It Takes A Village

In September 2024, business partners Rosalind and Charlene launched "It Takes a Village," a soft play café designed for new parents to bring their children indoor play while enjoying quality coffee in a stylish setting. The two-level soft play system, designed in-house and manufactured using advanced CNC capabilities, aligns with the cafe’s vibrant logo colours and theme, fostering community connection for families.

The vibrant indoor soft playground, designed and built by Play Creations, is created for children aged 0-5, designed to provide a safe and engaging environment. We co-operated alongside Rosalind and Charlene to turn their softplay dreams into a reality.

This play area features a modest but visually appealing installation, specialised for babies and toddlers. Sensory features are maintained to allow babies to explore thoroughly with their senses. The main goal of this softplay was to bring together new parents, which required careful precision from us as we needed to create a space safe enough to let the new parents relax. Designed with both fun and safety in mind, the softplay encourages physical activity, socialising and imaginative play. Bright colours, interactive features and age-appropriate challenges keep the children entertained while supporting their development. We capture this idea through softplay features such as the Swinging Buoy and large Wobble Ball Pit.

As our goal for each of our customers is to provide a long-term, sustainable softplay, we have designed each one with precision to maximise their value. Our bespoke timber framing, encased in foam, is manufactured to create a long-lasting and durable playframe that will stand the test of time. This differs from other manufactures who use pure foam which is prone to collapsing with long-term use. We ensure that the timber is protected under our lifetime warranty to reassure our customers that they're getting good value out of our products. This project was no different and featured these panels throughout its design. Play Creations collaborated closely with the team at It Takes a Village to deliver a softplay project that balances the visual design aspects along with functionality, safety and standard complaince, and play equipment durability. The final layout provides a diverse range of play equipment to promote exploration for young children.

The softplay budget was £17,000 which covered all the timber, steel and play equipment for this softplay. Supported by our incredible softplay team at Play Creations maintained the budget and worked in a timely and efficient manner. We focused on planning each and every aspect, ensuring everything was built with endurance and play value as the key focal points. The indoor soft playground features a bespoke Wobble Ball Pool at the front, a Slide, a Swinging Buoy, a Climbing Wall to the first level, and a Bubble Window. All are manufactured to encourage child-led exploration throughout the softplay, allowing for safe independent play. These in-house designed elements prioritize high play value and aesthetics, creating a safe, stimulating environment where kids can explore independently while parents relax or connect.

The business model caters to new parents, offering a comfortable space with stylish seating, high-quality coffee, and snacks, enhanced by custom decorative panelling matching the cafe’s theme. Caregivers can socialize, assist kids on the play features, or enjoy a coffee while children play securely. Plans for workshops and groups aim to educate and empower families, strengthening community bonds. It Takes a Village is committed to creating a welcoming space where families connect and thrive. Rosalind and Charlene focus on enhancing the cafe, ensuring its stylish design and engaging play features support a sustainable business that nurtures family connections. The completed indoor softplay area provides a safe and stimulating environment where young children can learn, play and grow in confidence. The bespoke design compliments the cafe's existing space creating additional value for visitors and a space that families can enjoy together.

As Play Creations, we continue to support It Takes a Village and their growth as a company by offering regular servicing through our maintenance scheme. This softplay project highlights how a thoughtfully designed soft play cafe creates a vibrant community hub for new parents and their children.

Looking to add a soft play to your cafe? Contact our design team today!