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<br /> ited The Discovery Center, our local department staff members are on r,1
<br /> d ("are
<br /> children's museum, and watched the hand whenever the Play House is
<br /> kids at play. We spied on children in open, to greet the parents and chil- BUBBLE B p T u
<br /> playgrounds, preschools, and local dren, make newcomers feel at ease, t1 f�
<br /> play groups. Eventually we put to- and help keep it safe and tidy.
<br /> gether the Play House. There is an official limit of fifteen
<br /> children at one time. To avoid disap- kte e sift How we did it. pointments or long waits, parents are
<br /> We decided to organize the room sometimes advised to call the parks a
<br /> into separate play areas. We placed department in advance and to re-
<br /> the baby area --soft toys, a huggable serve an hour of play. In fact, no one
<br /> activity rug —in front of park has ever been turned away at the I ,i %I ki3ii.1 a4�
<br /> benches, where parents could relax door or been sent home before he 0
<br /> between playing and swooping. Adja- or she was ready to go. n
<br /> cent to the baby area is the quiet By the spring of that first year, Eli s N /AQ
<br /> area, with tables and chairs, where had returned to day care, and we ,�e a w r
<br /> grown -ups and children share art sup- were back to life as usual. But on o e e.
<br /> plies, books, toys, and puzzles. A play April Fool's Day a year later, we W O ce
<br /> f,
<br /> kitchen stands nearby. slowly climbed the steps together ee
<br /> We set up the active area in the for the opening of the Play House.
<br /> back corner of the room, roped off Mayor Crabbe, a stranger to both of 3 CO
<br /> with safety nets. It's equipped with us, stopped to take Eli's other hand
<br /> huge rubber balls, play mats, and The Play House room was filled with
<br /> foam rubber animals. Close by is a administrators, the press, and, best of
<br /> slightly less frenetic climbing -and- all, parents and their children, eager
<br /> sliding area —a few climbing pyra- to get down to the business of p 1(i kC,r
<br /> mils and blocks, some padded mats, ing and being together. Dave Cody
<br /> a four- seater rocking rowboat that remarked in his opening -day speech,
<br /> doubles as a footbridge when turned "Every parent who lives in Bing-
<br /> over, and a sturdy wood slide -safe hamton knows that the long winter
<br /> for toddlers but acceptable for older can be hard on small children who
<br /> children too. are forced to remain indoors. In open-
<br /> One corner of the room is occu- ing this playroom, we hope to pro
<br /> pied by the most popular toy in the vide parents and children the oppor-
<br /> room, the sand table. Much of the tunity to leave home and have some
<br /> i
<br /> kitchen equipment -pots, brooms, fun without having to brave the ele-
<br /> and cups winds up here. When merits or pay a fee."
<br /> kids grow tired of the sand table, The Play House has been, from
<br /> they can wander a few feet away to the very start, a rousing success. It
<br /> the make believe comer, which fea- draws parents of every age and back
<br /> tures a puppet theater, a chalkboard, ground: Family -day -care providers
<br /> and a storefront all in one. bring their kids; grandparents come
<br /> Actual use of the room is fluid; the to spend the morning; parents bring.
<br /> kids move from one area to the next, one child or. a few. As one woman
<br /> by ones or twos or in a big parade remarked, "It functions a lot like a
<br /> Visually, the wall-to-wall carpeting playground, only it's more intimate.
<br /> and colorful murals pull the room to You can be instantly talking with
<br /> gether. We decided against having re- someone as if you were the best of
<br /> corded music on regularly because friends, or off by ;yourself And it's
<br /> it's nicer when the kids provide their never the sanne, two days in a rows
<br /> own sound effects. But sometimes There has already been tack of
<br /> someone brings in a children's tape opening more Play Houses in oth
<br /> Binghamton schools Everyone
<br /> xEs
<br /> How it works. wants to use it And whenever I in
<br /> We've discovered, the fewer rules vite my now three-year-old son to a b."$''"1 v ry
<br /> the better. Children must be acconz- playground, he says, "Okay. Let's go 4
<br /> panted by an adult at all times, to the indoor -onetn Q
<br /> everyone limn one helps to mit the chaos' a
<br /> Llz Rosenber is the auth chi(
<br /> The Play House is open Monday or of err
<br /> 'dreri's books, the most recent of which is The V
<br /> through Friday, 9:00 Am. to 1:00 P.M., Scrap Doll (HarperCotlins). She teaches English,
<br /> whenever school is in session. No ad and creative writing at the state university of
<br /> mission fee is charged. Two parks- New Yolk atBinghamton.
<br /> 97
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