FAQS

Sensory play, a.k.a. messy play engages a child’s senses—touch, sight, sound, smell, and sometimes even taste—through activities that are hands-on and interactive. At our messy play parties, we create experiences that inspire creativity and bring kids together through sensory play and shared exploration. Here’s why it’s so valuable: Encourages Creativity: Sensory play invites kids to explore materials in their own way, sparking imagination and creativity. For example, in our Magic Potions activity, children mix colorful ingredients, experimenting with textures and reactions to create their own magical brew. Promotes Social Interaction: When kids engage in sensory play together, they learn to communicate, share, and collaborate. Our Mud Kitchen activity encourages shared exploration as children work side by side to “cook” muddy concoctions, fostering teamwork and social skills. Supports Development: Sensory play is key to building fine motor skills, problem-solving abilities, and even emotional regulation. In our Gold Panning activity, kids sift through sand and water to find treasures, honing their concentration and coordination while having fun. For parents, these activities are a wonderful way to see your child’s natural curiosity and joy in action, all while building connections with other families who value creative play. Sensory play isn’t just about getting messy—it’s about learning, growing, and having fun together!

A Mud Kitchen Party is a child-directed, sensory-rich experience designed to spark imagination and social skills through messy, pretend play in an outdoor setting. When you book a Mud Kitchen Party with us, we provide a child-sized wooden play kitchen complete with a faux stove, cooktop, sink, fridge, and oven. The setup also includes kitchen tools, utensils, and a variety of natural materials like fresh and dried flowers, herbs, leaves, pods, pinecones, birdseed, bark, and cinnamon sticks. Dirt is optional and can be included for an additional cost. This activity invites children to explore and create in a safe, fun environment. Our professional staff will help set up the space and be on hand to ensure everything runs smoothly. This interactive and engaging party activity is perfect for fostering creativity, teamwork, and communication among children.

Yes, at PLAYful Designs, we offer a fantastic real mud kitchen experience for children’s parties. This option is perfect for kids who love to get messy and explore with dirt and mud. The true mud kitchen experience involves an extensive clean-up, but we provide a hand-washing station for quick and convenient clean-ups. If you prefer, dirt and mud are entirely optional, allowing for a cleaner play experience while still providing fun and engaging sensory activities. Please note that the authentic mud kitchen option is priced higher due to the additional clean-up involved.

A Magic Potion Party is an enchanting and interactive event similar to a Mud Kitchen Party, but with a delightful twist that focuses on creating fizzy potions. We provide everything needed for a magical experience, including potion recipe cards, themed props and decorations such as potion bottles, and essential ingredients like vinegar and baking soda. Additionally, we set up a play kitchen, work tables, tablecloths, and a water dispenser. Various natural materials are also supplied to enhance the creative process. This party option is perfect for children who love imaginative play and science experiments, making it a fun, educational, and memorable event.

We pride ourselves on using safe and environmentally-friendly materials for all our messy play party activities. Our selection includes fresh and dried flowers, herbs, leaves, pods, pinecones, birdseed, bark, and cinnamon sticks, among others. These materials not only provide a beautiful and organic aesthetic but also ensure that we minimize our environmental impact and leave no traces behind. By choosing PLAYful Designs for your party planning needs, you can feel confident that your event will be safe for children, stunning and eco-conscious.

Our parties are perfect for birthdays, family gatherings, festivals, fairs, community events, and school breaks. They are ideal for children aged 2-10, although kids of all ages enjoy the playful, hands-on experience!

Consider adding: -Bubble Station (Small): Kids can enjoy the magic of bubbles with our small bubble station, creating a whimsical atmosphere of floating bubbles. - Small Table Activities: We provide hands-on activities like play-dough, kinetic sand, and cloud dough, allowing children to explore their creativity and keep their hands busy. - Panning for Gold: For a treasure hunt twist, our panning for gold activity stimulates excitement and curiosity as kids search for hidden faux gold pebbles. - Face Painting: Our professional face painters can transform faces with beautiful designs, turning every child into their favorite character or creature. This is only available as an Add-On. Our planning team works closely with you to customize the activities to best fit your party theme and space, making your celebration as unique and enjoyable as possible.

Transient Art is a non-permanent, open-ended activity that allows children (and adults) to create and modify their art using a variety of materials. It encourages creativity and storytelling, allowing kids to design patterns or tell stories with both natural and man-made items. The temporary nature of the art lets children experiment, make changes, and express their feelings freely. Materials vary by theme or season, and adult supervision is suggested to enhance the experience. Suitable for ages 4-12; materials may include small parts that pose choking hazards for younger children.

At PLAYful Designs, we take photos during events to capture the fun moments parents and hosts might miss. These photos are shared with parents and hosts to provide a memorable overview of the event. Additionally, we may use some of these photos on our website, social media platforms, Yelp, and Google to showcase our services. Importantly, we ensure that these images are non-identifying, focusing on details such as feet, hands, or overhead shots. We do not publish any photos showing faces or use any names without obtaining explicit permission from the child's parent. This policy ensures that while we can highlight the joyous atmosphere of our events, the privacy and safety of our clients are always prioritized.

I’ve been working with children since 2000, and it’s truly my passion! I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Child Development and a Master’s degree in Human Development from Pacific Oaks College. Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of teaching at play-based cooperative nursery schools, including Rose Scharlin Cooperative Nursery School in Silver Lake and Altadena Nursery School in Pasadena. My approach is grounded in the belief that play is essential for a child’s growth and learning. As a dedicated play advocate, I strive to create joyful, enriching experiences that support every child’s natural curiosity and development. I personally oversee most parties, but on occasion, I may bring in trained staff to assist or handle events when I’m unavailable. Rest assured, they are well-versed in delivering the same high-quality, play-focused experiences that I pride myself on.

Our team will handle all aspects of the party, including set-up, clean-up, and activity management. This allows you to relax and enjoy your child's celebration without the stress of wrangling children or dealing with clean-up.

We understand that weather can be unpredictable, so we offer flexible solutions to ensure your party goes off without a hitch. If we expect or encounter wet or excessive temperatures on the day of your event, we can seamlessly move your party indoors or set up a tent outdoors to keep guests comfortable. Additionally, we highly recommend having a "rain date" planned as a backup. Our team will do everything possible to accommodate this alternative date if necessary, ensuring your event is memorable regardless of the weather.

Yes, we have insurance and can provide a Certificate of Liability to meet park requirements. A $35 administrative fee applies.

Our standard party package is for 2 hours and accommodates up to 15 children. Additional time and extra guests can be arranged. Pricing varies based on location and logistics, with potential travel fees. To receive a quote, please contact us directly. Note that face painting services, provided by independent contractors, are priced separately.

To secure your party date, please pay a $100 non-refundable deposit, which will be applied to your total balance. Once we’ve confirmed your date and selected activities, we will send a final invoice 2 weeks before the event. The remaining balance is due 1 week before the party.

We will do our best to accommodate a new date for your event. Please notify us as soon as possible if you need to make a change. Postponements are subject to availability, and any adjustments to the date may be subject to additional fees, depending on the timing and logistics involved. If you need to reschedule, please note: A new date must be agreed upon and confirmed within a specified timeframe (e.g., within 30 days of the original event date). Any additional costs or changes in pricing due to rescheduling will be communicated to you. If you have any questions or need to discuss a date change, please contact us directly.

In addition to the $100 non-refundable deposit, a cancellation fee applies based on the notice given: Less than 30 days before the event: 50-100% of the total event cost 30 to 60 days before the event: 25-50% of the total event cost More than 60 days before the event: Typically no additional fee or a nominal fee Please note that the non-refundable deposit will not be refunded under any circumstances. This fee helps cover the costs associated with the time and resources reserved for the event, as well as potential lost revenue from other bookings.