The Inspired Child offers a place to play in Corydon, Indiana
“Connecting with your child, with other parents, and your child connecting with other kids.”
That is how owner Erica Walter describes the goal of The Inspired Child, and connection is present in all they do. The Inspired Child opened in Corydon in December and has since become a community space for the town and for visitors.
The “community center” has a play space, daily classes, sensory activities and more. Kids can drop in or they can have a membership with a monthly fee and visit as often as they like. Parents are able to play with the kids or set up shop and work while they watch.
The “community center” has a play space, daily classes, sensory activities and more. Kids can drop in or they can have a membership with a monthly fee and visit as often as they like. Parents are able to play with the kids or set up shop and work while they watch.
Walter herself has a 2-year-old and a 3-year-old, is a nurse and works at her children’s preschool. Her vision for The Inspired Child was swift, but passionate.
“We were on vacation, and I heard this boutique was going out of business. I looked at my husband and was just like, ‘We should open something in Corydon,’” she said. “We love Corydon so much and want to help make it a place for families.”
Walter said she is not naturally a businessperson and has experienced quite the learning curve while opening; however, she continues to let the center be inspired by her own family and activities her kids would enjoy.
Classes offered include art, science and music and usually have a weekly theme accompanied by daily thematic crafts. They’ve had a Father’s Day watercolor card class, sensory bins, stuffed animal pretend picnics, pottery, beading and more.
Classes offered include art, science and music and usually have a weekly theme accompanied by daily thematic crafts. They’ve had a Father’s Day watercolor card class, sensory bins, stuffed animal pretend picnics, pottery, beading and more.
“We like to really partner in the shop with other local businesses to get the word out about theirs and ours and promote community for families,” she said.
For instance, a local bath bomb company recently came in and worked with the kids on painting bath bombs they could then take home.
The Inspired Child hosts local vendors selling their products as well as a homeschool co-op, focused on giving the community the resources and connection they are looking for.
“Really it all stems from my family, my kids. I really try to incorporate things that they would love. We joke that when you come in here, the messier the better, and parents don’t have to clean it up.”
– Erica Walter, Owner
“Really it all stems from my family, my kids. I really try to incorporate things that they would love,” she said. “We joke that when you come in here, the messier the better, and parents don’t have to clean it up.”
Walter said the kids are also learning as they play and learning to play together, while parents make connections with each other.
Activities and classes are structured in such a way that kids of any age can participate, from infants to 12-year-olds. The idea is for people to participate in the capacity they can.
In the future, Walter said she’d like to pursue more STEM activities for The Inspired Child.
“Some kids in the community aren’t going to make it to Louisville or have access to these things, so bringing that aspect to our small town and also bringing people from other places to our town is a really nice addition to having the shop here in Corydon,” she said.
Apart from The Inspired Child, Walter also hosts Cinema on Chestnut, which is an outdoor family movie event. After starting in 2022, these have become a local hit with food trucks, games, sensory pools and local vendor booths.
With everything Walter does, connection is unmistakably front and center. •
Check out The Inspired Child or Cinema on Chestnut on their respective Facebook pages.
Story by Darian Decker
Photos by Michelle Hockman
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