What an amazing gem of a play place!! We were visiting from out of town and needed an activity to let our 10 month old get out some energy. This was perfect! It is impeccably clean, everything is in great condition, the set up is welcoming and engaging, and the space is just the right size so kids can explore independently but you can still keep a close eye on them! There was a good mix of toys, books, things to climb, and imagination-led play areas. The staff working was wonderful, helpful, and kind! I feel like I walked into a place that really cares for kids and their grown ups (coffee available for adults, yes, please!). Also, there were kids in a range of ages playing and having a good time so I know if we go back my LO would find new ways to explore and imagine! If we lived nearby I would absolutely be here every week. Go visit this awesome spot! read more

Really enjoyed this play area. It wasn't too busy in the morning during the weekday when we went and also there's a lot of stations in a small area which is really fun. There's a little room as well as like a small upstairs look out my toddler really liked the climbing area as well as the ball pits and all the workers were very friendly. It was a little bit quiet so it'd be nice if there was some light music playing but overall, we had a good time. It will come back here soon. read more

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This is an amazing addition to the indoor play space options in this area! My toddler and I had a great time with our friends here and finally a kids place that opens early in the morning at 9am! for those whose toddler likes to wake up at 6am lol) Plenty of parking in their parking lot. The space is bright and clean with so many fun options to play including a climbing wall, tree house, vet office, grocery store, cozy cabin, lots of sensory and building toys, as well as a side area for littler ones. There are 2 bathrooms and a separate nursing area with a comfy chair and curtain for privacy. Very thoughtful! The price is $19/child with the fee but there is no time limit which is great! Unfortunately no outside food allowed but they have plenty of healthy snacks for purchase. They also offer many birthday party options and parents night out on Thursdays for a reasonable price! We will definitely be back to beat the heat and for those rainy days in fall and winter! read more

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Update: the balance between the summer camp and visiting families is awkward. It was not the camp counselors' fault at all, they were doing their best, and came up with an activity to keep the "camp kids" entertained and "out of the way" in one area. Before that, a camp kid had chased a toddler making him cry (again camp counselors responded quickly but it just felt like a weird situation and like there wasn't really enough space for the camp and the families that had paid for the day). I felt like I was inconveniencing them by letting my toddler use the foam pit. Also, there wasn't a dinosaur themed Velcro ball throwing game that had newly been placed (maybe for the campers?) and the balls we're choking hazards. I know this, because my 20 month old managed to get one entirely in his mouth while I was right there with him. I get that they are trying different ideas to bring in different clients, but it needs to be better thought out on management's end, especially in such a small space. Leaving my five star review because the play space itself is amazing and everyone was doing their best. read more

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We had the BEST birthday here at Play and Ponder!!! They had the BEST hospitality & provided soo much for us!! I was overwhelmed with love by how they took care of everything. The kids had fun playing & it went extremely well. Thank youu everybody at Play and Ponder, Popfetti PDX, Pastelskies PDX, Baking with Nanaanagela, and Dragon tree Productions for pulling together such a fun party!!! read more

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These folks went above and beyond to make our kiddos birthday special! The care, thoughtfulness and quality of the space they provide is truly outstanding. Thank you so much! We are so grateful for the accommodations that were provided. read more

The owner is so attentive to all the kiddos! The toys are so well thought out and placed around so it doesn't feel too cramped but also not empty. The birthday party room is amazing and I love how they take care of the guests. Definitely will be back! read more

Brought my kids on a Monday morning to run some energy out and give myself a break from entertaining. We were greeted by the owner and it was very apparent they have children of their own, as they've thought of every little detail. They had a place for my oldest to color while I filled out the waivers and paid for their admission, and they brought me a chair to sit if I wanted to- since I was holding my youngest in my arms. It's set up so that you can conveniently see your kids from anywhere in the space, no unnecessary walls dividing rooms like a lot of other places- which make it difficult for parents of multiples. Everything looked and smelled very clean, and they were great about quickly sanitizing anything they saw a kid put in their mouth. The selection of toys is very thoughtfully curated with educational toys and toys that encourage imaginative play. Both my 1 year old and almost 5 year old had plenty of things to keep them entertained. A lot of other indoor playgrounds for this age group, feel really curated for the older toddlers or the babies but this one felt really equally stocked for the different age ranges. I'd say this play space is best for babies and kids 0-7, making it the perfect place to bring your little and their older siblings. The only bummer is that my son said this is his new favorite lol and it's a bit of a drive from the east side. Crossing my fingers they open a second location closer to us eventually, but for now it sounds like we'll be making the drive out to Beaverton frequently. read more

Play and Ponder - Future veterinarian - Indoor Playcenter Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I had my daughter's 4th birthday here and I cannot say enough good things about our experience. This place is well managed and very clean. They were quick to respond to email inquiries before the event and they had 3 staff members there to assist us throughout the party. They did a great job helping set everything up and assisting throughout the party. The owner was there and she was very sweet and helpful throughout. The space itself is relatively small, but they pack in a lot of fun for the kids. It is thoughtfully laid out and I love their selection of activities and play things. We had kids from 1-10 and they all had a good time. I also appreciate that they have an espresso machine so adults can grab a latte while the kids play. The pricing is typical of most birthday venue places, but I felt the experience was exceptional. I would totally recommend this place for a birthday party! read more

My son loved playing in the kitchen area and climbing the walls. We had a spectacular experience. My 1 year old nephew came as well and had a ton of fun read more

Play and Ponder - My son in kitchen area - Indoor Playcenter Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Amazing staff. Had my daughters 2nd birthday and they exceeded my expectations. We chose the Ms Rachel theme and the decor blew my mind. I was so amazed and the kids had so much fun. I chose the amaze me package which is basically everything since I didn't want to stress about certain things. Although I had less number of guest required for this package, they were willing to tailor it to the number of guest/kids. The place was so neat and organized. Staff very polite and really helpful. With a rainy 4 months winter weather ahead of us, I am glad for such an indoor play center that carters to the needs of the little kiddos unlike the bigger/crowded play centers where the older kids run wild and bump into your little ones. Glad to have found this place LC read more

It was nice play the owner and staff was very concerned. The set up was great and our 20 month old had a blast. Will definitely come back and play. read more

I brought my 21 month old granddaughter and found this place tobe amazing! Oh so clean. I just loved the lack of "junk" filling the space. Many activities are on the wall at good hights for little ones. There are fun tiny themed rooms which are easy to see into from a bench for the adults. I liked that there was space to play and move around. Watching out little one discover this place was a delight. I really loved the room attendents calmly reseting areas and picking up as they moved around. The bathrooms are private and large and nice. It was easy to change a diaper and there is a place to put the used ones. There were spaces for our shoes and a place to hang our diaper bag. I felt comfortable enough to leave my purse in with my shoes. Thank you Play and Ponder for a wonderful experiance. read more

Play and Ponder - Indoor Playcenter Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Amazing owner and staff! Thank you Elizabeth for being so knowledgeable and Taylor for playing with my son! We love Play and Ponder! Great addition to Bethany! read more

The owner is amazing and so kind. She has so many great ideas and is always thinking about the parents she serves.

Ponder and Play is such a thoughtful and creative space--it really feels like it was designed with kids and parents in mind. There's so much for little ones to do, from jumping into the foam or ball pit to exploring the sensory bins and interactive walls and various play places. Everywhere you look, there are clever little touches that make the experience feel magical and fresh. Our kids (2 and 5) had an absolute blast and didn't want to leave. We'd definitely recommend it to any family looking for a fun, engaging place to play and explore together especially if you are trying to get out of the heat or cold. There is also coffee and snacks for parents and free WiFi! read more

The place is clean, and the staffs are very nice and helpful. My kids really enjoyed playing there.

BE CAREFUL WITH EVENTS: We signed up for a halloween event and we ended up getting a refund. They advertised many fun halloween activities, like face painting, crafts, games and encouraged costumes. We dressed up..come to find out it was just a regular old day for them... no one else was dressed up. And we were confined to a side room with a long table. No room to move around at all and God forbid you're plus size... you couldn't stand in the room comfortably. Families were there with their kids in their play area and then if you had a ticket for this halloween event you went to this room. Where crafts were happening. But quickly we learn that they ran out of supplies for certain activities they advertised and they did not have the activities they marketed out so I had to ask what other things they will have... maybe it was in a different part of the facility? Nope, this little cotton ball ghost craft is all they have. Mind you, we paid double the entry fee for this event. When I asked about face painting they said, "Oh, we don't have that set up, we were hoping no one would ask about it." We were very disappointed in them and we asked for our money back. They said this event was sponsored by the county... whatever that means? To me, it was them not taking ownership of such a crappy and underwhelming event. read more