Had a great time at Funtopia with my kids. So many climbing walls, it was a good time (especially…read morethe Christmas theme for the winter). I had the chance to check out their party rooms as they were running kind of a family open house for their Christmas time. Lots of fun challenges for the kids as they put snowflakes and cookies on the climbing walls for kids to collect for a prize. They had a food buffet showcasing some of their food options pizza, pizza puffs, meatballs, chicken tenders. Salad and hot chocolate. The staff was super friendly and good with the kids. We had a great time. The party space accommodates several groups at the same time.

Great variety of activities for all ages. Plus, there are tables for parents to hang out or work…read more Free wifi!

GYMNASTICS BIRTHDAY PARTY My daughter had her 6th birthday…read moreparty here in 2007. It was great! Easy registration. Affordable. Received a phone call from the organizer the week before. They were very helpful and pleasant. They provide you with a big room to store coats, etc. and have food and cake. We had about 20 kids - almost an even number of boys and girls - and they split them up into two groups. The instructors were fun, organized, and somehow kept the kids in two lines doing all the gymnastics the whole time. The gymnastics equipment is clean. The huge gym is safe and cool - padded floors, lots of equipment, and a big foam-filled pit for the kids to jump into! All the kids had a lot of fun and my daughter loved it!

Fun place with accommodating staff. Great place for a kids party. Rooms are large enough for a…read moreparty of sixty or more.

My son Jack has been attending 5 or 6 years now, starting in 2nd grade. Simply put, the camp and…read moreits director Brad are incredible! Its hard to drop him off, I want to get out and participate in the activities.Where to begin...well first off its super well run by a well-trained friendly staff. They help with everything including applying sun screen at beginning of the day. Kids are assigned to a coach with same age kids, and let me tell you these coaches are hand-picked- super nice, love kids and know their sports. You can tell many of them play elite sports themselves. The camp is well programmed with different themes each week- basketball one week, Olympic week the next. Competitive but in good way. Lunch is really good- food kids like to eat like Popeye's chicken, pizza, and Fridays they grill hot dogs and hamburgers for the kids. Pickup and dropoff is fast and easy and location right off the highway- or there is bus pickup from many Northside locations. We moved to Park Ridge but Jack insisted he attend camp regardless (he met his best friend there) so Mom and Dad take turns driving him an hour each way sometimes (so worth it). They have a great photog who sends out super cool videos each week. Field trips to Cubs games and water parks. Its so great we usually sign him up for most of the the summer, and take advantage of the early bird pricing before January 1st each year. We cannot wait for the camp to start this summer, its hard to imagine a summer sports camp as good at this one. Its hard to summarize it all here but if anyone has questions, please call or text me at 773-805-9305 for honest straightforward info.

We've been part of the Hi-Five family for five years now, and this summer marks our second with…read moretheir incredible sports camp--and we couldn't be happier! From the moment you arrive, you feel the energy, the care, and the genuine love for kids that radiates from everyone, especially Danny. He's not just running a camp--he's building a community. Kind, accommodating, and endlessly thoughtful, Danny treats every camper like they're his own. It's rare to find someone so personally invested in making sure every child feels seen, supported, and celebrated. The camp itself is a dream for any sports-loving kid. Whether your child is trying something new or honing their skills, the coaches and staff create a fun, safe, and inclusive environment where confidence and friendships flourish. And for us parents who suffer from a little FOMO during the day--don't worry! The team does an amazing job capturing the magic and posting photos that truly reflect the joy and excitement of camp life. (Okay, maybe we wish there were even more pictures--but that's just because every moment looks so fun!) Hi-Five isn't just a camp--it's a place where kids grow, laugh, and make memories that last. We're so grateful to be part of it and can't wait for many more summers to come!

We've been bringing our kids here for years now. The teachers are all very friendly and…read moreknowledgeable about working with young ones in the water. The one thing that isn't ideal is being able to choose the teacher. We've found our kids just listen more and work better with specific instructors but unfortunately there is no way to guarantee that instructor each session.

Foss is a wonderful swim school! We signed our 3 year old up for the Level 1 Learn to Swim program…read more She had a hard time the first two days, and the instructors were very helpful and understanding. The Director (Mike) even helped out personally, and got our daughter in the water. He provided us some good tips to make it easier next time. It says a lot that the Director both gets in the water and makes rounds to make sure everything is going well. During the second class, another instructor (Gabby) also helped out. She actually got our daughter to participate. It was amazing! We ended up switching instructors because we found out that our daughter is more comfortable with females, and the entire Foss staff was very patient and accomodating. Everyone at Foss, from the front desk, to the instructors, to the Director were amazing. Ky, our new instructor is so great. Our first instructor was also great, we just switched because of our daughter's preferences. I'm sorry that I can't remember his name, but he also deserves recognition for being so patient. All of their instructors are great with kids. I would highly recommend this school, especially for younger kids learning to swim. It's a busy school, slots go fast, but they keep class sizes small. They have a play area for parents and siblings who are waiting. I have seen people sign multiple kids up for two classes that are one time slot after the other, since it's so hard to get two spots in one time slot. I think it's worth waiting in the waiting area, it's not that long. Others wait longer for two slots to open up at the same time. Either way, it's worth the wait. I'd recommend the first way, since swimming skills are important to learn sooner rather than later.

I thought I'd make good of my 8 year old's ipad addiction and sign him up for a coding class. I…read moresigned up for a brief tour while my son got to work and he came out asking to come back. The last thing my family needs is another activity, but I like the flexibility of Code Ninjas. We signed up for a monthly membership for 4 hours. You sign up ahead of time for a day/time that works for you so that you don't have to commit to the same time every week. As of now the options are 4, 5 or 6pm on the weekdays and 9, 10 or 11am on Saturdays.  I've learned that you just need to sign up at least a week ahead to grab the day/time you want. I would love to see more time options on weekends- later on Saturdays and Sunday times too. My son has been 4 times so far and seems to love it more each time. He submits the actual work he's doing so that I can see it and actually play the games he's creating. His 5 year old brother absolutely loves playing his big brothers games and is begging me to sign him up for coding too. They do have a class for junior coders, but it's more of a builder class (I believe on Sat mornings) vs coding on your own. The work they do is graded by senseis and they progress to new levels similar to how it works in karate (yellow belt, etc). That keeps him and his peers extra motivated, although he seems motivated by the work itself. He's also already asking about doing a roblox camp next summer and while we have time to decide on that one it's something we'll definitely check out.

They will opt you in for classes that they did not tell you about. You will get charged monthly if…read moreyou are unaware.

AMA Dance Studio has exceeded our expectations in so many ways! They really focus on building…read morecharacter and confidence in the kiddos. The dedication, love, and thoughtfulness of the instructors, especially Mr. Dillon, create a warm and inviting atmosphere. All the staff are fantastic. The owner, Ms Anne Marie, is amazing --passionate, caring, and a true steward of the community. I appreciate the convenient two-way mirrors so parents can watch practice without being a distraction. The recitals are memorable and showcase the incredible progress of the students. AMA offers a variety of programs and dance and music classes for all ages, including adults. We are immensely grateful for the confidence and camaraderie the studio has instilled in our girls. AMA Dance Studio is a fantastic place for children to learn, grow, and shine!

We just recently started at AMA and our experience here is far more than I expected. The owner was…read morevery accomodating and very professional. She answered all of My questions promptly. She tried her best to pace my girls who are ages 5 and 7 in the same class to keep each other company since they are both shy in the beginning. She emails me feedback and photos after each class. And my kids just loves being there too! This place is top notch! I highly recommend it!!!

My daughter (4) and I found ourselves in the area this Saturday afternoon, and we are always…read morelooking for new play places that won't overstimulate me, but will keep her occupied for a solid two hours. I was very excited to scope out Playroom Cafe. Playroom Café is the perfect spot for a play date/mommy coffee date, with their small cafe menu that offers coffee, small bites, milkshakes and a shockingly semi-healthy kids' food menu. The area is bright, clean and inviting, with plenty of space for adults to relax while the children explore. I love that I can see my daughter from any angle of the seating area. Solid European song selection as well, I can't even tell you how peaceful it was to not have to listen to children's music for two hours. They offer semi-private and private birthday parties and have a super cute private area to help your littles celebrate! I will definitely be adding Playroom Café to our regular rotation and for possible birthday ideas in the future.

Such a cute and fun place for families with young kids! The playroom is clean, inviting, and has…read moreplenty to keep little ones entertained while parents can relax and enjoy a coffee. My son had such a great time playing and exploring, and I loved that the space felt comfortable and welcoming for both kids and adults. Definitely a great spot for a playdate or just to get out of the house and let the kids have fun. We'll definitely be back!

Can I be a kid again?! Good Times has been all it claims to be and more. This Summer Camp packs…read moreinto the summer more than I could possibly cover myself. Not only do they hit every Chicago hot spot, from MLB games to Navy Pier, The WIllis Tower & Great America but they also hit the best north shore swimming pools & beaches two to three times a week. In addition, my kids get to be crafty, learn new sports and spend a summer making friends that will last for many more summers to come. This has been our first summer but will absolutely not be our last!

My kids, 10 and 12, have gone to this summer camp for years. They really enjoy going to camp, all…read morethe field trips and most of all hanging with their friends. They have had almost all super positive experiences with counselors, only 1 that was so-so in 6 or seven years. The field trips are great. Great America being the high-light - twice this year. Once for rides and once in water park. They also really like the sports aspect. My son talks about the basketball games at the end of the day as much as everything else. I also think the camp directors really care about the kids, and really want them to have a fun summer.