Little Town, an immersive indoor play and learning center for children aged 0 to 7 is coming to Milford soon. Little Town will be a child-sized small town where kids can explore their big world through imaginative play.
“There will be a variety of themed playhouses where children can step into different roles and create their own stories,” Chantel Helmick, owner of Little Town, said. “For example, they might become a firefighter, take care of a “patient” at the veterinary office, or run their own little shop. And there are several other fun surprises that we’re keeping under wraps for now.”
Helmick said that being a mom prompted her to start this business.
“I have three children, and I’ve seen firsthand how much children learn when they’re simply given the opportunity to pretend, explore and use their imagination,” Helmick said. “Kids don’t need us to tell them how to play. Give them a little space and a few things to work with, and they’ll create an entire world on their own.”
Helmick wants people to understand that Little Town isn’t simply an indoor playground. Instead, learning is woven into the play.
“Children are naturally developing creativity, communication, confidence, problem-solving and social skills while they’re pretending, exploring and creating their own stories,” Helmick said. “In addition to open play, we will offer birthday parties, classes and workshops, field trips, special events and more. I want Little Town to become a place families can come back to again and again and have a different memorable experience each time.”
Helmick began thinking about a place where children could do exactly that.
“I wondered what it would be like to create a space where children could pretend to be a firefighter, run a little shop, take care of an animal, make a meal or put on a show, but in a space intentionally designed around those experiences,” Helmick said. “I also saw an opportunity for something that wasn’t just about letting kids burn off energy. I wanted to create a place where families could make memories together and where children could learn and grow without feeling like they’re being taught, but they are learning through imaginative play. There is such a huge need in our community for a space like this which is why I started Little Town.”
Although Helmick stated that Little Town will be located in Milford, she is keeping the actual location under wraps for now. She explained that there are some exciting things coming together behind the scenes which will be announced along with the location soon.
“For anyone who wants to follow along as Little Town takes shape, they can follow us on social media for updates, sneak peeks and announcements,” Helmick said. “We’re having a lot of fun building the excitement.”
Helmick is excited for the day they can announce the location of Little Town. The project was helped when Helmick received an EDGE grant earlier this year.
“Receiving the EDGE grant was a huge milestone and such a blessing for Little Town,” Helmick said. “I am incredibly for the support from the Delaware Division of Small Business and how hard they work to make opportunities like this possible.”
Helmick explained that the grant will offset some of the startup costs and allow her to make important investments as she prepares to open, including the space, equipment, technology, security systems, marketing and other needs. She found the EDGE grant process incredibly valuable because it pushed her to take a close look at her business concept, the market, the financial side and what it will take to make Little Town sustainable long term.
“Without a doubt, I am excited to see the look on the children’s faces,” Helmick said when asked what she was most looking forward to with the new business. “I can picture a child walking into Little Town for the first time and immediately deciding what they want to be and what story they are going to create. Those little moments of watching their imaginations take over are what I’m building this for.”
Helmick is also looking forward to Little Town becoming a part of the Milford community. She wants it to be a place where families come for birthday parties, a Saturday morning of play, a class, a field trip or a special event. She hopes it will eventually feel like one of those places that is part of every childhood.
“And, of course I am excited to watch this entire business that we have been working on for many years finally become a real place that children can walk into and explore,” Helmick said. “I think the biggest challenge will probably be balancing all of the moving pieces that come with starting a brand new business while still keeping my eye on the bigger picture and all of the amazing things we have planned.”
Thera are many pieces, Helmick explained, from the physical space to playhouses to programming, technology, marketing, staffing and more.
“I think one of the things I’m most passionate about is helping people see how powerful play really is and creating a community hub for families to come and make those memories together,” Helmick said. “Children are naturally curious. They want to pretend, explore and question, figure things out and make sense of the world around them. I don’t think learning has to feel like learning.”
According to Helmick, that is at the heart of Little Town.
“I want children to walk through the doors and feel that they can be anything and while they’re having fun, they’re also building the creativity, confidence, communication and problem-solving skills that will stay with them far beyond Little Town,” Helmick said. “I’m really excited to share this with Milford and to build something that children and families can enjoy for years to come. And we’re just getting started! There are a lot of exciting things happening behind the scenes right now, so I would love for everyone to follow along on social media. We’ll be sharing sneak peaks, updates and little hints along the way, including the big location announcement very soon.
Follow Little Town on Facebook and Instagram.
