Mount Pleasant Drop-In 'Playcare' Center Opens

Moms and dads face this problem all the time: Work or social obligations pull them away from home for several hours, but no one is available to watch the kids.

Mount Pleasant's newest business aims to solve that quandary. Billed as a "drop-in playcare," Play Garden offers no-contract, pay-by-the-hour childcare in a safe, educational environment, the owner says.

The Coleman Blvd. facility offers day-time and late-night hours for parents who need a place to leave their children at a moment's notice. It's the brainchild of Maren Anderson, a young mom who grew frustrated by the lack of options available in the world of daycare.

"There's a lack of spontaneity when you have kids," Anderson said. "That's just one of many sacrifices you make when you have kids. But there really should be a safe, secure and stimulating environment available for parents."

The playcare facility offers hourly rates starting at $12 an hour. There are discounts for more than one child, and the facility allows annual memberships of $75 that also result in discounts and free snacks.

Curious about hours and contact information? See Play Garden's Patch Directory listing.

Parents can bring in children as walk-ins, but Play Garden also accepts reservations. It welcomes children as young as 12 months, so long as they can walk, as well as children up to 12 years old.

While the novelty of the business is that it is more flexible than traditional daycare, Anderson says her focus is on providing a safe, healthy and educational environment.

The facility was designed with chemical-free cork flooring and BPA-free paint and furniture finishes. There are no plastic toys in the building, and even the snacks are organic, she said.

Anderson has a master's degree in education. Before opening Play Garden she operated Global Awakenings, a fair trade store in downtown Charleston. A former teacher, she's also taught Pilates classes and she has a holistic health degree.

All her employees have completed background checks and they either have children themselves or have training in education, she said.

The Play Garden concept, she says, combines all her experiences — education, retail and healthy living. The response to the the playcare concept has been overwhelmingly positive so far, so she hopes to expand to at least two other locations in the Charleston area.

"Moms have been calling and they're like 'Is this for real?," she said. "We think it's going to fill the gap in what's available for childcare."