There is a new space, a safe place for adults and their children to play during the day in Shelter Island Village.
Working mom Andrea Elliott recently opened Rise & Shine Play, San Diego’s newest family community center and indoor play space at 2907 Shelter Island Drive, Suite 102-03.
On the company’s website at riseandshineplay.com, Elliott describes her fledgling business as “a place to gather, a place to play, and a place to call home.” Their website invites families to “join us for open play where children are allowed to learn and grow through play – and you can watch from the sidelines or dive into their play alongside them.”
Elliott created Rise & Shine because she saw a niche that needed to be filled in the area for young families. “I’m a mom of four and I’m just used to chaos,” joked Elliott about her inspiration for creating her new kids’ indoor play venue. “I saw a need for a place for local families to come and not worry about the kids running around or being too loud.”
Elliott noted Rise & Shine does not provide childcare. “We are more of an indoor play space family community center,” she said adding, “Parents bring their kids in and they stay with them in open play from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. On the weekends we have some open play and also host birthday parties for kids. The cool thing about birthday parties is you get the entire venue to yourself. We want people to be comfortable. It’s like hosting a party at your house, but you don’t have to clean up at the end.”
Of the type of entertainment offered at Rise & Shine Play and the inspiration behind it, Elliott noted: “We do a lot of imaginative play. There are places like this out there, and I’ve been to a couple of different ones throughout my parenting journey. I have taken bits and pieces of other ones that I loved and kind of put them together. The main thing I was looking for, a mom of four with young children, is kind of a quarantine space for the kids to be, where I don’t have to be chasing them around.”
Elliott added Rise & Shine is a “very intimate space where parents can sit here at the bar and be on their computer if they want and have eyes on them (kids).”
Her play space is good for everyone involved, assured Elliott pointing out she’s seen friends come in together with their offspring for play dates, as well as seeing adults “meeting here and connecting dots – oh we’re mutual friends, or nice to meet you. We’ve had nannies come in here and they’re finding adult interaction with each other also.”
Parents cannot drop off their kids and leave. “To begin with, we’re having parents stay onsite,” said Elliott pointing out she offers kids playhouses and spaces they can’t get at home. “We’ve got our slide which usually is a big hit with everybody,” she said. “We’ve got a climbing wall that can be raised and lowered. We’ve got lots of Montessori-inspired toys that encourage the kids to use their imagination and mimic things they see in everyday life. Our little playpen is for kids 18 months and under only because we want to provide a safe space for those little ones.”
Of why she chose Rise & Shine as her company name, Elliott said: “It just felt right.” She added, “Parenting can be hard. We want to be there to help make it a more positive experience in those harder moments. When I think of Rise and Shine I think, ‘Let’s go do it, let’s take the day on, let’s have a good one.’”
Rise & Shine Play
Where: 2907 Shelter Island Drive, Ste. 102-103.
Info: riseandshineplay.com, 619-317-0987.
