A Gurnee couple hit about a winning idea, not only for themselves, but anyone who has the responsibility of watching kids. While the kids are well-loved, their guardians sometimes don’t get much of a break.

Michelle and Scott Meno, with four young kids between ages 3 and 10, were in the same situation as many parents: couldn’t often go anywhere to sit and relax without either paying a babysitter or taking the kids along and vigilantly tending to them, which is often not very relaxing.

“We did the Chucky Cheeses and the kids’ museums. The kids always had fun, but we always left  feeling exhausted because you have to follow them around and make sure they are behaving. It was a good experience for the kids, buy\t my wife and I always thought how nice it would be if we could have a conversation and relax while the kids were having fun.”

That’s when they came up with the idea of starting a place for kids that was chucked full of fun choices within the facility for kids to enjoy, while mom, dad or grandparents could sit and relax with a cup or coffee or healthy snack or drink from the facility’s small café and access the free WiFi. It’s been operational only since the first of June, 2011, but has already gotten rave reviews and steady, happy customers.

The play area is in full view from the array of small tables near the cafe, with generous windows, not only for benefit of the parents, but so the child can feel the comfort of looking through them to see they have not been abandoned.

Stay2Play differs from other play places because it is the only place around that has supervised play. There are professional play staffers there to monitor and even play with the kids, who have all been trained in child care.

One special room created for toddlers, also with a few small tables for parents to sit and watch their children from a close proximity and make the children feel secure, but of course, parents are welcome to enter the play areas as well. As one mom said, “Moms need a break once in a while and this way, you can have a cup of coffee but always see what your kid is doing.”

This area, referred to as the ‘walker lounge’ is for children transitioning from crawling to walking, where they fare better without being around faster, busier kids. Owner Scott also points out that in here, toddlers don’t have to stay in a high chair the whole time as in most public facilities.

There is also a large play town area where kids can have creative play with soft, harmless toys that can offer an array of pretend and fun.

Another room allows kids to build forts, obstacle courses, knock things down, and be budding engineers.

Kids can also enjoy a post office and grocery store.

There is an arts and crafts area that has all the messy things mom doesn’t want them to play with at home, like paints and sensory play: such as in October when it was pumpkins and shaving cream.

A dress-up area allows kids to live their fantasies as a doctor, super hero, fire fighter, etc.
    
A daily admission has no daily time limits and is $12 for one child and $9 for each additional sibling. There is also a pre-paid 10 pack of 10 visits for $100, so saves a bit for frequent users.

Special events are part of the norm at Stay2Play, such as guest readers, as well as birthday party   packages starting at $80 and going up depending on the party.

Scott said he has seen the difference in young personalities changing from being very shy and not wanting to leave their parent, to charging right in with no reserve and having a great time on their own.

There is always a calendar of special events for each day, with carious things planned, such as tattoos and manicures, cookie decorating and much more. Photos with a special pirate ship can be taken too and always something special for each holiday.

One mother said, “We love this place. It’s really nice to have supervised play area, and working at home as I do, I know I can have a spot here where I can get a lot of work done. It’s clean and my 4-year-old daughter loves it also.”

A grandmother who takes her 2 ½ year-old there on a regular basis, said the little girl loves it too, and calls it “The Fun Place.”