Next Upcoming Play Date

The last playdate of 2023:

Tuesday November 28th
9am-12pm
&
4pm-7pm

College Wesleyan Church

200 E 38th Street, Marion, IN 46953

 
(Check back here or on Social Media for any pop up playday announcements)

 

Come play with us at WonderSpace!

There are 4 different interactive play experiences to explore!

Cardboard City

Cardboard City is a land of engineering where you test the limits of cardboard and your imagination. With child-safe tools like screw drivers and saws, you are invited to build a recycled land of tunnels, rockets, houses, and ships! In 2024 we will be adding a special superpower tool called InvenTABLE to Cardboard City that we know you’ll enjoy!

Imagination Playground

Traditional playgrounds consist primarily of fixed equipment, such as slides, monkey bars and teeter-totters, all of which focus on developing children’s gross motor skills. Imagination Playground is made up of what experts call “loose parts” that prompt children to transform their environment and create a play space of their own.

Snug Play

Large colorful structures that you can roll, rock, climb, and jump on greet you as you enter WonderSpace. These large pieces encourage child directed play and cooperation as kids work together to build, design, and remodel their own obstacle courses and play spaces.

High Flyers

High Flyers is an interactive play experience that involves several different stations. Children and adults get to experience the fun and wonder of air movement and flying through the use of balls, scarves, and by creating your own paper airplanes.

who and what?

About us

There are many benefits for our community to have access to indoor play facilities.

Health - According to National Centers for Environmental Information, Grant County is cold, snowy, and rainy for eight months out of the year. ​In this environment, physical play declines and sedentary lifestyle habits form. WonderSpace aims to be intentional about development and challenging a child's cognitive, physical, emotional, and social health. This is why we are pursuing open ended play materials which results in children bringing meaning to the equipment through their creativity and exploration.

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Quality of life - The Indiana Economic Digest published in February of 2018 that Grant County ranks 87 out of 92 Indiana counties for mortality (length of life), and 91 out of 92 in morbidity (quality of life).  Experts indicate that a lack of quality play opportunities is one of the factors to be considered. Research shows that, while in the state of play, oxytocin, serotonin, and dopamine are all present – which are powerful feel-good hormones.

 

Diverse interaction - Research shows that places of play often become a common place for families of diverse backgrounds to make contact and learn to trust each other. By providing mobile play pop-up opportunities and eventually building a permanent indoor play space, WonderSpace seeks to bring diverse groups together in play and exploration. Contact us to find out more about our special needs accommodations to ensure that every child can play in a meaningful way.

 

Education - Wonderspace seeks to provide affordable access to the Imagination Playground, snug play, and other mobile play equipment to support the learning and development of our community.  We aim to inspire children with activities that promote healthy brain activity and that encourage exploration for a lifetime of learning. 

Why?

Our mission

WonderSpace is a ministry of local churches working together to improve the physical, social, educational, and mental health of children and families in Grant County

When?

Upcoming events

                                                        College Wesleyan Church 200 E. 38th Street, Marion, IN 46953

Tuesday, January 9, 2024

9AM - 12PM
4PM - 7PM

Tuesday, January 16, 2024

9AM - 12PM
4PM - 7PM

Tuesday, January 23, 2024

SATURDAY
10AM - 2PM

Tuesday, January 30, 2024

9AM - 12PM
4PM - 7PM

Saturday, February 3, 2024

9AM - 1PM

Tuesday, February 6, 2024

9AM - 12PM
4PM - 7PM

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

9AM - 12PM
4PM - 7PM

"The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct."

–Carl Jung

Contact Us

Location

200 E 38th Street

Marion, IN 46953

Contact Us

Phone : (765) 674 – 8541

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