It’s a cold (actually freezing), gray, and windy February day and I’m not ‘German’ tough enough to go for a walk or to the playground, but will go stir-crazy at home the whole day. We’re lucky enough to have an IKEA just minutes away from us, so we’re headed out for low-cost fun that my girlfriend clued me into a couple of years ago, the IKEA playdate! Even if you have a child who is too young (under 3) or just refuses (my son) to go into the leave-your-kids play area, there is still lots of entertainment. We simply visit the kids furniture section and play on the tunnels, the chairs, the slides, the rocking moose, etc. that are set up as examples. If you don’t mind adding a little expense to the playdate, then head over to the restaurant where they have decent food at good prices. My son loves the Swedish meatballs and I enjoy the salmon. If you’re an IKEA family member (free to sign up) you can pick up a coffee with free refills which saves me the 4 Euro I would have spent at the Starbucks at the mall just next door. Warning, if you want to keep your playdate low cost, you must avoid the temptation to pick up goodies as they wind you out of the store!
February 19, 2009
IKEA Playdates
It’s a cold (actually freezing), gray, and windy February day and I’m not ‘German’ tough enough to go for a walk or to the playground, but will go stir-crazy at home the whole day. We’re lucky enough to have an IKEA just minutes away from us, so we’re headed out for low-cost fun that my girlfriend clued me into a couple of years ago, the IKEA playdate! Even if you have a child who is too young (under 3) or just refuses (my son) to go into the leave-your-kids play area, there is still lots of entertainment. We simply visit the kids furniture section and play on the tunnels, the chairs, the slides, the rocking moose, etc. that are set up as examples. If you don’t mind adding a little expense to the playdate, then head over to the restaurant where they have decent food at good prices. My son loves the Swedish meatballs and I enjoy the salmon. If you’re an IKEA family member (free to sign up) you can pick up a coffee with free refills which saves me the 4 Euro I would have spent at the Starbucks at the mall just next door. Warning, if you want to keep your playdate low cost, you must avoid the temptation to pick up goodies as they wind you out of the store!
