Owned and operated by Brooklyn native and mom, Leah Ervi, Blueberry Kids, Inc. debuted in December 2013. Inspired by the five years she and her family lived in super-family-friendly Finland, Ervi wanted to create a community hub, a place where kids and parents could come together to learn, snack, shop and play. (You'll often see her 19-month-old, Milo, and 4-year-old, Stella, hanging out at here.) The store has a lovingly curated selection of toys, books, gear and costumes, and is a great place for gift shopping. There's also a snack bar serving scoops from the New York Ice Cream Co., sugar-free candies and homemade cupcakes.

The play space is located in the back of the store. It's small and cute, and best for children ages 4 and under, since there's limited space to run amok. There's a modest wooden jungle gym with a slide, a toy kitchen, and drawers full of blocks, costumes, toy strollers and children's books. There are daily drop-in play hours and for $8 you can stay as long as you'd like. However, since this is also where classes are held, it's important to check the online calendar so you avoid those times. Enriching classes for preschoolers and young kids include art, performing, music, Mommy & Me Gym and even sewing, and all offer drop-in rates in case you want to try them out. Blueberry Kids, Inc. also hosts birthday parties, FREE storytime on Fridays and occasional no-cost special events. Check the website for the most up-to-date schedule.

But the biggest attraction at Blueberry Kids, Inc. may be its drop-off babysitting. While this service is only available to members, fees are reasonable ($30 a month, which comes with perks like unlimited open playtime and parent cocktail hours). Then on weekday afternoons and Saturday evenings, you can drop your kid off for $16-$18 an hour. Advance reservations are required. You can find all of the fine print on the website.

Blueberry Kids, Inc. is located at 732 Washington Avenue between Prospect and Park Places. It's a short stroll away from a bunch of other Prospect Heights family destinations like Underhill Playground, Blue Marble Ice Cream, the Central Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library and Prospect Park.

Find other offbeat places to play inside in our Indoor Activity Guide.

This post originally published in May 2014.