Little tykes just want to have fun which is why mother Julie Butler opened Bermuda’s first Pop Up Playroom.

The playroom, run by Mrs Butler’s company, The Playroom Limited, opened three mornings a week in the Sports Pavilion at the National Sports Centre in Devonshire last April, and is rapidly becoming a favourite activity for parents with young children.

“When my children were babies and just starting to walk, I felt there was a need for something like this,” said Mrs Butler who has two daughters Lily, five and Grace, two. “When it is rainy and cold in the winter and hot in the summer it is nice to have somewhere inside you can take the little ones where it is safe and clean and has age appropriate equipment.”

Mrs Butler estimates that at least 200 different families have visited since she opened.

“It is going well,” she said. “The first month was very busy. The main thing I am pleased about is every session I have done I have had new faces.

“I haven’t done a huge amount of advertising; it has mostly been word-of-mouth. It makes me think that many other parents and caregivers are also looking for something to do with the little ones during the day.”

Liz Nystrom mother of Beckett, two, said she found a trip to the playroom stimulating for her son.

“It always leads to a nice long nap,” she said. “I wish it had been open when my son was six months old as it would have been a great outing for him and for me.”

Sue Dunleavy grandmother of Sebastian, two, said she loves the freedom that it gives to little ones to explore.

“It certainly brings out their imaginations,” Mrs Dunleavy stated. “Meeting and chatting with so many parents, nannies and grandmas too has been a plus for me.”

Mrs Butler said a plus for the playroom was the location in Devonshire.

“There is loads of free parking and bathroom facilities,” she said. “I think by us being there we are bringing more traffic to the National Sports Centre.”

The playroom has a room to store their equipment, so they break down and pack away their supplies at the end of every session, hence the pop up idea.

The aim is to give the little ones space for free play. She doesn’t really organise story times, or specific activities.

She also doesn’t babysit; the child must be accompanied by a caregiver at all times.

“The children are left to their own devices to explore,” she said. “There are blocks they can use to build towers, a ball pit, large soft vinyl shapes that they climb over.

“I have dress up clothes. The older ones love the dress ups. I have a ride-on car, and a scooter thing they can go around the room in.

“It is an opportunity for them to develop gross motor skills, and socialise with other children their own age.”

She has found that during the week most of her clients are three years old and under, as older children tend to be in nursery school.

“I have had some six year olds come,” Mrs Butler said. “They play in a completely different way. They use their imagination with equipment with dress ups.

“The main thing is to keep the little ones safe. There is a separate piece of equipment for babies under 12 months. That is their area, and we keep the older ones out.”

She said a lot of caregivers like to get down on the floor and play with their babies and toddlers, but some moms like to sit on the sidelines and maybe have a cup of coffee or tea which is provided.

“It’s a chance to relax,” said Mrs Butler. “The area is small enough that the child is always in your sight.”

Entry is $15 for one adult and one child for the whole morning.

Additional siblings that are walking are $5 extra. If someone comes with a baby I don’t charge, don’t charge for grandma.

“Lily came with me last week,” she said. “She will be there next week with me. She loves being my helper and likes helping to mother the little ones.”

Since opening, she has also organised several birthday parties in the pop up playroom.

Mrs Butler said the pop up playroom is just a start but she has big dreams.

“I thought I would start small and give myself the chance to work out kinks and develop a client base,” she said. “I would eventually like to have my own space and be able to offer more for older children and possibly even have a cafe on site.

“We would be opening regularly. At moment we are only open in the mornings. We would like to have a more permanent presence.”

It costs $15 for one adult and one child for the whole morning or afternoon,” she said. “Additional siblings that are walking are $5 extra.”

For the month of July the playroom will be open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9.30am to 11.30am.

There will also be an opening on Saturday, July 19 from 2 to 5pm. For information about times see their website at bermudaplayroom.com.