All About KidsPark
We all have those moments as parents when we need an extra set of hands or childcare falls through. That’s where KidsPark comes in. We sat down with Katie Krivolavek, owner of KidsPark Lincoln, to learn more about her passion for helping kiddos and parents.
LK: Where are you from and how did you get started with KidsPark?
Katie: I was born in Kansas and raised in Kansas City. I went to KU for Early Childhood Education, and my plan was to be a preschool teacher. I found a preschool teaching job at KidsPark in Olathe, Kansas. I met my husband (he’s from Nebraska), and we got married and moved to Lincoln. I was a teacher at LPS for a few years and then stayed home with my babies — Kennedy and Maddison — for awhile. I was pushing two toddlers in a cart in Target one morning, thinking, “I just need KidsPark!”
It was right around that time, I told my husband that I wanted to open a KidsPark here in Lincoln. I LOVED working there and I knew that fellow Lincoln parents would benefit from it too. We officially opened our doors in 2015, ten days after the birth of our youngest, Oliver.
LK: What’s a typical day like at KidsPark?
Katie: We have activities every hour and we are all in one big open room. It’s more of an entertainment setup. I’m a big believer that kids are learning the most when they are playing, especially at a young age.
We don’t have an extremely structured center. The day is moving, flowing, and changing. For example, if it starts snowing we might start doing a snow craft; it’s very flexible.
LK: What ages do you take?
Katie: 18 months through 10 years old.
LK: How does it work? Say it’s a Monday morning and I realize I don’t have daycare, can I drop off my kids?
Katie: Yep! You would register online or when you drop off. Then you sign a few pieces of paper and you are good to go.
LK: Does KidsPark have a preschool?
Katie: Yes, we offer preschool Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. You can come on a regular basis, or it can work as a drop-in option.
LK: How many staff do you have at the center during the day?
Katie: It depends, typically we have three staff members. On a day off from school, we have four or five. We can have up to 60 kids at one time. If we have that many, there would be six to seven teachers.
LK: How do you handle staffing for drop-ins?
Katie: We are always looking at days when school is closed, and looking back in history to see what we typically staff on certain days. We have an on-call teacher, and I’m also available, to help with extra backup.
LK: What activities do you do?
Katie: We have an activity every hour — games, science experiments, cooking, arts and crafts, — a little bit of everything.
LK: What are your hours and rates?
Katie: We are open:
Monday - Thursday, 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Saturday, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
We charge $10.00 by the hour, or $70.00 for a full day. We have discounted rates for siblings. You can find more details on our website: kidspark.com/lincoln.
Find KidsPark Lincoln at:
5633 S 16th St Ste. 100, Lincoln, NE 68512
(402) 413-8849
Why should parents bring their kiddos to KidsPark?
It’s easier than finding a babysitter.
It’s engaging, a way to make new friends, and socialize.
We can be your backup. We are often open on SNOW DAYS.
We love doing all the messy activities. Let your kids have fun and we will clean it all up.
We are open until 11:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Drop the kids off while you go to dinner.
Learn more about Katie and her family on YouTube at @allelectricfamily!
