Trinity Health adds medical, therapy playroom at Play Muskegon

MUSKEGON, Mich. — There is a place to connect with your children, playing in an immersive world without screens, right in Muskegon. 

Play Muskegon was created for families to bond and play with children, focusing on hands-on play. The space is primarily geared toward families with children under the age of 6. It began as an idea owner Jacqui Robinson and her family had after seeing similar play areas in the United Kingdom. 

“We noticed phones are put away, there’s no screens, there’s not a whole lot pulling their attention from what they’re doing,” said Robinson. “We wanted to create a similar experience for families here in West Michigan.”

The play space features numerous play rooms such as a restaurant, a market, a construction site and more.

Now, Trinity Health has partnered with Play Muskegon to create a medical and therapy focused room at the play area. 

“The hope is that they understand that the doctor’s office and therapy offices don’t have to be a place that you feel uncomfortable,” said Elaine Starkey-Ingalls, an occupational therapist who helped the partnership come together. 

The Trinity Health room features play medicine, Bosu balls and other occupational and physical therapy equipment, stethoscopes, blood pressure cuffs and more. 

“We were able to fill the room with tons of truly realistic toys that we use in our clinics themselves,” said Starkey-Ingalls. 

Robinson said the reception to the Trinity Health room has been great among both kids and parents. 

“Having the Trinity Health room has really allowed us the opportunity to give families the resources to talk and play pretend with some of those situations that don’t happen as frequently, like going to the doctor’s or going to the therapist,” said Robinson. 

Trinity Health also sponsored five sensory backpacks for the space, with items like a weighted pad, noise-cancelling headphones and more to help any child who becomes overwhelmed. 

“[You] could even find some of the deficits,” said Starkey-Ingalls about the occupational and physical therapy tools. “Maybe your kid comes in and plays with something and you didn’t even realize that that was a struggle for them, because they’ve never really had to. They’ve never really had to be put in that environment. We were able to provide the opportunity to find some of those resources and then learn about the different specialties that could then help address those deficits.”

Play Muskegon is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., but closed most holidays. Robinson suggests booking times to play online. They run 90 minute play sessions.