Kite Tails Takes Off As Local Family Hangout

"It is comfortable and feels almost like a second home," says Anita Claros. "Other play spaces are not as clean or geared to very young children. The toys and play spaces encourage the child to use their imagination when using them, a lot of role playing and communicating."

As the mother of a four-month-old son and a 21-month-old daughter, Claros has definite ideas on what constitutes a good place for her children to play. After eight visits, she says she has found a winner at Kite Tails.

Owner Aimee Falso says the indoor play space, which opened Feb. 7 at 6320 Post Road in North Kingstown, has been busier than she expected. The brightly painted, 2,000-square foot facility is designed to comfortably manage 15 to 20 preschool children, but the accompanying adults can fill the space quickly. 'Big people take up more room," Falso noted.

Falso caters to parents and adult caregivers with coffee, snacks, magazines, free admission and free Wi-Fi, but just meeting other parents turns out to be a plus. "A lot of moms are arranging play dates and meet-ups," she said.

Claros mentions another big advantage over alternative play areas – a theme echoed by parents on the Kite Tails Facebook page ."I love that the bathroom is always clean and never stinks!"

Falso, whose resume includes stints working in after-school and other educational enrichment programs, carefully arranged the play areas for very young children (kids not yet walking can play for free) and four- to six-year-olds, the upper limit age for participation.

She provides "classic" toys – trucks, trains, dolls, blocks, dress-ups, board games, puzzles – and places to exercise imagination, including a play tent, tunnel, puppet theater, kitchen, arts-and-crafts area and play kitchen. She says her own three- and five-year old sons helped test the setup.

Children respond to the atmosphere, said Claros. "My daughter is usually shy and introverted unless she is home, but that has changed since we have been going because she knows the space and feels comfortable and confident. Now she is being more outgoing in other places. My son is comfortable there because I am."

Kite Tails is open to the public during the day Monday through Friday and Saturday mornings.  The admission fee is $6 per child, with discounts for siblings and for multiple visits. The space is available for birthday parties Saturday afternoons and weeknight evenings.

In addition to open play, Kite Tails sponsors special events, such as a pajama party and indoor campout. Kite Tails also offers classes on arts, crafts and nature geared to preschoolers and parents.

Falso said that recent cold weather probably helped spark interest in a new place for shut-in toddlers and young children, but she is making plans for spring.

"We will have an outdoor play area with a fenced yard," she promised.