Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexia Kelsey
Hi Alexia, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Prior to opening The Play Group, I spent a decade working as a wedding florist. My sister and I co-founded Kindred Blooms-my first “baby” and entrepreneurial adventure-and I loved building something that was completely ours. During those years, I also welcomed my two daughters, who are now 3 and 8.
When my oldest was a baby, I was always on the lookout for age-appropriate spaces to spend time with her. Surprisingly, there weren’t many places designed specifically for babies and toddlers-especially in a state where we spend nearly seven months of the year indoors. I was fortunate to find an infant play group filled with wonderful mothers who provided endless support during the often-challenging transition to parenthood. That sense of community was a lifeline for my mental health as a new mom and showed me just how valuable those connections could be.
As my oldest approached kindergarten, I realized my work in the wedding industry-demanding weekends and summers-no longer aligned with the kind of family life I wanted. After my second daughter was born, I stepped away from floral design and took time to reflect on what was next. Once again, I found myself searching for a welcoming space for my infant and a community of fellow parents.
One night, the idea for The Play Group came to me-name and all. I opened the notes app on my phone, jotted it down, and the rest is history. My goal was to create a space that nurtures both babies and toddlers while offering parents the same kind of connection and support that meant so much to me.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I’m incredibly grateful to have been welcomed into the community with open arms. Like any new business, we’ve faced our share of challenges along the way. One of the earliest hurdles was designing schedules that accommodate both one- and two-nap routines, a constant balancing act when serving babies and toddlers.
When we first opened, our focus was on parent connection groups and open play. However, over the summer, we quickly realized there was a significant demand for baby and toddler programming. This insight led us to expand our offerings to include a variety of enrichment classes tailored to infants and toddlers. Refining these classes, fine-tuning our schedule, and continually striving to create meaningful experiences for children and caregivers has been both a joy and a challenge.
This spring, we’re excited to launch the newest version of our membership, one that blends the need for community with the flexibility of drop-in classes, while providing consistency for our business. It’s an ongoing process of learning and adapting, but our commitment to serving families remains at the heart of everything we do.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
At The Play Group, we specialize in creating a warm, welcoming environment where babies, toddlers, and their caregivers can play, learn, and connect. Our space is designed specifically for children under five, offering age-appropriate play areas, open play sessions, and a variety of enrichment classes like music, art, and movement.
What sets us apart is our dual focus, not only on the children’s development, but also on building a supportive community for parents and caregivers. We understand how isolating early parenthood can feel, and we’re intentional about creating a space where adults can form meaningful connections while their little ones play and explore.
My background in the wedding industry has played a big role in shaping how I approach The Play Group. Those years instilled a strong work ethic and a deep desire to create meaningful, memorable experiences for others. I get to flex that “events muscle” by helping families celebrate beautiful children’s birthday parties while also designing our space and curating a thoughtful collection of playthings. It’s incredibly rewarding to bring that same attention to detail and care into a space that supports families during such a special season of life.
I’m incredibly proud of the community we’ve built. Seeing friendships blossom, between both kids and their caregivers, has been so rewarding. It’s more than just a play space; it’s a place where families feel seen, supported, and celebrated.
Our ability to adapt and listen to our members also sets us apart. We continuously refine our offerings based on what families need, whether it’s introducing new classes or creating flexible membership options. At the core of everything we do is a commitment to providing a thoughtful, nurturing environment that supports families through the early years.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I believe luck plays a role in everyone’s life, but I also think how you respond to the unexpected is what truly shapes your journey. In terms of good luck, I feel incredibly fortunate to have found a community that embraced The Play Group from the start. We’ve been supported by parents and caregivers who believe in our mission and have helped spread the word. That kind of organic growth and word-of-mouth support has been invaluable.
On the flip side, bad luck showed up early in our journey when it came to securing a space. Not every landlord is willing to take a chance on a start-up(especially one involving small children). We lost out on several spaces that we were really excited about, simply because we were financed by a small business loan. It was disheartening to see the vision for a space come together, only to be outbid by bigger businesses with more capital. But looking back, I can honestly say that the space we ended up in was absolutely the right one for us. I’m grateful our journey brought us here.
Ultimately, I think luck and hard work go hand in hand. The success of The Play Group is the result of seizing the right opportunities when they arise, and putting in the effort to build something meaningful, even when the road gets rocky. It’s been a journey of persistence, learning, and definitely some good luck along the way
Pricing:
- Unlimited Membership-$150/mo gets you unlimited access to our entire class roster, parent connective groups, and open play
- Membership-$55/mo gets you unlimited access to open play, our parent connective groups and $10 classes
- $15/child for open play
- $20/child for enrichment classes(new lower rate)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.theplaygroupmn.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theplaygroupmn
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Play-Group/61554901632737/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@theplaygroupmn
