Kidville (1030 W. North Ave., third floor, Chicago, 312-605-2555), the New York-based worldwide franchise of children’s activity centers, is coming to Lincoln Park with a grand opening celebration Saturday and Sunday. And Pinwheel has a promo code that offers $100 off your first class!
The Chicago outpost is the first Midwest location of Kidville, a one-stop facility offering classes, birthday parties, preschool alternatives and camp for kids ages newborn to 6, as well as a play space, kid salon, and store all in one 5,200-square-foot space. (Bonus: It includes free parking.)
Sherese and Mike Fralin, parents to a 5 ½-year-old girl and a 2 ½-year-old boy, moved to Chicago in 2011 after 10 years in New York City, where Kidville was their favorite child center. They decided to open a franchise here after relocating.
This one-stop shop includes art, music, dance, and gym classes so parents don’t have to shuttle kids all over the city. Classes, which run 16 weeks, were designed by early childhood development specialists and there are 92 offerings. (Prices range $525 to $575).
Sherese Fralin says some of her favorite classes, include the signature Rockin’ Railroad music class. A four-piece children’s band teaches kids about different musical genres and instruments through puppets, songs, bubbles and dance movements. “It’s very high energy and they pass out train tickets and punch them,” Fralin says. “They learn a new instrument and new genre every week, and the kids just love it.” (An unplugged version is available for babies.)
Fralin also loves the Wee Wiggle class for babies, which incorporates sign language, games, music, dancing and extras like balls and bubble time. “The babies are mesmerized,” she says.
In addition to the roster of classes, there is an indoor play space, retail boutique and a children’s salon for both boys and girls. The play space will be open to members and boasts a giant trampoline, obstacle courses and a rock climbing wall, Fralin says.
The boutique will carry wooden toys from Alex Toys, Melissa & Doug and the like as well as clothes, blankets, nursing covers, hair accessories and more.
Kidville also hosts birthday parties for kids up to age 9 with 16 themes, including superhero, ballerina and dinosaur themes.
Kidville operates under a membership system. A silver membership is included in class enrollment, with upgrades to gold, platinum and diamond available. (Each membership has a different set of benefits and discounts.)
Classes start Sept. 30. As part of the grand opening special, families receive a discount when signing up for the first session and a free upgrade to a gold membership, which includes discounts on birthday parties, retail items, salon, and two play space passes.
Get $100 off the inaugural round of classes that start Sept. 30. Use promo code “pinwheel” and sign up by Sept. 29 to receive the discount.
