Fiona Marty enjoys creative movement at the Children’s Playhouse. Photo submitted

Flexible Fun
Located near downtown Boone at 400 Tracy Circle, The Children’s Playhouse boasts a number of indoor play areas— an art room, a train room, a puppet theater, indoor Romp and Stomp, and a pretend play area, complete with dress-up clothes and a play kitchen. Special toys are also offered for babies and toddlers.

The Playhouse offers ample hours for drop-in play. It is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Parents or caregivers must stay with their children. Admission is $5 per person, and infants one year or younger are free.

Winter Classes at the Playhouse
All classes are offered at The Children’s Playhouse. Registration is required, and interested parties may call (828) 263-0011 to sign up. More details are available online at www.goplayhouse.org.

Preschool Tumbling
Preschool tumbling will be offered on Thursday afternoons at 3:30 and Friday mornings at 10:30. Taught by experienced coach Jeff Brock, this class will introduce children to tumbling in a friendly, noncompetitive format. Class size is limited to six children, and a six-week session starts Jan. 15 and 16. The Fee for a six-week session is $42 for members, $50 for nonmembers and $9 for drop-ins.

Creative Movement
Master teacher Kristen Kissik invites children to try parachute games, moving like animals and dancing with silk scarves. The fee for the six-week, 45 minute class is $42 for members and $50 for nonmembers. The drop-in fee for an individual class is $9. Preschool classes will be offered on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings at 10 and a class for 4-6 year olds will be offered on Wednesday afternoons at 3:30, beginning the week of Jan. 19.

Parenting with Love and Logic
Temper tantrums? Bedtime hassles? Non-stop whining? Are these common problems at your house?

Offered on Tueday evenings, beginning Feb. 3, “Parenting with Love and Logic” will help parents raise responsible kids who are fun to be around. This six-week course teaches an easy to learn, unique approach to successful parenting. Sponsored in part by the Department of Social Services, this class is taught by Roberta Yates. The class size will be limited to 20 individuals or 10 couples. Babysitting for up to 12 kids will be provided for kids over 18 months, so parents are encouraged to call early to reserve a spot. The fee is $15 per family, though fee waivers available.

Free Weekly & Monthly Programs
The Children’s Playhouse also offers a number of weekly and monthly programs free to members or with paid admission to the Playhouse. These include the playgroups, Toddler Time, which meets every Thursday at 9:30 a.m., and Baby Lap Time, which meets on Fridays at 9:15 a.m. Baby Lap Time is free to all new parents until their baby is one year old. Monthly programs include Second Wednesdays Storytimes with Mrs B., led by children’s librarian Carole Bollini, and Third Thursday Musikgarten Class, which is taught by Alison Moser.

Great Friend to Families Award
The Children’s Playhouse is seeking nominations for the Great Friend to Families award, which recognizes a member of the High Country Community who has touched the lives of children and families and is sponsored in part by First Citizens Bank, Earth Fare and the High Country Homebuilders.

All nominees will be recognized in the paper and at a luncheon in February, and the winner will receive $500 to donate to the local charity of their choice. The luncheon will raise funds for Playhouse scholarships and parenting resources.

“Do you know a doctor or a coach or at teacher or a social worker or a volunteer who has made the High Country a better place?” asked Playhouse director Kathy Parham. “Please say thank you to that person by taking a few minutes to nominate them for this award.”

The nomination form is quick and easy, Parham stressed, but all nominations are due by Jan. 23. More details are on the Playhouse Web site, www.goPlayhouse.org.

For more information, call (828) 263-0011.