We Rock the Spectrum Kids Gym in Lakewood opens July 26. Photo courtesy of Courtney Castaneda.
A local family is opening a new location of the children’s gym We Rock the Spectrum in Lakewood on Saturday, July 26.
The Lakewood gym is owned by Courtney and Bernardo Castaneda, who have lived in East Dallas for over a decade. Their oldest son has learning differences, and they noticed a limited amount of resources in East Dallas for neurodiverse children.
“It’s really hard when you’re driving out to Addison, or wherever on the periphery, trying to find places where they can burn energy and kind of grow a little bit and stretch, and you’re going like, ‘Don’t go too far. I can’t see you,’” Courtney Castaneda said.
They eventually found We Rock the Spectrum, which has locations across the country including in northwest Dallas, Plano, DeSoto and Hurst.
Rock climbing wall at We Rock the Spectrum Kids Gym. Photo courtesy of Courtney Castaneda.
“We would drive and spend so much time there,” Courtney Castaneda said. “It’s basically like an OT (occupational therapy) gym. Kids get to use OT equipment essentially and kind of get that good whole body workout and really get energy out, but in a safe environment.”
The gym includes a rock climbing wall, a trampoline, a calming room, sensory swings, a zip slider, an arts and crafts room, and other play areas. There are also separate rooms for teens and toddlers, respectively. Local therapists who are starting their practice or expanding are welcome to rent the gym’s therapy room.
Open play is available seven days a week, so caregivers can bring their children to the gym and buy a play pass. (See pricing here.) The gym will also host camps and can be a venue for birthday parties. Courtney Castaneda said respite care is also provided, which is not daycare, but children can be at the gym while their caretakers do other things.
“Parents can essentially drop their kid off for two hours, and the kid will be with a dedicated member of our staff the entire time where they’re supervised,” she said. “If a mom wanted to, say, go grab a bite to eat or go run an errand or go to a doctor’s appointment, and they don’t have access to consistent child care — while we don’t provide child care; we’re not licensed as a daycare — we are able to have those kiddos for just two hours so that moms can have that break.”
This room at We Rock the Spectrum Kids’ Gym has coloring supplies. Photo courtesy of Courtney Castaneda.
It is important to Courtney Castaneda to create a safe place for families with both neurotypical and neurodiverse children, allowing the kids to play and move around more freely.
“I think a lot of times those play places for kids, it’s really more about, ‘Play quietly, play nicely, stay in your little area, clean up after yourself,’” she said. “And I feel like here, it’s just come, just play. Move your body, get all those wiggles out, get the energy out, and then, go home tired and hopefully give parents a little bit of a break.”
Aside from being a business, Courtney Castaneda said a goal of the gym is to be a resource to local families, including sharing tips and recommendations and hosting parent education classes.
“Aug. 2 at 4 p.m., we’re having a specialist come in and talk about taming tantrums,” Courtney Castaneda said. “I really just want to make sure that people understand that if you’re a parent and you feel like you don’t know where to turn, or you’re confused, or you are going, ‘What is going on with my kid? And who do I talk to? How do I get some help?’ I want parents to feel like we are a resource that’s here for them to utilize.”
We Rock the Spectrum in Lakewood is located at 7328 Gaston Ave., Suite 130. The gym will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends.
This is the calming room at We Rock the Spectrum Kids Gym. Photo courtesy of Courtney Castaneda.
