Encouraging your child’s imagination is one of the best things we can do as parents. One of the amazing things about this is that it doesn’t even require much work at all. Children are naturally curious little humans, seeing and experiencing the world around them for the first time. From an adult’s perspective, a neighborhood walk is a calming break from the responsibilities of the world while trying to hit our daily step count. But something as simple as a walk around the neighborhood is very different for a small child. They view this as an adventure. An invisible, yet magical wind blowing against them, squirrels foraging for dinner, clouds that look like bath bubbles, and so much more.
Imagination not only helps facilitate a happy childhood, but it also helps individuals become stable adults. As parents, we should always be searching for ways to promote this for our children. Seeing the amazed wonder through our kids’ eyes is one of the greatest joys of being a parent.
Another important aspect of raising children is to socialize them. There are endless ways to do this, such as getting them involved in sports, theatre, science camp, and other activities. Having kids regularly play with peers of their own age helps them learn proper communication skills and how to interact with others. The skills built now will carry them for the rest of their lives. Developing proper social skills with others directly affects the relationships they will have in adulthood. A person who has been properly socialized will be able to form and maintain healthy relationships, including friendships, careers, and marriages.
The importance of socialization seems like an obvious necessity for some, but it is not always the case for others. Even as a published researcher, I still believe we don’t need academic papers to prove children need socialization. It is too apparent to ignore. However, a substantial body of research demonstrates the importance of socialization for young children. A quick search will pull up an endless amount of research papers proving the claim.
There are many great ways to help foster your child’s imagination and socialization. One place that does this incredibly well is Happy Baby Play, located on Cedar Hills Boulevard in Beaverton. A central aspect of Happy Baby Play is their Open Play concept. There are several distinct rooms for little ones to explore and have fun, such as the Cozy Cuddles Corner. This room is designed for babies and toddlers, equipped with soft toys for infants and comfortable seating for parents.
The Imagination Creation area features an adorable wooden house with wooden toys inside, designed for children aged 1 to 6 to play in. My daughter pulled me inside this little structure and had me pretend to be a bakery worker. You can’t beat moments like that. There are also many other awesome areas like their Transportation Station, Sensory Wonderland, and Jump to Adventure. The latter room I mentioned is designed for little ones to swing, climb, jump, and tumble in. This turned out to be our toddler’s favorite section.
No reservations are needed as they operate on a drop-in system. For a single visit, the cost is $18 per child, with a $2 discount for each subsequent sibling. Siblings under 1 year old cost $10, and children under 5 months old are admitted free of charge. Happy Baby Play also offers $10 visits for every child receiving SNAP benefits. Bundle Pricing is available, where you can buy six visits at once, which works out to $16.67 per visit. You can also purchase a 12-visit package that works out to $15 per visit. Another great option is their Little VIP Club for $55 per child for a month, or $75 a month for 2+ children. This package includes unlimited visits, the ability to bring a friend for only $12, and much more.
Even if you are not sure about committing to a package deal, I highly recommend bringing your kids here to play if you find yourself in the area. It is a great deal of fun and is the perfect environment for children to use their imagination and social skills.
Happy Baby Play also hosts private events, including birthday parties and baby showers. Their events are based on a tiered system and range from $400 to $1200, depending on what you need for your celebration. You can also choose various add-on features to enhance your party, like an infant/toddler bounce house or a bubble machine.
Whether you choose to make Happy Baby Play a regular family stop, or just a place to have fun at on occasion, it will be worth the while. Our little ones undergo many changes during childhood, and as parents, we want to ensure that we are meeting all of their needs. An essential focus should be allowing our kids’ imagination to soar, while simultaneously developing the social skills needed to become well-adjusted adults. The environment at Happy Baby Play naturally encourages these aspects, and you will notice it almost immediately. It is more than worth it.
Alex is a devoted husband and father born and raised in Portland, Oregon. He is a professional artist, author, and advisor for both Yale and Harvard University’s arts departments. His books, ‘Selling Leonardo: The Art World’s Greatest Scandal’ and ‘Holy Ghost: Decoding Leonardo da Vinci’s Final Painting’ are available wherever books are sold.