By Daniele Frerichs

While my children are too young to participate in school sports programs, we as a family have found an alternative to get our girls active and involved at a young age, and that is gymnastics. We have discovered that enrolling our girls in gymnastics has taught them stretching and tumbling skills, trampoline skills, social skills, class routine, and has put some pure fun to their young lives.

Whether your children are younger or you have a school-age child looking for a sport to participate in, I encourage you to explore the possibilities in gymnastics.

Gymnastics has exercise AND funn! What more could you ask for? Credit: Flickr, msburrows

Gymnastics is a sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, balance, grace and passion. If you were glued to your television during the last Summer Olympics watching the gymnastics events, you have a good idea of the sport. Primary events include floor (tumbling), bars, balance beam, vault, rings and pommel horse. Trampolines are also very common in gymnastics training.

I was a competitive gymnast growing up, and when I ran into my old coach one day, I knew I wanted my girls to start gymnastics as soon as they could. Some gyms start children as young at 15 months old, and most gyms continue programs through high-school age.

Despite common assumptions, gymnastics is not just for girls! Girls and boys of all ages are involved in gymnastics at all levels. Gymnastics training is also highly encouraged by many cheerleading programs in the area to improve tumbling skills.

There are several gyms in the Chambana area to consider if the sport of gymnastics interests you and your children. Check out the information and websites below for programs, class times, pricing, and even birthday parties. Be sure to ask about free trial class to try out the gym.

Little Gym of Champaign
1333 Savoy Plaza Lane, Suite 6, Savoy
(217) 352-5500

Champaign County YMCA
707 N. Country Fair Drive, Champaign
359-YMCA

Irish’s Gymnastics
1714 E. Grove Ave., Rantoul
(217) 893-4085

I-Power School of Gymnastics
215 S. Staley Road, Champaign
(217) 359-3081

Top Star Training Center
1708 W. Hensley Road
(217) 378-5058

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Making a craft at Class Act Interactive. Photo by Laura Weisskopf Bleill

Want help with your child’s birthday party? Don’t want to have 20 of your 5-year-old’s nearest and dearest in your house? Here’s our guide to children’s birthday parties in Champaign-Urbana. Want to submit a review? We’ve made it easy. Visit our Birthday Party Review submission page.

Amara Yoga & Arts: Customized birthday parties featuring kids yoga and arts/crafts. Urbana. Chambanamoms.com Reader Review!

Arrowhead Lanes: Cosmic bowling and miniature golf packages. Champaign.

Campus Rec: Utilize U of I facilities including CRCE pool, ice skating rink, and the ARC climbing wall. Champaign and Urbana.

Champaign Park District: Indoor and seasonal outdoor party packages, from tennis to pool parties to theme packages. Room/gym rentals.

Champaign County YMCA: Gymnastics, sports and pool parties. Champaign.

Class Act Interactive: Face painting, improv, creative play. Champaign. Chambanamoms.com Review!

Cookies By Design: Tour of cookie baking facility, decorate-your-own-cookie, party room. Urbana.

Curtis Orchard: Seasonal party packages available. Champaign.

First Christian Church Indoor Park: Open to the public for free during the week; rental available on Saturday mornings. Champaign.

Hot Slots: Racing themed parties year round for kids 8+. Urbana.

I.D.E.A. Store: Personal parties for 6-year olds to adults. Girls, boys, moms and dads or any combination will have fun with a creative, age-appropriate eco-craft or class tailored to you; add-ons available. Champaign.

I-Force Cheer: Cheerleading parties. Champaign

I-Power Gymnastics: Gymnastics parties – trampoline, parachute, more. Champaign.

Jupiter’s at the Crossing: Pizza and arcade games. Champaign.

The Little Gym: Group activities and free play on equipment. Savoy.

Mettler Center: Bake your own cake; games, exercise. Champaign. Chambanamoms.com Reader Review!

Michaels Crafts: Arts and Crafts. Champaign

Old Orchard Lanes and Links: Bowling or miniature golf parties. Savoy.

Orpheum Children’s Science Museum: Facility rental; available to members only. Champaign.

The Pink Poodle: Makeover parties for girls. St. Joseph. Chambanamoms.com Review! (now under new management)

Pretty in Pink Parties: Themed parties for girls. Mahomet.

Putt Zone: Seasonal miniature golf and batting cages parties. Champaign.

The Pottery Place: Paint-your-own-pottery. Private room; minimum age 5. Champaign.

Savoy Rec Center: Various party packages for kids ages 2-17.

Savoy 16: Party rooms available for before and after movie viewing.

Soccer Planet: Indoor soccer. Urbana

Skateland: Laser Tag or roller skating parties. Savoy.

Top Star Training Center: Trampoline and tumbling parties. Ages 4 and up. Champaign.

Twist and Shout: Dance, tumbling or cheerleading. Mahomet.

Urbana Park District: Indoor and seasonal outdoor party packages, from the indoor pool (our review) to a dino-themed party at the Anita Purves Nature Center (our review) to creating tie-dye shirts. Room/gym rentals.

Western Bowl: Cosmic bowling and pizza. Champaign.

William M. Staerkel Planetarium: Includes 20-30 minute program in the dome featuring a live sky talk under the stars. Champaign. A chambanamoms.com review!

Women’s Basketball Games: Have a courtside party at selected University of Illinois women’s basketball games. Champaign.

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By Pamela D. Williams

When planning a party, I instantly think of the favors—and I don’t mean the commercial ones available in any local super center.  It’s not that I have anything against the matchy-matchy assortment of items that are readily available in the party aisle, but I truly believe party favors can be as unique as your child.  I also believe that it doesn’t have to take a big effort to give something special to each of your guests as a token of your appreciation.

Party favors can be more than an assortment of small toys and sugary candy treats.  They can be fully integrated into the party by including supplies to create a small craft or even home printed pictures from the event in a decorated frame.

Curious about what to do instead?  Well read on for some suggestions!

Bubbles…bubbles everywhere!
Bubbles are a great staple to favor bags.  Children of all ages find bubbles absolutely fascinating.

Well-seasoned treats
Consider giving treats that relate to the current season.  In the summer, why not give sand shovels and rakes?  In the winter, hot cocoa packets and a pair of stretchy gloves will keep your guests warm.

Keep ‘em active
Party favors that motivate children to get off of the couch are wonderful.  A jump rope and inflatable ball are great motivators.

I like to move it, move it!
Make a CD of your child’s favorite music and burn each guest a copy to take home.

Flower power
In the spring and early summer, a small flowering plant in a small pot is quite charming.  Also try giving seeds and a small pot at the beginning of growing season.

I scream, you scream!
A gift certificate for a cone at the local ice cream parlor will be appreciated in the hot summer months.

When personalized to suit your child’s personality and party-theme, party favors can literally be the icing on the cake.

Pamela D. Williams

Pamela D. Williams is the owner of Party Prep, located in Urbana.  She is the proud mother of 2-year-old Ollie and is married to James Cheers, III.

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by Laura Weisskopf Bleill

I’m not quite sure where my friend got the idea to have her son’s fourth birthday party at the William M. Staerkel Planetarium at Parkland College, but it was genius – especially on the first 90-degree day of the summer.

We went to the Planetarium not knowing what to expect, being that a) we’ve never been before, b)  I’m not sure how much she has learned in school about the cosmos and c) my daughter is not really a movie-theater kid. (Toy Story was too scary for her).

A birthday party at the Planetarium is great for this age group, being that our kids are too young for drop-off parties and therefore parents (and entire family units in some cases) attended. The facility is willing to accommodate large groups at a reasonable price.

We went into the theater and found our seats to get ready for the “show,” a 20-30 minute program in the dome featuring a live sky talk (featuring a real person!) under the stars. Many of the grown-ups were set upon having an afternoon nap while sitting in a dark, cool room where you’re supposed to recline and put your head back. But many of them may have been like me and been distracted by the live sky talk, which proved to be interactive, engaging, and fun, while still being educational.

The program was just short enough to capture the  kids’ attention, while being long enough to serve their curiosity about the sky and the universe. It also had something for a variety of ages. I’m not sure if my daughter will remember anything about Saturn’s rings of ice or the clouds on Venus, but she will probably recall that you can “connect” the stars to look like a lion, a frying pan or a bear (also known as a constellation).

The end of the program features a five-minute musical “finale” for the birthday child. This is where the kids started to squirm. Some of the graphics and effects were a bit odd and dated, but a few were fun and interesting. Being the geek I am, I would have rather had five more minutes of “sky talk.”

One thing to be aware of: these parties are short. There’s not much time to waste, as the program is 20-30 minutes and the facility makes the lobby area available to do the whole candles, cake and singing routine for another 30 minutes. That means guests must show up on time and it was a bit stressful for the party planners to set up in a short window of time (15 minutes before guest arrive). The only thing the Planetarium provides is tables and chairs; everything else (food and drink, paper goods, decorations, utensils, etc.) must be brought in by the birthday party hosts.

Overall, the 4-year-old, her mom, and her grandmother enjoyed the party. My daughter even wanted to know if she could have her birthday there next time (that’s not uncommon, ha). We’ll put it down on the possibility list.

NOTE: Due to the installation of a new digital system in the summer of 2010, the Planetarium will not be scheduling any birthday parties for the calendar months of June, July or August. Bookings will resume for September.

Need ideas for where to have your child’s birthday party? Check out the Chambanamoms.com Guide to Birthday Parties in Champaign-Urbana.

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by Alicia Liay von Bodman

Our son’s fifth birthday was quickly approaching and, as usual, we had not planned ahead. We were looking for a venue out of the ordinary and we were very lucky to have found one: Mettler Center at the Crossing. Despite not being Mettler members, and the late date, we secured a two-hour party package called a “Fit and Fun” birthday party.

For our birthday boy and his seven guests, Mettler provided two “Fit and Fun” leaders. They were both wonderful with the children. First, the kids decorated their chefs hats with markers and the leaders made sure they fit. Then, with all of the chefs donning their toques, the culinary creations began.

The teaching kitchen was set up with four tables for our eight 4- to 5-year-old guests. Each child’s place had been set up with a bowl, a small loaf pan, a small whisk and a small spatula. They were given a choice between vanilla or chocolate cake which was simply a scoop of dry cake mix into their bowls. The leaders brought around cooking oil, Egg Beaters, and low-fat milk (all which were measured out for the kids) to be mixed into the powdered cake mix. Everything was low-fat and health-conscious. When their mixes were smooth, the kids poured their batters into the small loaf pans to be baked and headed down to one of the Mettler studios for some games.

The “Fit and Fun” leader taught them how to play Ships and Sailors which is a great “run off your energy” game and worked well with our pirate theme. She also lead them in some Duck, Duck, Goose and then in a parachute game. I also lead the group in a rousing game of Mr. Fox. Some children opted out of the games and played with the balls or just ran around. After the cakes had been cooking for about 40 minutes, we headed back down to the cooking classroom.

Photos by Alicia Liay von Bodman

Each child had a choice of three frostings (vanilla, chocolate or strawberry) and some decorations which included icing, M&Ms and confetti sprinkles. They decorated their cakes for as long as they could (they were all hungry) and sang “Happy Birthday” to Max. The kids were happy to eat their creations. Mettler provided 100 percent juice for each child. I brought along some velum pirate baggies for leftovers.

Mettler provided a balloon for each child in addition to the favor boxes we had for our guests. The package, designed for six to eight children, really caters to the late preschool and kindergarten set. The leaders also told us that parties for this age range are fun for the leaders too because the kids really seem to love what their doing.

For eight children, the cost of everything — invitations, name tags, cake, juice, entertainment, balloons and clean up — was $135.00. It was a well-executed party run by very professional, friendly people. The kids had a great time and both the Mettler staff and the birthday boy’s parents got rave reviews from the other parents. We highly recommend the “Fun and Fit” birthday party at Mettler Center at the Crossing.

Alicia Liay von Bodman is a Champaign native who recently moved back to C-U after 11 years in Chicago. She is the mother of a 5-year-old son and almost 2-year-old twin daughters. She teaches first grade at Robeson Elementary School.

Want to submit a birthday party review? Please contact us at editor@chambanamoms.com.

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My daughter is lucky to have generous friends. Happy birthday! (Photo by Laura Weisskopf Bleill)

by Laura Weisskopf Bleill

This past week was my eldest daughter’s fourth birthday. If you know many 4-year-olds, you also know that the build-up to a birthday is pretty intense. This child had already picked out the destination for her birthday party before she was even 3-and-a-half. And then she changed her mind, after we went to two parties back-to-back that involved pools – one at the Urbana Indoor Aquatic Center and one at the LeRoy Replex (what a great facility).

So a pool party, she would have. Being that her birthday is in March, that meant finding an indoor facility. Luckily in Champaign-Urbana we have three options: the aforementioned UIAC; the CRCE pool at the University of Illinois; and the indoor pool at the Champaign County YMCA. I investigated all options, but ultimately decided that the UIAC was best for our needs. It fit our timing needs; my children still nap, and I wanted them to enjoy the party. I also wanted to avoid having it over dinner or lunch to avoid extra expense. And, I wanted a zero-depth entry for the little kids.

Having a party at the UIAC is pretty straightforward. You have a choice of doing a party during public swim or a private event during specific hours. Of course, doing a private party is more expensive, especially depending on the number of people you are expecting. To reserve a party, you must visit the Phillips Recreation Center in person to put down a $75 security deposit and pay the rental fee (in our case $125). The cost of our party included 15 pool entrances (plus three adults to supervise; more people were the standard pool entry charge per person) and the room reservation.

The party package at the UIAC gives patrons a two-hour time slot. That includes time for set up/decorating as well as clean up. Since they only provide a room with tables and chairs, I brought all the plates, napkins, tableclothes, food, cups, drinks, etc. To cut down on clean-up, I tried to stick to finger food snacks such as strawberries, cheese cubes, and vegetables with dip (mainly for the parents). I also went with a cupcake cake to avoid dealing with cutting up the cake — and the silverware thing. To keep things simple, I bought the kids drink boxes.

Blowing out the candles.

Here’s my key takeaways:

• One of the great things about having a pool party is that it accommodates all ages. My 8-year-old niece had just as much fun as the 3- and 4-year-olds. You don’t have to worry about the person who “leads” the party, whether or not they’ll hold the kids’ attention. Although I brought some toys for the kids, the only one who really played with them was my 1-year-old.

• One of the drawbacks to a UIAC party: You are not allowed to take photos in the pool area during public swim due to privacy concerns. I understand the rationale, but I feel bad that I wasn’t able to capture so much of the party – and the joy of the children.

• The parents weren’t so keen on the idea of getting into a bathing suit. One of the great things about the UIAC is the zero-depth entry, so parents didn’t have to get too wet if they don’t want to. But I do think that’s part of the reason so many dads were there!

In the end, it was a great party and I think everyone had fun. We are lucky to have such great options for birthday parties in our community. Happy birthday to Nessa!

Have you planned or attended a birthday party recently? Want to write about it? We love birthday parties! Drop us a line at editor@chambanamoms.com.

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Editor’s Note: We love birthday parties! If you would like to write about your child’s birthday party, drop us a line at editor@chambanamoms.com.

Let's do a birthday tree pose! (Photo provided)

by Aida El-Khadra

We recently had our 6-year-old daughter’s birthday party at Amara Yoga. The price for the basic package ($125) includes a yoga class (which we renamed yoga games), an arts and crafts activity (of the child’s choice), and the use of their space for two hours. The space is beautiful, and worked really well for our birthday party.

My daughter wanted a fairy theme, so the craft activities included making wands, little fairies, elves, or gnomes, and coloring fairy pictures. Kathryn, who hosted the party with her daughter, decorated the rooms with fairy houses (made of wood bark, leaves, etc …) and paintings of fairies. When we arrived, she had set up tables with fairy houses as center pieces, and cloth tablecloths, for eating the snacks and cake.

We started with the yoga games, which (following my daughter’s wishes) included readings from the Tiptoes books and acting out part of the stories. Afterward, the children were allowed to play with all the blocks, mats, cushions, and blankets in the yoga studio.

The party was a big success, the children were engaged the whole time. They loved the crafts and also loved playing in the yoga studio. Owners Kathryn and Theresa were both very accommodating (my daughter changed her mind a couple of times on what craft activities she wanted), and put together a great birthday party for my daughter. She was very pleased (as were her parents).

Aida El-Khadra is a mother of two girls (6 and 18 months) who lives in Champaign. She is a professor at the University of Illinois, where she teaches physics.

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Our junior paleontologists search for bones during the Dino-Mite birthday party. (Photo by Laura Weisskopf Bleill)

by Laura Weisskopf Bleill

If your child knows the difference between a triceratops and a trigonosaurus, he or she might be a prime candidate to have a Dino-Mite birthday party at the Anita Purves Nature Center.

An Urbana Park District facility located north of Crystal Lake Park (and the pool, RIP), Anita Purves Nature Center is a wonderful resource with a variety of programs, both indoor and outdoor. But we were there recently on a mission – to celebrate our dinosaur-obsessed pal’s birthday.

The party featured an hour program with a Center staff member, who guided our amateur paleontologists (mostly 4-year-olds) as they dug for dinosaurs (in a plastic container with sand and “bones” hidden in it) and made their own fossils (making handprints using homemade dough). They got to see some touch and see a real fossil, as well as a real dinosaur egg.

They also learned some new dinosaur-related vocabulary words such as “extinct.” They played some group games — such as hide the dinosaur bone and a dinosaur-themed bean-bag toss. Some kids opted to put together a dinosaur-themed floor puzzle.

Who recognizes this dinosaur character? (Photo by Laura Weisskopf Bleill)

After the program part was over, the room was available for another hour. The birthday boy’s parents planned some extra activities for the kids before enjoyed some snacks and birthday cupcakes. The family supplied all the paper goods and the food.

The room was big enough to accommodate the many parents and family members who attended the party, but the kids had plenty of room to move around and play.

That night, when we put our daughter to bed, we asked her what her favorite part of the day was. She said it was Theo’s party, giving it a seal of approval.

Need ideas for where to have your child’s birthday party? Check out the Chambanamoms.com Guide to Birthday Parties in Champaign-Urbana.

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By Amy L. Hatch

Is your daughter an authority on all things birthday parties? Does she know what she likes? Is she all about the glamour? Then maybe she’s the next Cakes on Walnut “Sweet Party Girl.”

Cakes on Walnut and chambanamoms.com are teaming up to offer one lucky girl a chance to help the hip, downtown Champaign cupcake bakery create the ultimate glam birthday party — and win an event for five of her closest friends.

Champaign-Urbana girls ages 8-12 are invited to create a 2-minute video telling us why they would make the perfect “Sweet Party Girl.”* Complete your video (with parental permission, of course) sometime between today, Jan. 4 and Sunday, Jan. 24 at midnight CST,  and upload it to YouTube. The video must be marked public. Then just send your link to editor AT chambanamoms DOT com with the subject line: “Sweet Party Girl Entry.”

We’ll feature all of the entrants on a special section of chambanamoms.com, and readers will be invited to vote for their favorite “Sweet Party Girl” contestant.

Finalists will be invited to Cakes on Walnut for in-person interviews the week of Jan. 25. The winner, which will be announced on Feb. 1 right here on chambanamoms.com, will have the opportunity to help Cakes on Walnut co-owners Trisha and Amanda Bates create the ultimate cupcake birthday party — and she’ll get one for herself and five friends, too.

Give your daughter, granddaughter, niece, sister or friend a digital video recorder or webcam and let them tell us why they are the perfect “Sweet Party Girl.”

***

*Limit one entry per person. Void where prohibited. Relatives of chambanamoms.com or Cakes on Walnut employees are not eligible for this contest. Parental permission required for all entrants. All videos become property of chambanamoms.com and will be posted for public viewing on this Web site and may be used for marketing purposes.

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By Amy L. Hatch

Throwing a birthday party for a 5-year-old generally comes with the kind of sensory overload used to elicit confessions out of hardened criminals. Blinking lights? Check! Loud noises? Check! Terrible food? Check!

Fortunately, Chambana has a plethora of great venues that can help celebrate those annual milestones that get moms all tied up in knots. Our daughter, Emmeline, was lucky enough to take advantage of one of those great party options this past weekend when we celebrated her fifth birthday at Class Act Interactive Education and Events in downtown Champaign.

Founder and creative director Natalie Ellis is a Chambana native, and she came back home from New York City to offer citizens of her hometown big-city acting classes for kids and adults. As well as offering a bevy of classes, Ellis will also host a creative birthday party for your special boy or girl.

We booked Emmie’s party about two weeks in advance, and went with a standard package birthday package with some add-ons. The standard package is $150, and includes having the run of the great space there for 90 minutes, as well as a craft and a photo for each guest to take home. We also added face painting and an interactive acting class, which were huge hits with the seven kids who attended our party.

Ellis lets the guest of honor and their family in an hour early to decorate, but we were delighted when we showed up to find paper plates, cutlery and balloons already there waiting for us.

We added our own personal touches, including snacks, beverages and a cake (Ellis allows food to be brought in for your event) and then sat back and watched our girl and her friends have an absolute blast. Ellis deftly handled the entire party on her own, and also kept all seven children fully engaged and participating in the activities.

It was, in short, a dream. I cannot recommend Class Act enough. Hats off to Ellis for offering such a fantastic service for parents.

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Full disclosure: Class Act is a chamabanmoms.com advertiser. However, the author paid for her party in full and was in no way influenced by the relationship between chambanamoms.com and Class Act when writing this review.

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