KAPA‘A — Spring has sprung and so has Little Sprouts Playhouse. Jadah and George Sellner opened the indoor playground and creative arts center for children in March, which offers enrichment classes for parents and children up to 5 years old,
KAPA‘A — Spring has sprung and so has Little Sprouts Playhouse.
Jadah and George Sellner opened the indoor playground and creative arts center for children in March, which offers enrichment classes for parents and children up to 5 years old, open play, drop-in care, counseling for parents and more.
“It’s a hub for parents to meet parents — a place for kids to grow,” George Sellner said.
The Sellners met while working with children on an educational theater program in Los Angeles. Both have more than 10 years experience working with children and a life-long passion working with kids, so opening the Playhouse was a fitting idea for the couple.
“It doesn’t feel like we’re working,” Jadah Sellner said. “It seems right in line with what we’ve been doing our whole lives.”
After moving to Kaua‘i from Los Angeles last year with their daughter Zoe, as new parents themselves, they wanted to make friends. Jadah Sellner started Ohana Mamas, a networking group for moms, in September, hosting play dates, mom’s nights out, a Halloween dance party and other events.
“We wanted to connect with other families who had kids. I started it and it slowly started growing. We really involve the dads too,” Jadah Sellner said.
“When you become a parent your circle of friends change. We’ve truly made great friends through Ohana Mamas,” she said. “I really just wanted to have my own space to have these events.”
This birthed the idea of Little Sprouts Playhouse. Some events now at the Playhouse include disco dance parties for families and “Pajama party date night” where parents can drop off their children from 6-9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights and have a “date night.”
They also host private birthday parties and are hosting the upcoming Spring Creative Arts Camp for preschoolers starting Monday. There are four spaces left for the camp, which includes a playful curriculum of storytelling, music, movement and visual arts for children ages 3 to 5.
In addition to these events, the Playhouse offers open play five days a week and various classes, such as prenatal yoga, sign language for babies, toddler move ‘n groove, and Hot Mama workout — a fitness class for moms to get in shape, which includes a creative play class for their children while moms work out. They also offer workshops and counseling for parents, focusing on non-violent communication and couples therapy.
The open play program at the Playhouse is parent-supervised, unstructured play time for kids up to age 5. It allows children to use their imagination and practice social skills.
“It’s okay if your child acts out, it’s their job to be adventurous,” George Sellner said of the open play format.
The cost is $9 for a child to come and play for as long as they want and $6 for siblings.
Nine months and under are free and parents and caregivers are always free, Jadah Sellner said.
The couple has exciting plans for the Playhouse in the near future, such as making it a completely “green” establishment and offering a limited retail boutique.
Also, George Sellner said he is excited about eventually expanding to a space for kids of all ages, with an art center, Wii systems and movie nights.
Jadah Sellner has hopes of offering open play times specifically for children with autism and special needs, having worked extensively with children with autism; she believes the open play is very beneficial for them.
In honor of Earth Day and “National TV Turnoff Week,” Little Sprouts Playhouse will host its grand opening on April 25 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It will be a free play day open to families, with raffles and prizes. To keep all keiki and caregivers healthy, the Sellners ask everyone to wear socks while at the Playhouse.
For more information, visit www.littlesproutsplayhouse.com or call 631-9494.
