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Monday's Mompreneur
KidsPark Provides Drop In Care for Harried Parents KidsPark, a drop-in licensed childcare facility with hourly rates, opened Tuesday, August 25th at it's new home near the Northridge mall. Every mommy says...Yay!
This bright and happy space is a fully licensed childcare facility which cares for kids ages 2-11. Parents pay an annual registration fee and then pay by the hour, but no reservations are necessary. Hourly rates are $8 per hour for one child, $12 per hour for two children, and an additional $2 per hour for each additional child. They also host private parties on Sunday mornings and evenings, and offer a flexible, no-commitment required preschool program each morning from 9am-12pm.
 KidsPark currently has 15 centers in 6 states, with more independently-owned franchises scheduled to open in the coming months. I had the chance to chat with the CEO and founder, Debbie Milner, and the center's new owners, Davida and Tauby Ross, a mother and daughter team, this afternoon while they worked on a few final preparations for the opening. (All this after I had dragged my kids away from the opening party on Sunday, then finally convinced my daughter to wash off the final traces of butterfly face painting tonight.)
Davida Ross had used KidsPark services when she lived in the Bay Area, where the company headquarters are located, for her oldest daughter. Ross found the convenience invaluable while she attended college there, as the flexible service allowed her to adjust her daughter's schedule to her own changing schedule each semester.
 Opening the new store was "a natural fit for us," said Ross.
This location was specifically chosen to place parents near a "destination" that includes shopping, movie theatres, and restaurants. At 4000 square feet, it includes several play areas: a video game area for tweens, book corner, preschool manipulatives, playhouse, mini-basketball court, art tables, tiered-seating theatre space, and (thanks to the city, county, and state licensing requirements) four...count 'em...four separate bathroom facilities for boys, girls, adults, and potty trainers. Children in diapers are welcome and parents can bring food along or purchase meals for $3.50 from the center.
Milner is proud that the centers serve a diverse clientele, and help parents who need last minute childcare options. Personal stories have included the stay at home parent who needed a cavity filled, a foster parent required to find a licensed facility for babysitting help, and grandparents caring for their grandchild full time who needed respite care. With it's extended hours, competitive pricing, and convenient location (read: free, abundant parking), the centers can meet a wide array of family needs.
 "Our lifestyles have changed. Teenagers are often busy with after school activities or are working, and aren't available for babysitting," said Milner, when I asked her about KidsPark's role in parent's lives. "Parents want kids to be in a very safe, fun environment with skilled caregivers."
She also explained that "many, many families are separated from their extended family, and don't have grandparents...nearby to help with last minute childcare". Milner added that the centers provide a safe environment where children gain socialization experiences.
And to the parent who's still wary of leaving her child in an unfamiliar setting?
"We have 20 years of experience and over 12,000 families [have used our services]", said Milner. "We want all of our guests to feel special and to have a great time".
Milner also points out that KidsPark offers a safer and more stimulating environment than the traditional "date night" setting, where sitters are often unsupervised.
"As a licensed facility, our staff are trained and have backgrounds in Early Childhood Education. They have been fingerprinted and have each had a background check from the Department of Justice. They're always supervised, so no one is left alone with a child."
The corporate office provides the staff with regular training throughout the year, and sends the center program materials each month. While toys and built in activities are plentiful, the staff also invites children to join in with crafts, songs, games, and even the occasional movie.
Tauby Ross told me, "When our grandparents hear about us, they always say, 'I wish that had been around when I was parenting'".
Welcome to Los Angeles, KidsPark!
KidsPark
9056 Tampa Avenue,
Northridge Grove Shopping Center
Northridge, CA 91324 (818) 998-KIDS http://www.kidspark.com/center/Northridge/welcome/
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