12 Indoor Playground Mistakes to Avoid Before You Open

One of the questions I get asked more than almost any other is why so many indoor playgrounds and play cafés seem to be struggling or closing. There is obviously no single answer to that question, and every business has different circumstances, so I would never look at a closure announcement online and pretend to know exactly what happened behind the scenes.

But after more than a decade in the indoor playground industry — first ownin...

Designing an indoor playground or play café is about much more than choosing attractive equipment and filling a room with toys. The most successful play environments are intentionally designed around how children actually move, explore, create, interact, and regulate themselves within a space.

That distinction can have a direct impact not only on the quality of the play experience, but also on how long families stay, how comfortable parents feel during their visit, how efficiently staff can mai...

If you’ve been in this industry for any length of time, you already know that most of the conversations tend to focus on growth.

More revenue streams.
More offerings.
More experiences.
More complexity.

And while those conversations absolutely have their place, there is another layer of change happening right now that deserves just as much attention.

Because what I’m seeing across Play Maker Society and with my private clients is not just growth—it’s refinement.

Owners are starting to a...

Year-One Lessons from The Playroom WV: A Q&A with Owner Jessalyn Pustay

Note: The following Q&A is not a direct transcript. The answers are a polished summary and combination of the insights Jessalyn shared during our recorded conversation, along with additional written responses she provided ahead of time.

When Jessalyn Pustay moved from Washington, DC to West Virginia with an 11-day-old baby, she quickly realized something: the high-quality programs and enriching early-childhood spaces she h...

The Hidden Risks of Buying Into a Play Café Franchise

For many aspiring indoor-playground owners, buying into a play café or children’s activity franchise seems like the safest route. On paper, it promises a ready-made brand, a proven business plan, and an experienced team guiding your every step. But in reality—especially in the indoor-play and play-café space—franchising is often a financial and emotional trap disguised as a shortcut.

As someone who’s coached and consulted hundre...

Ever curious about what your fellow indoor playground owners (and soon-to-be owners) are listening to?

Kind of like when we were in school and we were always peeking over in the library to look at what our friends were studying up on before the big test?

Well, now's your chance!

Over on my Instagram I counted down the 10 most listened-to episodes of the profitable play podcast, and I wanted to share them with you here as well!

(But psst-- if you don't follow me on IG yet, now's a good time because I...

 In the evolving landscape of work and childcare needs, indoor playgrounds have a unique opportunity to diversify their offerings and tap into a growing market need by incorporating co-working services to their facilities.

This blend can not only maximize the use of available space but also attract a broader customer base, including parents and caregivers seeking productive environments while their children play. 

So before we get into the HOW–let’s first discuss in more detail WHY many ...

A couple weeks back I posted a video tour of a play space called The Friendship Fortress that’s not only local to me, but is also near and dear to my heart. 

And this is because one of my long-time  Play Cafe Academy and Play Maker Society members, Timea, is now the co-owner of the space.

If you’re a longtime listener, or if you watched that tour, you may remember that Timea actually opened her own space first called Tumbles Play Cafe, which I also toured and filmed multiple times. However, sh...