When designing the play areas and picking out the toys for Tiny Town Play Lounge, founder Jennifer Assaf turned to her four-year-old son for help. The two of them put their minds together and dreamed up a toddler-friendly wonderland with climbing structures, a puppet theater, and a magical bubble tree. They also built a make-believe grocery store, pet hospital, and beauty parlor, putting Jennifer's belief that playtime should stimulate imagination and cognitive development into action. As a mother herself, Jennifer also understands that parents care deeply about the health and safety of their little ones. With this in mind, she added germ-killing ultraviolet lights, antibacterial cleaning stations for the toys, and a special gated crawl section to protect younger babies from their stumbling older playmates. Jennifer also spearheads art-centric classes where children can craft, read books, make music, or confer about Sesame Street's postmodern narrative structure.

She didn't forget about the grown-ups, though—she also included a special parents lounge with TVs, WiFi, and laptop tables, a touch that delighted writers from Oakland County Moms. To keep these parents and their youngsters from getting peckish, Jennifer decided to feature a healthy cafe brimming with freshly baked muffins, coffee, and kid-friendly eats.