Are your kids hitting the “I’m bored” part of the summer yet? If so, I just found the perfect solution. I recently took my kiddos to Bubbles Academy in Lincoln Park and the smiles on their faces were proof enough for me that THIS is the place to be.
If you aren’t familiar with Bubbles Academy, it is described as a child enrichment & activity center, with a focus on being a social connection location for parents. Designed for kids age 0-5, this locale is such a unique combination of music, creativity, education and socialization. All teachers are early childhood professionals and practicing artists- Charlotte’s teacher, Miss Grace, graduated with a degree in Theater and founded a youth dance & drama camp.
Charlotte and I headed into Bubble Prep, a pre-preschool class designed for 18-36 month olds filled with both structured and unstructured activities. This is an excellent class to introduce your little ones to activity transitions, interacting with other children, sensory development and even early literacy! Since Charlotte was at the young end of the age spectrum (18 months), she wasn’t able to focus 100% of the time. Miss Grace was perfectly accustomed to wandering children- Charlotte tuned in when the activity interested her and explored the vibrant and colorful space when she needed a change of pace. The class included traditional pre-school activities (circle time, story time, crafts, snack) but modified to the appropriate age group.
Bryson attended the Bubbles Summer Camp, which is designed to be a flexible offering for kids ages 3 to 5 years. The hours are Monday-Friday 9am-12pm, but is completely up to you which/how many days your child attends. Since we head to Michigan for a few weeks in the summer and I constantly have last minute events to attend, this is the perfect option for our family. If you know Bryson, he is an incredibly sensitive and energetic kid. Change is tough for him, so new places can often be intimidating. I was blown away when he greeted me at the end of camp that day asking when he could come back and bursting with stories of his new friends and adventures.
One of the brilliant features of Bubbles Academy is complimentary VALET PARKING. No circling endlessly trying to find a spot, loading your kids into a stroller, hauling everything for blocks. Also, they offer free sibling care if you are enrolled in a class. That’s right- they will take care of your other kids so you can focus on a class with just one child at a time. You can also participate in open play Monday-Saturday from 1pm-5pm which is complimentary with enrollment. There are a ton of other classes, check them out here!
Want to give it a try and Create Your Own Adventure? Their Summer 2 session starts July 20th, and you can schedule a FREE trial class. Head to the website or give them a call at 312.944.7677. They are located at 1504 N. Fremont.
Disclosure: I was provided with complimentary classes for review purposes, but as always, all opinions are honest and my own!
