Rockton/Roscoe Moms I have a question (Rockford, Machesney Park: sales, homes)

[ILgirl38]

Hi, I have lived here close to 3 yrs. I have 2 boys that are 5 yrs and 3 yrs old. I am dreading winter coming. Is there any place you can recommend I take them that is inexpensive and they can run around and play. They dont really like the playlands or the one at the ice arena much. Library is out, they are good boys but do not sit quietly long at all.

I would appreciate any ideas. I have to find something for them to do.

[Havasu]

Take them to Walmart!! Let them run loose with no rules what so ever. Its what the other moms and dads do. There are 7 or 8 in the area too. Closest would be Rockton and its fairly new.

[ILgirl38]

Originally Posted by Havasu

Take them to Walmart!! Let them run loose with no rules what so ever. Its what the other moms and dads do. There are 7 or 8 in the area too. Closest would be Rockton and its fairly new.

Ha, ha......ha If only it were that easy. I think I will pass on that idea though tempting as it may be, Lol!

If only they were like my girls when they were that age. We could spend 2 hrs in the libary before they got antsy.

These boys! They really have me stumped in the winter. I guess if I were upperclass, finacially speaking it would be easier.

[Havasu]

Im glad you had a sense of humor about my idea. I will try my best to actualy help you out. I spent 3 years there in Roscoe so I know a bit about the area. You have been thru a few winters so you know what they are like. I would encourage them to go outside and play in the snow,build snowmans and build a snow fort,sledding, have them shovel they might be to young for that. If they have friends have some of them over and also have your kids go to thier homee. The mall might be a good place Cherry Valley is a nice one.Buy them a few games to play. I hope I helped.

[ILgirl38]

Originally Posted by Havasu

Im glad you had a sense of humor about my idea. I will try my best to actualy help you out. I spent 3 years there in Roscoe so I know a bit about the area. You have been thru a few winters so you know what they are like. I would encourage them to go outside and play in the snow,build snowmans and build a snow fort,sledding, have them shovel they might be to young for that. If they have friends have some of them over and also have your kids go to thier homee. The mall might be a good place Cherry Valley is a nice one.Buy them a few games to play. I hope I helped.

Yes, thanks. Those are some good ideas. they actually do shovel. We have a fence back yard so I let them shovel off our back deck. They only last about 30 minutes out in the snow before they are ready to come in. I am not big on the cold so I guess it would help if I would get over it and go play with them outside in the winter. My boys are horrible in the mall. they dont like it at all. before they remodeled the play area it was a pretty open space. We would bring balloons there and hit them around now with all the new play equiptment we cant do that and funny thing is they really dont like to play with the new stuff.

The old Machesney Park Mall we had some really good fun in. Now mall part is closed but before it was open and all the stores were closed and there were pretty much no people there so we would take super balls and just bounce them all over the place.

Were we used to live it was only $1.50 to go the park districts open gym once a week and they had all kinds of balls and bikes minnie trapolines and stuff that amused them for quite a while. I have not found any where like that around here yet at that good of a price anyway.

We used to belong to a church that had all kinds of kid friendly family nights too but still have not found that here either.

I actually wish we could just move but seems like this is going to be it for quite some time maybe even forever so I will keep looking for new things to do with the kids. Hopefully our financial situation will change in the next year then we will have more options.

Thanks for the ideas!

[Homesinrockford]

Take a trip to the Discovery center in Rockford. They can run wild and do different kinds of experiments. You might also like the Burpee Museum in Rockford or Chucky Cheese.

[ILgirl38]

Originally Posted by Homesinrockford

Take a trip to the Discovery center in Rockford. They can run wild and do different kinds of experiments. You might also like the Burpee Museum in Rockford or Chucky Cheese.

Thanks! Last week for the 1st time I visited Janesville mall and found I like the Chucky Cheese there way more than the Rockford one it only takes about 30 min. to get there too.

I went to the discovery center might try again some time. I think it is like $5.00 per peson to go there. I think they have some free times in the late after noon.

I might try to find a Moms group. I go to Heartland Church and while there are many things I like about the church it seems not to have enough family functions to go or a moms group that I have noticed.

[Havasu]

When I lived there I tried to do all of my shopping in Janesville or Beloit it is so much easier to jump on the I 39 at Rockton Rd and avoid the tolls, drive 15-20 minutes to Janesville its cheaper and cleaner too. Less sales tax also. Take a trip up to Lake Geneva sometime its really nice there also.

[Jeff Hill]

Nickel World is a great spot for 5 year olds!

Lazer Quest on Mulford is fun. The 5 year old will be fine but you might have to strap on the pack for the 3 year old and let them carry the laser.

Get them involved at the Park District or YMCA. There's TONS of things for them to get into there.

The Ice Hogs is good family fun.

If they like video games, check out Crazy Penguin.

Be sure to take them to the BMX track once they are both riding without training wheels.

[Havasu]

How is living in Roscoe working out for you?

Originally Posted by ILgirl38

Thanks! Last week for the 1st time I visited Janesville mall and found I like the Chucky Cheese there way more than the Rockford one it only takes about 30 min. to get there too.

I went to the discovery center might try again some time. I think it is like $5.00 per peson to go there. I think they have some free times in the late after noon.

I might try to find a Moms group. I go to Heartland Church and while there are many things I like about the church it seems not to have enough family functions to go or a moms group that I have noticed.