The Grove – Safe Play & Community Guidelines

At The Grove, we are committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive and safety-focused play environment where children and families can play, learn, and grow together. Our shared space is designed for children of all ages and developmental stages, and we ask all families to help us maintain a respectful and safe community experience. By entering The Grove, guests agree to follow the guidelines below.

Safe Play & Safe Bodies

Children are expected to use equipment safely and as intended while maintaining awareness of others around them, especially younger children and infants who may be nearby. Rough play, pushing, climbing on exterior structures, or unsafe physical behavior is not permitted. Staff may redirect play at any time to support safety and ensure a positive experience for everyone in the space.

Following Staff Direction

Our team provides guidance and redirection to help maintain a safe environment for all families. Children and adults are expected to follow staff directions promptly and respectfully. If safety expectations cannot be followed, participation in certain activities or services may be limited or paused to protect the well-being of the group.

Parent & Caregiver Participation

The Grove is primarily a parent-supervised play environment. Parents and caregivers remain responsible for supervising their children and supporting safe behavior while visiting. Staff members facilitate the space and activities but do not provide one-on-one supervision or behavioral management. We ask caregivers to partner with staff in helping children navigate play safely and respectfully.

An Inclusive Community

The Grove welcomes children of all abilities, backgrounds, and developmental stages. We strive to create an environment where every child feels safe, included, and respected. Families are expected to model kindness and help maintain a positive atmosphere that supports learning through play and peer interaction.

Kind Language & Sharing

Toys and equipment at The Grove are shared community resources. Children are encouraged to practice taking turns, sharing materials, and interacting kindly with peers. Respectful and inclusive language is expected at all times so that all children and families feel comfortable in our space.

Body Awareness & Personal Space

Children should keep hands, feet, and bodies safe and respect the personal space of others. Staff may provide reminders or redirection to support safe interactions and help children develop awareness of their surroundings and peers during play.

Behavior & Group Participation

Because The Grove operates as a shared group environment, children participating in play should be able to follow basic safety directions, engage safely with equipment, and demonstrate awareness of others. When a child is having difficulty participating safely, staff may request caregiver assistance, modify participation, or pause play as needed to maintain safety for all guests.

Drop-Off Services

When offered, drop-off daycare services operate as limited-duration group supervision within our shared recreational play environment. The Grove is not a licensed daycare facility, and services do not include individualized supervision, behavioral support, or therapeutic care.

Participation in drop-off services is based on a child’s ability to safely participate within a group setting consistent with our staffing structure. For the safety and well-being of all guests, participation may be limited, modified, or paused if safety expectations cannot be supported within the group environment.

Safety & Participation Decisions

To help support a secure and positive environment, The Grove reserves the right to redirect activities, limit equipment use, or adjust participation as needed based on safety, staffing considerations, and the overall well-being of the community. Play activities involve inherent risks, including falls, collisions, and physical exertion. While The Grove takes reasonable steps such as routine equipment inspections and maintaining a clean, sanitized environment, no play environment can be completely risk-free. Participation indicates agreement to follow posted safety guidelines and staff direction.

Our Shared Goal

We believe children learn best through play, connection, and positive experiences. By working together — families and staff — we can create a joyful, supportive space where every child has the opportunity to grow and thrive.

Policies and participation guidelines may be updated periodically to support safety and operational needs.