NORMAL - The mother of two young children, Patti Brent could not say enough about a new hair salon for kids in Normal.

The Bloomington woman didn't have to scold her 2- and 5-year-old sons for ripping any magazines or keep them from knocking over hair care products on display. Instead, an indoor playground area kept the boys entertained. Two-year-old Robbie Brent screamed as stylist Tara Murphy cut his hair, but the distraction of a Teletubbies movie calmed him down.

Basically, the stress of taking her children for a haircut was gone.

"I love this place. It's so great," Brent said.

Owners Greg and Jenni Alderman recently opened Cookie Cutters Haircuts for Kids, 115 Susan Drive, Unit B, in the Patriot Center in Normal, as a kid friendly, intimidation-free place to get a haircut.

"The business is designed to be a fun, unique environment for kids," Greg Alderman said.

The couple also work for State Farm Insurance Cos. and opened the new business partly because they have two young daughters, Carli, 5, and Ellie, 3, and saw a need.

The playground allows children a place to roam free while they wait. Children climb up three steps and lie down on a fire truck to get their hair shampooed. A John Deere tractor, a yellow and black airplane, a pink jeep and a small red car replace traditional grooming chairs. (Moms and dads also can get their hair cut at the salon's one regular adult station.)

Each hair cutting station also has a TV with a DVD player and a PlayStation, so children can pick out a movie or a video game to entertain them as they get their hair cut.

The "old way" of getting a haircut was not fun, said Will Brent, 5. But the day before his preschool graduation, Will said he had fun "driving the airplane" as he got his hair sheared. He also chose to play a Disney golf game and got a blue - his favorite color - balloon when he left.

Heyworth father Edward Willan is another fan.

His daughter, Haley Willan, 2, smiled contently and steered the pink jeep as she watched a Care Bears video. When her haircut was finished, she selected two blue and white star hair clips for the finishing touch.

"It's kind of a world of kid distractions. You don't have to fight her in the chair. The little car probably reminds her of the carnival," Willan said.

Murphy has been a hair stylist for eight years. She said the atmosphere at Cookie Cutters makes it much easier to cut children's hair.

"For the most part, they're zoomed in … to the PlayStation or the DVD, the bubbles, playing with the little chair they're in. There's always something for them to do," Murphy said.

Cookie Cutters focuses on services for children up to 9 year olds, but it also will cut hair for older children and adults, said Jenni Alderman.

Founded in 1994 in Indianapolis, Cookie Cutters has locations in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Florida, Iowa, Utah, Missouri, Ohio and Canada.

Haircuts for kids

What: Cookie Cutters Haircuts for Kids

Address: 115 Susan Drive, Unit B, Normal

Kid haircut: $13.95, or $15.95 with a shampoo

Other services: Updos, French braids and Shirley Temple manicures for girls, mock shaves and fake tattoos for boys, birthday parties and special packages for babies' first hair cut and parent and child outings. Costs for those services range from $5.95 to $49.95.

Hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday

Grand opening: June 9. Haircuts will be $8.95. Other festivities include a coloring contest, raffles and a guest appearance by mascot Chewy.

Phone number: (309) 451-3400

Web site: www.haircutsarefun.com

SOURCE: Owners Greg and Jenni Alderman