Kids Play Garden
It is such a joy to have Kids Play Garden as a part of South Windermere! This creative arts learning center is dedicated to helping children learn and play with their various different classes and events. We’re excited to share a little more about Kids Play Garden with a Q&A below featuring their wonderful founder, Maren!
Tell us a little bit about how and why Kids Play Garden was founded?
Maren first had the idea for Kids Garden when she set out to find a secure, stimulating, nurturing childcare environment for her son—one that didn’t require cumbersome contracts or hefty monthly fees.
It didn’t exist. So she created it.
Putting her Masters in Education and holistic health degrees to work, Maren built an all-new playcare from the ground up. She designed it for the children, of course: a magical, whimsical place where young minds could explore what it means to be a kid. But she made parents a priority, too, by providing plenty of flexible options so they could drop in as needed.
After years of traveling the world, hiking her way through national parks, farming, teaching and entrepreneuring, Maren is putting her vast array of skills to work for the people who matter most in our communities—the little ones. Today, the original seeds of Kids Garden have blossomed into a thriving, growing community with numerous locations and more on the way…and an open door policy for parents and family in need of a safe, educational playspace where kids are excited to be.
What are you looking forward to for the summer at Kids Play Garden?
Maren: We are thrilled to be seeing all our school age kiddos back in the center. Our enrichment classes and summer camps reach ages 5-12 years old and it’s great having the energy of a variety of ages daily. We are also having so much fun with our partnership at Natural Gathering Grounds and being able to offer Outdoor Explorer camps on a beautiful property with 54 acres, farm animals, ponds, fishing, trails, archery, nature learning and the Edisto River.
What is your favorite thing about Kids Play Garden?
Maren: Kids Garden is the perfect unorganized play date. Everyday is unique and new friendships form. We have tons of families that we have raised from learning to grip a crayon to creating beautiful art on easels and joining in on challenging art classes. It is magical each day to walk into the center and not just teach the children but to learn with them and from them. Children are not afraid to express their inner artistic skills and therefore it makes for a wonderful environment to work and play!
Anything else you’d like us to know about Kids Play Garden?
Maren: We are constantly growing and evolving. Our South Windermere location is opening up each Saturday evening for Parents Night Out. We love hearing from the community on their needs as we are here to support families as they grow. Our mission is to ensure a safe and stimulating environment where the parents feel productive and proud dropping their children off rather than the guilt that the can’t sink in when we feel like we are not able to “do it all”. “We’ve got you!” Our center is to inspire and create so parents can take that much needed break and have peace of mind that their children are inspired and well cared for 🙂
For more information on Kids Play Center, head to their website!