Parents Night Out offers fun for kids and parents, too

Local News

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Parents Night Out.

WHEN: From 6 to 9 p.m. the first Friday of every month.

WHERE: Plattsburgh Church of the Nazarene, 187 Broad St.

PHONE: 561-1960 to register.

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February 11, 2012

ROBIN CAUDELL Press-Republican The Press Republican Sat Feb 11, 2012, 02:26 AM EST

PLATTSBURGH — Fueled on pizza and juice, more than 60 children were revved for fun at a recent Parents Night Out at the Plattsburgh Church of the Nazarene.

The first Friday of every month, parents sign in their children, leave an emergency number and the name of the person designated to pick them up.

Then, parents take off for whatever they want to accomplish sans child.

"It's a free service," said Heidi Stitt, children's director and coordinator of the event.

"Parents can have a night off. With the economy the way it is, it's hard for parents to have a date night or go grocery shopping. We're grateful our church has a heart for families and are willing to support this."

At Christmastime, Parents Night Out drew as many as 90 children, infants to sixth-graders.

When the children arrive, they eat slices of pepperoni or cheese pizza from 6 to 6:30 p.m.

Then, it's all about fun, fun, fun at different activity stations run by church volunteers.

"It's awesome," Stitt said. The children are grouped by age, and then each group is supervised by a minimum of two adults.

This particular Friday evening, children dodged balls in the gym. Others were finger deep in Rice Krispie treat batter, which they shaped into hearts and sprinkled with pink, red and purple sugar.

At a very long table, children assembled valentine penguins.

In a game room, children played board games, pool and air hockey.

The night culminates with a movie, usually "Charlie Brown," but on this night, Stitt switched it up with a "Pink Panther" flick. She flitted from station to station but was not too busy to comfort a temporarily motherless child on a crying jag on a cozy sofa.

Email Robin Caudell at: rcaudell@pressrepublican.com