OSAGE BEACH, Mo. — For moms or caretakers who get stir crazy with kids at home, there’s a new business in town, aimed at wiping out cabin fever.
My Playhouse, a new indoor play café for parents and babies through age six, opens at Stone Crest Mall on March 1. My Playhouse is offering free admission through March 5 and invites the Mom community at Lake of the Ozarks to sip coffee and chat while their children play within view.
Owner and stay-at-home mom, Natalie Bruce, saw a need for “play dates away from home” where mothers can meet to relax while their children engage in “active and imaginative play in a group setting.” Dividers are low so the children are never out of view. In fact, the space has been configured with safety in mind. Furthermore, the parent is responsible for supervising her child at all times. Children must also wear socks at all times.
Toys are made of durable plastic without sharp edges, and the ball pit is not deep. It’s ideal for crawling babies or new toddlers. Children can also enjoy a bounce house without the threat of high winds. A climbing toy is available too.
Children will no doubt enjoy a child-sized “grocery store” or “pizza and sub shop.” Both are small, adjoining rooms with open doors for the full imaginative experience of entering a store or shop.
After the get-acquainted free admission week, Tuesday March 1 through Saturday March 5, adults and babies under six months of age will still enjoy free admission. Children aged six to twelve months can enjoy group play for a modest investment of $3 per day. If the children are ages one through six, the cost is $6 per day.
Monthly passes are also available. For one child, the cost is $20 monthly; for two or more, the price is $35 monthly. In addition, My Playhouse offers season passes. One season pass for one child is $99 for six months; for two or more children, $175 for six months.
My Playhouse is closed on Sundays and Mondays. It opens at 9 a.m. and closes at 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
Bruce is the mother of two young children and well aware of a need to commune with adults while children play in a clean, safe space. She has also earned a doctorate (EdD) in Education and is licensed in mental health counseling. This background gives her insight into human behaviors, but the mission of My Playhouse is not really academic nor scholarly. My Playhouse is a community gathering place for mothers and young children to stretch their legs and enjoy some like-minded company.
