When Malcolm and Mandy Sim welcomed two children into the world, the newly minted parents visited numerous indoor play centers in LA, searching for the one that best suited their kids. Nothing quite clicked, however, which inspired them to call upon their entertainment backgrounds in the animation and theme-park industries to develop their own indoor facility.

Since relocating to the Boston area, the Sims have opened Jam Time, where youngsters aged three months to six years can surmount climbing structures, leap about in a bounce house, and shop in a pretend grocery market before whipping up faux soufflés in the playhouse kitchen. In classroom sessions, they can engage in art projects, science classes, and princess-etiquette lessons, where young ladies learn to detect whether evil witches have booby-trapped their imaginary castles. Meanwhile, toddlers and infants roll around with soft play toys, while adults surf free WiFi, sip gourmet coffee, or enjoy a treat from the organic snack bar.