In partnership with Linking Families and Communities Executive Director Elizabeth Stanek, Becker opened the Fort Dodge Play and Learn Center last August.

Located on the second floor of the Wells Fargo building, 822 Central Ave., it is open to all younger children and their families, but is mostly geared toward kids between the ages of 2 and 5. The center features five activity stations focusing on imagination, art, engineering, sensory play and movement.

“This has just been a longtime dream of mine,” Becker said. “And then Elizabeth reached out this summer and offered to help get us started, so she helped my vision and dream come to life.”

Becker hosts “open play” sessions several days a week. The two-hour play sessions are unstructured — the parents and the kids decide what they want to do. Activities vary from painting to playing dress-up, to scooping cereal and pouring it into small cups to exercise fine motor skills.

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
The Fort Dodge Play and Learn Center hosts open play sessions every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 9-11 a.m.

“Kids are sad when they leave, they don’t want to leave,” Becker said. “And parents are just glad to have somewhere that their child can come and just be a kid. It’s a very kid-friendly space.”

In recent months, the Play and Learn Center has been pretty active, Becker said. Open play sessions are scheduled from 9 to11 a.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through the end of February.

“It’s definitely filling a need, especially during these winter months, to give families a place to go and connect and get that energy out,” she said.

During a recent open play session, Megan Doyle, of Fort Dodge, brought her 3-year-old daughter, Madeline, to play.

“I think it’s good interaction for her, she can play and she knows a lot of these kids, too,” Doyle said. “It’s a good learning experience and the kids are using their imagination and getting creative.”

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
Kristin Johnson, of Fort Dodge, and her daughter, Hallie, 2 1/2, paint rainbows during a recent open play session at the Fort Dodge Play and Learn Center.

Becker used to be an elementary school teacher at Butler Elementary School and understands the importance of family engagement and early childhood education.

“It’s important to get kids acclimated at an early stage to being able to socialize and start working on emotional regulation and sharing and all those social skills,” Becker said. “This space gives them a chance to do that.”

The parents are also able to socialize during these play times.

“There have been lots of connections and relationships among families,” Becker said.

Parents are able to connect with other parents who understand what they’re going through with raising younger children.

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
Lauren Schnurr and her daughter, Kennedy, 1 1/2, play with some numbers at the sensory table during a recent open play session at the Fort Dodge Play and Learn Center.

There is a $4 fee for each open play session — or a six-visit punch card for $20 — which goes to help sustain the space and purchase supplies and activities.

“Our hope is to grow and expand,” Becker said.

Families pre-register for the open play sessions because each session is limited to 20 children.

“This space can’t hold much more,” Becker said.

“Hopefully if we can onboard more volunteers, we can open more days of the week,” she said. “Right now we just aren’t able to sustain it yet.”

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
Caitlin Trushcheff and Thea, 3, and Laura Bunda and Bo, 2, play with some building toys during a recent open play session at the Fort Dodge Play and Learn Center.

The center is currently all-volunteer run, and Becker is looking for more volunteers to supervise and help run the space during the open play sessions.

“It’s a two-hour time commitment and very laid back once you’re here,” she said.

Anyone interested in volunteering or wanting more information on the program, or to donate, can email Becker at FDPLC@linking-families.com. The preregistration link can be found on the Fort Dodge Play & Learn Center Facebook page.