E-Interview
With owner of Cafe O’ Play Red Deer, Heather Wilkinson By Ryan Fahey 1.
What made you want to own a Café O Play? Why?
Both my sister (and Business partner) and I have young children and we found there was a lack of things to do with small children in Red Deer, especially in the winter months. We wanted a place where parents and caretakers could bring their children to play that was fun, clean and offered healthier food and drink options. We wanted to create a space where adults could bring their children to play and adults could actually meet friends and enjoy a coffee or sit and relax instead of constantly chasing after their children. We have an open concept where children can be seen constantly from any table in the café. We also offer a space where mommy groups, twins and triplet clubs and other organizations and small business can meet.
2.
Why do you think play is so important?
Play is so important because it allows a child’s imagination to grow. Socialization, in our opinion, is fundamental for a child’s growth. Play is also important for interaction and socialization. When children play they learn important life lessons like sharing, patience, and problem solving all of which are important life skills.
3.
At Café O Play, do you encourage adults to play with the children?
Our concept allows adults to “Sit, Sip and Watch Them Play” (our motto) however we do encourage interaction between adults and children. We often offer crafts for adults to make with the children in their care or cookie decorating.
4. It has been documented that active play has many health and developmental benefits for children. How do you feel Café O Play supports this? Café O Play definitely supports active play. Our toys and equipment are all manually operated. Our cars and trucks that children drive around our track are “foot powered” and all of our climbing structures require children to move and climb. We also offer yoga on a weekly basis where kids can learn and participate in story telling through yoga. The Red Deer Public Library comes in monthly and reads stories to the children at the café – these stories are all interactive and require children to act, interact and be active. These days with the abundance of television programs and video games it is so important to teach young children the importance of being active and healthy. We hope that by coming to the café and playing in our indoor playground that children will learn and develop gross motor skills, social skills and learn the importance of being active.
5. With Café O Play leading the way, what do you envision coffee shops will look like in the next 10 years? We hope that coffee shops will become more innovative in the next 10 years. We understand the need for quick and convenient coffee shops however we hope that over the years more child friendly coffee shops will also open. Coffee and play are two things that go well together! For more information about Café O’ Play, check out their website: http://www.cafeoplay.ca/