By Cory Olesen
Stephanie Fisher never planned on being a stay-at-home mom or own her own business. It turns out, she loves both.
The Playroom East Cobb first opened its doors in 2024, inspired by Fisher’s own journey through occupational therapy with her kids. The space is part indoor playground and part therapy gym, offering East Cobb families with young children an inclusive space for purposeful play.
The Playroom is a calm, intimate play experience where children can play without overstimulating or exhausting themselves. There’s a two-level play structure, a pillow pit, a rock wall and an obstacle course, along with plenty of STEM and sensory areas for more mentally focused play.
“One of the most important things I learned from therapy is that kids need a mix of physical and mental play to stay emotionally regulated,” says Fisher. “For example, trampoline parks focus only on physical play. Kids get so caught up jumping and running around that they forget to check in with their bodies. Having a mix of activities allows them to naturally transition between different levels of activity. It allows them to slow down and listen to what their bodies are telling them.”
Therapy isn’t just the inspiration behind The Playroom, but an integral part of the business model. When she first came up with the idea, Fisher reached out to child therapists in the area to get a better idea of what was needed. Now, she works with over 10 occupational and speech therapists to offer programs that build emotional, physical and cognitive skills through the power of play.
“I grew up in a small town,” she says. “So I’ve always been rooted in community and actively seek it out. It’s been great to connect with other moms who are business owners. I met one of our partnered therapists through a birthday party she booked here; she’s now teaching our handwriting class. The mural that’s painted in the calm room was done by a local mom. It’s been wonderful!”
The space has also become a safe haven for autistic children and their families. Fisher works closely with the Collective Autism Experience, a community group for parents with autistic kids. The group meets at The Playroom for play dates, and Fisher has also worked with them to host sensory-friendly events like Sensitive Santa, a holiday event with reduced lighting and music, sensory-trained staff and limited guests, this past December.
“I wanted to create a space where kids like mine could have fun, and parents like me could relax. And, hopefully, that’s what I’ve done.”
