Indoor playtime for parents and toddlers takes off

There was some screaming and a few tears, but overall the Children’s Indoor Playground Society (CHIPS) event, taking place at the Activity Centre, was lots of fun when the Fitzhugh stopped in last week.

Every Tuesday and Thursday throughout the winter, parents can bring along their toddlers for some “interactive” fun, said Pam Clark and Meghan Gifford, two of the parental organizers of CHIPS. “It’s supposed to be interactive,” said Gifford, “it’s not like you go and dump your kid.  You’re supposed to play with them.”  

“The idea is that in the winter you can’t get to the playground as easily, so this moves the playground indoors,” said Clark.

According to Gifford and Clark, “CHIPS  provides pre-school aged children with opportunities to run, skip, climb, slide, pedal on bikes and engage in other gross motor activities” as well as a socialize.    

Relying on membership fees and a subsidy from the municipality, CHIPS has about 28 members and 45 ankle-biters who show up on a regular basis, but they are always looking for more members, especially given that in Jasper, there is only one option for daycare and it’s full, said Gifford. 

Challenged by a lack of time, both mothers want to see this program succeed.  “We didn’t want to see it tank,” said Gifford.  “We need our toddlers to be there.”  Clark and Gifford are eager to build a base of support and a structure that will support the program in the future.  “Right now, sure we’ve got a handful of people that are really keen, but when our toddlers are done, we won’t be worried about the program so much because we’ll have moved onto other volunteering,” said Gifford.  “I’m sure that if there aren’t another group of people who are into it, it won’t sustain.”

CHIPS runs every Tuesday and Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Activity Centre.  The cost is $75 for the whole year or $40 per session (fall-winter and winter-spring).  The program is currently seeking corporate sponsorships, a high school senior volunteer, and toy donations (especially a children’s table and chairs). To offer assistance or for information on upcoming events, email jasperchips@live.com.