McDonald's PlayPlace: Free, Fun, Convenient Alternative to Chuck E. Cheese

If you have little children or nieces and nephews, surely you've found yourself racking your brain for places to take them to get them active. Today too much time is spent in front of the computer or playing video games and as a result, our kiddies become restless and overweight. Sure, allowing them outside to ride their bikes or to run around is a fun option; but for some this is dangerous due to traffic or because there is always the scary but unfortunately realistic fact that sometimes kids go outside to play and never come back. Not to mention, the weather often works against us. For instance, I come from Ohio, where at least five months out of the year, it's too cold to venture outside for more than a moment.

What other options are there to get our kids up and moving, then? There are gyms, indoor pools, and a new trend called the Tumblebus, but those cost money. Chuck E. Cheese's have indoor kiddie play areas. However, not all cities have the big rat, and those that do, find themselves spending money due to their pleading children's cries for tokens to use in the game room. So what is left? McDonald's!!

Yes, the huge corporation known as McDonald's has been involved in getting our kids fat and sedentary in the first place, but in the midst of their attempt to lure children into the establishment, they did create something that parents and children both can benefit from. No, not those Frankenstein-esque chicken McNuggets. I mean the Playplace, the indoor gymnasium equipped with tunnels, slides, and various crawling and climbing spaces for the youngsters.

While not all McDonald's have Playplaces, many do. So the chance that you can find a Playplace within any given 10 mile radius is a good one. The size of the Playplaces vary, as do the attractions. They used to be famous for having ballpits, which I personally think are disgusting (Lord only knows what is in those balls... Bandaids to hair to needles to everything in between) but I think they have been scrapped in many locations. A standard Playplace has a few slides, many hiding places, and soft squishy mats to jump and run on. Playplaces are relatively safe; having your child engage on any kind of physical activity means that he or she could possibly get injured, but the only real injuries here would be if you got ran into by another kid. Common sense will tell you to caution your children to not climb UP the slides, for instance. Hygiene wise, Playplaces are fairly clean. It is a rule that all children wear socks here; signs are posted and employees do walk around and reinforce it. In fact if your child is barefoot you can purchase a pair of socks at the front counter for a dollar. There are cubby holes to place shoes, but there is always the option to get a table and keep your child's shoes, coat and other possessions with you.

The posted rules say that children under the age of 13 can play and that parents can too. While I have seen parents go in after their kids to gather them up and get ready to leave, it's not very fun for those over five feet tall. Instead, grab a nearby table, bring a book, and relax for an hour. Your children will stay occupied, I assure you.

Using the PlayPlace is free, but generally, people order Happy Meals or other McDonald's food and eat there. But you don't have to; the Play Place is at the back of the restaurant and unless there is a birthday party going on, I highly doubt you will be kicked out for not buying anything to eat. However, when the kiddos are through playing, they'll probably be tired out, so some food may not be such a bad idea. I have seriously thought of bringing in outside food and eating it there, but have yet to act on it (while the employees won't notice, other customers might find it a bit bizarre).

While McDonald's is not the epitome of health, the Play Place is a fun outlet where your children can work off some energy. They may make new friends or get to meet Ronald McDonald. I don't activate visiting on a daily basis, but for a chance of scenery, keep the McDonald's indoor Play Place in mind.