As the weekend gets underway the quest to keep kids occupied begins. If you’re like me, you pray for days filled with sunshiny afternoons so your kids can spend hours outside doing leisurely pursuits that are healthy for their bodies and your bank account.
Unfortunately, there are bound to be many a day in which the rain is coming down in buckets (Mother Nature can be a fickle force) and your kids will be whining about how bored they are. Ultimately, unless you hire a clown to do your dirty work, you’ll need to get into activities director mode and engage them in something other than the latest Nickelodeon episode!
While I can get a pair of scissors and construction paper and attempt to make rainy day crafts with my kids, they know, as well as I do, that I am not a Martha Stewart-esque skilled crafter and that at best we can make paper airplanes that likely will nose-dive upon takeoff. Luckily, our island is home to places where you can craft, play glow-in-the-dark bowling, take a spin on a roller rink and play on bounce houses until you collapse — all of which can be done regardless of the weather.
So if you’re in need of indoor pursuits where your kids will be safely ensconced against the weather, keep reading for my top three Staten Island picks.
ROLLERJAM USA
At this larger-than-life rink, kids can rollerblade and/or roller-skate beneath disco lights and dance along to pop music, do tricks and even get exercise. And on Sunday, the place is turned into an inflatable bounce house wonderland.
Address: 236 Richmond Valley Rd., Richmond Valley.
Age appeal: Walkers.
What kids will go gaga for: Skating to their heart’s content; checking out video games and on Sundays traversing six inflatable bounce-type rides and slides on the rink floor.
Parent perks: Roller-skating is an activity parents and kids can do together, will evoke memories from one’s childhood, and there’s a bar for parents who’d like a drink. (Just make sure you’ve got a designated driver!)
Drawbacks: If you and your kids are skating novices, remember to take it slowly so no one gets hurt.
Overall: A great alternative to sitting in a movie theater and they’ve got plenty of food, too, such as pizza, chicken fingers, mozzarella sticks, nachos, fries, pretzels, ice cream and slushies.
Information Visit rollerjamusa.com or call 718-605-6600.
SHOWPLACE ENTERTAINMENT CENTER
Kids will be hard-pressed not to go gaga for this 32-lane bowling center, which features glow-in-the-dark bowling on weekend nights, projection screens that run along the back wall of the lanes, a huge game room and all the treats they can eat.
Address: 141 East Service Rd., Travis.
Age appeal: All ages.
What kids will go gaga for: Projection screens where they can watch their favorite music videos to go along with the songs that play while they bowl, the 30-plus games in their game room including: skeeball, Deal or No Deal, Cranes, basketball, air hockey and a redemption center where they can get prizes for their game tickets.
Parent perks: They offer automatic bumper bowling so kids and parents can bowl together on the same lane and kids get an extra leg up, no gutter balls! In addition to bowling, they’ve got a game room, full snack bar with pizza, burgers, chicken fingers, salads, wraps and sandwiches, a bar and pool hall.
Drawbacks: How much money your child will want to spend on food and games!
Overall: There is truly something for everyone at this family fun center.
Information: Call 718-477-2695 or visit ShowplaceBowling.net.
CREATE A CRAFT
This craft space is a place for kids to engage in jewelry making, scrapbooking, painting ceramics, stamping, duct tape crafts, silk screening, gift bags, holiday crafts and more.
Address: 83 Bay Terrace, Bay Terrace.
Age appeal: All. Craft projects are designed for all skill levels from beginners to advanced.
What kids will go gaga for: Crafting their own special colored duct tape creations such as roses, pens and wallets. They’ll also love sitting next to their parent scrapbooking, stamping and beading.
Parent perks: Everyone sits at a big table and participates in the crafting process, whether individually or working as a parent-child team. Families get free use of all craft machines and kids can choose to make as many crafts as they’d like.
Drawbacks: You should call for a session to make sure that there’s room available.
Overall: The draw for families is that it’s a place to be creative and it’s hard to beat $6 for unlimited craft materials.
Information: Call 917-488-8891 or 718-351-4385.
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