Teach Me Store celebrates 20 years selling educational books, toys, games

My mom, a retired teacher, appreciated the broad range of educational toys, games and books that the store offered. I liked discovering things that I couldn't find and didn't even know existed for my older daughter, who was just a toddler at the time.

It quickly became our preferred stop for Christmas and birthday presents. We always make sure to check out the science section, which offers some great experiment kits and projects (perfect for those with a science fair in their future) and all the games. 

A few years ago, I got to know store owner Diane Weisbrodt, a mom of three and grandma, when I did an article about the store in my former job. The store was moving to a much bigger space on Spring Forest Road, just off Capital Boulevard, at the time.

With the new bright, open space, Weisbrodt was able to expand on the great offerings she already had. Now there's pretty much more of everything for babies and toddlers up to ninth and tenth graders. You'll also find a handful of small play areas for kids so they can stay busy while you shop.

The store is popular with teachers, who find classroom supplies, crafts, science activities and other resources here. But it's also very popular with a lot of parents looking for educational activities for their kids. Even still, Weisbrodt, tells me, she regularly gets phone calls from parents who wonder if they can shop at the store even if they aren't teachers. (Yes, her answer is, they can).

Weisbrodt started the store when her own children were very young. Weisbrodt, who studied in college to be a teacher, was looking for good books, toys and games for them. Her son and daughter-in-law now work with her, along with a handful of other employees, who are all teachers.

"I basically started it for my kids, but everybody needed it," she said.

When it comes to finding merchandise for the store, Weisbrodt usually isn't lured by the hottest item of the day. She never sold Silly Bandz, those rubber bracelets that were all the rage last year.

"It has to teach the child something," she tells me. "They have to get something out of it."

I couldn't agree more.