Play place inspires imagination
Nearby, a group of school-age children performed an impromptu fashion show complete with boas and silly hats on a wooden stage while several toddlers intently played at a train table.
The kids were enjoying spending their day off from school and preschool at Kidventurez, a play center that recently opened at the Factory in Wake Forest. The indoor play area gives parents another option for entertaining their kids during holiday breaks and chilly winter days.
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Where: Kidventurez, 1839 S. Main St., Suite 320, Wake Forest, N.C. (inside the Factory, near the indoor soccer field)
Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday – Friday. Available for birthday parties on the weekend.
Cost: $6 per child for an all-day admission. No charge for parents or caregivers. Frequent visitor cards are available for $50 for 10 visits.
For more information: Call 919-488-4831 or go to kidventurez.com.
“The kids had a great time, and I liked the variety of activities so that they could be creative and play on their own while having fun,” said Danielle Dicaprio, Makenna’s mom.
Dicaprio, who lives in Raleigh, visited Kidventurez for the first time after a friend recommended it. She plans to visit again with Makenna and the twins she cares for as a professional nanny.
“When you are taking three kids under the age of 4, outings can get expensive. But Kidventurez is a great value for the money,” Dicaprio said.
Kidventurez is geared toward children ranging from walking toddlers to 9 years old and provides many opportunities for them to engage in both active and creative play. “This is a place where kids can come in and explore everything and use their imagination to play in our different centers,” said owner Stephanie Walker.
Kids can go down a slide, make a craft, construct a tall building out of Legos or play house with the many household props. Toddlers also have a separate area with toys that are just their size. Walker plans to rotate some of the centers every few months to keep the experience fun for kids while still having favorite toys on hand.
Walker came up with the idea to open Kidventurez after visiting a small children’s museum in Virginia several years ago with her two kids. She realized that Wake Forest and North Raleigh parents would enjoy being able to take their children to an indoor play center without having to drive to downtown Raleigh.
When her kids began school, she decided to use what she learned over the years from her own children to provide opportunities for other kids to learn through play. “I really love the whole concept of kids using their minds to play,” Walker said.
Family and friends have played in a big role in helping Walker get the doors open. One of her friends came up with the name Kidventurez, while other friends picked up paintbrushes and saws to help her husband build the play centers.
Her own children, who come to Kidventurez after school each day, each have a center named after them: Cole’s Create It Corner and Kenzie’s Kitchen.
“My kids have been the guinea pigs and have let me bounce ideas off for Kidventurez throughout the whole process,” Walker said.
The business is open during the week and offers private birthday parties on weekends. Walker plans to add drop-in childcare services within the next few months. She also wants to offer a morning story time for younger kids and evening events for older kids, such as a Lego Club and jewelry-making parties.
“It has been a lot of fun to get to know all of the customers that have come in,” Walker said. “My favorite part has been seeing how excited the kids get when they walk through the door and see all of our toys.”
