Why Every Hotel Should Have A Great Children's Play Village http://ping.fm/wU5wa

Why Every Hotel Should Have A Great Children's Play Village

Atlantis Kids Adventures, Paradise Island, Bahamas

When my kids were little, I never booked a hotel that didn't have a pool (indoor or outdoor, depending on the weather).  I learned early on that the more activities I could offer them back at the hotel, the easier the whole trip was on me!  Who wants to sit in a hotel room watching TV?

Apparently, I am not alone in my conclusion because over the past five years, Lilliput Play Homes has increasingly been contacted by four- and five-star hotels around the world to help them revamp their children's play area, creating a dynamic play village within the hotel. 

Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas

No where does a hotel create a more amazing experience for children than at the Atlantis!  Their Kids Adventure Club features Culinary Activities, Imagination Station, Wizardology, Grocery Store (yes, that's ours!), Victorian Dollhouse (yes, that too is ours!), Game Room, Performing Room, Computer Room, and an Arts & Crafts Room!

Victorian Dollhouse

Unlike at a mall, where activities need to be fixed to the playhouse walls, hotels can feature a wide variety of activities within each playhouse.  In a Market, for example, shopping carts can be wheeled around to pick the necessary groceries from the shelves; in a Gas Station, tools are very important repairing broken vehicles. 

Culinary Adventures

To reach this growing demand, Lilliput Play Homes has developed a new collection of playhouses designed to meet the challenges of the commercial environment but engineered with our creative, imaginative younger clientele in mind.  Featuring built-in activities like tunnels and slides, look for these play villages coming soon to a hotel near you.  Once you've experienced your children's joy and exhilaration at having their very own play village where they can discover and explore, it will change how you book all future hotels.

Don't say I didn't warn you!

Two Great Finds! http://ping.fm/kCVec

Two Great Finds!

Are you looking for a quick online parenting resource? Or perhaps you would prefer a wise and insightful book on parenting to guide you? Whatever your preference, I can help!

Barnes & Noble, in keeping with its goal of serving as a trusted resource for parents and educators, is partnering with experts in the fields of literacy, arts and education, child development and pediatric medicine, to share advice and parenting tips and offer book and toy suggestions.  "B&N Kids' Expert Circle" focuses on: Milestones & Stages, Learning & Development, and Parenting Tips & Advice. The program launches with more than 25 different articles and new articles scheduled to appear each month.  Check out Ellen Booth Church's "The Benefits of Imaginative Play." I couldn't agree more!

And, if you're looking for a good book resource, try Kim John Payne's "Simplicity Parenting," where he explains that the pace of our modern world is out of balance with the rhythms and space that our children require.  As a consultant, trainer, and counselor, Payne has spent many years helping families simplify. Simplicity, he argues, is the essence that allows a child to live and function in a healthy, well-balanced and resilient way. He outlines four areas that need our attention: environment, rhythm, schedules, and filtering out the adult world.

Stay tuned for more "great finds"!