Our story
The Play Garden is a community and family-oriented child development hub & store focusing on all things play, early learning, and development. Our mission is to inspire parents and children to build connection through play.
We offer a wide range of tried-and-true developmental and open-ended toy products focusing on all developmental aspects of play, slow living, imagination, and early learning.
We also offer educational sessions for parents and educators to build an understanding of child development and community support.
Meet the Owner
Hilary Walsh (she/her) is the person behind The Play Garden. Creativity and play have always been the inspiration and driving force of her career.
Hilary has spent years studying the neuroscience of child development. She has a passion for designing education sessions for adults on child development, emotional regulation, and play. She understands the process of building and nurturing a community. With her work experience and education, she has the skillset to curate a collection of products and toys to help develop a child’s motor, social, and cognitive development. Her experience as an occupational therapist, dance movement therapist, health promotion specialist, and dance/circus teacher has finetuned her skills as a group facilitator.
Hilary is also available to lead professional development at schools and child-care facilities - connect with her here.
View Hilary’s Credentials
Customer Service
Customer experience is very important to us. We want The Play Garden to be a source of support, guidance, and education for people who care for children.
It is too easy to become overwhelmed with the information and advice washing over us on a daily basis. When it boils down to it, Play is the most important work for a developing child. It is one of the main ways children explore, learn and understand their world. That is why play is such a valuable way to connect with and nourish your child’s development.
We aim to simplify your search for good, healthy, evidence-based products and information by focusing on play-based connection and growth. Our staff are qualified and experienced to identify your needs, and provide the help and support you deserve.
“We are never more fully alive,
more completely ourselves,
or more deeply engrossed in anything
than when we are playing.”
- Charles Schafer