EDMOND, Okla. (KFOR) – COVID-19 closed many Oklahoma businesses and nearly closed a small gym in Edmond, designed for special needs children.

But knowing its value to so many special needs children and to their parents, its owners went to great lengths to keep their doors open, while also keeping those priceless smiles on all the kids’ faces, including six-year-old Chris Perkins.

“He’s severely autistic, non-verbal, and he does 32 hours a week of therapy to try to learn this world that’s very confusing for him,” Stephanie Perkins said, describing her son, Chris. “It has completely changed my life.”

But when inside We Rock the Spectrum Kid’s Gym in Edmond, Chris shines!

“Chris doesn’t have friends. When he comes here, he’s with other special needs kids, and they just get each other. And it just gives them an outlet to go to and to look around and to realize that there are other kids just like them,” Stephanie said.

Parents describe the gym as a treasure, but it hasn’t been easy to keep it open.

Gym owners Gwen Batchelor and her husband Scott scrape together just enough money each month to pay rent, relying on donations, faith and the two jobs Scott works, while Gwen runs the gym seven days a week.

“She has not taken a paycheck since they opened this two years ago. She’s here all day, every day. She doesn’t have any employees, she does it all herself because she knows how important this place is, and what it means to our children,” Stephanie said.

And that’s why Stephanie nominated Gwen for a Pay It 4ward award from First Fidelity Bank, surprising Gwen at the gym with $400.

“To give Chris a place to come, and to give moms a much-needed outlet and support group, I nominated you for Pay It 4Ward. So, on behalf of First Fidelity and Channel 4, we want to present you with $400 to do something for yourself, because you are the most selfless person I have ever met,” Stephanie said with tears in her eyes.

“Thank you so much for blessing us with this. We appreciate it. Thank you! Oh wow, thank you so much, that’s so sweet of you,” Gwen said, hugging Stephanie.

Gwen has five kids of her own, including 13-year-old Isabel who helps around the gym, and three-year-old Olivia, born with Down syndrome.

“She has been an absolute joy from the very beginning, an absolute joy,” Gwen said, beaming. “We want it to be a place that she can have one day, hopefully, own and run, and that the kids that she’s growing up here with can work alongside her. So, that is our whole vision so that she’ll have this when we’re gone,” she said.

Paying rent is their biggest hurdle, but the very customers she serves are the ones stepping up to serve Gwen.

“We have this amazing community that has bought us groceries, gifted our kids clothes, you know, I mean, it’s been insane, bought toys for the gym. During COVID, a family would show up with a check that we never, ever imagined, just to put toward rent,” Gwen said.

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As hard as they work to keep the gym open, it isn’t Gwen family’s only dream.

They’ve also created a support group for parents of special needs children, along with a nonprofit called “Beyond the Spectrum” to, in part, help families bogged down by ever-present medical bills, to pay for therapy, summer camp and social skills classes.

And, in the next few years, Gwen’s family hopes to open a special needs community center for all ages.

“It’s a passion!” she said.

We Rock the Spectrum Kid’s Gym is open seven days a week and is located in Edmond near 33rd and Broadway. They offer playtime and private birthday parties for special needs and neurotypical children alike.

The winter doldrums have arrived. Save a few sunny and 70 degree winter days, the weather outside is seasonally appropriate, and aside from bundling up and embracing the chill, it’s pretty easy to get into a low-activity funk. With three kids, that’s not an option.

I’ve seen those cool contraptions that attach to doorways to turn them into makeshift monkey bars, but around my house, it is a true necessity to escape the confines of our castle and move our bodies. Luckily, there’s no shortage of great indoor spots to play in Edmond and the potential for fun is immeasurable with a different play place for practically every day of the week.

Grab your clean socks and swing into these top picks for indoor playgrounds that are sure to please.

Okie Kids Playground (321 W. 15th St., 405-562-4888; okiekids.com) is fresh off their second anniversary of opening the doors and this indoor playground is popular among the younger set — their target demographic is newborn to 6-years-old. No worries about your littles getting trampled by the big kids, Okie Kids fancies themselves a small children’s hands-on learning playground.

“We are a learning facility,” said owner Annalisa Douglass. “Everything in our playground helps children learn and grow while playing. We are fully unplugged.”

Think all soft surfaces — playhouses, tubes, tunnels, and slides. There’s an awesome craft area, a dedicated toddler area, a baby spot, and even a cow to milk. Moms and dads will appreciate the café with snacks and a barista that makes supervision a caffeinated delight. Okie Kids offers mommy-centered activities throughout the year and party packages that close the facility to the public.

“We love providing a great place for parents to come relax and enjoy coffee while their children’s minds explore new adventures each time they play,” Douglass said.

We Rock the Spectrum (64 E. 33rd St., 405-657-1108; werockthespectrumoklahomacity.com) is the Oklahoma City franchise of a national company that caters to the younger special needs population, while welcoming children of a variety of ages and abilities.

“Our general rule is that if they are getting use out of the gym and they are having fun, we will let them in,” said owner Scott Batchelor.

The gym creates a safe and fun play space with features like a zipline, tunnels, crash pit, and various swings with different textural surfaces. There are open play times daily as well as classes in sign language, kid yoga, and special parents’ nights out. Parties are also an option, with the doors closing to the public during private events.

Owners Scott and Gwen Batchelor took over ownership of the gym in 2019 when the previous owners listed the business for sale. The Batchelors’ youngest daughter was born with Down Syndrome in 2018 and as they learned more about the special needs community, the business opportunity seemed serendipitous.

“Our vision is for the gym to be a place for her to grow and experience life — and maybe even work in the future,” Batchelor said.

The Batchelors aim to make the play experience a personal interaction.

“We treat our gym as more of a ministry than a place of business,” Batchelor said. “We try and get to know all the families that come in.”

One of the newest additions to the indoor play landscape is Kidz Fun Town (14424 N, Lincoln Blvd., 405-254-5500; kidzfuntown.com) in south Edmond, which opened in November 2019. Geared towards children 1-to-12-years-old, the oversized 16,000-square foot facility features a multi-level playground with slides, two 40-foot ziplines, three playhouses, mini trampolines with foam pits, a soft ninja obstacle course, swings, as well as tamer areas like a toddler-only zone, Lego station, and a spot for arts and crafts.

“Kids love our ninja obstacles and dodgeball area,” said Truong Pham, who along with wife Tuy opened the facility with the mission of getting to know people, hearing their stories, and to find ways to bless the people they meet.

“We live to serve those around us. And we have a strong, like-minded group of young kids working at the playground who have the same beliefs,” Pham said. “When you come, be ready to have fun and be served by all of us.”

Grip socks must be worn in this no-shoes-allowed facility that also features free coffee, a drink and snack bar, a nursing and calming room, and free WIFI. Party packages can be found on the Kidz Fun Town website.

Nearby is the veteran location of the indoor playing world. One of the first to introduce the concept of playing inside as a destination, Breakaway Indoor Playground (14350 N. Lincoln Blvd., 405-286-4079; breakawayok.com) opened in March 2018 with the idea of getting children away from video games and making physical activity fun. In addition to centerpiece playground, they offer a special toddler/baby area, wave and tube slides, a ball blaster arena, trampoline, foam pit, and an interconnected city for “pretend play.” Parents will love the WIFI, lounge areas, and drink and snack bar. Nursing lounges are also available.

“We hoped Breakaway would encourage children and adults to unplug from technology while engaging in physical activity and imaginative play,” said Lori Armenta, who owns the play gym with her husband Lucas.

Breakaway was very intentional with their offerings — the three-level, 2,000 square foot playground structures are designed so that parents can easily stand up inside and navigate with their children and there is lots of attention on safety with netting on the entire bottom level and surrounding the slides, and padded flooring throughout. Also, the supersize playground is meticulously disinfected on a regular basis — even shutting its doors every month or so to deep clean and fog the huge indoor space.

“Breakaway is a great place for families to play together,” Armenta said. “We promise to maintain the cleanest and safest playground at an affordable price.”

Almost every indoor playground has rules on what can be brought into the facility and most have a particular sock standard. Check out the websites or call before you visit to learn specifics and to get information on hours of operation and admission prices. All gyms have day passes and memberships available, as well as party options.

Other area indoor play gyms include Kids Galaxy Indoor Playground (834 W. Edmond Rd, 405-359-4906; kidsgalaxyedmond.com) in central Edmond, and Bubba Play Indoor Playzone 13429 N. MacArthur, 405-420-0201; bubbaplayokc.com) in Deer Creek.

Read original feature.

EDMOND, Oklahoma – Tucked away in a strip mall in Edmond is a brand-new escape and an oasis for kids who need just a little space.

It’s a place called We Rock The Spectrum just off Broadway and 33rd. It’s a sensory gym for kids with autism where they can come be themselves. The name comes from the diagnostic spectrum on which children with autism are placed.

On Saturday, they got to do just that with a very special guest.

Read More Here

News9.com – Oklahoma City, OK – News, Weather, Video and Sports |

EDMOND, Okla. – There’s no judgment at a gym designed for children on the autism spectrum.

Two sisters just opened it in Edmond this weekend.

The slogan says it all.

“Finally a place where you never have to say I’m sorry.”

A new gym created for children on the autism spectrum.

“We understand some kids have rough days. They have difficult behaviors. Parents don’t have to feel ashamed,” said Kristin Haynes, co-owner of We Rock The Spectrum Kids Gym.

It’s a national franchise Haynes discovered researching places for her adoptive daughter who is on the spectrum.

“As I was looking at ways to help her, I came across the We Rock the Spectrum Kid’s Gym franchise. I fell in love with the concept of just an inclusive environment where all kids are welcome,” Haynes said.

Read More Here