Frequently Asked Questions

Below are a several questions frequently come up. If you have a question that is not included on this list, please check the contact list and contact the appropriate person.

When does Kidspace Close ?

WEATHER – If the town of Belmont declares a snow emergency (i.e. no street parking is allowed), KidSpace will be closed. If Belmont schools are closed but there is not a snow emergency, KidSpace may be open. Call KidSpace at (617) 484-8697 to see if it is open before you come.

LACK OF VOLUNTEERS – Unfortunately, it occasionally happens that volunteers cannot be found for every day of operation. In this case, KidSpace will be closed. Every effort will be made to post the closing on the KidSpace bulletin board, but last minute volunteer changes might make that impossible. If the door is locked on a regularly scheduled day of operation, feel free to open and close KidSpace according to normal procedures.

CONFLICT WITH PAYSON PARK CHURCH SCHEDULE – It also occasionally happens that the Church has a special event or activity which conflicts with the KidSpace schedule. These closings will be posted on the KidSpace bulletin boards.

Do I need to be a Belmont resident?

No. KidSpace cooperative membership is open to the general public -- Belmont residents as well as residents of neighboring towns.

Can I drop off my child/children with a nanny or babysitter?
Yes. However children must be accompanied and supervised at all times by a parent or other adult caregiver.

Can I arrange to have my child’s birthday party at KidSpace, or can I rent KidSpace for my parent’s group?
At this point, KidSpace is not organizing birthday parties or renting to outside groups. However, the Payson Park Church rents the gymnasium and the dining room independently for large gatherings. Individuals are permitted to use the climbing structures, tables and chairs, but not other KidSpace toys and equipment. For information about rental, please contact the Payson Park Church directly at 617-484-1542.

Can I bring my older children with me to KidSpace?
KidSpace was designed with pre-schoolers in mind, and there are not a lot of activities or equipment for older children. If your child does accompany you to KidSpace, please make sure they are not being too physical in an area where there are younger children, or using equipment which is not designed for their age group. In many cases older children have been a big help setting up blocks with younger kids or helping them with puzzles.

Can we bring food into KidSpace?
Yes. Parents are allowed to bring in food or drinks for themselves and their children. This year, KidSpace will be a PEANUT FREE environment, to address the concerns of many parents of children with peanut allergies. Parents are asked to clean up after their lunch and wipe down the tables.

What is the policy for sick children ?
All parents are asked to use good judgment when brining their kids into KidSpace. Please do not bring your child to KidSpace if he or she has had a fever in the past 24 hours or if they have are contagious disease.

Is there an area to change diapers?
Both the Women’s Room and Men’s room adjacent to KidSpace have changing stations. Please bring plastic bags to dispose of dirty diapers and deposit in the marked diaper bin in the KidSpace dining room. DIAPERS CANNOT BE LEFT IN THE BATHROOM TRASH CANS.

Is food for sale at KidSpace?
There are light snacks (goldfish, crackers) and drinks (juice boxes, water) available for a nominal price (generally $.50 each). Coffee and tea is available for adults and is free of charge (although donations are accepted).

How much does it cost to visit KidSpace?
As a cooperative, every KidSpace family will be required to be a member ($45 for the season). This membership will allow unlimited entrance for the season and each family will be required to help out as active shift volunteers or as a committee leader.

How can I help KidSpace grow?
The Belmont Parent’s Network is a non-profit organization, and gladly accepts donations of money, toys and volunteer assistance. The Network is always looking for new funding opportunities through neighborhood grants, and would appreciate learning about these through local parents. For more information about helping, please contact.

How can I donate toys to KidSpace?
If you have toys in that might be useful to KidSpace, please contact Hank Thidemann at hthid@att.net or 617-489-2939. Toys that are especially useful are Cozy Coupes, “ride-on” vehicles for older children, tricycles, dress-up clothes, and Thomas/Brio type wooden trains. KidSpace could also use pre-school size play tables with chairs. All equipment should be in good, safe condition. If the toys you would like to donate are not useful for KidSpace, (too many small parts, or duplicates of toys already in use, for example), the toys will be put in the “yard sale” table, and sold to parents visiting KidSpace. These funds are directed back into KidSpace operations.

Is KidSpace affiliated with the Payson Park Church or with the Payson Park Nursery School?
No. The Belmont Parent’s Network rents the gymnasium and the dining hall from the church for KidSpace, and the Payson Park Nursery School is an independent operation of KidSpace. However, the Nursery School is currently sharing climbing structures and equipment with KidSpace, and the church has been instrumental to the growth and success of KidSpace.

Why aren’t there any morning hours?
The Payson Park Nursery School is located on the same level as KidSpace, and uses the space in the mornings for program activities.

What are some ideas for working at KidSpace with my young children?
Each family, based on the ages and temperaments of their child/ren, will have a different experience working the registration desk in KidSpace. Many parents are able to keep an eye on their kids while working the desk. Others find that they need a different strategy. In the past, parents have:

• Kept their children near the registration desk (only appropriate for some families)
• Volunteered when a friend, spouse or caregiver was available to watch the kids in KidSpace
• Volunteered with a friend at KidSpace to help keep an eye on each other's children
• Volunteered on a weekend day when they could come alone and leave the kids at home
• Found it easier to sign up for clean-up nights than work a shift at the desk

Also, if you are a new volunteer, you can be paired with a seasoned volunteer. Please make sure to mark this on the sign-up sheet or to let Donna Ruvolo know if you are booking a shift through her. If you are working with a seasoned volunteer, you will be able to "tag team" your time together at the desk. Finally, if you are unable to find a way to "work a shift" a the registration desk, you can also fulfill your volunteer commitment by coming to three Clean Up Nights - and you will feel good knowing that KidSpace is a clean, healthy place for your children to play. Taking home dress up clothes and running them through the wash or taking home plastic toys and running them through the dishwasher as counts as a volunteer shift.