Commitmentphobe? Try some short term classes!

I'm always looking for fun things to do with Mia, but as this blogs reflects, it's a bit challenging with my schedule. One thing I have been looking into are ways to test out kid classes with a trial class - test drive before you buy!

So for you parents who are looking for a short term commitment for kids activities, there are some great events being offered in the coming weeks at Bellybum Boutique - 4347 N. Lincoln Ave in Chicago - one of my favorite stores. Plus, they offer some free demo classes to try before you buy!

Itsy Bitsy Yoga Toddler / Itsy Bitsy Yoga Infant:
You can try out a free demo on January 4, and then sign up for a 4 session class. The classes are taught by a certified Itsy Bitsy instructor, and are part of a developmentally-centered program for young children.

Dance With Me Toddler:
For toddlers ages 1-3, this class gets baby moving. You can register for 4 sessions starting on January 6, or drop in for $15 on Wednesdays at 11am (Jan 6-27)

Sign & Sing with Baby:
4 sessions starting January 21. I'm a BIG fan of baby sign, even though we only taught my daughter a few signs. Had I know how useful the signs she learned would be, I would have taken a class. And in this class, signing is taught along with music to increase ease of learning. I highly recommend giving this a try if you a have a little one!

Other classes for moms include Child Led Potty Learning, How & Why to Cloth Diaper Your Baby, Going Green for Me & Baby to Be, and more. Check the web site for more details on these and MANY other fun events: www.bellybumboutique.com/calendar

Cat & Mouse Game Store

I headed over to Cat & Mouse Game Store to find some new things for my daughter Mia to play with. She's 20 months old now, and really starting to develop her own interests, so I was interested in hearing some suggestions. I've been wanting to check out this store for a while, especially since hearing that their specialty is non-electronic games!


I loved the store right away. It's set up nicely, and there's room to browse yet you can see from the games stacking up high that there's a LOT to choose from here. They've got a fantastic selection of puzzles and games, and boast of an expanded collection based on lots of research and customer feedback. There's lots of great games and puzzles for adults too, including some great classic, strategy and fantasy games. The selection for kids Mia's age was not too expansive, but they did have a really nice assortment of things we already love. They have a nice selection of wooden Haba toys and games, and lots of brain-exercising puzzles and toys even for the little tots. We were helped by a very knowledgeable staffer who gave us some suggestions based on Mia's interests. I think in just a few months we'll be able to head back and find a lot more things that she will love.

The store does a game night, but this is more geared toward adults. However there are tables set up and games out to try, so it's a fun place to visit with your kids.