This is one of our favorite indoor get-the-toddler-out-of-the-house destinations! It's a bit off…read morethe beaten path, occupying an old schoolhouse tucked onto a side street closer to Bondsville than Belchertown center, but is very much worth the trip. There is off-street parking both in front of the building and behind, though I have yet to see the front spaces at capacity.
There are three large play/activity rooms off a spacious center hall lined with hooks for your belongings. All of the doors are open from room to room and the children are free to move between them as they wish. Each space has comfortable adult seating to facilitate community, which I think is a really nice touch. Our little guy is still pretty hands-on demanding of our attention, but I look forward to the day when he can play independently while we lounge on a couch with a cup of tea and chat with other parents! There is a really sweet reading area with kid-sized couches and chairs, as well as all kinds of vehicles (stationary for "make believe" play, ride-on, a big train table and basically every little thing a kid could want to make go vrooom), dolls, strollers, doll houses, play kitchens, a dress-up area, climbing structures/slides, lots of musical instruments, puzzles, a terrific art space with daily arts & crafts activities, blocks galore -- this place really does have it all.
Separate boys and girls bathrooms are tricked out with potty seats, stools and a stocked changing table, and there is also a private bathroom for adults, pee-shy potty trainers and the like.
The large kitchen/dining room has a variety of snacks on hand as well as a full-size refrigerator where you are free to put anything you may bring which needs to stay cold. There is a microwave, coffee maker, and a long communal table with plenty of seating for parents and kids alike (the chairs are kid-size, but sturdy!). Oh, and there are a couple of high chairs, too.
The playground out back is free for public use from dawn til dusk regardless of whether the Family Center is open or not. It's a little rough and is largely on asphalt, but it's fenced in (always helpful!), low key and our little guy enjoys it. There are baby and bigger swings, lots of ride-on vehicles, a big sand box, some random scattered toys, and a playscape with slides (it's the plastic "Step 2" variety, but is a more commercial size -- bigger than one that you might have in your home).
And finally, what really pushes this Family Center over the top is its director, Lori. She is warm, welcoming, helpful, inclusive...just a wealth of knowledge and experience. She has kids of her own and also taught for several years. When we've been at the Family Center, it's been unstructured, open play with Lori milling around chatting and interacting with both kids and adults alike. If we're having a rough day with our toddler (the type when we probably have no business being out in public -- parents, you know what I'm talking about!!), we do our best to put one foot in front of the other and get to the Family Center because it's seriously so nurturing and helpful...I feel like I could come to Lori with any parenting problem or struggle and she would know how to get us over the hurdle and make our day better. Yeah, she's THAT good :-) It's also reassuring to have professional eyes on my little one from time to time and I always appreciate Lori's opinions and observations.
We've only been to the Family Center a handful of times because it's currently only open on weekday mornings (when I'm at work), but I have yet to see it crowded. Often, it's just us and Miss Lori...sometimes a couple of others, but I don't think I've ever been there when there are more than (4 or so?) other kids. Everyone has been super nice and friendly. I wish my work schedule allowed me to go more often....if it were open on weekends, I'd be there all the time!
It's a special place and a great find for our family. If you're looking for something to do on a weekday morning, I encourage you to stop by and check it out! I've uploaded some pics :-)
