As temperatures drop, kids cafes are hot

Winter is a difficult season for parents and kids alike. Little ones want to run wild outside, but most parents don't want their children to spend too much time outside in subzero temperatures.

Whether or not it is the harshest winter in decades, frustrated kids still need a place where they can frolic and it is up to parents to come up with ways to help their little ones channel energy while keeping them warm.

That's where indoor playgrounds come in.

They first appeared in early 2000s in Korea in the form of kid-friendly cafes. Typically, a corner of the cafe might offer Legos, bounce ponies, stuffed dolls or other toys to amuse the children of customers. However, many kids cafes have been transformed in the past few years to be oriented primarily toward children.

Almost all kids cafes today look like small amusement parks, with trains, small theaters and cooking classes.

Another noteworthy trend in a move toward franchises that mostly rely on popular cartoon characters.

Even E-Land Group, the nation's apparel mogul, jumped on the bandwagon with the opening in July 2011 of the first branch of CocoMong Kids Land in Munjeong-dong, Songpa District. In its first year, the 2,000-square-meter indoor amusement park attracted 250,000 visitors along with 6 billion won ($5.2 million) in sales.

The industry targets young children - usually age 13 and under - who don't have access to rides at ordinary amusement parks.

Of course, there is a downside with these indoor playgrounds. "Winter is a season when all types of viruses are active", says Choi Se-won, an otolaryngologist at Malgun Virgin Mary Ear-Nose-Throat Clinic in Gaebong-dong, southwestern Seoul. "The best thing is avoiding a place where there are a large number of people, but if that is not possible, the next best thing is to wash the hands of your children as often as you can".

And as in any place crowded with young children, accidents are bound to happen.

Nonetheless, indoor playgrounds are still some of the most popular hangout places for families during the winter.

Here is a list of indoor playgrounds and what they offer.

Dibo the Gift Dragon

Dibo Village - character shows to cooking class

Inspired by the Korean cartoon series "Dibo the Gift Dragon", Dibo Village has five branches across the nation, including Cheonggye Stream, central Seoul, and Mok-dong, western Seoul.

Programs of each branch vary, but common attractions at the villages are trains, jungle gyms, ball pool and trampolines. Common programs are character shows, cooking lessons, physical education and craft classes.

The 10-minute-long character show is a must-see. Shows are staged three times a day on weekdays and four on weekends. In the shows, larger-than-life zany animal characters, from dinosaurs to rabbits to elephants, dance to theme songs.

Other hands-on classes are operated on a first come, first served basis. Children who are older than 5 are eligible for cooking and craft classes. For PE classes, they must be at least 4.

Admission varies depending on location, but the Mok-dong branch charges 15,000 won ($14.12) for children and 5,000 won for adults for two-hour tickets.

* Mok-dong branch: (02) 2655-3450
Cheonggye Stream branch: (02) 2048-6600

CocoMong, a sausage-turned-monkey

CocoMong Eco Park and CocoMong Kids Land - Monkey rules

CocoMong Eco Park is another indoor playground based on a cartoon series - "Fresh World CocoMong", which centers on animals that live in a refrigerator. CocoMong is a sausage-turned-monkey.

Although CocoMong Eco Park and CocoMong Kids Land are based on the same cartoon, their operators and atmospheres are starkly different.

As its name suggests, CocoMong Eco Park, located in Yongin, Gyeonggi, uses lots of wood in its interior design and attractions. Cartoon characters also make an appearance only at parade time.

What makes the park different from others is it has outdoor space where children can sled.

Meanwhile, CocoMong Kids Land is closer to an amusement park. For example, the CocoMong Kids Land in Munjeong-dong, Songpa District, has a Ferris wheel and bumper cars. Images of cute characters are plastered on the attractions and walls.

* CocoMong Eco Park, Yongin, Gyeonggi: All-day tickets are 18,000 won for children and 10,000 won for adults.

1661-0568.

CocoMong Kids Land, Munjeong-dong, eastern Seoul: Two-hour tickets are 13,000 won for children and 6,000 won for adults.

(02) 2157-5718

Left, children experience a firefighter's life at KidZania Seoul. Provided by KidZania Right, children watch a movie at the Ilsan branch of Green Apple Kids Cinema. Provided by the cinema
Green Apple Kids Cinema - Munching and whispering allowed

For most parents, taking kids to movie theaters is fraught with peril. Children can easily become bored and their limited bladder control makes it hard for them to stay still for more than an hour. They also keep asking questions.

As a result, there has been a boom in kid-dedicated theaters. One of them is Green Apple Kids Cinema, with branches in Juyeop-dong, Ilsan, and Pyeongchon-dong, Gyeonggi.

The Ilsan branch has eight screens seating four to 12. About 200 DVDs of animated and family films are available.

Parents can watch the movie together with their kids, or slip away for a complimentary coffee.

* Ilsan branch: Two-hour tickets are 6,000 won for children and adults.

(031) 8086-7942

KidZania Seoul - Every job available

KidZania Seoul, a Mexican chain of indoor entertainment parks, celebrates its third year next month.

The gigantic entertainment park enables kids to experience nearly 70 different jobs, from working in an instant noodle factory to making rice cakes.

"It's like a role-playing experience, and it takes between 20 and 30 minutes for each section", says Lee Jeong-min, who promotes the entertainment park. "Since there are so many activities, most people purchase a half-day ticket, which is good for five hours".

According to Lee, role-playing at a rice cake shop, home shopping company and pest control firm and three other positions are only available at the Seoul branch of KidZania.

* KidZania Seoul: Half-day tickets start from 32,000 won for children and 16,000 won for adults.

1544-5110

By Sung So-young [[email protected]]