What to Include in Your Perfect Indoor Family Play Area

Indoor children’s play areas have become a popular addition to a range of family-friendly businesses in recent years. From shopping malls and family restaurants to gyms and fitness centers, airport waiting areas, hotels and resorts, rec centers, libraries, and more, indoor play areas offer a valuable service for families looking to keep their children entertained and engaged. These centers provide a safe and stimulating environment where children can play, learn and socialize, while parents can relax, catch up on work, or simply enjoy some downtime.

Indoor play centers offer an excellent business opportunity for entrepreneurs who are passionate about providing much-needed service to families in their community while generating profit. By offering a fun and safe space for families to enjoy, indoor play centers can enhance the overall experience of their host business and create a loyal customer base.

5 tips for creating the perfect family indoor play area for any size of space or type of business.

1. Plan the Size of Your Play Room Space

Determine the amount of space you have available and how you want to divide it up. Consider including separate zones for different age groups, such as a toddler area and a separate section for older kids.

A play area could be located in a small room off of your main business area, such as in a gym or community center, or in the center of a food court in a larger business like a mall or airport. Let’s look at some examples of what this might look like.

Play Rooms

Playrooms can make great use of vacant store space in a retail location.

Stand-alone Play Areas

Stand-alone play centers are self-contained. Great for hallways or wide open spaces.

Small Play Structures

A smaller fort may be all you need for the space you have available, but it will inspire big imaginations all the same.

Yellow and grey camper themed kids play house.
Rec Center Play Room

2. Safety First for Children in Your Play Area

Once you have a space, safety should be a top priority when designing an indoor play area.

One of the most important aspects of creating a safe indoor play area is selecting the right type of flooring. Soft and cushioned flooring is ideal, as it provides a soft landing surface for children who may trip or fall during play. This type of flooring helps to reduce the impact of falls, minimizing the risk of serious injury.

In addition to selecting the right type of flooring, installing safety gates can also help to prevent accidents and injuries. Safety gates can be used to restrict access to certain areas of the play area to different age groups, such as keeping toddlers out of areas meant for older children.

Using age-appropriate toys and equipment is another important consideration when designing an indoor play area. Toys and equipment that are designed for older children may not be safe for toddlers and can increase the risk of accidents and injuries. Make sure to carefully consider the age range of the children who will be using the play area, and choose toys and equipment that are appropriate for their developmental level. We’ll get into more detail about the types of equipment in a moment.

Don’t Forget the Rules

A list of rules for parents and children to follow will also help maintain safety.

Your play area rules could include:

  1. Parental Supervision: Children must be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times while in the play area.
  2. Age Limits: Clearly state age limits for different areas or equipment within the play area to ensure that younger children are not playing on equipment designed for older children.
  3. No Roughhousing: Running, pushing, and other rough play should be prohibited to prevent injuries to children and damage to equipment.
  4. No Food or Drinks: Eating and drinking should not be allowed in the play area to prevent spills and potential choking hazards.
  5. No Shoes: Shoes should be removed before entering the play area to prevent dirt and debris from being tracked in and to reduce the risk of slipping and falling.
  6. No Sick Children: Children who are sick or have a contagious illness should not be allowed to use the play area to prevent the spread of germs to other children.
  7. No Bullying or Harassment: Bullying or harassment of other children should not be tolerated and will result in immediate removal from the play area.
  8. Clean Up: Children should be encouraged to clean up after themselves and return any toys or equipment to their proper place after use.

3. Choose the Perfect Theme for Your Indoor Play Area

Having a theme helps create a cohesive and professional look to your play area, plus it is great for branding and advertising.

Your theme can be based on fun colors. It can be an out-of-this-world space or fantasy adventure. If you’re located in a coastal mountain town or a desert city, you can use your local flora and fauna to inspire you.

For example, the Westshore Town Centre shopping mall takes its name to heart, with a selection of shoreline-themed play structures including a climbable soft play bear catching a salmon, a whale tail slide, a lighthouse with a wheel that spins the light, plus so much more. This centerpiece play area reflects the brand of the mall along with the local landmarks guests are familiar with.

4. Select a Variety of Age-Appropriate Activities for Your Play Area

Select activities that are suitable for the ages of the children who will be using the play area. For example, a toddler area could include soft play mats, low-height slides, and ride-on toys, while an older kids’ zone could include climbing walls, ball pits, and interactive video games.

Hands-on Play Options

Hands-on play is great for younger kids as it helps develop fine and gross motor skills, hand-eye coordination, spatial awareness, and social skills as children interact with others. Hands-on play options could include Keebee playboards, sensory tables like bead maze tables or magnetic activity tables, large puzzles, building blocks, and coloring areas with markers and crayons.

Woodland rock game wall with Keebee play boards and video games.
Woodland rock game wall with Keebee play boards for toddlers.
A seaplane that allows kids to turn the wheel and use their imagination.
Giant foam play blocks.

Interactive play inspires imagination!

Soft Play Climbable Sculptures

“Soft play” sculptures are typically made from high-density foam that is covered with a durable, waterproof vinyl material. This makes them safe for children to crawl on, climb over, and play with, while also being easy to clean and maintain.

Soft play sculptures come in a variety of shapes and sizes, including characters, slides, tunnels, vehicles, and more. They can be customized to fit any theme or color scheme, making them a popular choice for indoor play areas, daycare centers, and other children’s facilities.

Soft play foam sculpture slide with a goat sitting on a mountain side.
Soft play foam sculpture slide with a goat sitting on a mountainside.

Because soft play sculptures are soft and squishy, they are less likely to cause injury than traditional play equipment made from hard materials like metal or plastic. They can also be used to create obstacle courses and other interactive play experiences that promote physical activity and imaginative play.

Contemporary style, woodland-themed wall murals with deer, birds and squirrels.
A mall play area filled with soft play sculptures for children to interact with.

Slides

Slides are a popular and fun form of active play for children of all ages, and even adults can enjoy them. Sliding down a slide can provide a sense of thrill and excitement, as well as help to develop physical skills such as balance, coordination, and gross motor skills. And they’re just plain fun!

Yellow slide on a pirate ship themed play structure

Ball Pits

Playing in a ball pit provides a tactile and sensory-rich experience, which can be beneficial for children with sensory processing difficulties. The feeling of sinking into a pit filled with soft, squishy balls can be calming and regulating. Let’s not forget that a ball pit is simply a fun and enjoyable experience for children. It can provide a break from structured activities and offer a chance to dive in and laugh to their heart’s content.

Climbing Structures and Ropes

If your facility has the capability and space to incorporate climbing structures, tunnels, and rope courses, these can offer an exciting and engaging way for children to develop essential gross motor skills such as coordination, balance, and strength. Not only do climbing structures provide a safe environment for children to take risks and explore their limits, but they also foster the development of confidence and self-esteem as they navigate through the structures under supervision.

Video Games

While some parents may go to play areas to avoid digital stimulation, adding video games to an indoor play area for children can provide a number of benefits and can engage kids of different ages.

As technology continues to play an increasingly important role in daily life, offering video games in a play area can provide children with a chance to become familiar with and comfortable using technology in a safe and supervised setting. Many video games require players to use hand-eye coordination and problem-solving skills, which can help develop these skills in children.

Kids playing on wall mounted gaming tablets.

Offering video games alongside other play options like climbing structures, ball pits, and sports activities can provide a generous range of play activities for children and keep them entertained for longer periods.

If you want the best of both worlds, a great alternative is floor-projected video games. These games encourage active participation by inviting children to jump and stomp on animated bugs, balls, and lily pads that are projected onto the floor.

An underwater themed reception area with a sculpted cave featuring a floor projected video game for kids.
An underwater themed play area featuring a floor-projected video game for kids.

TVs and Theaters

While adding a TV to a play area can provide entertainment for children, it may not offer the same developmental benefits as active play options. However, it could be a viable addition to a play area depending on the needs of the business and the interests of the children. If children are tired from play but not ready to leave yet, it provides a quiet alternative for those taking a break.

Photo Op Characters and Backdrops

Parents are all about capturing fun and special moments with their children as they play. Providing the perfect photo opportunity for them is a bonus for parents and an even bigger bonus for your social media.

Parents who take and share photos of a fun day at your play park are creating valuable user-generated content that helps promote your fun services. Include your name, your logo, or even encourage the use of a hashtag to make the best use of this content.

KNOW A MALL THAT CAN
BENEFIT FROM A PLAY AREA?

5. Consider These Essential Additions to Enhance Your Indoor Play Area

Add Signs for Wayfinding and Instructions

An important part of any play area is letting people know you have it, where to find it, and how to use it (like the rules sign mentioned earlier). Signs can come in a variety of shapes and styles, from 2D to 3D.

Signs can also include your logo, hours of operation, and other useful information, like where the bathroom is located.

Keep it All Clean with a Shoe Rack

Adding a shoe rack outside your children’s play area can have several benefits:

  1. Keeping the play area clean: Children can bring dirt, mud, or other debris on their shoes when they enter the play area. By having a shoe rack outside the play area, you can encourage them to take off their shoes and leave them outside, which can help keep the play area clean and safe for children.
  2. Preventing slips and falls: Wet or muddy shoes can make the floor slippery, which can increase the risk of slips and falls. By leaving shoes outside, you can prevent these accidents from happening and keep your children safe.
  3. Encouraging organization: A shoe rack outside the play area can encourage children to take responsibility for their belongings and keep them organized. It can also make it easier for them to find their shoes when they need them.

Provide Comfortable Seating for Parents

Make sure to include comfortable seating for parents or caregivers to relax while the children play. Consider adding tables and chairs for snacks or drinks. If food is not allowed near the play area, consider adding a seating area nearby where the play area can still be observed.

Providing seating areas can create a social atmosphere for parents and caregivers to interact with one another. This can lead to new friendships and a sense of community.

Plan for Stroller Parking

Families with children of all ages will want to come to your play area. Make it as convenient as possible for them by providing a space for them to store their bulky strollers.

Providing a designated space for stroller storage can help eliminate any potential hazards or clutter that may disrupt the play area. Having a safe and easily accessible place to store strollers also makes it more convenient for families with young children, as they won’t have to worry about maneuvering a bulky stroller through a crowded play area.

Follow This Guide to Create the Perfect Indoor Family Play Area

The benefits these play areas can offer parents and kids alike make them invaluable. Now that you have this information in mind, why not consider creating one at your own location? With this list you should be on your way to making an amazing play area for children in any business or location. So don’t hesitate, let the kids go play!


Want more resources related to this topic?

The Secret to Attracting Young Families to Your Shopping Center

Playful Photo Op Inspiration

Play Areas & Kids Clubs

Don’t know where to start with creating your indoor playground? One of our Creative Consultants would love to help. Contact Imagination Design Studios (IDS) to get started transforming your facility from a mundane to a magical guest experience.

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Keep Guests on Track with 7 Types of Fun Wayfinding Signage for Pediatric Healthcare Spaces

Signs, signs, everywhere a sign!

Signs are a very important part of your visitor experience. They let people know  ‘where am I?’, ‘where is my destination?’ and ‘how do I get from here to there?’.

Wayfinding signage is an essential aspect of any business or facility, and it goes beyond just guiding people from one place to another. It is a critical component in creating an organic guest experience that makes visitors feel comfortable and confident in your space. Effective wayfinding signage provides clear and accurate information about the layout and features of the space, from restrooms and exits to amenities and services.

We’re going to focus on child-friendly signage and how to help

While wayfinding signage is not meant to advertise or promote, it does play a vital role in portraying a positive company image and strengthening your brand. It helps visitors to navigate your space with ease, making their experience more enjoyable and memorable.

We’re going to dive into images from the IDS archives and take a look at different types of signs, their purpose, and let you know why they are so important to creating a great environment for children.

7 Types of Signs You Should Use in Your Family-friendly Business

There are many different types of wayfinding signage that can be used to help people find their way: identification, informational, directional, and regulatory. Some of these signs can be more fun and interactive than others. Let’s take a look at some great examples of fun signage that will appeal to children and their families.

1. Welcome Signs

Welcome guests to your office in the most obvious way… with a giant welcome sign! Welcome signs are a type of wayfinding signage that is specifically designed to greet and orient visitors to a business. They create a positive first impression and help visitors feel more at ease when they arrive at your business.

A well-designed welcome sign can communicate important messages about the business’s brand, such as its personality, values, and the products or services it offers. This can help to establish a brand identity that customers can connect with.

Logo Welcome Signs

You don’t have to say the word ‘welcome’ when inviting guests in – welcome guests with confirmation that they are in the right location with a big bold sign showing your name or logo.

Jungle themed sign reading "Children's Dentistry of Pocatello".

2. Directional Signage

Wayfinding signs can help visitors orient themselves and find their way around your business, reducing the risk of them getting lost or feeling frustrated. They will also feel empowered as they will be able to find what they are looking for without having to ask for assistance.

Overall, directional signs are an essential element of wayfinding in a business, helping customers to navigate the space and enhancing their experience. By providing clear directions, saving time, enhancing the customer experience, and establishing brand identity, directional signs can play a crucial role in a business’s success.

Bathroom Signage

Every sign can be themed. Bright, bold colors make these bathroom signs stand out and catch people’s attention.

Instead of traditional bathroom signage, use playful language, silly characters, or puns to make the signs more fun and lighthearted. This appeals to children and will leave a good impression on their parents.

Room and Chair Designations

While wayfinding encompasses many different aspects of navigation, helping people find their intended chair or treatment room is a key component.

To ensure your dental office signage is effective for all age groups, it’s important to consider the needs and abilities of each demographic. For example, if you work with young patients in a pediatric environment, it’s likely that they won’t be able to read a written sign. In such cases, incorporating easily recognizable characters or imagery can be an effective way to help children navigate the space. For instance, the “hippo room” and “zebra room” names may be difficult for a child to read, but associating them with the corresponding animal characters can make it easy for them to identify the rooms at a glance. By considering the needs of different age groups and incorporating visual cues, you can create signage that is both functional and engaging for all patients.

By helping visitors navigate your business more easily and feel more comfortable, navigational signs can contribute to overall customer satisfaction.

3. Label Signs

The importance of clear and concise signage cannot be overstated. In the examples below, visitors will know exactly what each station is used for and if it is for them to use.



4. Monument Exterior Signs

Monument exterior signs are large, freestanding signs. These signs are often located at the entrance to a property, or along a busy road or highway. Monument exterior signs are highly visible and can help draw attention to your business, especially from people driving by or passing by on foot.

A well-designed monument exterior sign can help establish your business as a fun, friendly place catering to children and families.

5. Pylon Street Signs

Functioning similarly to a monument sign but towering hiiigh above traffic, a pylon sign is an excellent way to create a high-impact billboard for your business. By utilizing a tall structure, a pylon sign can be seen from a greater distance, making it an effective tool for attracting new customers and promoting your brand.

Pylon signs are often located near highways or other high-traffic areas, making them an ideal choice for businesses that want to increase their visibility and stand out from the competition. With eye-catching graphics and clear messaging, a pylon sign can be a powerful marketing tool that helps to increase brand recognition and drive sales.


NEED NEW SIGNAGE
FOR YOUR OFFICE?


6. Building Signage

By incorporating big, bold, and 3D exterior signage on their building, businesses can increase their visibility and effectively convey the type of experience customers can expect inside.

Colorful characters can also be added to building signage to make the sign visually engaging and interesting, catching the attention of passersby. Everyone will know your business is meant for kids with this winning combination of colors, characters, and fun!

Such signage can also help your business stand out from the competition and make a memorable impression on potential customers. By investing in attention-grabbing signage, businesses can increase foot traffic and ultimately drive sales.

7. Fun and Educational Signs and Graphics

Signs and graphics are not only informative but can also be educational and fun for children. This is especially true in children’s museums, where signs and displays are designed to teach young visitors about a variety of topics in a visually engaging way.

Colorful and interactive signs with graphics and illustrations can help children retain information better and make the learning experience more enjoyable. Use this technique in your dental office for a fun and engaging experience.

Infographic signs use visual elements, such as charts, diagrams, and icons, to convey information in a clear, but approachable, way. Infographics can be used to provide patients with information about how to maintain good oral hygiene, such as brushing and flossing techniques, and the importance of regular check-ups.

Overall, signs play an important role in helping customers and children navigate through your family-friendly business and communicate important information about your fun brand. Have fun with your wayfinding and make your business the first choice for families in your community!

Want some amazing child-friendly signage of your own? Connect with one of our Creative Consultants today to learn how you can get your own unforgettable wayfinding experience!


Check out more inspiring signage and wayfinding ideas for your office:

Signage & Wayfinding

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Create a Memorable Patient Experience Through Dental Office Interior Design and Decor

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Tips for Creating a Presentation Area in Your Children’s Library

A library’s storytime area or presentation area is a great space to engage with your community and draw attention to your library. Having exciting decor in a library’s interior area can be a great way to appeal to kids and families. Kids will be excited to attend events and visit the library knowing that it has a space built for them.

Here are ways you can enhance your presentation area and leave an impression on your visitors.


Choosing the Ideal Space for Your Library’s Children’s Presentation Area

When selecting a space in your children’s library that can be dedicated to presentations and storytime with kids, there are several factors to consider to ensure it is appropriate and functional for the purpose.

Firstly, it is important to choose a space that is easily accessible to visitors, especially families with young children where stroller parking space is a factor to consider. Consider a location that is on the main floor, near the entrance, or in an area with high traffic. This will help to increase visibility and encourage visitors to use the presentation area.

Secondly, the space should be visible from various parts of the library. Choose a location that is visible from the circulation desk or other busy areas, such as the children’s section. This will help to promote the use of the presentation area and ensure that visitors know where to go for events and activities.

Thirdly, the space should be large enough to accommodate groups of children and their caregivers comfortably. Consider the average size of groups attending events, and ensure there is enough seating and floor space to accommodate them.

Finally, consider the acoustics of the space. Make sure that it is quiet enough for presenters to be heard without distraction, while also ensuring that it is not too quiet that it dampens the energy of the events.


Comfortable and Inclusive Seating Options for Library Storytime Areas

It’s important to choose seating options that are comfortable for children and their caregivers. Plan for all ages, from toddlers to grandparents. Floor cushions, bean bags, and kid-sized chairs are great options for children, while adult-sized chairs or benches are suitable for caregivers. You may also want to consider providing some tables for children to use for drawing or other activities during events.

The seating arrangement should be designed to allow for optimal viewing and participation. Consider a semi-circle or U-shaped seating arrangement, which allows for good visibility and participation for all attendees.

Adding a small stage or podium can create a focal point for presenters and make the presentation area feel more professional. A podium or stage can also make it easier for presenters to be heard and seen by the audience, especially if the space is large or if there are distractions from other library activities.

By considering the seating and layout of the presentation area, you can create a comfortable and engaging space that will encourage children to participate in literacy activities and events and promote a love of reading.


Enhancing Library Presentation Areas with Essential Multimedia Tools

Adding multimedia equipment to a presentation area in a children’s library can greatly enhance the experience for attendees and presenters. Equip the area with multimedia tools such as a projector, screen, TV, and sound system equipped with a microphone, so that presenters can easily share visual aids, videos, or music with the audience.

If you can, add lighting or a spotlight to draw attention to your presenter.

By equipping the presentation area with multimedia tools, the library can create a more professional and polished environment for events and activities. This can help to attract high-quality presenters and improve the overall reputation of the library.


Creative Decorating Ideas for Inviting Library Presentation Spaces

Make the presentation area visually appealing and inviting for children by adding colorful artwork and murals.

Using Creative Backdrops to Transform Library Presentation Areas

Consider using creative backdrops within your decor to really set the scene at your presentation area. Depending on the atmosphere that your library is going for, you can have anything from abstract, contemporary art to fun and whimsical pieces on your interior walls.

theater themed selfie stage in pediatric dentist office

These unique pieces can also create fun backgrounds for photos that you or your visitors can use on social media when not in use.

Create Wonder in Your Library Presentation Area with a Theme

Consider choosing a theme that reflects the library’s mission or focus, such as nature, animals, or a specific literary genre. This can help to create a cohesive and visually appealing space that ties in with the library’s overall brand. Theming is also a great way to immerse your guests and keep them engaged during presentations.

Themes can include having a woodland forest theme and surrounding your guests with the beauty of trees and the natural environment, allowing them to stay connected to nature indoors.

Or transport children under the sea with a sunken ship presentation area with sharks and fish eagerly watching the speaker.

Having a unique theme and characters that come with it can create a central landmark for your space and help focus attention on your little ones. These spaces can also be talking points for your presentees to help break the ice with their audience.

There are many ways that a library can add exciting, themed decor to its presentation area to appeal to kids and families. Creative backdrops, unique murals, and creating wonder are great ways to begin crafting the environment that you and your visitors will enjoy. With unique environments and themed spaces, your library will be filled with eager visitors and, even better, eager readers.


Engage with the Community in Your Library’s Presentation Area

Ultimately if you want to build an amazing presentation area in your library, you need to engage the community. People are what makes your library a success!

Involve local schools, community groups, and parent organizations in the presentation area’s activities to build partnerships and strengthen community engagement. Plan regular events and activities, such as author visits, book clubs, storytelling sessions, or craft workshops, that can take place in the presentation area. Make sure to promote these events through your library’s website, social media, and other marketing channels.

By following these steps, you can create a presentation area in your children’s library that promotes literacy, engages young readers, and fosters a love of learning.


Check out these related resources for making your library an exciting place to learn:

4 Ways Social Media Can Help Promote Your Library

Say Cheese! Playful Photo Op Inspiration

The Benefits of Themed Decor for Kids

Explore Examples of Children’s Library Decor

Contact Imagination Design Studios (IDS) to get started transforming your library into a place that captures everyone’s attention!

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Creating a Sense of Nostalgia for The Next Generation of Kids

nos·tal·gia

The wistful yearning to return to a magical moment from your youth.

In recent years, there has been a sad trend of kid-centric places disappearing from public life. From the beloved McDonald’s Playplaces of the 80s and 90s to local ice cream shops and arcades, these spaces filled with fun characters, friendly mascots, play areas, and bright colors have been replaced with more mature establishments.

Places for Kids
Mascots for Kids

This grey washing of our public spaces may result in a generation that could be devoid of fun nostalgia as they look back on the places they visited in their youth. But what if we could bring back this sense of nostalgia; bring back color, bring back fun?


The Benefits of Fun Places for Kids

Millennials’ memories of play places in their childhood will influence how they view your business today. With decor aimed at children, parents will seek to take their children to your location to recreate those magical memories. While McDonald’s attempted to shift its focus away from children to avoid criticism for selling unhealthy food to them, many other companies that can embrace their child-friendly image. Examples include community libraries, children’s ministries, family hair salons, pediatric dental clinics, and mall play areas, which can enhance their appeal to families by incorporating child-focused decor.

Fun places for kids not only create a sense of nostalgia but also provide other benefits to both children and adults. These include increased physical activity, improved social skills and confidence, and strengthened bonds between parent/caregiver and child.


Creating Kid-Centric Spaces with Theming & Bright Colors

To create these much-needed kid-centric spaces, businesses should look at introducing theming, colors, and mascot characters into their establishments.

You can turn any business into a kid-friendly space with:

Creating Memories
Noah’s Ark Children’s Ministry Reception Area
Bayou Play Area
Full view of jungle-themed kid-friendly hair salon showing partition walls with 2D murals, a washing station with 3D sculpted sign, and large waiting area bench wrapped around a 3D sculpted waterfall and characters
Kid-friendly Hair Salon
Insect Mall Play Area

Even small changes can make a big difference – something as simple as introducing bright colors or adding a character can create an instant connection with kids while still appealing to adults.

Mushroom Library Reading Area

Compare those examples to what happened to Mcdonald’s. Great for adults, but not inviting for the imagination of children.

I don’t remember kids asking to take the fun away and replace it with beige.

By creating kid-friendly environments that are inviting, businesses will be able to capture the hearts (and wallets) of parents while also giving kids their own special place to hang out and have fun.


Become a Place of Nostalgia

While it’s true that many kid-centric places have disappeared from our lives over the past few decades, that doesn’t mean it’s too late to bring them back. By introducing theming and color into our commercial spaces – big or small – we can recapture some of the fun nostalgia of childhood for the new generation while providing significant benefits for all involved.

It’s time to bring back the fun!


Do you like this article? Here are a few other resources that you might be interested in:

5 Benefits of a Mascot for Pediatric Dental Offices

Play Areas & Kids Clubs

Landmark Characters

 Contact Imagination Design Studios (IDS) to get started transforming your facility from a mundane to a magical guest experience.

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4 Ways a Roadside Attraction Can Benefit Your City or Town

With the lasting effects of the pandemic on the tourism industry, it is more important than ever to find ways to attract visitors to your town. However, competing with big cities and their many venues of entertainment can make it difficult to keep up.

But what if there was a way to draw in tourists and locals alike? What if you could create something that would make people want to seek out your town? What if you could get on the map?

There is a way, and that is by creating and promoting a roadside attraction! Have you seen the movie National Lampoon’s Vacation? If you have, then you remember Chevy Chase promising his family that they will soon see the world’s second-largest ball of twine. The movie is fiction, but roadside attractions like that are real and do in fact increase tourism.

An attraction can be something like a “World’s Largest…”, a historic site, or a photo op for families to pose with.

By having a roadside attraction within your town, you are creating a focal point for your town’s marketing efforts. A roadside attraction can create buzz around your city, improve your online platform’s performance, develop your town’s economy, and solidify your town’s identity amongst the people.


4 Reasons Why You Should Have a Roadside Attraction in Your Town


1. Attractions Create Buzz and Conversations That Increase Tourism

Having a roadside attraction gives a reason for tourists to not miss your town.

With tourists already on the road and wanting to venture through the country, a roadside attraction can be another destination they’ll add to the list of places to stop. How often can one say they’ve seen a 40ft gorilla, a giant pierogi, or the “World’s Largest Wagon Wheel and Pick Axe”? These are just a few examples of large-scale landmarks that can be found across America.

Giant pines cones at the center of town.

If you’re curious to see more examples of large-scale landmarks created by IDS, click here.

Hearing about these unique landmarks can create buzz and entice tourists to stop by your town. Not to mention that you are providing your tourists with a unique conversation starter that they can share with family, friends, or even other travelers on their journey. This word of mouth can create organic traffic for travelers to come to visit your town, and once they do, you’ll be able to showcase the local businesses and culture that your town is known for.

By having a roadside attraction, you are also giving opportunity for your town’s economy to grow, more on that later.

Bonus Tip: Get Listed in Directories

There are directories, from Wikipedia to travel websites, that list must-see attractions, including those places with “The World’s Largest” sculptures that make it easy for travelers to plan road trips. Making sure your community is listed on these directories is an easy way to get attention.


2. Attractions Create an Organic Social Media Tool for Your Town

Nowadays, posting on social media is key to growing awareness for anything, whether it be businesses, people, cities, or towns. Having a unique landmark that can only be found in your area can provide a memorable photo opportunity for tourists to use and post on social media. This in turn can become an organic way for your town to market itself and grow its online presence. You can even encourage visitors to use a hashtag to help keep track of any photos posted on social media.

Think of the Eiffel Tower or the Empire State Building. You most likely didn’t have to google where you can find those landmarks because their symbol is so closely tied to that city. Especially with today’s social media climate, all it takes is one photo of your attraction to go viral and draw the attention of potential visitors.

If you’re really eager about how to maximize the photo potential of your roadside attraction, you can provide fun, personalized photos of your tourists when they come to visit your location – think of photos that they provide at theme parks, national parks, and gift shops.

Family posing in the grip of a giant gorilla photo opportunity character.


3. Attractions Help Develop Your Town’s Economy

As mentioned earlier, having a roadside attraction can help boost your town’s economy. An influx of tourism means an influx of money into your local economy.

A landmark acts as a stepping stone for your town. Drawing people into your community helps to share the spotlight from the attraction to local businesses. Hidden gems can be found in many communities and having an attraction can help uncover them. Travelers will be spending money on food, lodging, souvenirs, and attractions while they visit your town.

Check out this great example of photo op bench characters. This pair of dating dinosaurs in downtown Drumheller, Alberta (known as Gus and his girlfriend to locals) are located at 2 separate bus stops on opposite ends of the street, prompting visitors to take a stroll through the main street and see all the other stores and restaurants along the way.

Beyond increasing the activity at local businesses, the attraction itself can create job opportunities for local residents, from management and maintenance to customer service and sales positions.

If you want to take your town’s development one step further, you can provide memorabilia based around your landmark. Think of keychains, magnets, t-shirts, hats, and more. The possibilities are endless. Your landmark will be a feature that can’t be found anywhere else, tourists will love to take a little memento back home or to give to a loved one.

The world’s largest dinosaur has been an iconic feature of Alberta since 1999.

Seeing this landmark not only in its main location but throughout your town can help build and solidify your town’s identity.


4. Attractions Solidify Your Town’s Identity and Boosts Community Pride

We’ve talked a lot about the marketing and economic potential that having a roadside attraction can provide, but a roadside attraction can also benefit the individual members of your community as well. This is because your landmark can become a unifying symbol that represents your town.

It’s easy for people living in small towns or rural areas to feel disconnected from the rest of the world; having a unique piece of art or landmark can give them something tangible that they can point to with pride and say “This is ours!” As word spreads about your town’s one-of-a-kind creation, more and more locals may flock to check it out as well —especially if it’s free!

The local 4H club posing with their community’s attraction.
Even pets can get in on the action.

You may be worried about how to decide on a piece for your town, a simple solution would be to provide a public survey of what your citizens want to be represented with and go with the majority. Having a brand new attraction for your town can help jumpstart excitement within the community and become a talking point for social events and gatherings.


Are You Ready to Boost Your Tourism Power with a Roadside Attraction?

Roadside attractions have been around for decades but have become increasingly popular in recent years due to their ability to attract tourists from near and far. Investing in one could potentially bring numerous benefits to your town including increased tourism, economic development, social media growth, and community pride.

Why not give people a reason to seek you out? Give them an adventure by creating a giant sculpture or artwork as a roadside attraction!

One of our Creative Consultants would love to help. Contact Imagination Design Studios (IDS) to get started creating your special attraction.


If you thought this article was interesting, watch this incredible landmark whale sculpture come to life in Texas:



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Contact Imagination Design Studios (IDS) to get started transforming your tourism experience from mundane to magical.

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6 Types of Roadside Attractions That Will Get You Noticed

Having unique roadside attractions and landmarks can be a simple solution to support your town’s marketing efforts, but how does one decide what to create as their main piece? After all, with the investment going into this project, you want to make sure it’s not only a unique piece that stands out but one that resonates with your community.

Luckily, there are lots of different types of attractions to pick from to help inspire your decision. From giant sculptures to highlighting natural wonders, this list can help show the benefits of each type and make you one step closer to getting your town on the map.

Let’s check out the varying types of attractions that your town may be interested in creating.

1. Giant Statues and Sculptures

Giant, larger-than-life statues can be an eye-catching and noticeable choice to attract tourists to visit your community. These sculptures can be anything from animals to people to plants and objects that are related to or can be found within your community.

Giant pines cones at the center of a town.

Creating a giant sculpture that represents your community can enhance its identity and provide a focal point for its values. Whether your town has a strong connection to an industry such as mining or forestry, local flora & fauna, cultural heritage, or historical figure, a sculpture that embodies these elements can promote local pride and draw visitors to explore your town’s unique character.

For example, imagine creating a larger-than-life sculpture of the majestic Bald Eagle, which is the national bird of the United States and can be found in many states. This iconic bird of prey symbolizes freedom, strength, and independence, making it a perfect inspiration for a landmark sculpture that embodies a town’s spirit. The landmark sculpture could be designed to be educational as well. Visitors could learn about the history and significance of the Bald Eagle, as well as the importance of preserving its habitat and the natural environment.

Large, exterior walrus sculpture on the roof top of a pediatric dental office.
Large, exterior walrus sculpture.

They are a great boost for local businesses as well. For example, dinosaurs have become a beloved symbol that captures our fascination with prehistoric times, and are an obvious choice for a giant landmark owing to their larger-than-life stature. Any region that is rich in prehistoric features can leverage this popular attraction by installing a giant dinosaur landmark that is sure to captivate tourists, leading them to explore local museums, fossil shops, and dino-themed restaurants.

Exterior shot of business with a giant red and blue dinosaur landmark character on the roof.

Having a giant version of an item you least expect can be a unique way to entice travelers to take a rest stop in your town. A simple “Have you seen the giant potato peeler?” can be an easy and simple conversation starter that can lead back to you and your community.

Overall, a giant sculpture that represents the local community can be an excellent way to amplify and grow the town’s identity while serving as a focal point for the community’s values and history. By highlighting the unique aspects of the town or region, it can also help to attract visitors who are interested in learning more about the area’s culture, heritage, and industry.

2. Natural Wonders

Naturally occurring roadside attractions can be a fascinating sight for travelers and tourists alike. These attractions are often created by natural forces over thousands or even millions of years, and can provide a glimpse into the history and geology of the surrounding area.

Some of the most popular naturally occurring roadside attractions include giant redwood trees, impressive rock formations, and stunning waterfalls. These natural wonders can provide a unique and memorable experience for visitors, and can even inspire a sense of awe and wonder.

The Grand Canyon

Perhaps you have a natural wonder close to your community and you want to emphasize its importance in a more interactive way. Having a 3D sculpture that pays homage to your natural surrounding can be a great way to provide the bigger picture in a single space. This can make for great photo ops for family and friends when they come to visit your location.

3. Historical Sites

Many roadside attractions are dedicated to preserving and showcasing the history of a particular area or topic. These attractions can range from small, local museums to larger historical sites that draw visitors from across the country. Some examples of these types of attractions include historic battlefields, pioneer settlements, and museums that focus on local industries or cultural traditions.

The World’s Largest Wagon Wheel and Pick Axe is located in the Fort Assiniboine National Historic Site.

Similar to natural wonders, using giant sculptures can help emphasize the meaning behind historical sites and build on the importance of that site. Oftentimes, historical sites utilize past images to showcase the events of that era. These photos can often be small or only provide a small portion of the actual event.

Using a large-scale sculpture can help immerse your visitors to see the intensity of the many details that history may have. Perhaps your location is next to a well-known historic battle, you could use large-scale sculptures to create a 3D landscape of what that battle may have entailed. Maybe your historical site involves a prominent figure that made a difference within your community or within history, having a large-scale sculpture of that figure can help focus the importance of that historical person.

All these ideas give your visitors a unique and memorable experience that they’ll be able to share with future visitors for years to come.

4. Museums and Curiosities

Museums can be historical in nature, but can also focus on science, art, or just a day of discovery.

Exterior shot of the Hollywood Wax Museum.
Hollywood Wax Museum featuring the World’s Largest Gorilla at 40ft tall.

If your business is out of the ordinary and takes its guests through a journey outside of the box of regular life, using a roadside attraction can be a great way to gauge curiosity towards your business. Museums, optical illusion exhibits, science centers, and other outside-the-box businesses can benefit from outside-the-box attractions. An upscale exterior design can entice or give visitors a hint at what your business is all about.

A great example of this is the business WonderWorks, in which its building is literally flipped on its head.

Exterior shop of Wonderworks Musuem themed and cladded to look like an upside-down building.
Wonderworks Museum with entertainment center focused on science exhibits.

WonderWorks is an indoor amusement park that combines both education and entertainment through its exhibits. Having a unique exterior design both turns heads and causes curiosity as to what hidden treasures that building may contain. WonderWorks also knows that its exterior generates curiosity and that they’ve gone “big” to build a story about its unique origin. By doing this, they build on the customer experience and branding for its company.

5. Amusement Parks and Activities

Many roadside attractions include rides and games, such as go-karts, mini golf, and bumper boats.

Offering a small activity like a mini-golf course is a good way to encourage travelers to take a break and relax for a bit. It can even increase the length of time that tourists stay in the town. Instead of just passing through, they may choose to spend a night to play and to explore the other attractions in the town.

Sculpted open-mouthed hippo character for outdoor mini golf course.
Sculpted open-mouthed hippo character for outdoor mini golf course.

6. Art Installations or Murals

Art installations and murals can be a unique way to create both a sense of community and create engagement from visitors. Having a large-scale art piece along a busy roadway can quickly enhance what your town or city is all about and give a focal point for guests to see and instantly relate to. These pieces can also showcase multiple aspects of your town and flow together into one captivating piece that can educate your visitors.

Have you heard of Graffiti Alley in Toronto, Canada? This unique section within the Greater Toronto Area stretches 1000 feet and showcases large-scale graffiti pieces that have become an iconic photo opportunity for models and photographers. These sets of murals also help encapsulate the alley’s history and curiosity about how the piece came to be.

On top of this, it has created an organic focus point for tourists to visit and venture into closeby businesses. The alley can be found within the heart of the GTA and closeby to Queens Street West which has local cafes, restaurants, and stores.

Although graffiti may not be the art style that you’d prefer for your community, a large-scale art piece designed to represent your town can create opportunities to highlight your location.

What Attraction is Right for You?

Whether it’s a statue of an iconic figure, an out-of-the-ordinary exterior design, or a large-scale art piece for photo ops, having a unique roadside attraction can be to drive visitors to learn more about your community. These six different ideas will help you start the conversation and jumpstart your ideas.

Regardless of what your community decides to go with, creating an iconic landmark can become a unique staple of your community piece for years to come.


Want some more inspiration for promoting your town or business?

How Exterior Theming Can Draw Visitors to Your Tourist Attraction

4 Ways a Roadside Attraction Can Benefit Your City or Town

How to Build a Giant Elephant

Playful Photo Op Inspiration

Contact Imagination Design Studios (IDS) to get started transforming your tourism experience from mundane to magical.

FOUND THIS ARTICLE HELPFUL?

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Improve the Experience of Pediatric Therapy Patients with Fun Decor

Children who need therapy, whether OT, PT, ST, or ABA therapy, often face a unique challenge. The journey of learning and recovery can be emotional, tiring, and at times, daunting to children who may not understand the outcome of their treatment. As a healthcare professional providing therapy to pediatric patients, it is important to keep their spirits up and make sure that they are comfortable in your environment.

One way to improve your patient’s experience is by creating fun and functional decor in your therapy space that will engage children while also helping them heal.

Patient consult with mother and daughter.

We will discuss the types of decor you can add to your space and how you can use this kid-centric decor to improve the therapy patient experience.


How to Improve the Experience of Pediatric Therapy Patients with Fun Decor


Using Colorful Wall Art to Transform a Space

Wall decor is the perfect solution for therapy spaces that require ample room for activities. By adorning your walls with eye-catching art, you can transform a bland space into an immersive environment that sparks joy and distracts from any anxieties.

The walls of your therapy space should be colorful, inviting, and reflective of your brand identity. When children enter the room, they should feel immediately at ease and excited to engage in therapy sessions. That’s why selecting wall art that reflects your brand is crucial. Whether you want to create a calming and relaxing environment or a space for fun and play, your wall decor can help you achieve that goal.

Smaller window graphic panels provide fun wall decor as well.

Fun wall colors and graphics are a great place to start. Take it to the next level with murals featuring exciting themes and landscapes. Colorful murals and graphics have been found to greatly enhance the patient experience at therapy clinics and pediatric therapy centers. For kids in particular, a theme can make a kid’s stay much less daunting. It can provide a visual escape from the task at hand and create an inviting atmosphere that feels safe.


Using Fun Furniture & Accessories to Create an Engaging Space

Pediatric therapy clinics can be intimidating for children, but by incorporating fun and comfortable furniture, such as bean bag chairs, colorful rugs, playful seating options, or even swings, you can help them feel more relaxed and comfortable in the space.

A variety of seating options.

Other accessories such as toys, puzzles, or games can add more fun elements into the mix while also providing opportunities for therapeutic learning activities during sessions. Children may feel anxious or stressed during therapy sessions, but by incorporating engaging accessories, you can help distract them from any discomfort or fear they may be experiencing.

Play-based therapy is an effective approach for children, and by incorporating playful furniture and accessories, you can encourage play and exploration, which can lead to better therapeutic outcomes.

Functional but fun furniture like shoe racks, bookshelves, and storage seating is a great way to add some exciting decor without taking away from therapy space.

A fantastical shoe rack.

To learn more about custom furniture pieces, click here.

Finally, adding plants into the mix helps create an even more engaging atmosphere. By adding natural elements to the decor, it greatly contributes to improving indoor air quality which helps boost moods further. Even creating an outdoor therapy area where kids can be outside in fresh air with trees can take your clinic to the next level.


Creating Comfort Through Accessible Design & Layout

When it comes to pediatric therapy, creating a welcoming and comfortable environment is essential for your patient’s success. A key aspect of achieving this is ensuring that all furniture pieces are easily accessible for children of all ages and abilities. Sharp edges and overly tall furniture can be intimidating and uncomfortable for young patients, so it’s crucial to choose pieces that are safe and inviting. By designing a space that feels like it’s made for them, not adults, children will feel more at ease and engaged in their therapy sessions.

A well-thought-out layout will also provide secure circulation paths throughout treatment rooms so every child can move around with ease, without feeling trapped or closed off.

Additionally, using accessible signage with pictures and colors can also make navigating the space easier for children who may have difficulty reading.

Wayfinding sign that reads "Hippo Room".

We, as adults often forget what it’s like to experience a space as a child. If you approach designing therapy spaces with the mindset of a child, you may be surprised at how much more welcoming and accommodating you can make it feel. By prioritizing elements like accessibility, comfort, and fun, you can create a pediatric therapy environment that encourages play, engagement, and positive therapeutic outcomes.

Whether it’s selecting furniture that’s the right size and shape for small bodies, or adding playful decor that sparks joy and curiosity, every detail counts. With a little creativity and attention to detail, you can transform your therapy space into a place where children feel safe, supported, and excited to learn and grow.


Environment Has a Big Impact on Children’s Patient Experience

The first impression your pediatric therapy clinic makes can set the tone for your patients’ entire experience. By creating a kid-centric environment with fun yet functional decor, you can instantly create an inviting and comfortable atmosphere that primes your patients for their therapy sessions. With the right decor, you can create a space that encourages play and exploration, making it easier for children to connect with their therapists and achieve positive therapeutic outcomes.

Mawish Baber, the operations director at the Andalusia Clinics for Kids Wellness has this to say about adding colorful themed decor to their clinic and therapy spaces:

“The kids love the theming. The kids that visit us have started referring to the clinic as “The Fun Center” cementing our desire to make this a place of wellness and development, not a place they are forced to visit.”


Interested to learn more? Check out these related resources for upgrading, renewing, and improving patient experience:

Pediatric Therapy Facility Decor Inspiration

What is Patient Experience and Why Does It Matter?

5 Ways to Improve Pediatric Patient Experience in Your Medical Clinic

Keep Guests on Track with 7 Types of Fun Wayfinding Signage for Pediatric Healthcare Spaces

How Creative Decor Can Benefit Pediatric Therapy Clinics

Contact Imagination Design Studios (IDS) to get started transforming your office from a mundane to a magical patient experience.

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