Policies & Procedures

1. Membership Terms

• Membership grants access to the cowork + play space during normal operating hours (Mon/Wed/Fri, 9 AM–5 PM, and Tues/Thurs 9AM-2PM) apart from holiday closures. However, this is a heavy reservation based business. Although walk-ins and same day appointments are welcome, we ask that you reserve at least 24 hours in advance as much as possible. We cannot always guarantee same day or walk-in availability.

• Members must check in at each visit.

• Membership is non-transferable.

• Members’ key pad door codes are unique to them and should never be shared with anyone. This keeps our building secure and safe for our kiddos.

• Monthly fees auto-renew unless canceled within 7 days before the renewal date.

• Members agree to abide by all Joyful Commons rules and updates.

• Joyful Commons may temporarily close due to inclement weather, utility interruptions (including but not limited to water main breaks, power outages, or heating/cooling failures), or other unforeseen circumstances that impact child safety, staffing availability, or overall operations. In the event of a closure, members will be notified as soon as possible via email and/or text. These closures do not constitute a breach of membership, and memberships will remain active during the closure period, meaning membership fees are not refundable for closures beyond our control. However, any pre-scheduled day passes or bookings impacted by a closure may be rescheduled and used on a future date, subject to availability.

• All memberships & passes are valid for one (1) named adult & one (1) named child. Membership access may not be shared or transferred between adults. Partners or additional adults may visit the space using available guest passes or by enrolling as an additional adult under the membership, where applicable. Only one adult may use the membership at a time unless an additional adult add-on has been purchased.

2. Supervised Play Policy

• Parents must remain onsite at all times.

• Each visit to Joyful Commons includes up to four (4) hours of Work + Play access, beginning at the time of arrival. This thoughtful structure supports our staff, protects our children’s experience, and allows us to welcome more families into the space. When space and staffing allow, we’re always happy to be flexible.

• Staff will provide general supervision, but Joyful Commons does not assume responsibility for toileting, feeding, or administering medication.

• If a child requires assistance beyond general supervision, the parent will be notified immediately.

• Children are allowed to bring their own toys from home, but Joyful Commons is not responsible for lost, misplaced, or stolen items.

• Children will only be permitted to leave with their respective parent who they arrived with upon each visit, unless an emergency occurs. Please ensure your emergency contacts are always up to date on our Intake Form.

• Children reach milestones at their own pace, and we welcome little ones at every stage of play. Our supervised play space is thoughtfully designed with crawlers and walkers in mind, though it is best suited for children who are confidently mobile and past the stage of frequent mouthing of toys. Our staff will keep a close, caring eye on younger children; however, please note that the space is shared by children of all ages. This means there may be small parts, unprotected corners, and hard flooring in certain areas. Your 9-month-old may find themselves playing alongside active toddlers, so we ask parents of crawlers and new walkers to consider this when joining our community.

3. Safety & Behavior Expectations

• At Joyful Commons, our goal is to create a safe, welcoming environment where families can work, connect, and play together. To support a positive experience for everyone, we ask all members and guests to follow these community guidelines:

  Child Supervision & Shared Responsibility

  While our play space is supervised, parents and guardians remain responsible for their child’s overall behavior and well-being while in the space. Our team is here to support safe play, not to replace parental supervision entirely.

  Because children of varying ages share the environment, families should expect active movement, shared toys, and occasional noise. We encourage caregivers to step in when needed to help guide safe and respectful interactions.

  Safe Play Expectations

  To help protect all children, staff, and equipment, we ask that families support the following:

  • No climbing on furniture, gates, or non-play structures

  • Toys and equipment should be used as intended

  • Running, throwing hard objects, or unsafe physical behavior may be redirected by staff

  • Toys that are frequently mouthed or misused may be temporarily removed for sanitation

  Our team may gently redirect children when needed to maintain a safe environment.

  Respectful Community Behavior

  Joyful Commons is a shared space built on kindness and inclusivity. We expect respectful behavior from both adults and children toward staff, members, and guests at all times. Aggressive, disruptive, or unsafe behavior may result in a request to take a break from the play area or, in rare cases, end a visit early.

  Staff Authority & Safety Decisions

  For the safety of all families, staff reserve the right to intervene, redirect play, or modify access to certain areas if safety concerns arise. These decisions are made thoughtfully and with the well-being of the entire community in mind.

4. Health & Illness Policy

• To help keep our shared space safe and comfortable for all families, we kindly ask members and guests to stay home when they or their child are feeling unwell.

• Please do not attend Joyful Commons if you or your child have experienced any of the following within the past 24 hours:

  • Fever (100.4°F or higher)

  • Vomiting or diarrhea

  • Persistent cough, excessive congestion, or difficulty breathing

  • Rash of unknown origin

  • Pink eye or contagious skin conditions

  • Any illness that may be contagious to others

  Children and adults must be fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of medication before returning to the space.

  Because Joyful Commons is a shared environment with supervised play, we may ask families to reschedule their visit if a child appears unwell during check-in or while in the space. This decision is always made with the health and safety of all children, families, and staff in mind.

  Membership fees are not refundable due to illness-related absences; however, pre-booked day passes or reservations may be rescheduled when notice is provided.

5. Food & Bottle Policy

• All food and drink stored in the fridge must be labeled clearly with the child’s or parent’s name and date. Fridge will be cleaned and cleared every Friday at 5PM of any unused or unclaimed food or drink. Leaving food and drink in the fridge over the weekend is not permitted.

• Please avoid bringing peanut or tree nut products to protect children with allergies, but we cannot guarantee our facility is fully free of any cross contamination or the possibility of families bringing in nut products without our knowledge.

• We are not responsible for food spoilage or lost items.

• We ask that snacks & drink are left out of the play area to help keep our facility clean, with the exception of water. All other snacks and drinks are to be consumed at co-working tables.

• Please clean up any spoilage in the kitchen area after use.

• Please place all dirty dishes in the dish washer after use.

• Any labeled food in the fridge from our vendor partners are for an additional purchase. Please purchase using the iPad on our counter. Water, hot coffee, and goodies in our basket on the kitchen counter are included with every day pass & membership.
  

6. Technology & Workspace Use

• Workspaces are to be shared respectfully.

• Video calls should only be taken within the designed phone booth due to the privacy of others and their children.

• Phone calls should be taken within the designated phone booth. However, if co-working is slow and you are the only or one of the only members in the space, phone calls will be permitted with the understanding that play noise may be in the background.

• The phone booth is an additional perk for members. Please reference your membership type for how much time is permitted to reserve within your membership. Day passes are welcome to purchase time in the phone booth for an additional fee.

• Please clean up your workspace before leaving.

7. Evening Hours & Self-Service Events

• Unlimited members may access Joyful Commons after 5 PM for solo time, client meetings, or catching up with a friend. This time must be scheduled in advance to not create a conflict with other members or evening events.

• During these hours the play space is unsupervised. Parents or guardians are fully responsible for any children they bring.

• Please leave Joyful Commons how you found it. Tidy both your work/play areas + kitchen if used before leaving so the space is fresh for everyone the next day. Please download & read the full after hours checklist HERE.