Little Wanderers Sensory Play, Fall River’s first indoor sensory-focused playroom, announces they will be closing

Little Wanderers Sensory Play, Fall River’s first indoor sensory-focused playroom, will close this year.

Located at 418 Quequechan Street, the space was opened in September of 2023 by local mother Melissa Carreiro, who was inspired by her son Maddox, who has autism.

She announced the following on social media:

“I’ve been holding onto this post for a while because, honestly, I don’t even know how to put this into words.

“After almost 3 years of pouring my heart, soul, time, money, and so much love into Little Wanderers Sensory Play, I have made the incredibly difficult decision that December will be our last month.

“This is NOT because I stopped believing in Little Wanderers. Quite the opposite. This place means so much to me and to the families who have walked through those doors. I have watched littles grow, celebrated birthdays, made friendships, created memories, and built a space that I truly believed could make a difference.

“But the reality is… the building I am in has simply not worked for my business. The ongoing issues with the building, the challenges that come with the property, and the overall environment have made running a successful business incredibly difficult. Add in the struggles of keeping a small business going in today’s world, and it has taken a toll on me that I can no longer ignore.

“I have fought for this place for almost three years. I have tried to make it work. I have pushed through things that probably would have made many people walk away long before now.

“But sometimes loving something isn’t enough to make the circumstances around it work.

“And that is the hardest part of all.

“I am heartbroken. I’m scared. I’m sad. I’m frustrated. And I’m also proud.

“Because I didn’t fail. I tried. I fought. I built something from the ground up. And I gave it everything I had.

“So please don’t look at this as the end of my story. December is the end of Little Wanderers in this building. What comes next, I’m not completely sure yet. But I know I’m not done creating, dreaming, or finding ways to bring joy to children and families.

“To every single family who has supported me, brought your babies through those doors, celebrated with us, attended an event, bought a membership, shared a post, recommended us to a friend, or simply cheered me on from the sidelines…

“THANK YOU.

“You have no idea what you have meant to me.

“We still have several months left together, and I intend to make every single one count. So please come play, make memories, celebrate, and soak up these last months with us.

“This isn’t goodbye just yet.

“It’s simply the closing of one chapter… and someday, I hope to tell you all about the next one.”

Carreiro created the calm, inclusive playroom after finding that typical indoor playgrounds were often too loud, bright, and overstimulating for children with sensory sensitivities.

The playroom serves children ages 0–8 and welcomes all kids, including those with autism, ADHD, or no diagnosis at all. It offers walk-in open play, birthday parties, special events, a parent lounge, and features designed for exploration without overwhelm.

Little Wanderers has filled a gap for SouthCoast families looking for a quieter, more inclusive indoor play option.