A Roc Parent’s Pick: Ontario Play & Cafe

What is Ontario Play & Café:

• A Rochester-based family business
• A 14,000-square-foot play center with café for children ages 10 and younger plus their parents, grandparents, or sitters for fun, hands-on, and open play.
• Café seating is the centerpiece for adults, where they can easily watch their children in all the surrounding play areas.
• The focus is to let children “explore naturally” on their own, letting them take the lead to learn through play.
• Unstructured free playtime helps children to develop creative ideas as well as

• independence and confidence.
• Non-electronic activities include construction play (giant foam blocks), water play (large play table where you can fill, pour, drain), room for infant and toddlers (padded and semi-enclosed), ride-in cars (push, pull, pedal), oversized swing (enclosed for several kids to enjoy together), and indoor playground with slides.
• Great for parent and children fun, play dates, cabin fever, social skill-building, grandma and grandpa time.

Why she likes it:

• Parents can relax while kiddos play!
• Open environment lets you see your child from almost anywhere.
• Healthy food options —even the pizza is made from scratch — plus healthy drinks and snacks.
• Safe environment with lots to do in one place.
• Friendly customer service, clean, and well kept.
• Cool stuff I also noticed they have — coffee espresso bar, free wifi, and a Mother’s Room with comfy chair for nursing.

What the owners say about it:

• We designed a place families would love to go all year long, while feeling welcome, comfortable, and safe.
• The variety of activities is physical, social, and sensory.
• We chose equipment thoughtfully, having the gradual development of children including fine- and gross-motor development, hand-eye coordination, social

• interaction, role play, and imagination.
• Healthy food is as important to us as quality of play. At Ontario Cafe, we offer only house-made dishes made from fresh ingredients. Nothing is fried or over-processed (no preservation and nut-free).

About Ontario Play & Cafe:

Where: 1861 Scottsville Road, Henrietta.

Cost: $7.50, children 1 year old; $11.50, children 2 to 12; $3, people older than 13; free, babies (younger than 1) with a sibling’s paid admission. *

*Promotions often available on website or Facebook page. Multi-visit bundle prices available.

Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday

Contact: (585) 434-2720

Learn more: www.ontarioplay.com