A colorful, multi-sensory wonderland has opened its doors in Cherry Hill, where children of all ages can immerse themselves in a one-stop-shop destination that blends education, creativity and fun.
Lindsay Forman Capecci, a special education teacher of more than a decade and mother of three, celebrated the grand opening of Wild Child Play Co. last month at 2076 E. Marton Pike. The play space offers programs and activities that focus on sensory play, STEM, art, gross-motor skills and messy play.
“From the second you walk in, you can just tell it’s different from any of the other play spaces you’ve been to before,” said Capecci. “Everything is cohesive, high quality, and there’s a lot of options of play and things to spend your time doing here. We really try to gear it toward any kind of child, any kind of multi-sensory component.”
At Wild Child Play Co., children can build, climb and play pretend in miniature buildings – including a grocery store, nail salon and veterinarian’s office – situated around the perimeter of the space.
“We really tried to find something for every type of kid and have the highest-quality toys and materials for them to use,” Capecci explained.
Wild Child Play Co. has been a long time coming for Capecci, who initially brainstormed the idea about five years ago after having twins. Though she had been around children for her entire career – mostly teaching at a private, special-education school in Voorhees – it wasn’t until Capecci became a parent that she discovered a need for an innovative space in the community.
“As a mom, I started going to all these birthday parties and seeing all these play spaces,” she recalled. “As a teacher, in the back of my mind, I always thought to myself, ‘I really feel like I could build a business like this,’ but I could do it from a more education-focused perspective, a more multi-sensory and aesthetically pleasing kind of business plan.”
Following the birth of her twins right before COVID, Capecci became a stay-at-home mom. But as they got older and started attending school full-time, she grappled with the idea of returning to the classroom or fulfilling a dream that had been percolating since 2020.
“I’ve been looking for what’s gonna fulfill my passions in a new way,” she noted, “and I was just like, ‘Let’s do it. Let’s build this business that I’ve been dreaming of for so many years.’ So that’s what we did.”
With her dual master’s degree in early- childhood and special education, as well as certification in New Jersey as a Teacher of Students with Disabilities, Capecci was more than up for the challenge.
Lindsay Foreman Capecci, a longtime special education teacher, is the owner of Wild Child Play Co., an idea she first had five years ago.
She partnered with grOH! Playrooms, a Washington, D.C.-based playroom design company, to bring the space to life. It was a no-brainer to go with grOH! because its owners are, like Capecci, former educators who do everything from an education-based perspective.
Off the bat, the company understood Capecci’s vision. She was adamant about opening Wild Child Play Co. in Cherry Hill, where she’s lived since high school after her family relocated from Mount Laurel.
About a month after opening, Capecci is thrilled over how everything is going. Mornings have been so busy with open play that she recommends parents/guardians pre-book online if they plan to come during peak hours. Walk-ins are welcome until the space is at capacity. Wild Child is booked every weekend through April for birthday parties that enable two hours of private use.
Parents are required to stay on site with their children for the duration of their visit, though there is a cafe offering coffee and the chance to socialize with other parents.
“It’s really just a one-stop-shop for every age, every type of learner, every member of the family,” Capecci noted. “Every kid is so different, and the way that you teach every kid is different. I truly believe in meeting a kid where they are, both from an academic perspective and a sensory needs perspective.”
So whether a child prefers hands-on learning or something more play based, Wild Child Play Co. has activities, toys and other materials to suit them.
“I wanted to make sure that every kid who came to Wild Child Play Co. had something that would make them feel at home,” Capecci pointed out, “and something that they would love to do in the space, no matter what kind of learner or what kind of play they like to do.”
Wild Child Play Co. opened last month at 2076 E. Marton Pike. The play space offers programs and activities that focus on sensory play, STEM, art, gross-motor skills and messy play.
Looking ahead, Capecci’s main goal for Wild Child Play Co. is to maintain a high-quality atmosphere while continuing to grow and expand to include field trips, classes and other programming. Meanwhile, her own children – 5-year-old twins and a 2-year-old – are cheering her on.
“They love it here,” Capecci said. “They wish they could come more often. Every time I get a toy in the mail, they ask me if it’s for my ‘store.’”
Visit wildchildplayco.com/ for more information and to book an open play session.
