Community Highlights: Meet Kristi Swen of Kids Wonder

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristi Swen

Kristi, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
What began as a homework assignment turned into what is now Kids Wonder. My husband, Cameron, was tasked with developing a business plan for his MBA program and at that time, we were parents to young children and frustrated by the lack of play options for younger children. We wanted to create more than just a typical bounce house or trampoline park but a safe, engaging space designed specifically for toddlers. Combining my background in education with Cameron’s expertise as an MBA marketing analyst and mechanical engineer, we set out to build a play center where toddlers could learn, imagine, and grow through interactive, full-body play and pretend activities. In 2018, after extensive research and planning, we found a location in Centennial and opened in February 2019. Both working full-time jobs, me as a teacher and Cameron in product marketing, we poured our hearts into Kids Wonder – personally building structures and interactive play areas like a pretend coffee shop and grocery store, with a focus on promoting independence, creativity, and social development, in an inclusive environment.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road, but we’ve been incredibly thankful for the community’s support. When we started, we realized there was a gap in the market for a space like Kids Wonder. Neither my husband nor I had experience as business owners, but we believed in the concept and our skills, which has been life-changing. We never anticipated pursuing this path, but we feel like we’ve found our true calling. Of course, there have been setbacks and challenges along the way—owning a small business is always demanding. We’ve had to pivot to meet changing needs, but overall, we’re grateful for the journey.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Kids Wonder?
Kids Wonder is ideal for the younger kids – it’s geared towards kiddos 6 months old to 6 years old. What sets us apart is the fact that we’ve been very intentional in every detail. Our goal is to encourage both mental and physical growth through interactive, full body play and pretend activities. There’s the Lil’ Town which includes a post office, a grocery story, a vet and a theater! We have a soft play area exclusively for crawlers and then we have an entire room full of inflatables to get ALL the wiggles out – and build strength. We wanted to focus on promoting independence, creativity and social development in an inclusive environment.

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
What’s surprising to me is how many people come into Kids Wonder and think it’s a franchise. When I tell them that the Centennial location is the only one, they’re often shocked and say there should be a place like this near them (we get visitors from out of town and even people traveling within Colorado to check us out). What they don’t realize is that Kids Wonder isn’t part of a big corporation —it was built from the ground up with our own hands.

Pricing:

• Online reservation you save $2; walk in – Admission is $17 for one kid and $3 for adult.
• Monthly memberships start at $69
• Birthday Parties starting at $149

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kidswonder.net
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ilovekidswonder/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IloveKidsWonder
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/kids-wonder-centennial

Image Credits:
Kids Wonder