About the Studio
Our studio is conveniently located on E. Main Street, in the heart of downtown Springfield. When you walk in our doors, you will be greeted by our staff, signed in, and then the fun begins! There are 5 unique play environments for you and your littles to explore:
The Track - A mini track perfect for mini races and the cutest traffic jams you ever did see.
Tiny Town - Head to the grocery store to buy some essentials or to the vet if your favorite stuffed animal is under the weather. Tiny town is built for hours of dramatic play!
Cozy Corner - All of our baby toys have been chosen with care to promote connection, learning, and (we hope!) all the baby giggles. This area also features a reading nook with our favorite picture books rotated seasonally.
Creative Corner - A space for little engineers and artists to build and create. Relax on the couch and watch as your child’s creativity takes off!
The Castle - Featuring two slides, a clear bridge, climbing space, and pulley system - the castle is a royally good time!
Time to refuel? There are plenty of snacks and drinks to purchase and enjoy in our café area.
Don’t forget your socks!
We ask that you leave your shoes in the cubbies by the front desk, and wear socks while you play. This helps us keep the play studio clean for everyone! Don’t worry if your socks don’t match … we won’t judge.
(There are socks and shoe covers available for purchase at the front desk, just in case)
Wondering where to park?
The play studio is conveniently located in the Historic Tuttle Brother’s building! There is a small lot located outside our courtyard entrance! OR you will also find ample parking all along the side and back of the building! Don’t worry about the “permit parking” signs (permits are no longer in use)!
How it started
Building Block Play Studio began in 2021 as an idea between two friends, Valerie and Trena who had the same dream... a local, indoor play space for children to play, explore, create, engage, and build community .
In August of 2022, we received the keys to our dream space and quickly got to work renovating, designing, assembling, and preparing to open! December 13, 2022 we were OPEN for business!
Together, Valerie and Trena continued to build their dream space, hosted parties, open play, events, camps. classes, and BOTH welcomed new babies in 2023!
While you may still see Trena around the space leading camps or hosting open play, Valerie became the sole owner and operator of Building Block Play Studio in May of 2024! Valerie forever cherishes the time, energy, and ideas Trena put into the studio and looks forward to continuing to help the business grow! There are so many exciting things to come, budding ideas, and so many more friendships to be made at Building Block Play Studio!
Building Block Play Studio is now part of my family and my life’s dream come true, my hope is that Building Block Play Studio becomes a well loved part of your family’s life for years and years to come!
Playfully,
Valerie Block
Get to know The Block’s!
Meet Valerie Block, owner and operator of Building Block Play Studio, and her family.
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Meet Valerie Block, co-founder and current owner of Building Block Play Studio!
As a 2012 graduate of Wittenberg University, Valerie and her now husband Jeremy, decided to make Springfield their permanent home!
Valerie was a 1st Grade teacher at Snowhill Elementary Schools for 10 years before leaving to pursue a new dream; a safe, inviting, clean, and friendly space for kids to play. Her true passion is creating life-long learners. While in her last year of teaching, Valerie began working toward building a space that fostered family play, interaction with others in the community, engaged kids in the power of creative and imaginative play, and also allowed her to continue her love of creating life-long learners!
Valerie and Jeremy have 3 kiddos Jude, Emilia, and Jax who you will more than likely see playing at the studio during your visit!
Our mission is to provide an imaginative indoor play space where families and friends can gather to connect, create, and build community.
