The colder months definitely make it harder to come up with fun excursions for toddlers. I work from home, and when it is too chilly to get outside for a walk or a park, I am looking at all excursion possibilities for me and my little guy to get us out of the house.
A while back, I did some research on indoor playgrounds in Ocean and Monmouth counties (you can read that post HERE) and found a handful of results I put on my short list for toddler mommy and me adventures. I was most impressed by Jungle Jim and Jane's website, and although it was a about an hour away up in Monmouth County, I decided that I would book an open play appointment and give it a shot.
Truthfully, the company had me at appointment. Nothing is worse than being in a place for kids and families and being crammed in so tight there is no space for your child to explore and play. Knowing that the company was wary of over-booking their venue (especially during cold and flu season) I started to suspect that this was going to be a well run business--- and it really was.
It seems that booking times here run in waves. When you book, you get an hour and a half in the space (which was really plenty of time). Everyone comes in and leaves during your wave at pretty much the same time. It reminded me of back in the day in water parks, when you got a wristband and a certain amount of park time. When you arrive, there is room in the small lobby area to store shoes (it is a sock only venue) and jackets. I suggest slip ons for everyone because it does get busy in that area when everyone is trying to leave after the playtime is over. Slip-ons for parents and children will help you get out of the door and out of the way more quickly.
We met friends at this location and we all had a blast. There was so much to do for our littles (who are all just a bit under 2 years old) and for her older son and his friend. The venue is fun for kids ages 8 and under-- making this a great place to entertain littles of different ages.
There's a lot to do here. Several slides. Toys. Virtual Games. Ball Pits. Climbing structures. Manually (parent) powered rides. All sorts of fun! Our favorite was the giant light bright board-- we went back to that section several times during our play time there. You and your child will have no problem filling the time with the various activities all over the space. Everything looked well maintained and clean, and to my surprise the bathrooms were beautiful! Always a good indicator of the cleanliness of the rest of the venue. I especially loved the separate family bathroom so I didn't need my little boy to wait for mommy squeezed into a little stall.
Jungle Jim and Jane has party rooms which are pretty cool-- from the size of the tables and chairs I could tell that most of their parties are for pre-school ages. With the party room as the exception, no food or drink is allowed in the playground area. We left our water bottle in our coat pocket and popped out to the lobby area once for a few sips before going back to playing. If you decide you need a drink or snack while you are there, they do have some items available for purchase.
There are a few other things that you can purchase in the playground area. You can use a few dollars on hand (bring singles) to utilize the massage chairs, or you can do a "play until you win" crane game. I also noticed that ski ball and air hockey required payment. Everything else in the venue is included in your entry price. I paid $10 for my 22 month old, and $10 for me. Once my toddler is 2 his cost is $20. Post experience, I definitely think prices here are very fair.
After our playtime, It was lunchtime! Further down the shopping center there is a pizza place so we headed there for lunch. It was a little busy because a lot of other families did the same, but there was plenty of seating for us to sit and relax. Besides, I always have snacks on hand curb any stomach growling while we wait for a meal.
Jungle Jim and Jane was a really positive experience for us. I absolutely plan to go again. The staff was great. The facility was fun and the long drive home was the perfect encouragement for a nice big nap. We can't wait to go again!
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