Malls
Charlestowne Mall
- Kirk Road and North Avenue, St. Charles
- 630-513-1120
- Admission Charged: Free
- www.charlestownemall.com
- Notes: Offers a school-themed indoor play area, a double-decker carousel and a number of coin-operated mini vehicles for kids to ride. The Von Maur department store has a train table in the children's clothing section and a live piano player on the 1st floor.
Westfield Fox Valley Shopping Mall
- 195 Fox Valley Center, Aurora
- 630-851-7200
- Admission Charged: Free
- www.westfield.com/foxvalley
- Notes: I haven’t visited in over a year, but as I remember there were at least two play places for toddlers and preschoolers and a huge netted climbing structure good for older kids.
Stores With Play Areas
The Chalkboard
- 381 N. Randall Road, Batavia
- 630-406-8697
- Admission Charged: Free
- www.educationalaids.com
- Notes: A reader says this store for teachers has a train table.
IKEA
- 1800 East McConnor Parkway, Schaumburg
- 847-969-9700
- Admission Charged: Free, but will you really escape IKEA without buying something?
- http://www.ikea.com/us/en/store/schaumburg
- Notes: A reader recommends IKEA's play area on the 2nd floor and says and that her 5-year-old daughter loves playing there. Youc an drop off children for free for one hour to go shopping. Children have to be potty-trained and meet a height requirement, so the range of ages is about 3 years to 8 years, she says. She notes the cafeteria also has a play area so kids can play while their parents actually get to consume a meal! In the children's furniture area, there is a small area with toddler-age toys set up. There is also a bathroom for nursing moms and child-friendly sinks.