March 31, 2025, Ellsworth, Kansas – For the first time in Kansas, children impacted by parental incarceration will be welcomed into visiting spaces specifically designed to prioritize their emotional and developmental needs. 

These child-centered visiting rooms, designed by the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center in Topeka, are now open at Ellsworth Correctional Facility and El Dorado Correctional Facility. A third space will be opened in Lansing later in the spring.

Research consistently shows that contact visits, where parents and children can interact physically and emotionally in a safe, nurturing space, promote significant benefits to a child’s emotional wellbeing and resilience.

According to the National Institute of Justice, maintaining parent-child connections during incarceration can reduce trauma, strengthen family bonds, and improve outcomes for children. Studies have shown that positive family engagement decreases the likelihood of intergenerational incarceration, promotes better academic performance, and supports emotional stability for children.

“This initiative is about creating spaces where children can connect with their parents in ways that feel natural, joyful, and meaningful,” said Dené Mosier, President and CEO of the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center. “By prioritizing children’s needs, we’re transforming the visiting experience to foster stronger family bonds and give hope to families impacted by incarceration.”

The newly designed visiting rooms are thoughtfully crafted to meet the learning and developmental needs of children of various ages. Key elements include interactive play areas with educational toys, a STEM-focused wind tunnel, a custom train table for imaginative play, an art and games station stocked with creative materials, a cozy reading nook, a giant light peg wall for illuminated designs, and a puppet theater for storytelling and dramatic play. The spaces welcome families with comfortable seating and custom murals depicting local points of interest.

The visiting rooms are part of the Play Free program by the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center, is a play-based education program for children and their incarcerated parents (in some cases, grandparents). The program creates child-centered bonding time for families outside the prison walls, both at the museum itself and in community settings with the Discovery Center’s Mobile Museum. Play Free started in 2018 in partnership with Topeka Correctional Facility. The program invited mothers to visit the museum with their children for a full day of playful learning. In 2024, the program expanded to serve fathers and juvenile parents across the state of Kansas.

Video from the Kansas Department of Corrections

Unveiling Event Photos

More Play Free Stories