There’s a new place in downtown Redmond where kids can be kids and burn off the zoomies, play grocery store, build things, do arts and crafts or just run around under the watchful eye of their parents.

The new indoor play place, appropriately named the Little Bug Play Hub, also serves as a venue space for birthday parties and other activities. It also offers two-hour, parent-supervised play sessions at its downtown location at 522 SW 6th Street

On Thanksgiving, Cortney Falappino, the play hub’s owner and operator, was busy hosting a group of toddlers and parents, who enjoyed the holiday painting turkeys and drinking juice boxes.

She said the idea for the business came to her while trying to figure out what to do with her own two small children. As a new mom, she realized there were no indoor spaces for kids to play here in Redmond. Then she learned she wasn’t the only parent wishing there was a play place in town.

“My friends said they wished they had somewhere to go, and I wished I had somewhere to go, so, quite honestly I was like, ‘Why not me? Why would I wait for somebody to do it? Let me do it,’” Falappino said. “I am a mom. I have two young kids. I know what kids like, what kids need. And I feel like we can tackle that social space for both kids and adults to hang out.”

Falappino, 36, lives out at Crooked River Ranch. She has also received strong support for her new businesses, which opened on Nov. 6.

So far, she said she’s been getting consistent clients bringing their kiddos in for play sessions, and she said she plans to expand the array of different activities available. Currently, Falappino offers three sessions per day. And while the play hub will accept walk-ins or crawl-ins, she recommended parents secure spots online prior to arrival.

“This definitely fulfills the need of getting kids socialized and playing with peers their own age. Especially at a younger age they need to play with other children to learn how to interact, how to handle conflict. How do we share? Even to just share our space with their bodies — they are learning so much,” Falappino said.

Before opening her first business, Falappino came from the medical field. While running the play hub on her own has been a learning experience, she plans to eventually hire staff and grow the business. Soon, she plans to collaborate with another local small business, Happy Habits, which works to foster physical and mental wellness for local youth.

Fallapino said the play sessions can accommodate 20 children, and so far she has had infants and kids as old as 11 years old in play sessions. She said unlike some similar play places, she does not have an age limit.

“Because every kid plays differently, they learn differently, and they develop at different stages,” Fallapino said. “So as long as your kid can have fun, you are welcome. I’m not going to tell someone no.”

Fallapino wanted to make sure people understood the play hub is not a daycare center. Parents are required to stay with their children during play sessions and activities. She said play sessions can be entertaining for both kids and parents, and she wants the space to be a social environment for parents just as much as for the kiddos.

“I really wanted to tackle a very open-ended, imaginative play area. Just a space where you can come,” she said. “Kids get in here and they use their imaginations. And they play and they learn. It is great. I love watching them.”