Children’s Playhouse Offers Year Round All Weather Fun and Bargains This Weekend

Alexandra Newmark, 4, enjoys The Children’s Playhouse’s Vet Clinic.

It was a cold, rainy Saturday, the kind we’ve been having too often around here—the kind that can spoil an out-of-town visit to look at the leaves or a dad’s plans to take the kids to the park. But the families playing at The Children’s Playhouse, the High Country’s only nonprofit children’s museum, had no complaints. They were too busy rolling out play dough, examining x-rays in the pretend vet clinic and bouncing in the ball pit.

“We’ve been crazy busy today” remarked Playhouse assistant Beatrice Schmider, “Out-of-towners are so glad to find something for little kids to do and locals are coming to get ready for winter by buying or renewing their memberships.”

Admission to The Children’s Playhouse is $5 per person for unlimited open play.

At $125, a Playhouse Passport membership gets a whole family into not only The Children’s Playhouse for a year but also 150 other children’s museums around the country, including facilities in Winston-Salem, Greensboro and Raleigh. “That is an especially popular option with grandparents,” explained Executive Director Kathy Parham, “because they know their grandkids can use it not only at home but when they come to visit, too.”

Seven years old in November, The Children’s Playhouse’s mission is to provide children from birth to age eight with an enriching, educational play environment while at the same time offering their parents and caregivers friendly support in the important job of raising children.

Volunteers Jennefer Spell, Lindsay Eddins and Mercer Fischer show off costumes at The Children’s Playhouse Consignment Sale.

Moms and dads are always happy to learn that all Playhouse visitors are asked to wash hands upon entering, but the museum’s commitment to safe and clean play doesn’t stop there. We’ve all seen babies who love to drool over everything and the facility offers “mouth buckets” for to hold such “loved” toys for cleaning when baby is done. “We also have a daily schedule for sanitizing everything we think might be mouthed, such as play food,” explained Parham, “and we also wipe down counters and door knobs.” Even the ball pit is sanitized weekly. “This isn’t in response to H1N1,” said Parham, “it has been our policy from the beginning.”

The museum offers free memberships to low income families and to agencies providing services to children with special needs. Requests for such scholarships increased by 65 percent last fiscal year to a high of 53 families.

“It is sobering to process these applications, knowing as I do that our United Way funding has been cut to just $1,000 this fiscal year, only enough for 10 families,” explained Parham. Luckily, individual donors are giving generously, ensuring that The Children’s Playhouse won’t have to turn any families away. A $100 tax deductible donation provides a year-long membership for a needy family.

Another way The Playhouse supports itself is by an annual fundraising events, such as this week’s Consignment and Rummage sale in the Boone Mall. “This will be a huge sale,” said organizer and Playhouse Board Member Jennefer Spell “We are so grateful to the Boone Mall for donating this space and to J.C. Penney’s for letting us use their fixtures.” She stressed that cash-strapped families were going to find some great bargains on kids clothes and gear as well as some wonderful household items.

Playhouse Consignment and Rummage Sale at Boone Mall Friday to Sunday

Looking for great deals on kids clothes, baby gear, Halloween costumes, household items and more? The Playhouse Consignment and Rummage Sale, located next to J.C. Penney’s in the Boone Mall, will offer high quality items at a steal this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, October 23, 24 and 25.

Donations have been pouring in, said Parham, and consigners will bring items that are nearly new or may even still have tags for about a quarter of the retail price or less. Rummage items generally cost $1 and have all been sorted to ensure quality and value, said Spell.

Folks wanting the best deals will want to hit the “Early Bird Sale” from 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. on Friday but they’ll pay $5 for a “hunting license.” After 10:00 a.m., admission is free, said Parham, and Sunday afternoon will offer a half price sale on all remaining items.

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