It’s not a daycare, it’s a school. S.T.E.A.M. or Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics is the name of the game at Play Smarter Kids, located at 6913 Oak Street in Bonners Ferry. With flexible enrollment options available, Play Smarter Kids may be just what you are looking for your young children; from just a few days a week to full time; education, enrichment and early learning is key.
Marissa Sumpter or Aurora as she is sometimes called and her husband, originally from Bonners Ferry, moved from Houston, Texas back to Bonners Ferry in 2021 to make a fresh start for their young family.
In 2012, Marissa began a mobile program with different establishments in the Houston area where she held camps and S.T.E.A.M events for private schools, recreation centers and for Houston Independent School District. In 2017 she closed the chapter on mobile learning and opened her brick-and-mortar location. After three successful years, she closed the doors in 2020 after COVID threatened their livelihood and made plans to return to the
Inland Northwest.
Play Smarter Kids takes pride in the program they provide to each child. With an original story-based curriculum, enrichment classes including music, cooking, art, science, play-botics, sports and gardening they make it a place where every child wants to be.
Play Smarter Kids enrollment hours are 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. for full days, 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. for half days with a 1:8 or 2:12 ratio for teacher to child. Drop ins are available as slots allow.
Play Smarter Kids is state licensed and ICCP (Idaho Child Care Program) approved and can be reached at (208)646-9399 to enroll your child or with any questions or concerns. You can also check out what they are up on to on their Facebook page.
Here are additional articles that have been written about Marissa and Play Smarter Kids:
