Most of us have childhood dreams. While many of them may not come true or some may not even be realistic, when a childhood dream is actually realized, there is no other feeling like it. 

Lisa Fuller experiences that feeling practically every day since she opened Olivia’s Playhouse. “As a child, I had two vivid passions,” Lisa begins. “The first was my love for children and teaching. I created a little clubhouse where I became the ‘teacher’ to my younger cousins, guiding them with patience and joy every time they visited. Those moments of connection and caring for children have always stayed with me.”

The second passion was her entrepreneurial spirit – one she shared with her brother, “my Irish twin and best friend,” she says. “Together, we transformed an old chicken coop behind our house into a makeshift store. We lined the shelves with our old treasures, using pennies as currency in our imaginative marketplace.”

Years later, Lisa – who refers to herself as “Chief Toy Officer” – has seen that imaginary world of her childhood bloom into something special not only for her, but also for the countless children who visit Olivia’s Playhouse. She pours the same care, creativity, and joy she had in her own childhood into her business, with the hope of inspiring the next generation of children – who Lisa affectionately calls, “Littles.”

Lisa does not rely wholly on her childhood dreams to run Olivia’s Playhouse, however. She has spent years of active research and personal examination to select the best high-quality and educational “tools” (also known as toys) for childhood growth. 

“Once I had carefully curated my collection, it was time to choose a name,” she shares. “After wishing for grandchildren for what felt like forever, my first precious grandbaby, Olivia, was born. At that exact special moment, I knew exactly what to call my store: Olivia’s Playhouse!”

Besides research, Lisa brings substantial personal study to her business. After earning a paralegal degree, she felt a calling to serve children and so returned to school to study early childhood education. 

“Having raised my own children, I saw firsthand how vital play is – not just for cognitive and physical growth, but also for emotional development,” Lisa says. “Through social play, imaginative play, and creative activities, children learn about the world around them, build social skills, strengthen both fine and gross motor abilities, and support healthy brain development. Quite simply, children learn best through play, and the benefits are truly endless.”

Encouraging children to play is only half of it, however. With her own three children now grown, Lisa urges all parents not to take a single day with their “precious Littles” for granted. “One day you’ll blink, and they’ll be grown,” she warns. “The Bible reminds us that God only lends our children to us for a season, and though we do our best to raise them, no matter how old they get, they will always be our babies. So, love on your children with all your heart while you have them in your nest.”

A trip to Olivia’s Playhouse is not and should never be seen as a mere errand to be coupled and forgotten with chores like grocery shopping or picking up the dry cleaning. Rather, it should be seen, Lisa hopes, as a magical experience and several grand opportunities rolled into one. Visiting the Playhouse can be a way to connect with your own child, to give them a gift of memory they will cherish for the rest of their lives, a way to tap into your own childhood memories, and maybe relive some of that magic for yourself.

“There’s a special feeling the moment you walk through our doors – rows and rows of fun and wonder await every Little,” Lisa proclaims. “It’s a place where Littles can dream, just as I once did while flipping through the Sears Roebuck Christmas catalog.”

“When my own children were young, we would celebrate even the smallest moments,” she continues, “with an entire day spent exploring our local Toys “R” Us, bonding, and making memories that lasted a lifetime. I realized that today’s children don’t often have those kinds of experiences, so I set out to create that magic for them. Judging by the wide eyes and smiles I see when families first walk in, I like to think I’ve succeeded.”

Visit Olivia’s Playhouse at 341 Court Street in Pekin, Illinois. You can see their Facebook page
at www.facebook.com/OliviasPlayhouseLLC/. They can be reached at (309) 349-1029 or via email at Olivia’[email protected].