T-R PHOTO BY LANA BRADSTREAM The Grinch stops at the soft opening of Squish in downtown Marshalltown yesterday and visits with co-owners Bobbie Slaney and Tiffany Fouts as Fouts’ children enjoy the new sensory play business. Aubrie attempts a backward slide into the large corn bin, as Paislee makes her way into the photo.

Kids in Marshalltown have a new play option – Squish, a downtown hands-on sensory play business.

Owners Bobbie Slaney and Tiffany Fouts started the business inside the Hellberg’s Jewelers building at 13 W. Main St., with a soft opening on Monday. According to Slaney, the inspiration came when they saw there were not a lot of play options for the children of Marshalltown.

“We were given the opportunity to rent a space, and we decided our kids love playing in things like this,” she said. “Why not open it up? Marshalltown doesn’t have a lot of stuff for kids.”

Slaney said since there are not a lot of activities for children, the response from the community to the opening of Squish has been positive.

Renting the space next to her mother’s business — Sawdust and Flames — they have tables and containers filled with things kids can sink their hands into.

“Kids can come in and make a mess here and not at their homes,” she said. “They can get their sensory needs.”

Sensory needs play engages the five senses — touch, smell, sight, taste and sound — and incorporates movement. The type of play helps build focus and motor skills and encourages growth of social interaction.

“Kids need that sensory,” Slaney said. “They need to touch. They need to feel. They need to see. They need to play, and come together and communicate with other kids, too.”

Squish has bins filled with corn, beans and rice. They also have blocks on a train track table, a table with Play-Doh, bins with cotton balls, sand and dinosaurs, noodles for kids to string, one with unicorns and jewels and a Christmas bin with seasonal items. She said Squish is geared toward children ages two to 12, but added that everyone is welcome.

“There are many things they can dig their hands into and play,” Slaney said.

The eye catcher of the store is a large area filled with corn kernels, much like a sandbox, with a slide going into it.

A grand opening is scheduled for Dec. 20. Squish is hosting a $10 special for the entrance fee for each child during December. Afterward, Slaney said it will be $14.95.

“It’s an all-day, single-day pass,” she said.

Squish will also host parties, Slaney added. They have three packages — basic, deluxe and ultimate. For the parties, she said all of the kids will get to make slime and have a couple hours of playtime. They also provide birthday cakes, and themed decorations chosen by the party are included in the ultimate package.

STORE INFORMATION:

Name: Squish

Address: 13 W. Main St.

Hours: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m, Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday and Saturday

Phone: 641-691-1544

Email: squishsensoryplay@gmail.com

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Contact Lana Bradstream

at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or

lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.