Kids Will Go Bananas at Cheeky Monkeys 

We recently heard about a new play place from my other mommy friends and decided to check it out. Cheeky Monkeys is a brand from Dubai and is a soft playland and party venue that is 800 sqm big. The Philippines is the 4th country to have Cheeky Monkeys and is managed by Mommy Em and Sir Darwin. There are daily free kids activities, various party packages, a huge seating area that can accommodate 150-200 heads and a snack bar! Check out my photos of the place below:

Parents won't have to look far for party venues. They have two party rooms called Bubble and Star. Bubble can accommodate 50-60 pax while Star can hold 20-25 pax. They have all sorts of party packages like Spectacular Package, Raz-Ma-Tazz Package, Princess Package, and Pirate Package. Parents can choose from the packages and there are add-ons available for the packages. If you don't like fussing about party preps, this is the best thing to do for your kiddie party.

I really liked how spacious the place is, and how the toddler area is separate from the big kids' area. This feels like it would cause fewer accidents when kids are playing. Another thing I liked was how soft the play area is, no sharp corners and no small items that could be choking hazards. My son tried both the toddler area and the bigger playland with tunnels above my head and he had such an awesome time that he didn't even want to leave (me too, actually.) Photos of his adventures below:

The big difference for me is the snack bar inside. They have partnered with UCC and FIC for coffee and ice cream for the guests. They have a wide range of menu items, and we tried some of them during our stay. I gotta say I really liked how they thought of the parents as well, and how open they are for playdates. Mommies and daddies can reserve tables at a fee and spend the day with the kids playing. 

I didn't see any bag lockers, but there are shoe cubbies for when kids and adults enter the soft play areas. The whole place is UV Care protected by the way, and cleaned daily. Another offering is the free WIFI for visitors. And the staff is superb! All of them have trained in First Aid and all have a background in Performing Arts or Early Childhood Development. They really interact with the kids and not just stand around chatting.

They have a Weekday Summer Promo where it's only P350 for 3 hours of fun and that is already a great deal! This weekend they will have an Easter Egg Hunt event. There will also be a Summer Camp from March 11 to May 18. Visit their Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for more information about these events and promotions. For those interested in the hours and rates, you can check here. I highly recommend Cheeky Monkeys Manila, and feel like we will be visiting a lot! 

Why Interactive Play is Important to Raise Independent Kids

Why Interactive Play is Important to Raise Independent Kids

Last April 6, 2019, Millennial Moms PH launched Family Time in partnership with Johnsons Baby PH and Aveeno Baby PH. It was held at the ABS CBN Theater of venue partner Kidzania Manila. My family was selected to attend the first ever Family Time event where there were talks about child-rearing and the importance of play by specialists in child education. Johnson's Baby PH also shared how their products like Johnson's Summer Blooms Baby Powder are useful since it keeps our kids smelling fresh and making sure their skin doesn't get sweaty or sticky then playtime and learning time can be extended for up to 12 hours.

After the event, the selected families were given time to check out the huge play area that is Kidzania Manila. The aim of Kidzania is to cater to Gen Z (Zentennials), which is the newest generation to be named and were born between 1995 and 2015. They are thought to be a generation of workers, thinkers, innovators, and leaders. Kidzania Manila is an 8,000 sqm kid-sized city with 65 interactive establishments for kids aged 4-17 years old. If your kid is below 4, then there are also some activities for them like RightZKeepers’ House and Kindergarten. My son turned 4 exactly on the day we visited so he was able to participate in some activities.

Kidzania Manila supports the Department of Education’s K to 12 Program and helps kids learn, explore, and discover in a safe and secure environment with activities designed especially with special children in mind. Kids can go around the mini-town and do jobs and earn money that they can spend at stores. I find this refreshing and a great way to teach independence for children. After touring the mini-metropolis, he decided on the Hospital Emergency Room and the Burger Shop. He was quite reluctant at first, but he quickly warmed up to the RightZKeepers in charge of each activity and was very enthusiastic in participating. As a mom, this made me very happy and proud, since I could see that the activities were helping my kid be independent and teaching him how to use critical thinking in simulated real-life situations.

My son ran to us after each activity, all smiles, and it made me decide that we were going back. Kidzania Manila is a very good place for learning, and truly incorporates teaching life skills through play time. For those interested in visiting Kidzania Manila, they have an ongoing Summer Blow Out where you can get 30% off when you buy tickets online and 20% off for walk-ins. For more information, you can check them out on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. I definitely recommend Kidzania for those who want their kids to learn through play. It's a great place for family bonding, and it made me want to try the activities, especially the Bottling Plant and the Bakeshop. What Kidzania Manila activity would you like to try?