Focus on the Family Helps Families Thrive with Healthy Indoor Soft Play Area

August 10, 2010

“Our main goal is to help families thrive,” says Diane Ingolia, Hospitality Specialist on the organization’s Training and Knowledge Management Team. “We provide a place where families can bring their children and they know it’s not going to cost them anything to play.”

Ingolia laughs that the area is called “Kids Corner” because what started out as a “corner” has morphed into a tremendous play zone with a three-story slide, puppet theater, costumes, scavenger hunts, a soda shop, video cave, two birthday party rooms, a B-17 mock airplane and, yes, more!

The play area is so popular that at least three children battling life-threatening illnesses have requested visits to the campus through organizations such as Make-a-Wish Foundation.

One piece of Focus on the Family’s play area caters to babies on up to 4-year-olds. Called “Camp What-a-Nut,” the enclosed area features play elements that were designed, manufactured and installed by PLAYTIME, LLC.

“We have the squishy carpet, a turtle with big eyes, a bridge with a slide, canoe, log tunnel, two fish, a stump and a flower,” explains Ingolia. “The area has a café door to keep the munchkins from escaping!”

Camp What-a-Nut also offers a diaper bag holder, shoe storage, stroller parking and benches for moms.

“That area is used by play groups, MOPS (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers) groups, YMCA day camps, church camps and birthday parties,” she says.

Ingolia says it’s a privilege to offer families a free place to play, particularly at a time when budgets are tight.

“We had a military mom here,” explains Ingolia. “Her husband is in Iraq and she has four kids but she can’t afford to take them all to the zoo. She brought them here and they played for free.”

She adds, “Play areas help to build community.”