Meet Jennifer Thacker | Owner & Teacher Parents at Play

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jennifer Thacker and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jennifer, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
The thought of starting Parents at Play, came to me when the place where I was teaching parent/child classes and preschool closed in 2021. At the age of 58 I found myself out of work, I was a stay at home Mom for 15 years. I started Parents at Play because I really missed teaching, helping, listening and getting to know all the amazing parents/caregivers and watching them and their children learn and grow through sensory play. It’s really a community at Parents at Play, a place where parents/caregivers can come and just be with their child to relax and play. This is the time for undivided attention, their chance to meet other likeminded people who are all experiencing the same thing and can share their knowledge and wisdom with each other. I took both of my children to parent/child classes when they were little; it was one the best things I have done with my kids. I found a community there! We lived in Dallas, TX and had no family, all of the friends I made in the classes became our family; 20 years later and we still have friends from those days. I had such an amazing experience with my kids and I want other parents to have these experiences as well. It’s so important for parents/caregivers and especially new Mom’s, to be part of a community. It brings peace of mind that you are not alone and that others are having the same issues or experiences. A safe space where you can share your feelings or ask for advice or even cry with no judgement, everyone needs a space like that!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a wife and a mom of 2 college age children and a business owner and a full time dental assistant. I’ve had many jobs in my lifetime, everything from sales to being a stay at home Mom, school volunteer, softball assistant coach, Girl Scout volunteer, PTA board member, waitress and office worker. One thing I’ve learned in life is to reinvent myself. Life changes all the time and you can’t let yourself to get stuck because something out of your control has happened or maybe you are in a new phase of your life. You just have to keep moving forward. I never thought, at almost 60 years old, I would be a business owner, but here I am, reinventing myself yet again.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love the outdoors so we would go hiking at Tree Tops Park. I would take them to Whiskey Creek to rent kayaks. Then on to Lauderdale by the sea for some beach time. Also, I love Vizcaya Gardens and Miami Design district for lunch. Then to the Keys to stay at Cheeca Lodge, one of my favorite places to stay.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The teachers/teachers aids and volunteers that my children have had over the years have been my inspiration. Their dedication to the children in their care and what I’ve learned from being a volunteer in their classrooms or participating in the parent/child classes we’ve attended have guided me as a mom and as an educator and now as a business owner. There was a mom when I was in elementary school in the 1970’s and she was always at the school. All the kids knew her name, her son was so happy when she was there volunteering. They would yell, “Doug, your Mom is here” and we all said “hi Mrs. Dawson” when we passed her in the hall. I always told myself, “when I grow up, I want to be just like Mrs. Dawson, volunteering at the school”. Well, guess what, I was!

Instagram: @parentsatplay

Facebook: Parents at Play

Other: jenniferannthacker@gmail.com