Chaos Corner in Millers Falls offers space for imaginative play

Two smaller rooms, one for mothers, at Chaos Corner, an indoor toddler playground, at 26 East Main St. in Millers Falls.

Two smaller rooms, one for mothers, at Chaos Corner, an indoor toddler playground, at 26 East Main St. in Millers Falls. STAFF PHOTO/PAUL FRANZ

Caitlin and Brandon Thomas are opening Chaos Corner, an indoor toddler playground, at 26 East Main St. in Millers Falls.

Caitlin and Brandon Thomas are opening Chaos Corner, an indoor toddler playground, at 26 East Main St. in Millers Falls. STAFF PHOTO/PAUL FRANZ

Chaos Corner, an indoor toddler playground, at 26 East Main St. in Millers Falls.

Chaos Corner, an indoor toddler playground, at 26 East Main St. in Millers Falls. STAFF PHOTO/PAUL FRANZ

Several different playscapes at Chaos Corner, an indoor toddler playground, at 26 East Main St. in Millers Falls.

Several different playscapes at Chaos Corner, an indoor toddler playground, at 26 East Main St. in Millers Falls. STAFF PHOTO/PAUL FRANZ

A tiny cafe for play at Chaos Corner, an indoor toddler playground, at 26 East Main St. in Millers Falls.

A tiny cafe for play at Chaos Corner, an indoor toddler playground, at 26 East Main St. in Millers Falls. STAFF PHOTO/PAUL FRANZ

By ERIN-LEIGH HOFFMAN

Staff Writer

Published: 10-24-2024 10:46 AM

MILLERS FALLS — As a family of five with a day care facility at their home in Millers Falls, Caitlin Thomas and her husband Brandon understand the need for child care and having a space where children can just be children.

“Being a day care provider, [the Department of Early Education and Care] has really trained me on understanding that imaginative play is one of the most important fundamentals for learning as a child, for recognizing social cues and skills,” Thomas said.

With limited space in her day care, along with the need for a place in town for children to play and parents to relax, Thomas has sought to fill this gap with “Chaos Corner,” an indoor toddler playground for imaginative play that opens Wednesday, Oct. 30.

“I think having a place like this is not only going to help benefit children in their social play, but I think this is going to be a really good space for a sense of community and for parents to get together,” Thomas said.

Thomas received her day care license in December 2023, and opened her day care “Chaos Clan” in January 2024. Since opening, she said she’s had a waiting list for spots at her day care, which highlights the need for more child care options in the region. Additionally, Thomas said the places for kids to play cater toward older children and tend to be expensive for families.

“[There’s] a lack of child care in general, but also a lack of just spaces like this where kids and parents can socialize, be together and also be in an affordable space. Even like [FunHub Action Park], it’s $35 to $40 just to get in for an hour at a time,” Thomas said. At Chaos Corner, she continued, “You come in, you pay the flat rate and you can be here as long as you want to.”

The flat rate for play is $10.50 per child, and the parent or guardian who is required to supervise does not need to pay for themselves. Fees will be waived for the children of parents who work in public safety fields, such as law enforcement and emergency medical services, if proper identification is provided.

As for play options, there are eight playscapes set up for children to pick from. A nursery, farm, construction site, cafe, restaurant and more are available, and Thomas said she plans to have the buildings remain the same, but change out the toys so there are new play options for children.

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For parents, seating is available toward the back of the room. A room for breastfeeding and a diaper-changing station are also available, with free diapers and feminine hygiene products. One room toward the back of the building is designed as a low-sensory room for children to decompress as they need to.

At the front of the space, a cafe is set up for adults to buy coffee, soft drinks and snacks. The play space will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, as well as from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

Chaos Corner can also be rented for birthday parties. These rentals come with the option of a “Birthday Brigade” — a volunteer group of parents and their children who are willing to come to the birthday party in the event that invited guests are unable to attend, so “no child blows out the candles alone,” Thomas said.

‘It takes a village’

After Chaos Corner opens, Thomas said she wants to see what the busiest days of the week are and get feedback from community members about what the space could be used for in the future.

Although Thomas has managed her day care, her husband Brandon has helped her with creating the new space, and will be at Chaos Corner full-time after leaving his position as a correctional officer.

“It’s definitely a new venture for me,” Brandon Thomas said. In the past, he’s done trade work, but he is excited to fill the need for child care and be part of this project with his wife, joking that corrections is just day care for adults. “It’s the same thing, but kids are actually a little bit more reasonable.”

Caitlin also said she hopes this space can be a resource for families who need assistance. She plans to continue to work with organizations like Community Action Pioneer Valley, which provides the free diapers, and her other connections to offer help when she can to parents.

“We’re working on trying to get some sort of community [bulletin] board. I really like to get people to post kind of that type of stuff in here,” Caitlin said. “This is going to be the safe place for that, too. No matter where you come from, this is going to be the safe place to ask, and not be afraid to ask for those resources.”

Caitlin said she’s received volunteer offers from community members who want to help Chaos Corner. It takes a village to raise children, she said — something she knows from experience.

“Being a parent is scary enough. Raising children is scary enough. We should be doing it together.”

Chaos Corner will open on Wednesday, Oct. 30, at 9 a.m. at 26 East Main St. More information is available at tinyurl.com/ChaosCorner.

Erin-Leigh Hoffman can be reached at ehoffman@recorder.com or 413-930-4231.