ECONOMY

HERE AND NOW

Back To Basics

New local boutiques, businesses and brands
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By Lynne Konstantin

ature's Playhouse had become a
second home to Michelle McEvoy
and her son, Zander. Offering a
variety of parent-and-child classes
inspired by the founders' background
in the Waldorf philosophy, whose
approach to education prioritizes
hands-on activities and environments
that encourage creative play — Na-
ture's Playhouse, based in a commu-
nity house in Clawson, was already a
unique alternative for parents.
But when the original owners an-
nounced they were closing up shop,
McEvoy jumped at the chance to
combine her degree in anthropol-
ogy earned from the University of
Michigan, her teaching experience
in grades K-5 and her natural passion
for creating an environment that is
bursting with support, love and fun
for children and their moms.
When McEvoy, who had since had
a daughter, met Lisa Ball, who holds
a graduate degree from the Detroit

Business School and
heads and markets a va-
riety of entrepreneurial
ventures, and also has
Moms practice yoga while their children enjoy a safe play
a young son, the pair
environment at Nature's Playhouse.
clicked.
"We found that we
had a mutual desire
Since becoming business part-
ners, McEvoy and Ball have created a
to create a community of resources
mecca for expectant and new parents
and support for new and expecting
and their children, so much so that
parents based on our own needs as
they moved into their own space
mothers," McEvoy says. "Our goal is to
provide an all-natural play environ-
last month. Now located in Ferndale,
ment for children to enjoy, but even
Nature's Playhouse is still guided by
more, to provide a community of sup- the founders' philosophies.
"Everything is made from natural
port and wellness for the families of
materials, including wood, silk, wool
those children, where other parents
and cotton; McEvoy says."There are
and caregivers can connect with
each other while enriching their own
no plastic toys, nothing synthetic.
lives as well as those of their chil-
Everything is meant to compose a
very serene, natural environment for
dren. There are plenty of play spaces
children to play and explore."
around that give kids a fun place to
All toys are open-ended, giving
play, but we are unique in that we
children a chance to develop their
cater to the whole family and encour-
age well-being on every level."
own interests. The play experiences

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of earlier generations offer a respite
from today's noise-filled, overstimu-
lating play options.
Among the center's offerings are
parent and child classes (cost varies
but averages $10-$15 per class) and
drop-in playtime in an "Old-World,
all-natural" playscape environment,
adult wellness classes, including
yoga, meditation and Pilates, craft
and music workshops, natural child-
birth classes, baby sign-language
classes, breastfeeding support groups
and more. The center also sells
handcrafted items made by Michigan
families.
"One of the things I love about
Nature's Playhouse is that the en-
vironment and the class offerings
provide the opportunity for our kids
to observe and participate with us
while we do some things to take care
of ourselves;' McEvoy says.
Adds Ball, "Our programs focus
on family wellness through physical
health and classes to help women
bond with their child. Basically, we
want to provide a community of
resources designed around growing
happy and healthy families." RT

Nature's Playhouse, Ferndale (248-955-3219;
naturesplayhouse.com).

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1921880

36 June 20141

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