Amanda Stone and her daughter Savannah
Young kids have a new place to play in Peabody.
Savy Little Playhouse opened in the Mills 58 Building C this week as an indoor playground and event space for kids under 6 years old.
There’s a 30-foot ball pit, castle slides, industrial playhouse and other fun features fit for young kids of all abilities. The large, open room is designed so parents have a safe and comfortable place to spend time with their kids, including babies and toddlers.
It’s what founder and Peabody resident Amanda Stone wanted to have with her then 1-year-old daughter Savannah (hence the “Savy” name) before starting the business in October 2022.
“She has some motor delays, so I have a hard time finding places for her to go where she can physically enjoy it,” Stone said.
Her vision started as a mobile playground she’d bring to kids’ birthday parties, then grew into a play space in downtown Hamilton that remains open.
Stone opened the Peabody location to mainly host larger events and birthday parties, she said.
“I realized these parents are hiring me to be a mobile playground, and then they’re paying for a venue, and they’re paying for catering, and they’re paying for balloons,” Stone said. “Moms just need a one-stop shop, and that’s when the playhouse developed.”
She provides decorations and activities for birthday parties hosted at both locations on weekends and often brings in characters and children entertainers for special events.
The Peabody space is larger than the one in Hamilton, but both have open play hours from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on weekdays. Come September, Peabody will also have open play hours from 2-6 p.m.
Stone hasn’t made this her full time gig yet. The 36-year-old Danvers native still works as a business analyst on top of growing her playhouse model.
The response from parents so far has been “beautiful,” especially from those with kids who haven’t been able to thrive in regular play spaces, she said.
“There’s so many places that are handicap accessible for adults, and kids are often overlooked,” Stone said. “It’s just become a great community space that’s bringing a lot of moms together.”
For more information about Savy Little Playhouse, visit https://www.savylittleplayhouse.com/.
Contact Caroline Enos at CEnos@northofboston.com