It’s Playtime!
The official rite of passage for new volunteers at The Children's Playhouse - to make their own playdough. In doing so, they tackle key decisions: choosing what color it will be, and if they want to add glitter or cinnamon. Creativity and play are the foundation of the organization. This mission radiates throughout the rooms of the Playhouse - even in the playdough.
Kathy Parham, Ann Kiefert, and Beth Darnell first started conversations about founding a children’s museum in May of 2002. Less than six months later, The Children’s Playhouse opened. “We wanted to spend time with our kids. We weren’t necessarily looking for a daycare situation, we were looking for a place where we could have community,” Kathy remembered. “That’s what The Playhouse has been about since the very beginning.” Although Beth and Ann have moved on to other challenges, Parham has been the executive director for 17 years.
The Children’s Playhouse is a nonprofit children’s museum located behind Boone Unitarian Universalist Fellowship church that includes an art room, dress-up area, block area, train table, and more. Kids can run around in the outdoor play yard, or conquer the climbing wall in the indoor Romp and Stomp area. Is your inner child yearning for playtime as much as ours?
Not only is the museum designed with kids in mind, but parents, too. Lining the walls you’ll find numerous books and resources for parenting. “Our mission is to offer enriching educational activities for kids while at the same time offering friendly support to parents,” Kathy explained. “If your kid is having a good time, you can look around the room and start talking to somebody else and discover you have a lot in common.” Parham stresses The Playhouse could not function without financial donations, grants, and the contributions of hundreds of talented volunteers.
Families visiting can either pay admission for the day or purchase a yearly membership, but the children’s museum also offers free scholarship memberships to low-income families and agencies like the Department of Social Services, and the Children’s Developmental Services Agency which provides early intervention therapy for children who may have special needs. New grant-based programs offer free memberships to veterans or active duty soldiers and to first time parents up until their child is 18 months old.
The Playhouse also runs the Kids’ Corner at the Watauga County Farmers Market three Saturdays a month, May through October. On every second and fourth Saturday of the month, the Playhouse provides an opportunity for young budding entrepreneurs to sell their own items at the Farmer’s Market. Kids sell fingerprint paintings, intricate paper creations, and even beautiful hand carved wooden art pieces!
“So many things that have happened here have started as little conversations over the sounds of playing kids,” Kathy smiled. With the unending support of the Boone community, Kathy, Beth, and Ann were able to create something both for children ages 0-8 years and parents to enjoy. Each week The Children’s Playhouse brings new activities and opportunities for education, fun, and an ever-changing assortment of playdough. Come play!