Audio clip
Chinyere Ubamadu
When the temperature drops outside, where's a kid going to burn off steam?
Moms can only schedule so many play dates, and weekly trips to paid play areas can dent the family budget.
"We purchased a family membership at the Tennessee Aquarium just for this reason: somewhere to go in the cold months," said Courtney Painter. "Even as young as 11 months, Parks loves looking at the fish and seeing the butterflies."
"Other people's houses is my answer," said Ringgold, Ga., mom Tara Trobaugh. "It's inexpensive and they have toys different from the ones we have."
"Indoor play places during cold and flu season are not my cup of tea," said Stacy Ervin. "Mostly we stay home or have play dates at friend's houses. I try to buy small things to pull out on rainy days, such as a craft project, puzzles or games."
Concern over keeping kids healthy at the height of flu season is one reason Emily Quinn said Pump It Up is popular with parents.
"We are partners with Clorox, and that's a big selling point with parents. We make it a point to continuously wipe down all inflatable entrances and clean the bathrooms with Clorox products," Ms. Quinn said.
Following is a list of some area play spots to entertain children. Admission ranges from free to $25. Birthday party locations, including area movie party rooms, are not included.
FREE
* Children's Discovery Museum, 321 Chestnut St., 756-2738: First Tennessee bank sponsors a Free Family Night once a month at the children's museum from 5:30-8 p.m. Check for the dates online at www.cdmfun.org. November's free date has passed, but two free days are coming during Christmas break on Tuesday-Wednesday, Dec. 22-23, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Regular admission to the museum is $9.95 parent or child.
$12 OR LESS
* Boys and Girls Clubs, 2312 Duncan Ave., 629-0008: $3 yearly membership allows child to participate in all programs and activities; hours when school's in session: 3-9 p.m. Monday-Friday, hours when school's out: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Other club locations: 1823 Hardy St., 2121 E. 25th St.
* Hamilton Family YMCA, 7430 Shallowford Road, 899-1721: $6 per child allows unlimited time on indoor Adventure Center, first visit with parent is free; playground hours vary daily so call for schedule.
* Hamilton Skate Place, 7414 Goodwin Road, 899-1788: Saturday Morning Skate, ages 8 and younger, 10 a.m. to noon, $4 per child, $1.50 skate rental or bring your own; Family Night, each Tuesday 4:30-9 p.m., $12 for family of four, $1.50 skate rental; Sunday Family Skate, 1-5 p.m., $5.
* TAG Gymnastics, 2501 Riverside Drive, 894-3910: Open gym for ages 6 and older every Friday 7-9 p.m., $8 per TAG member, $10 nonmembers, includes two hours of free play, Coke and pizza.
TAG Thanksgiving weekend special: All-Day Play on Friday, Nov. 27, noon to 9 p.m., $5 an hour or $25 for the day, 25 percent discount for siblings.
BOULDERING
* Urban Rocks, 1007 Appling St., 475-6579: Kid's Climb Time, every Friday 4-5:30 p.m., a staff member will assist your child for free, $10 climbing pass and rental gear prices apply; climbs on a first-come basis. Parent must remain in the gym during the child's climb time to supervise.
Best buy: Kid's Intro pack for $25, includes climbing pass, rental gear and a belay class for the adult in charge. Additional children are $14.
* Tennessee Bouldering Authority Gym, 3804 St. Elmo Ave. 822-6800: $8 per person for unlimited time, $5 shoe rental; Kids Time every Friday 4-10 p.m. for ages 12 and under, buy one admission, get a second half-price.
INFLATABLE PLAYGROUNDS
* Partyvillle Inc., 4809 Hixson Pike, 870-7827: Hours 1-6 p.m. Sunday, 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. Monday and Wednesday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, closed Tuesday; $5 plus tax ages 3 and under, $7.95 plus tax ages 4-12.
* Playworld Down Under, 4752 Highway 58, 892-7529: Hours 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m.- 9 p.m. Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday; $5.95 ages 4-12, $3.75 ages 3 and under.
* Pump It Up, 7443 Commons Blvd., 855-8838: Open play hours are 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, $6.56 per child 25 months to age 12.
RECREATION CENTERS
All programs free except First-Centenary Center; hours are 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Friday except for Brainerd and South Chattanooga, where hours are 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday.
* Avondale Recreation Center, 1305 Dodson Ave., 697-1277: After-school tutoring, gym, computer lab, sports fields.
* Brainerd Recreation Complex, 1010 N. Moore Road, 425-3600: Gym, badminton, dance studio, computer lab, fitness/weight room, pool, reading center, tutoring offered every other Saturday 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
* Carver Recreation Center, 600 Orchard Knob Ave., 697-1280: Game room, gym, weight room, walking path, disc golf course, free hot meal on Thursdays.
* East Chattanooga Recreation Center, 2409 Dodson Ave., 697-1281: Basketball league, computer lab, game room, gym, Golden Gloves boxing program 5:30-7 p.m., $1 movie nights Wednesdays at 7.
* East Lake Recreation Center, 3601 Dodds Ave., 867-4498: Gym and game room.
* Eastdale Recreation Center, 1312 Moss Drive, 697-1289: Homework help, sports, games, arts and crafts, computer lab, recording studio where teens make CDs and learn to use sound equipment.
* First-Centenary United Methodist Center, 403 Oak St., 266-3345: Sports, art, fitness programs; $20 per child per week.
* Frances B. Wyatt Recreation Art Center, 406 Colville St., 757-2593: Art classes.
* Glenwood Recreation Center, 2610 East Third St., 697-1284: Computer and homework help, arts and crafts, life-skills classes, gym and tennis court.
* John A. Patten Recreation Center, 3202 Kelley's Ferry Road, 825-5955: New playground, gymnastics.
* North Chattanooga Recreation Center, 406 May St., 757-5447: Tutoring, arts and crafts, gym.
* Shepherd Recreation Center, 2124 Shepherd Road, 855-2697: Cub Scouts, tutoring, dance and cheerleading classes, 4-H Leadership, Kidz Cafe meal on Thursdays, disc golf course, playground.
* Sheila M. Jennings-Westside Center, 1201 Poplar St., 756-3541: Homework help, sports programs.
* South Chattanooga Recreation Complex, 1151 W. 40th St., 425-3550: Sports teams, homework help, games, arts and crafts, fitness and health activities, pool.
* Tyner/East Brainerd Recreation Center, 6900 Ty-Hi Drive, 855-2664: Girl Scouts, gym, dance team, game room, after-school study hall starts in January.
* Washington Hills Recreation Center, 4628 Oakwood Drive, 855-2679: Game room, gym, tutoring.
Susan Palmer Pierce is a reporter and columnist in the Life department. She began her journalism career as a summer employee 1972 for the News Free Press, typing bridal announcements and photo captions. She became a full-time employee in 1980, working her way up to feature writer, then special sections editor, then Lifestyle editor in 1995 until the merge of the NFP and Times in 1999. She was honored with the 2007 Chattanooga Woman of ...
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