OK. So it’s a pipe dream. I get that. I imagine liability insurance would be a nightmare and it would be prohibitively expensive. But for the sake of exploration:
Our local indoor play paradise has closed. Apparently there’s a note on the door that says, “W-2’s are in the mail,” with no other information. It wasn’t a perfect place- the equipment was getting old and there were lots of gun games in the arcade, which was fairly disturbing. Not to mention some of the parenting gems (“You get over here right now and drink your Pepsi or we’re NEVER coming back here.”)
Here’s the dream though:
A huge indoor space, very open, lots of padding. A safe, toddler-only corner, and maybe a place for those who haven’t ventured onto two feet yet.
Lots of room to run. Music classes, movement classes, art opportunities, yoga even. Drop-in playtime, birthday parties.
Off to the side, there would be at least two smaller rooms, comfortable and quiet for offering parent coaching and individual therapy. Parent workshops and support groups could happen while their children play happily nearby.
This would be a center that honors the connection in families. While I’m not opposed to a night out, or a quiet mom’s knitting group off to one side, this isn’t a daycare or babysitting service. The main point would be to provide a safe place for parents and their children to move, to explore, to connect with each other and build their community.
I imagine posting rules that playfully encourage parents and children to treat each other with respect. For example, Children, no biting, Parents, no biting. Guidelines that promote community, such as You Can’t Say You Can’t Play
I’m building a wiki page for this concept. Feel free to check in, or share comments here. Should there be memberships? Charge for classes? Rob banks?
