What Is a Third Place and Why Your Family Might Need One More Than Ever

What Is a Third Place?

Third places are community spaces made for you and they’re all about comfort that reassures and empowers. We often find that we need a break from the usual places we occupy, even our home or place of work feel as though they’re not providing us with the type of atmosphere we’re searching for. This place needs to feel welcoming, somewhere you don’t have to explain yourself, buy anything, or worry about your presence being judged. That’s what our third place is all about.

And honestly, if you’re a parent of a child with disabilities or neurodivergence, a good third place can feel like a lifeline. A space where both you and your child can not only feel comforted but also thrive.

In this post, we’ll talk about what third places are, why they matter (especially for families with children with special needs) and why it’s getting harder to find them these days. Because let’s be real, it’s not always easy.

The term third place was coined by Ray Oldenburg, who argued that humans thrive when we have somewhere outside of our home (the first place) and work (the second place) to gather, unwind, and connect. These are the coffee shops, community centers, libraries and parks; spaces that encourage connection and public belonging.¹

But third places aren’t just about location. They’re about feeling. The best ones invite you to show up exactly as you are, no purchases required, no explanations needed. As The Good Trade describes, they are spaces of comfort where the pressures we feel in the other environments goes away.2

This is especially important at a time when 17% of Americans say they have zero friends, up dramatically from just 1% in 1990, reflecting the sharp drop in third-place usage and the loneliness epidemic.3

For families raising children with additional needs, that can mean everything. In an overstimulating, often exclusionary world, a true third place is one that says, “You belong here,” and means it.

The Third Place for Kids: Our Invitation to You

At The Third Place for Kids, we’ve built a space where families of all kinds, especially those navigating disability, neurodivergence, and sensory needs, can breathe, play, and connect. No judgment. No pressure. Just support.

We believe in sensory-friendly design, the power of experiencing a place at your own pace, laughter, art, and connection. That’s why we’ve designed a community-centered environment that makes space for both parents and their children, allowing you to come as you are.

If that sounds like something your family could use, come visit us. And if you love what you find, bring a friend next time. After all, third places are only as strong as the people who show up in them.

Why Third Places Matter, Especially for Families Like Ours

Children with disabilities or sensory processing disorders often navigate spaces not built with them in mind. Many families face exclusion, whether it's subtle glances, inaccessibility, or simply a lack of understanding.

But at The Third Place for kids, we promote inclusion by offering:

●      Sensory-safe environments where children can explore without fear of reprimand.

●      Peer support for parents, with spontaneous conversations and “me too” moments.

●      Unstructured social time that strengthens children’s social-emotional learning and reduces caregiver isolation.

As the Albert Shanker Institute notes, “These spaces are invaluable not only for fostering relationships but for sustaining the emotional health of communities”.4 They are a vital social infrastructure, spaces that nurture resilience, empathy, and connection.

Third Places: A Space for Everyday Magic

Picture a warm seating area with a quiet sensory corner, a local play center where the staff know your child’s name and how to support them during a tough moment and even story time events for neurodivergent kids, a place where nobody bats an eye at stim toys and noise-cancelling headphones.

Our third place serves one core purpose: we offer presence. Real, in-person presence and a chance to be yourself without judgement. UNESCO even reminds us of the historical power of these spaces, recounting how King Charles II tried to shut down English coffeehouses in 1675, fearing their growing influence as a third place, only to reverse the ban just ten days later due to public uproar.5

That tells you something. When third places thrive, communities thrive. Even monarchs couldn’t stand in the way.

How to Find a Third Place That Feels Right

Finding the right space isn’t always easy, especially for families with specific needs, but it’s worth the effort. Try:

●      Asking in local parent groups or neurodiversity support forums.

●      Visiting community centers and asking about sensory-friendly programs.

●      Searching online for third places near me.

Don’t be discouraged if it takes a few tries. When you find it, you’ll know.

Why Third Places Are Disappearing And Why That Should Worry Us

Here’s the hard truth: third places are slowly vanishing but we want to do everything we can to stop this and be part of the solution. We dream of a world where our vibrant sensory play space is open to all, without a single barrier. A place where every child, no matter their background, can climb, swing, explore textures, and find their calm in our cozy corners.

Right now, to keep the doors open and ensure our space is available as widely as possible, we offer unlimited access through our monthly memberships. This helps us cover the essential costs, from keeping the lights on and the equipment sparkling clean, to ensuring we can continue to offer a safe, inviting, and stimulating environment. It's our way of balancing our big dream with the daily realities, so we can keep building this special "third place" for your children, where joy and discovery are always in reach.

Endnotes:

1. Albert Shanker Institute. (2023). What are Third Places and Why Do They Matter? Retrieved from: https://www.shankerinstitute.org/blog/what-are-third-places-and-why-do-they-matter 

2. The Good Trade. (2023). Third Places: The Importance of Community Spaces That Aren’t Home or Work. Retrieved from: https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/third-place-community-spaces/

3. https://time.com/7202834/third-life-america-loneliness-essay/

4. Albert Shanker Institute. (2023). What are Third Places and Why Do They Matter? Retrieved from shankerinstitute.org   

5. UNESCO Courier. (2023). Third Places: True Citizen Spaces. Retrieved from courier.unesco.org