so they will come find you if your little one needs changing. There is also a toddler-sized potty in the nursery your child can use, but staff doesn’t assist with the potty process. Kids aren’t allowed to bring toys or food, although you can bring a sippy cup with your child’s name on it. You can also feed your child just outside the nursery. There are chairs and a TV, and I’ve seen many moms feed their kids lunch there.

More information about The Water Works, located at the CRC, can be found here.

Website: http://www.parkfun.com