* Child's Play in Temecula

As I write this, I am surrounded by about twenty squealing kids and about eight or nine fellow moms trying to beat the heat in Temecula. It's 104 degrees oustide today yet my daughter is dressed up like a fire fighter riding a Harley Davidson beside a new friend dressed up as a bride who's riding a rocking horse. Other kids are climbing on jungle gyms and sliding down slides. The moms nearby are eating Chinese takeout at tables, some are visiting with each other and others are chatting on cell phones while I type away on my laptop. Welcome to Child's Play in Temecula.

Child's Play in Temecula is one of the latest indoor gyms for toddlers and young children to open in Temecula. Not only can children play on the indoor playground equipment, they can play dress up, do arts and crafts, dance along to children's music videos or hunt for hidden tokens they can redeem for prizes.

An area with tables and chairs is located on the rim of the playground so that parents can watch their children play while having a place to sit and relax. This area also doubles as a homework area for older children to sit and do homework while their younger siblings play.

Admission to Child's Play costs $9 for the first child and $7 for each additional sibling. This price gets the children a two hour session in the indoor playground. Child's Play also offers lifetime family memberships for $25. The membership knocks off $1 per visit and offers discounts on birthday parties and special events such as "drop off nights". Unless you have multiple children and plan on visiting Child's Play frequently, membership won't pay for itself for a long time.

Child's Play just recently started offering monthly passes for unlimited play. These passes cost $15 per month for one child, $25 per month for two to three siblings, or $30 per month for four or more siblings. A one time $10 processing fee is charged at sign up and the monthly plan is set up for a minimum of six months. This is not a month by month plan, so unless you plan on visiting the indoor playground at Child's Play more than twice per month for at least six months, it may not pay for itself.

In addition to birthday parties and drop off nights, Child's Play also offers acting classes in conjunction with Rising Starz Academy. Future classes may include Rhythm and Music and Parent and Child Sign Language.

Child's Play in Temecula is clean, the equipment and toys are new and the kids have a great time. Child's Play is geared more towards the toddler and preschool set. While five and six year olds will find something to entertain themselves at Child's Play, they're about the upper age limit for this indoor gym.

I like Child's Play because it occupies my daughter for a couple hours and I can get in a bit of writing while she burns off some energy. To me, that's well worth the price of admission.