03/14/2026
As a parent myself, one of the biggest things I emphasize with my children is manners and respect. Treat others and treat things the way you want to be treated. If I see my kids climbing where they shouldn’t, I tell them to get down, because we respect spaces and we teach boundaries.
Everything starts at home. If a child is constantly trashing toys, dumping bins, and not cleaning up, chances are they’re doing that in other places too. If they’re rough with toys, throwing things, and acting carelessly with their own belongings, then they’ll likely do the same at Imagination City.
I created the city to be more than just a place to play. I wanted it to be a tool for teaching children how the world works through play: social skills, teamwork, cleaning up, taking turns, being mindful of others, and being aware of younger children around them. After-all there are no baby gates around the real world. We all have to look out for one another and lead with kindness.
That has always been my expectation at Imagination City. It’s one of the many reasons I built this space in the first place. I wanted to teach my own boys, who are now teenagers, how the world works through play. My hope is that parents and guardians respect that and don’t treat our space like a place where children can be careless with no boundaries.
I know at some point, I may have to put my foot down and create an age limit, but I truly don’t believe that’s the right answer. Because at the end of the day, imagination has no age limit. Kids of all ages can pretend play. I enjoy seeing older kids pretend play with their younger siblings.
Families, please monitor your children. Teach them. Guide them. Don’t just stand by while they throw things in the air, carelessly toss toys on the ground or fill up carts just to dump it all on the floor. Play with them. Redirect them. Imagine with them.
- Janine
