The origins of Roo’s World of Discovery, an indoor play area for kids in downtown Kirkland, are about as humble as they come.
Roo’s, which first opened in October 2015, had an official ribbon-cutting with the Kirkland Chamber of Commerce on June 30. The name is after the founder and owner Michelle Landwehr’s daughter Madeleine.
“My daughter’s nickname is Roo,” Landwehr said. “That nickname was something from when I was pregnant. At the eight-week ultrasound, she was bouncing up and down so we gave her the name Roo, like a baby Kangaroo.”
The play area, open six days per week on Central Way, was designed for kids who have sensory issues or developmental delays, as Natalie does. The idea came to Landwehr after Natalie found a handful of other play spaces overly-stimulating.
Landwehr discovered a playspace in Florida while on vacation that was a good fit for her daughter, and the dream was born.
Roo’s World of Discovery offers resources for kids across the spectrum, as well as their parents. The entry area includes retail, with items for moms and babies like books, toys, and cloth diapers.
The playspace itself is inspired by Montessori education, which encourages kids to explore hands-on. Most of the items indoors, including the Cedarworks climbing structure, are made of wood.
“[The toys] all have some sort of learning component,” Landwehr said. “There’s a train table and a kitchen set, and we try to swap things out so the kids don’t get bored with the toys.”
Roo’s also includes a sensory room, where children with special needs can play and interact in a calm environment, and Roo’s has designated sensory hours on Sundays.
Upstairs, Landwehr has opened a consignment shop for children’s clothing.
“People can bring clothes they don’t need and pick up clothes that fit their child,” Landwehr said. “It’s a marriage of everything.”
Even the bathrooms are scaled down for young kids, with Bumbo chairs to keep crawlers from escaping and step stools for toddlers to wash their own hands.
Roo’s is open to kids up to five years old, with a plethora of activities. Kids can enjoy stories and songs, circle time, messy art projects (for some of the older patrons) and live music.
The play center schedules various meet-ups for special daily and weekly activities, including low-sensory hours, storytime yoga and playdate hours for daddies, special-needs parents or grandparents and many more. Classes and camps are also offered throughout the summer.
Landwehr said she plans to focus on the Roo’s location in Kirkland, but would love additional locations in the future. She looked all over the Eastside, including as far south as Bellevue and at several locations in Kirkland, before settling at 108 Central Way.
“It’s been amazing to build a network of moms and families,” she said.
Roo’s is open weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and closed on Tuesday. Saturday’s run 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., with similar hours on Sunday but by reservation.
