Whether you are looking for a place to escape the rain or heat, or don’t feel like hosting another playdate in your own home, PlayMatters is an ideal spot to take your little ones. Located in West Columbia, PlayMatters is an indoor play place that will not only entertain your child, but enrich their development.
I decided to take my four-year-old son to a Spiderman event at PlayMatters and was very impressed. PlayMatters was created by owners Isabel and Kevin, who have created a place where young children, ages six months to five years old can roam, explore, and play freely.
There are a bunch of different rooms in PlayMatters and each is designed to encourage a specific developmental skillset. My son loved the big room that encouraged gross motor skills like running, jumping, and climbing. It had a climbing area with a slide, a balance beam, a small rock wall, and a large mat to get the wiggles out.
There was another room dedicated to infants with obstacles geared towards new to advanced crawlers. A third room was designed to encourage pretend play with props for dress-up. Other rooms are designed to keep your child’s little hands and fingers busy.
Each room was stocked with Montessori-inspired toys to promote open ended, child-led play. It is a perfect set up to come with a friend, relax, and observe your child’s imagination run free.
We were in for an extra treat as we came during a special event where my son and I got to meet Spidey and Ghost Spidey. We were so lucky they paused their crime fighting to visit with us! We shared pizza and did some arts and crafts together. We also got to chase Spidey around before having a fun photo-op. My son was ecstatic he got to meet his hero, and he still talks about it a month later. PlayMatters often hosts special events like these for which you can register via their website. Otherwise, you can show up during an open play time and purchase a play pass for the day.
PlayMatters was not only a place that my son enjoyed, but it was a place where I felt supported and welcomed too. This is a place where parents can gather with their children together. It’s a place where moms can meet other moms. As a stay-at-home mom, I appreciate this, as it is so easy to become isolated from other adults while tending to my children all day.
I highly recommend checking out PlayMatters. It’s not just a place your child will enjoy, but a place you will appreciate too. And that matters.
PlayMatters
Location: 3685 Leaphart Rd A, West Columbia
Hours of operation:
- Tuesday/Friday: 9:00 am- 7:00 pm
- Wednesday/Thursday: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
- Saturday: 8:00 am – 10:00 am Open Play Always, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm*
- Sunday: 10:00am – 4:00 pm*
*Weekend play after 10 am varies based on Events/Parties. Always check Google Hours for most current availability for Open Play Hours.
