In the former home of Sanford’s YMCA, a new facility seeks to give school-aged kids a place to unwind (and learn) through play.
![](https://itsthesway.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/dsc_9627.png)
Educational Playtime Too, located at 860 Spring Lane, makes full use of the ample spaces for recreation created by its former tenant. In the open-ended concept, kids can pursue games of H.O.R.S.E or the half-court basketball, practice their moves in the gym, or take advantage of stations for art and imaginative play.
![](https://itsthesway.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/dsc_9779-2.jpg)
The facility is the third of its kind for Tanika Harris, a former teacher who founded Educational Playtime in Greensboro 15 years ago. After expanding to a second location in that city, she jumped at the chance to open Educational Playtime Too in Sanford.
“The school-aged program gives us the opportunity to provide social-emotional learning,” she says. “We want to give kids what they need to have fun without the stressors that can be present in a classroom, or wherever they might be studying right now.”
![](https://itsthesway.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/dsc_9765.jpg)
Though the model is based on after-school enrichment, the facility will be open all day, from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., until schools return to full-time instruction. And, for kids who need extra time with schoolwork or a place for virtual learning, a classroom stocked with desks, books and lounge chairs exists for just that.
![](https://itsthesway.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/dsc_9740-1.jpg)
Educational Playtime Too is staffed by program director Chris McLaughlin, who holds a degree in elementary education from Sandhills Community College and has a long history of running youth programs, from the Country Club of North Carolina to the Armed Services YMCA. He currently volunteers as an Assistant Scoutmaster to a boy scout troop in Sanford.
![](https://itsthesway.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/dsc_9736.jpg)
One of Chris’ favorite additions to the space is a room with glow-in-the-dark options for gaming — from the big screen to blacklight corn hole.
“I knew coming in that the space needed a ton of options, that could adapt to how every kid likes to play,” he says. “This is a place that kids will look forward to coming to when their parents have to work.”
Enrollment is now open, at $125 per week per child. Teachers can take advantage of a discount, with enrollment set at $110 per child per week.
Learn more about Educational Playtime at educationalplaytimetoo.com, or contact the Sanford facility at eduplaytoosanford@gmail.com 919-292-2263.