By Jane Han
After a month in Seoul, I finally got a chance to experience Korea's oh-so-popular kids' cafes. Just two visits and it didn't take me long to realize why these places are such a go-to place for moms and kids.
For those who aren't familiar with what they are, think of them as a cleaner, safer and luxurious version of America's Chuck E. Cheese. I'm only using the pizza restaurant as a comparison because there's really nothing else that even comes close in the U.S., but Chuck E. Cheese would have to do a lot to become anything like Korean kids' cafes.
Every café varies, but they generally have a giant room filled with all kinds of toys, play equipment and activity centers for babies and toddlers.
The first one I went to was a large scale café, actually more like a mini amusement park, where there were at least 10 different interactive play stations with everything from jungle gym, giant ball pit, swings and slides and storytelling room.
Each station is staffed with in-house babysitters to play with and supervise the children.
So what do parents do?
Relax. Yes, that's right, relax.
Where else can mom and dad get a break like this? The 8,000 won ($8) admission was the best money I've ever spent.
There's a separate café area that sells coffee, tea, light meals and snacks for kids, so it's pretty much a one-stop solution for parents who want to grab a cup of coffee, meet and chat with friends, give kids plenty of play time and feed them all at the same time, in one place without going through the trouble of making multiple trips and wrestling with bored and fussy little ones.
Moms know that getting all this done at once is rarely possible, but in Korea, it sure is.
Just two hours at any of these cafes, you go home with a well-fed, exhausted and satisfied baby who is ready to knock out in the car on the way home. Oh, hallelujah.
The second café I went to was inside a major downtown department store, so it was definitely much smaller, but even that had its own benefits. Small means more easily manageable. Everything is visible in one sight so you don't have to go looking for your curious toddler.
The admission fee was half price at just 4,000 won and two in-house babysitters were more than enough to keep my twin girls happy and entertained.
I actually liked the smaller one better because going after the girls with a 26-week pregnant belly is becoming tougher by the day.
So they're going to see me returning often as long as I'm in Korea.
For kids' café newbies like me, I do have some tips to keep in mind.
Be sure to beat the crowd. I know a lot of times mom's schedule is no longer her schedule. She revolves around nap times and feeding times, but still, it's best to try and get to these play places before lunch hour before crowds of kids rush in. I'd say anytime between 10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. would be a good time to start the play day.
Don't panic when you catch your kids engaged in a physical standoff with another child. Sometimes, these places get so busy and children naturally fight over one toy, so conflict is bound to happen at any time.
Your kids aren't playing with existing friends since many of the children meet for the first time, so it's important that parents keep their cool even if the other child is clearly the offender.
I've been in Korea for less than a month and I already know that kids' café is the single biggest thing I'm going to miss when I go back to the U.S.
I know there are several in cities with a large Korean population, but I've yet to see one in Dallas. Maybe it's time for me to start one.
After a month in Seoul, I finally got a chance to experience Korea's oh-so-popular kids' cafes. Just two visits and it didn't take me long to realize why these places are such a go-to place for moms and kids.
For those who aren't familiar with what they are, think of them as a cleaner, safer and luxurious version of America's Chuck E. Cheese. I'm only using the pizza restaurant as a comparison because there's really nothing else that even comes close in the U.S., but Chuck E. Cheese would have to do a lot to become anything like Korean kids' cafes.
Every café varies, but they generally have a giant room filled with all kinds of toys, play equipment and activity centers for babies and toddlers.
The first one I went to was a large scale café, actually more like a mini amusement park, where there were at least 10 different interactive play stations with everything from jungle gym, giant ball pit, swings and slides and storytelling room.
Each station is staffed with in-house babysitters to play with and supervise the children.
So what do parents do?
Relax. Yes, that's right, relax.
Where else can mom and dad get a break like this? The 8,000 won ($8) admission was the best money I've ever spent.
There's a separate café area that sells coffee, tea, light meals and snacks for kids, so it's pretty much a one-stop solution for parents who want to grab a cup of coffee, meet and chat with friends, give kids plenty of play time and feed them all at the same time, in one place without going through the trouble of making multiple trips and wrestling with bored and fussy little ones.
Moms know that getting all this done at once is rarely possible, but in Korea, it sure is.
Just two hours at any of these cafes, you go home with a well-fed, exhausted and satisfied baby who is ready to knock out in the car on the way home. Oh, hallelujah.
The second café I went to was inside a major downtown department store, so it was definitely much smaller, but even that had its own benefits. Small means more easily manageable. Everything is visible in one sight so you don't have to go looking for your curious toddler.
The admission fee was half price at just 4,000 won and two in-house babysitters were more than enough to keep my twin girls happy and entertained.
I actually liked the smaller one better because going after the girls with a 26-week pregnant belly is becoming tougher by the day.
So they're going to see me returning often as long as I'm in Korea.
For kids' café newbies like me, I do have some tips to keep in mind.
Be sure to beat the crowd. I know a lot of times mom's schedule is no longer her schedule. She revolves around nap times and feeding times, but still, it's best to try and get to these play places before lunch hour before crowds of kids rush in. I'd say anytime between 10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. would be a good time to start the play day.
Don't panic when you catch your kids engaged in a physical standoff with another child. Sometimes, these places get so busy and children naturally fight over one toy, so conflict is bound to happen at any time.
Your kids aren't playing with existing friends since many of the children meet for the first time, so it's important that parents keep their cool even if the other child is clearly the offender.
I've been in Korea for less than a month and I already know that kids' café is the single biggest thing I'm going to miss when I go back to the U.S.
I know there are several in cities with a large Korean population, but I've yet to see one in Dallas. Maybe it's time for me to start one.
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