Fun Center for children a dream come true for South Holland woman

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

It was a dream come true for Okeycha Pettigrew when she opened EduFun Play Center at 16102 South Park Ave. in South Holland in December.

Pettigrew first conceived the idea of combining education and fun in a center for young children in 1994. Since then she has earned a master’s degree in early childhood education. She also has been certified in special education, autism, CPR, First Aid, quality care training and nutrition. Nine years ago she started a home daycare center called Mom Knows Best.

Finally, last year, she decided the time was right to fulfill her dream and opened EduFun.

“The mission of EduFun is to provide fun and enlightening hands-on experiences for children,” says Pettigrew, a South Holland resident since 1998.

At EduFun, children up to 13 years old are encouraged to create their own worlds.

“They can pretend to be homemakers, doctors or business owners,” says Pettigrew. “One of the popular activities is the hospital. They pretend to be doctors and patients, and sometimes pet doctors operating on their pets.”

Other areas include a construction zone, a McDonald’s restaurant and a bank.

EduFun also has a free play zone where the children can play games using oversized cards, dominoes, checkers and chess pieces.

“It’s almost like Alice in Wonderland,” says Pettigrew. “It’s the world from a child’s perspective.”

The center also offers culinary arts, music and creative arts.
Pettigrew says EduFun is ideal for homeschooled children and kids in home daycare, but also is suited to teachers.

“We follow Illinois Learning Standards, so teachers can link classroom materials to the play areas when they visit,” she says.

Pettigrew and her husband, David, operate the center with some staffers, but she said parents are “encouraged to stay and play.”

Cost is $5 per child (adults are free) for a 90-minute session. EduFun can accommodate 45 children at a time. The only requirement is that children must wear socks.

The center is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Response has been great since opening, says Pettigrew. “We’ve already had a lot of birthday parties.”

For more information, call 708-670-5444 or e-mail Pettigrew at okeycha@aol.com. She says she is working on a Web site for the center.

Breakfast with the Bunny
Kids can have breakfast with the Easter Bunny from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday on the lower level of Orland Square Mall near Macy's in Orland Park. Costco is picking up the tab so there will be free bagels, pastries and other baked goods.

Deal of the weekend
Mention Twitter or Spring Break when reserving a room and get 20 percent off at the Days Inn, 9625 S. 76th Avenue in Bridgeview. 708-430-1818.