You’re hosting
a gathering at
LYKKE Kids! Yay!

Here are some ideas and helpful tips…

You might choose to bring:

  • nut-free food and snacks

  • drinks for the kids (juice boxes can keep things simple)

  • a cake, cupcakes, a sweet

  • fun plates + napkins

  • cutlery (if needed)

  • a tablecloth

  • your choice of decor (balloons, a birthday banner, anything fun)

We love that there’s no “one way” things should be.
You get to decide what feels right for you. So if you love simple, go simple. If you have fun planning, go for it. We’re up for both :)

LYKKE Kids is happy to provide:

  • 5 plastic bowls (you’re welcome to use to serve snacks to your guests)

  • 3 white plastic trays / platters

  • 8 sets of tongs

  • 5 large serving spoons

  • a fully stocked drink bar (Pilot coffee,
    3 flavours of Pluck tea, water)

  • paper cups for coffee / tee

  • milk and sugar

  • materials you may need to clean up spills or sticky hands (our clean-up cart has paper towel, wipes, and hand sanitizer)

  • a large knife for cutting cake

  • lighters (if you need for candles)

  • a serving knife

As a Host,
you take care of…

  • You get to decide what nut-free food, snacks, and drinks you'd like to share with your guests. Bring your favourites!

    We ask that kids eat and drink at the back of the space.

    You're welcome to bring a cooler if you'd like for your drinks. We also have a mini-fridge on site that you're welcome to use.

  • Pick up some plates and napkins (cutlery if needed).

    The dollar store is also just a few doors down if you forget something, and you're welcome to drop off any supplies or drinks prior to your gathering to make things easier the day of.

  • Let us know how you'd like to set up the space. We're happy to move tables for you.

  • There are lots of different ways you might host your gathering. We've seen families...

    • set up all the food in advance and then guests help themselves when they feel hungry

    • let families enjoy the space for the first hour and then let everyone know there's food at the back. Eat together and then go back to playing

    • cake often works best when there's 20-25 minutes left. Afterwards guests can move to the front before heading home

  • Yes, please enjoy yourselves. Enjoy talking with your friends / family! Join in the fun that the kids are having.

    When hosting a gathering, we encourage you to take a quiet moment to just look around and see everyone enjoying themselves. You helped this happen, by bringing everyone together.

At LYKKE Kids,
we take care of…

  • We'll make sure the space is thoroughly cleaned prior to your gathering.

  • We'll be at LYKKE Kids 40 minutes before your gathering starts to help you with any set-up (moving tables or chairs, helping put up decorations, unpackaging plates, food platters, etc.)

  • We'll make sure that there's always a pot of coffee on for your guests and that the drink bar is fully stocked with Pilot coffee, Pluck teas, and water.

    During your party, Lainie will stay in the back area (to make sure there's always coffee on, to help guests with using any art supplies, to help with handing out cake, etc.)

  • We love that the space feels warm and relaxed when families gather. Many who have attended gatherings here before have commented on that.

    Eric (Lainie's husband) will stay at the front of the space (near the entrance) to help any guests with strollers, questions about parking, or to make sure kids get into the space safely.

    He'll make sure that only party guests are entering the space and the front entrance is kept clear of obstructions (shoes put on racks, coats hung up, etc.)

    He's at the front if you need someone to grab a pizza delivery and is great about kindly reminding the kids about how to care for the space and play safely (e.g., keeping sand in the sandbox, using the door of the playhouse, and walking in the space)

  • We'll remind the kids that we walk in the space and use the door of the playhouse.

    LYKKE Kids is not a padded indoor playground. The furniture is wooden. There are rooms that come off of the hallway. If there's running down the hallway and crawling through the windows of the playhouse, there's the potential for kids to get hurt. We ask you to remind your guests as well.

  • You might find that your guests don't want to leave (which is a good thing! It means they're having a great time). And we realize that you also need to get home.

    To help guests know that the gathering is coming to a close, Eric and Lainie can let guests know (if you'd like) how much time is remaining. We can also dim the lights slightly, which is a gentle, yet kind way to indicate the gathering has come to an end.

  • As you spend the remaining 10 - 15 minutes with your guests, Lainie is more than happy to help start packing things up for you in the back.

    She can pack up your remaining food and drinks for you, take down any decorations, and help gather your gifts. She hopes this saves you some time when the party ends and your kiddo(s) are ready to go home.

    Lainie and Eric will fully clean the space afterwards.

Option to Unload / Load up
through the back alleyway

Our back door opens up to Paul Estrela Lane
(an alleyway that runs behind the businesses along Danforth). You can pull your vehicle up to our back door to unload or to pick everything up at the end (you just can’t park back there). If you’d like to do that,
just let us know in advance, so we know
that it’s you knocking :)

Bring Laundry Baskets or
a Collapsible Wagon

If you have a couple plastic laundry baskets at home, they can be super helpful for carrying party supplies and gifts to your vehicle afterwards. Or if you have a collapsible wagon, you can easily bring things to your vehicle.

 FAQs

  • We've seen families do it in lots of different ways...

    • You might like setting out all of your food at the beginning and people can come back when they feel hungry.

    • You might choose to have your food delivered / set-out an hour into your gathering. Then everyone can enjoy the space for an hour, come back to eat together, and then continue to play and create until the end

    • What we would recommend is having cake 20 -25 minutes before the end of your gathering. We find the energy ramps up after cake and that might make it more challenging for you to host your party.

  • We don't, but we've seen families bring a cooler with ice for things like ice cream cakes and it has worked well.

    We do have a mini fridge that you are welcome to use to keep drinks cool if you'd like.

  • Of course! And just so you know, it will make the back space completely dark. Which may surprise the kids, but does it ever make it feel magical with all the shadows :) Just let us know when you're ready and we can turn them off for you.

  • Of course! We have painter's tape you can use (doesn't pull the paint off then when removing).

  • Thank you for asking. There are just a few things we ask for you to remind your guests if you see it (we can also remind too if you'd like):

    • food is eaten sitting in the back area (so not in the sandbox, walking around the front room or hallways) This helps keep the space clean for everyone to enjoy

    • sand stays in the sandbox (so not picked up and carried to the playhouse or other places)

    • we walk in the space (having wooden furniture with corners, rooms off of hallways, we want to make sure your guests stay safe and have fun. If you see running, please ask the kids to walk)

    • we use the door of the playhouse to go in and out (so not crawling through the windows). We know it looks sturdy, but those ledges were built to hold the weight of play materials, not kids.

  • LYKKE Kids is located at 2038 Danforth Ave. There is paid street parking along Danforth Ave, right out in front of the space. There are also 2 Green P lots within walking distance: Amroth 021 (behind the Value Village near Woodbine) and Cedarvale 020 (near the Tim Hortons).

  • If you have booked a private birthday party (on a Saturday from 4 -6 p.m.), you can arrive to LYKKE Kids at 3:20 p.m. to set-up.

    We like giving you lots of time so you don't feel rushed and can ask any questions you need.

  • Yes, if you have a special occasion permit.

  • Yes, we often close the woodworking shop in the back during gatherings. We can tuck a chair in there for her, she can shut the door and have privacy.

  • As long as you’re okay being responsible for their care and supervision. It’s totally up to you what you’re comfortable with. We do not have dedicated staff to supervise your guests.

  • It's okay to feel nervous! It's that mix of excitement with not knowing how things will go. It's natural.

    And you stick with the excitement part and know that Lainie and Eric are there to help with how things will go. It can be easy and enjoyable to spend time together.

Ideas for Setting up
the Space for your Gathering

Board Game Nook

  • We've seen people...

    • push the tables together as a place for everyone to eat

    • push the tables together as a place to set your food

  • 2 feet x 3 feet (each individual table)

    So when pushed together, creates a surface of 6 feet x 3 feet

Two Little Tables with 12 Little Stools

  • We've seen families:

    • push the two tables together and set-up a "kids table" for little ones eating together

    • leave them as is (as a place for kids to do art or play a game)

  • 2.5 feet x 4 feet

Note: We also have 3 high chairs that you’re welcome to use

8 ft Art Table with 8 - 10 stools

  • We've seen families:

    • leave it as is (as an art table with the materials on it), so kids can create during the gathering

    • clear the table, put tablecloths on, and use it to set out food + for eating

    • clear the table and set it for eating

  • 4 feet x 8 feet

Because guests will likely ask you...

Here are some Fun Facts!

  • LYKKE Kids opened February 2024!

    We are new - we haven’t celebrated a year yet :)

    But have met so many amazing families and have felt so supported by the community.

  • Our main focus is being open to the neighbourhood

    There is one spot a week if families would like to host their own party
    (Saturdays from 4 - 6 p.m.)

    Because the rest of the week,
    we're open for drop-in
    Tuesday to Saturday.

    And Saturdays we're open
    6 a.m. - 2 p.m. for drop-in

    Families can pick up their passes online in advance (through our website) or at the door.

    Our hours are always up to date on: Google, our website, and Instagram

  • Our owner, Lainie, is a former teacher (OCT, BA, BEd, MEd)

    Lainie also has her qualifications to be a principal in Ontario and was a curriculum consultant.

    She lives in the neighbourhood with her husband, Eric, and their 3 kids (ages 7, 8, 9)

  • What inspired the space?

    Lainie wanted to create a beautiful, calm, high quality space where families could unwind, enjoy themselves and spend time with others.

    A coming together of Lainie's expertise as an educator, her eye for design, small town values of knowing your neighbours, and her love and care for kids.

    She has always loved bringing people together.

and that’s it!

We’re so glad that you’ll be visiting and
enjoying the space with your friends / family.

Thank you for booking with us,
and we can’t wait to see you all soon!

Lainie