Twice the Fun Turns One!

On January 25th, 2011 Twice the Fun will turn one! One year ago Caitlin and I opened our doors to a new adventure and what a ride it has been! We have learned so much in just one year. Quickbooks has become my second language, we have had practice at being plumbers and carpenters, we've hosted more birthday parties then most do in their entire lifetime and we've gone through more cleaning supplies then I would have ever imagined! We have also gotten to know so many great families and have enjoyed seeing so many of them regularly!

Throughout the year we have made changes and adjustments to be the safest, cleanest and most family friendly play space in the area. Since we opened one year ago we have added a chalk board wall, indoor trikes and cars, our optional bounce house and of course our mascots Tessa and Tilly. We also have more birthday party options, a new drop off option for Kinderplay and have created fun Saturday night events!

In the coming year we hope to make even more changes! Some things on our to-do list include an expanded sitting area parents, an expansion to our train table and a "tool shed" for our dramatic play area. As our adventure continues we look forward to working with the community, watching children grow, hosting more birthday parties and creating more events for families!

THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR WONDERFUL SUPPORTERS!!!

Twice the Fun is Fighting Childhood Obesity

You will not find any television screens, arcade games or Lazy Boys at Twice the Fun. Gross motor movement is the name of game here! For the first time in the United States the current generation of children is expected to have a shorter life span than their parents. This is largely due to the fact that may children in the U.S. are not eating healthy or exercising enough (or in some cases not at all). The fact is children need good examples to learn how to care for their bodies and many just are not receiving it. Twice the Fun offers a number of activities for an array of ages and interests. Our belief here is that kids need more active play and we pride ourselves in being able to offer a safe space for all ages! Creating early healthy habits ensures a lifetime of good health. Also, gross motor play isn't just good for the body but also good for the mind. When children participate in movement activities they are learning how to regulate and listen to their bodies. This skill of listening to and responding to your body's cues has great benefits! The time for change is now so start creating healthy habbits with your children today!

Your BIGGEST question answered: Why the tile floors?

Many families have asked, "why the tile floors?" As parents ourselves we completely understand the safety concern that families might have with their socked children traveling around our facility. Our first priority is safety, which includes health safety. Before construction began on our space we carefully thought about what events and products that would be in the space to insure both fun and safety. Wall to wall carpet was the first option to go. As you can imagine the health concerns with sharing our space with potty training children. Our other two choices then became rubberized flooring or tile. Having seen rubberized flooring in other spaces we decided to research if that was indeed the best choice for our space. After finding the facts we ruled out rubberized flooring for several reasons. First, we felt that rubberized flooring only created the illusion that it created a safer fall zone. Whether we laid down tile or rubber both were only 1/8 inch thick, not really enough to create a safer fall zone. Our second concern then became the maintenance and cleanliness of the rubberized flooring. Because rubberized flooring is created from recycled rubber it is even more porous in consistency. Anything spilled or in contact with the floor is absorbed, much like a kitchen sponge (yuck). You can imagine why this would be a concern again with potty training children. Our option then became tile. Because tile can be slippery when wearing only socks we then turned our efforts to finding easily replaceable rugs, mats and other obstacles to prevent slipping. When entering Twice the Fun you notice the two cottages placed in the middle of the floor with grass carpet surrounding them. This obstacle was put in place to slow children down when leaving the structure or basketball area to help prevent slipping. At Twice the Fun we are committed to the health and safety of your family. We value every one's feedback and thank you for making Twice the Fun a fun, safe and exciting facility!

How is my child learning while at Twice the Fun?

Our brochure states that Twice the Fun combines learning with gross motor fun. So how is your child learning while they are here? For young children their play is work. While interacting or playing with other children they are learning to negotiate, compromise and learn what's socially acceptable. Children use play as a tool to make sense of the world around them. While in our dramatic play area your child may be making dinner or caring for a babydoll. Much of their behavior during this play may closely mimic your own or your spouses. These play experiences help your child to understand their daily life and give them the control to act out and manipulate life situations. Toddlers also use a lot of cause and effect play to to gain developmental skills. Often they repeat the same action to gain skill mastery. For example in our infant/toddler play area you may find your toddler repeatedly rolling balls down the ramps. This cause and effect game teaches toddlers that their physical actions make things happen, or has an effect on other objects. These experiences later play into their social interections with other children. For example when I hit someone they cry or when I push someone they push me back. Offering children play experiences enriches their developmental skills and enhances their ability to gain the tools needed for life skills. Twice the Fun offers a safe, developmentally appropriate space for children to have these play experiences!