It will officially be winter this Wednesday!  For those of us who live in Chicago, that means finding ways to  entertain our kiddos, and, lets face it, burn off some of their non-stop energy indoors.  Although we love going to the museums, story times and indoor play spaces, one of my favorite things to do each winter is introduce my kids to a new activity/class.

As if their PR team was reading my mind, I recently received an invitation for my girls to take a trial gymnastics class at the brand new IK Gymnastics facility that opened last month.  Now that my girls are almost three and just turned four, I had been considering a more formal gymnastics class.  My kids LOVE trampolines, and are regularly showing off their somersault skills, so a more structured gymnastics class seemed like the perfect way to have fun indoors and teach the girls some new skills!

Since I have never been to any other gymnastics facilities in Chicago, it is hard for me to compare IK to the other facilities available.  What I can tell you is that the facility is HUGE, brand new, clean, has plenty of parking and that our instructor was amazing.

The instructor did a great job of quickly befriending them and winning their trust.  She also did a surprsingly good job getting the 15 or so toddlers to follow her instructions.  We started with a little obstacle course of things to climb over, slither under, walk across, somersault down and crawl through.  We then moved on to the balance beam.  Next was my kids FAVORITE part of the class, the long trampoline (I am sure there is a real name for this piece of equipment, but it was essentially a 25 yard long trampoline).  My kids LOVED it!  Then we went to a big square trampoline for more jumping fun.  We ended the class with some climbing and swinging on the rings.

What I liked most is that the class was action packed.  We quickly transitioned from one activity to the  next.  They were truly moving and smiling the entire class.  On the way home, my girls were already asking me if they could go back.

Plus, they both took nice long naps…my ultimate litmus test for any new class.  If it tires them out, and we avoid crying and whining during the class, it gets an A in my book!

Inside scoop:

• What – IK Gymnastics
• Where – 2630 W. Bradley Place
• Cost – Mom and Tot/Preschool classes start at $100. They do not offer free trial classes.
• Insider Tip – 10% sibling discount.  They also offer birthday parties and camps.

Are you looking for a way to get your kiddos interested in science or simply to encourage their natural curiosity about how things work?  Well look no further than Kids Science Labs, Chicago’s newest kid-sized business.  I got a sneak peak yesterday, and can’t wait to bring the kids back for a class.

During my tour of the classrooms, Shegan Campbell, one of the co-founders, gave me the inside scoop on what Kids Science Labs is all about.  Shegan is passionate about children, education and encouraging kids to ask questions.  At Kids Science Lab the focus is on hands-on experiences that foster a child’s natural curiosity about how things work.  From smashing fruit and making slime to building catapults and castles, kids are encouraged to think, experiment and get messy!

They offer classes for kids 2 to 12 years old, and class sizes are kept small (generally an 8 kids to 1 teacher ratio).  Plus, they offer free trial classes.  Love that!  If you are looking for a fun winter birthday party idea, check out their Slime Party or Smashanomics Party.  They share their building with Whole Foods, so they have free indoor parking, an elevator and you can pop over to the Whole Foods for a cup of coffee or your weekly shopping while your kid is in class.

Kids Science Lab officially opens Saturday, September 10th.  Their grand opening party will be from 10am-2pm, and features science demos, hands-on activities, tours, a concert by kindie artist Laura Doherty, food, drinks and more.

Inside Scoop:

• What – Kids Science Lab
• Where – 1500 Kingsbury
• Insider Tip – Ask about their multi-class discount.  If you have two children taking classes or one child taking multiple classes, you can save up to 25%.

If you enjoyed this article and the other reviews on the go provides, please vote for us on parents.com for Best Local Blog.  Thanks!

A group of girl friends and I just signed our kids up for Hip Hop class at the new Baby Take a Bow dance studio in Roscoe Village.  We were looking for a class that would appeal to our three-year-olds, their younger siblings and was gender neutral.  Plus, who can resist a three year shaking it to Lady Gaga!

Although my two year old seemed to be on her own program during the class (primarily watching herself dance in the mirror and running around), the three-year-olds were really into it.  The instructor was patient, funny and did a great job of talking to them at their level without using that annoyingly high pitch voiced some instructors insist on using. I also loved that she had each child show her something they learned that day in order to get a sticker at the end of class.

The dance studio is adorably decorated, quite large and offers free coffee for parents.  Kristen, the owner, was very flexible and worked hard to accommodate the needs of our group.  They offer all levels of ballet, hip hop, creative movement and are available for private birthday parties.

I’m not sure what I enjoyed more, attending class with my girls or watching them show their dad what they learned when we returned.

Inside Scoop:

• Where – Baby Take a Bow (2223 W. Roscoe St.), 773.904.7377
• Cost – Hip Hop $162 for 9 weeks (10% sibling discount)
• Insider Tip – Check out their February 12th Valentine’s Day event

My girls and I recently attended a music class at Musical Magic in Roscoe Village.  I am always looking for sibling classes, and they offer Musical Medley (birth to 4 years old).  Both my one and two year old loved the class.  They really enjoyed playing with the puppets, parachute, bubbles, instruments and a host of other props.  The class has a great pace, and they switch up activities effortelssly.  It really kept both of their attentions, and seemed age appropriate for both of them.

The facility is cozy, cheerful and  VERY clean.  I especially liked their drool bag for toys/props that had been in your child’s mouth.

Best of all, they let you try the class for free.  I always like trying out classes before signing up for the entire series.

• Where – Musical Magic (2255 W. Roscoe)
• Class Name – Mixed Medley
• Cost – Free trial, $152 for 8 week class (10% for siblings)
• Tip – They offer a 15% referral bonus