Lucrecia Davis was looking for somewhere close by to take her children that provided entertainment but also an educational experience. Believing others in the community felt the same way, she opened Kid ‘N Play Indoor Play Center in early September in Pearland.
“You have a lot of people who have lived in the city, have a kid and move out to the suburbs,” Davis said. “We don’t have some of the benefits that the city has—like places to take your kids. When you live out here—on the weekends—you don’t want to have to drive 30 minutes just to entertain your kid.”
A lawyer by trade, Davis said she decided it was time to cut back on the long hours and find a way to spend more time with her children, ages 4 and 10.
“You put so much into your job, and it does take away from your family,” she said. “I wanted to have the ability to be my own boss—be able to be there with my kids but offer them a business they can be a part of. If they have to come to work with mom and dad, this isn’t a bad place.”
The result is a 7,200-square-foot facility that includes an indoor jungle gym—themed as the “City Zoo”—but also child-sized play models of community staples like a diner, beauty shop, police station and firehouse.
“I think the term is ‘edu-tainment’—where you are learning as you are being entertained,” Davis said. “It gives kids the ability to be creative. If they want to run a cash register or stock the shelves in the grocery store, just be creative.”
Davis said the plan for Kid ‘N Play was to provide an educational experience while allowing parents a chance to spend time with their children.
“We want parents to interact. We really do want them to be a part of what is going on with their kids,” she said. “So far it seems like the majority have. You see parents in the boutique getting their hair done by their kids, or sitting at the diner and having the kids serve them some food.”
With plenty of room for activities and separate party rooms, the facility is able to host around 200 children at a time, Davis said. She also offers discounts for larger groups—beginning at 10 children—and monthly memberships ranging from one to five children and from $50-$100.
Davis said she hopes children will use the city-themed facility as a way to step away from technology and use their imagination to learn new things.
“Our whole concept is to detach,” she said. “Leave your electronics at home. Come and use your mind and have fun. Here, you have to be creative.”
Kid 'N Play Indoor Play Center 9515 W. Broadway St., Ste. 101, Pearland 281-412-7200 www.kidnplaytx.com Hours: Mon.-Thu. 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Fri.-Sat., 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Sun. noon-6 p.m., closed Mondays
