PLAY

I took my almost 10-​month-​old to Play for a class recently. We had a nice time, but there’s definitely room for improvement.
The class was mixed ages, with one other baby around the same age, a kid who was maybe 14 months, and a handful of toddlers who were 2 – 3 years old, I’m guessing.
The music started and was too loud for my kid initially. It was quite jarring. I appreciate the energy, but the volume could have been dialed back a bit.
As other reviewers have mentioned, they brought out balls for one song, and drums for one song. As quickly as they took them out, they took them back. My child is of course too young to understand that, and desperately clung to her drumsticks. The instructor let her hold on to them, but one of the other children kept snatching them out of her hands, saying she didn’t need them. This could have easily been mitigated by bringing the instruments out near the end of class, and holding on to them for a few songs.
I love exposing my child to older kids, but I think she would have benefitted more from the class if it was geared towards a younger crowd. Besides the volume and the toddlers who can sometimes bully, the pace was a bit quick. I think a 6 – 12 month class would be ideal.
I personally thought the songs were a bit lame. Better than the typical kids music, but I guess I still would have liked something more contemporary.
I thought the instructor was pretty good. He seemed to be enjoying himself and definitely put effort into the class.
We live very nearby, and the times work with our nap schedule, so I’ll probably attend more. If it was any less convenient, I’d look for an alternative.

Came today for drop in art class! Absolutely loved it! My baby had so much fun! Staff is friendly! Amazing art teacher! Small, but clean! Will definitely be back!

We liked it here it was very cozy! The music teachers are amazing and you can tell they love being around kids. We love PLAY!

Love this spot. Perfect for babies up to age 3. Amazing music classes with fun props and toys. Had our daughter’s 3^rd birthday party here and everyone had a great time. Great music and art teachers.

We started music class when my son was 15 months old and being a very shy toddler it has taken some time to get him comfortable but he absolutely enjoys every class. Emily is fantastic! She is so patient with the kids and really makes what could be complete chaos into an enjoyable experience.
The only reason I gave four stars is because it can be very challenging to find parking.

Great little kids space in the mid-​Wilshire area. What they lack in space they make up in quality. It is definitely small, any more than 10 kids and it feel cramped, but if you can catch them during a time where it’s not busy, your toddler will be very entertained. They have a great selection of music and art, also kitchen toys for purchase– a lot of Melissa and Doug products which I love!
I agree with a previous review that the schedule it a bit hard to follow. About a year ago we used to come in for drop in art classes (they set up an easel with different brushes, paint, and typically some sort of paper to stick on the paint– sensory and fine motor play), and I swear it wasn’t as limited in time as it is now. You really have to check the schedule on a daily basis. I can’t speak for the music or the mixed media classes, but I’m sure they’re fantastic.

It’s hard to keep up with this business’ schedule! One day they open from 9a –4p, (by the way, the staff starts cleaning at 3:30p. They tell you — you can stay while they vaccumm around you and your baby). The next day they close at 2p, etc. It’s very hard to keep up with their afternoon schedule. Sometimes the hours are posted on the website and sometimes they are on the door, etc. It’s not like other places in Culver City where is always 10am — 6pm, period.
For instance, today is Tuesday and is supposed to be open until 4pm. We showed up and it closes at 2pm! It’s so inconsistent! They have the summer schedule, then they close for summer week, it’s also close the holiday and early the day after. They take so much time off, I can believe is actually a profitable business. In any case, we’re not going back. Too hard to keep up with their vacations.

I think once your kid has discovered PLAY, he will get addicted!!! My son (2 years) loves the center and the activities (music and art classes). I highly recommend to bring your kids here: it’s not expensive, the place is clean with a very nice and cute decoration, the toys are solid and High quality, teachers are great and very nice.
You can also buy toys (surely you will !)
I have always enrolled my son in the classes using the online website which is safe and well organized.

My son loves coming here to music class. We started when he was 7 months. This is a very cute place, full of fun toys and wonderful people. We have tried all the teachers and they are all awesome! The classes are structured and fun! The kids get exposed to different toys, shakers, scarfs, drums, flutes, etc. At the begging they provide a cd with all the songs, we play them all the time in the car and at home. The owners are kind and easy going. I have tried different music classes and this by far my favorite.

I love PLAY! They have it all figured out! Not only do they have great music classes and art classes, but they have a whole room full of toys for kids to play with for free before and after classes and an area to eat snacks. This makes it so convenient for us moms /​care givers to hang out and spend a whole morning and afternoon with our little ones. The music classes are great! My two kids sing along with the CD’s during all our car rides, and the art classes are so creative! Two of the works my two-​year old did are so good, they are the center pieces on our living room wall! I strongly recommend taking your kids to PLAY!

I have been wanting to write this review for a very long time.
We absolutely love Play! Our son will be 3 years old in a couple of weeks and he has been enrolled in the music class, since he was 9 months old. Since then, we have been coming to Play weekly.
The music class is wonderful and we love our music teacher Keith. Our son always gets so excited to see him and I know that he is one of his favorite people. Keith is very sweet, friendly, dynamic and a talented musician with a positive attitude and a great voice. He is so good with the kids and our son often talks about him. At the beginning of every session, each family receives a new music CD. The songs are lovely; not your typical children’s songs, but enjoyable ones to the grown-​ups as well. Not one day goes by without us singing some of Play’s songs. Our son requests them all the time and in fact, that is pretty much all we listen to in the car. We still love them, even after a couple of years!
Many months ago we started going weekly to the art class, as well (Messy Mixed Media). That class is amazing! Emily is our teacher and she’s a remarkable one. She is such a delight and our son has become quite a little artist! He always looks forward to the class (so do I) and he loves his teacher.
I really cannot say enough great things about Play. The owners, Anne and James (who operate the place) created quite a special and unique place. It is super clean (I have never seen a speck of dirt), warm, cosy and bright. It has a perfectly-​sized music room, art studio and play area, not too big nor too small, which makes the rooms very convivial. The playroom has the best toys (Melissa & Doug, Haba, Plan Toys, Janod…) and delightful books. They sell those brands of toys and great books as well as the best music instruments and CD’s for kids and the yummiest and most nutritious natural and organic snacks and beverages. There is a communal table for eating. The bathrooms are spotless.
Anne and James are lovely; a super nice and helpful couple, professional, self-​effacing, unpretentious, sharp. Both our son and I are always delighted to see them. Our little boy completely feels at home, there. I could also easily spend the whole day, at Play. We go there twice a week for classes and stay to play afterwards for a couple of hours. Neither one of us ever get bored. I find that Play as a soothing atmosphere.
The day our son will outgrow Play (which will not be for another couple of years, I hope), it will be very sad. But I feel so fortunate to have joined this place when our son was only a few months old. It has been part of most of his life and I believe that Play has a beneficial effect and is an enriching experience in the life of a growing baby/​child.
We love you, Play!

Our twins have been going to music class at Play since they were 9 months old. They love it! We love Keith, our teacher, he’s so patient and a talented musician and teacher. When our toddlers see him, they are filled with excitement and run into the classroom. The play area is great with lots of cool toys and a communal table to have snacks. We’ve met a lot of really nice families and always look forward to going. The owners are really nice and have created a unique and fun environment for kids in the area.

Love love LOVE this place. Started with my 6 month old in January and we’ve been coming every week for music classes! The music teachers are amazing and you can tell they love being around kids. The owners are so accommodating and easy to work! I can’t wait until my baby girl is big enough to join their art classes

Love it here. Great music, great staff and very clean. The art class is fun and the location is great.

I love Play – more importantly, my son loves Play. We began attending their music classes shortly after my son’s 1^st birthday and, now, at 2 ½, it’s still his favorite class to take and place to go.
First off, the music is wonderful. The «children’s music» genre is saturated with shrill and, frankly, annoying music, but Play’s CDs are lovely. I make sure to always have a couple of CDs at home and in our cars. Keith, the teacher, is a gem! I cannot say enough good things about him. My son truly feels a connection with him and, literally, mentions Keith at least once every couple of days (no joke!). Keith leads an incredibly engaging class and does a great job of encouraging the kids to participate without being overbearing. I was surprised to see that some reviewers had taken issue with the pace of the class because my son, who really likes to mull things over and take things slowly, revels in the variety of of activities and flow of the class.
The play space is also fantastic. They have high-​quality toys, a nice selection of books, pretend play pieces, train table, etc. Every now and then, new toys circulate in to keep things new and interesting. There is also a communal table where you can eat snacks/​lunch. Very convenient.
James and Anne are truly wonderful! They are warm and friendly and take the time to get to know you. I feel like they knew who we were from the first time we stopped in to inquire about taking a class. They do an incredible job of keeping the space family friendly and are diligent about keeping the space neat and clean. They frequently pick up after the kids to ensure that toys and things are kept in order. I’ve even watched them pick food crumbs up off the floor right after it’d been dropped. Since my son and I are sometimes the last people leaving Play for the naptime hours, on our way out, I’ve also watched the staff beginning to give the play area a thorough cleaning – and I believe they use some holistic cleaning concoction, not some harsh chemically cleaning product.
Play is truly a special place run by wonderful people. I would recommend Play to anyone with babies/​toddlers/​young children!

My twin niece and nephew had their 3^rd birthday party here. What a great place!!! All of the kids were entertained the entire time… and let me tell you, there were a LOT of kids! One room was dedicated to painting so there were several easels placed throughout the room. It was so cute because the kids put on their little mini aprons so they didn’t get paint everywhere. All the paintings drawn were hung up on a little string across the room to admire the young artist’s work.
The biggest room was comprised of toys of all types. From that little turtle shell thing that kids sit and spin in or crawl under to little dogs you pull on a string, they had it all. The neatest thing about it was that most of the toys were unique. So many of the toys were educational or intended to improve motor function and critical thinking skills. It was amazing to sit and watch their little brains turning. Not the typical toys you buy at Toys-​R-​Us. There were trains, cars, puppies, balls, everything imaginable. The place was incredibly clean, especially for being dedicated to children. The 3^rd room was where we had the snacks and lit the cake and sang happy birthday.
The twins absolutely loved it and you could tell their little brains were so stimulated by everything going on. Never a dull moment. The girl helping did a marvelous job, I couldn’t believe how well she handled everything. I don’t know the end cost but I would pay a pretty penny to have a party like that for my kids, when I have them one day of course. Everything was so organized and it was the most stress free toddler birthday I have ever been to, especially with that many of them running around. I would highly recommend this place to anybody that has kids and is looking for a fun, educational, and stress free birthday party for their little ones.

Took my kids here for the first time today. The man James that works here was nice and took pose in keeping place very clean. Emily helped us out with the messy art and was very polite helpful and patient. They even let is hang out and eat lunch. I would definitely RECCOMEND it to anyone who needs a fun place to take their kids for a great activity. Thanks I would definitely come back.

Soo fun for my 22 month-​old! He painted at «messy art» class and then we played in the foyer with other tots. Tons of Melissa & Doug –brand toys, which my son and I both like. The table for snack time was nice, as it is big enough to accommodate all the children, not just a few! I enjoyed the atmosphere here. Very bright and vibrant energy. The staff was pleasant, though not outgoing for this newcomer, but I don’t want to pass any judgements!!! Overall experience = good! I’d definitely recommend attending the messy art class for $ 10 bc you can let your tot draw on the walls with chalk, paint as many pictures as he/​she wants, and make a mess with it! Then you can pick up your art later.

Play is amazing, clean and owner operated (that makes it special). Play a sanctuary, you can stay all day or just pop in. Really they have drop in classes nice for those play it by ear days. You can enjoy music classes, play, paint and even snack/​have lunch at the community table. They sell drinks and healthy snacks. They also sell great music CDs, books and toys. Great for buying a gift without having to make another stop. All you parents know how important not having to make another stop is.
My son has been coming here for 3 years. We love it every time we come. Even after all these years. He is now 3 ½. He speaks beautifully, I believe part of the reason is because of the quality of music and teachers play has here. It really nourishes a child’s soul and vocabulary.

This review is based on a session of music classes I took with my daughter. The music they play here is a lot more enjoyable than the usual annoying kid quality songs. And our instructor, Keith, has a fantastic voice. My daughter really seemed to enjoy the music but then again, she’s little (was 9 months to 1 yr during the session) and she’ll take her little tooshie to any sound. :) The structure of the class is always the same which I don’t mind. Consistency is good for kids. But like another reviewer said below it does move from activity to activity pretty quickly. Here are egg shakers — shake them to this song. Ok, now I’m taking it back. Let’s walk around in a circle. Ok, now sit down! Here are some balls. Now I’m taking the balls back. You get the picture. It’s a 45 min class so I get that they’re trying to fit as much as possible. And it actually was a good pace for my under 1 yr old but I can’t imagine that it would be enjoyable for my 3 yo. I did actually bring my 3 yo to one of the sessions and he wasn’t too into it at all. I don’t think it’s really as multi-​age as they market it to be.
The play area out front is a bit small but very clean and offers a variety of activities for kids from a train table to toys for younger toddlers. There’s also a table to eat lunch with a couple highchair/​boosters. This is the first indoor place space I’ve been to where I’ve actually seen them cleaning the toys.
I’d say the best age for the music classes would be age 9 months to around 1.5 years max. We’re skipping the next session and trying something with a little more activity for my little one.