The Original Playhouse

The Original Playhouse (TOP) is a place where the imagination comes to life in a number of rooms designed to nurture creativity, while teaching children valuable life skills, like how to express themselves and relate to others. It is also a place where parents, caregivers and children can play together in a clean, safe, colorful and open environment conducive to exploration. From the Art Room to the Nature Nook, no detail has been left out and it all combines to delight the young and old alike in a fresh approach to play. Like a well-thought-out classroom in an elementary school, the components that contribute to a love of learning are all in place.  Colorful paint and murals cover the walls and sunshine fills the house that founder Ellen Przybocki built to bring a sophisticated environment for fun and education to West Main Street in New Market, Maryland. 

The Original Playhouse is part classroom, part museum, part playground and 100 percent grounded in sound educational philosophy. According to Przybocki, "Early brain development grows primarily thru play. Children learn how to take on other roles in pretend play, they make sense of their world thru acting out roles they perceive at home or in the community. This elicits empathy and leadership, important skills necessary for their ensuing academic pursuits whatever path they endeavor. Play is an essential component in socialization, deep understanding, sharing, getting along, learning; the list is exhaustive if you look at all the research about the benefits of play. A children's museum is an ideal venue for this type of development to occur naturally. They offer an opportunity for parents to engage with their children inside a child's world view."

Przybocki is still a "teacher," though she doesn't report to a classroom every day, unless it is the one she has built at TOP, but she does have a formal background and experience as an educator for 17 years. She thought carefully about how to create a place that incorporates "teachable moments," into what can be seen and touched. She changes the countries being highlighted in the Village Home each year to bring children an up close look at what life is like for children in other countries and adds seasonal holidays as they might be experienced by other cultures. 

In addition to being able to drop in for some unstructured fun, TOP is also a new favorite place to host birthday parties and Przybocki has partnered with a local restaurant to offer a Parent's Night Out. Drop the children off at TOP and step next door for dinner, knowing you are all having an enriching experience. 

The initial feedback to TOP is more than encouraging. The community is embracing a creative new space for children and parents alike, where "laughter and excitement," "joy and pleasure," are the typical reactions, except when it's time to leave. Then, there may be a bit of tears, but Przybocki knows how to solve that problem. Children are invited to take a sticker and place it on a poster indicating their favorite room and if it is okay with Mom and Dad, they can have a lollipop to go! 

TOP is tops with the parents and children in New Market, MD. Make a stop at TOP and see for yourself.  

Hours

Tue-Fri: 8:30am - 4pm

Saturday: Birthday Parties !!

Sunday: 11:00-5pm

Closed Monday