WonderFilledPlay

For as long as I can remember, I always wanted to be two things- a mom and a teacher. (Well, and a famous singer, but we can’t have it all…) Though the path wasn’t easy, I have been blessed to become both of those things in my life! As a child development educator, it was always my goal to create amazing learning experiences for my students and honestly… it was always my favorite part! The wonder in their eyes when they learn something new and watching them grow, explore, create and discover things about their world on a daily basis- there’s nothing quite like it!

After years of loss, finally having a little one of my own, my class has become a student of one for now, but it hasn’t stopped me from creating fun, interactive learning themes and discovery experiences! I recently had the idea to make a more permanent version of the “sensory boxes” I had been putting together for my son and I thought of a set of small ocean animal figures he had. After pulling everything together, I decided to use my old preschool teacher skills and make some handmade shaping dough… and of course I always take things another step further and pile ideas on top of another, so I added essential oils into the mix. So, the first Discovery Kit was created! The laughter, stories, adventures and joy coming out of the room when my son opened the kit and played made me so happy!

I was inspired and encouraged to open this new shop and to offer some of the same tactile items I once created for my class and now my son- to others! I strive to create products with the inclusion of a variety of scents, textures, sounds and visual stimuli and are filled to the brim with open-ended opportunities for play and ‘sneaky’ learning (hehe), encouraging math, literacy, verbal interaction, cognitive and motor-skilled growth.

I have always strongly believed in dreaming up unique environments and curating quality, hands-on activities that encourage little ones to “jump in” to learning in their own way, without even realizing it! I am a firm believer that each child has their own unique way of learning and that their growth should be a reflection of that, whether their strongest connection be through sight, touch, smell, hearing, etc.; each child deserves the opportunity to be presented with an environment that engages their senses and fosters fine motor skills, critical thinking and imaginative play. As a teacher, I wrote all of my own lesson and activity plans as well as learning themes and many of my products were born from those! This is why many of my creations come with extra activity suggestions for easy extra learning experiences!

Raising a child of my own in our society, I know the everyday struggle- Our day to day lives are flooded with technology, blinking lights, screened tablets and devices. They can be great avenues of education and convenience, but they can also become a wall that prevents imaginative growth and a crutch that is relied on all too much. The products that can be found in our shop are a perfect alternative to that lit screen as they travel well in the car, distract at restaurants, make wonderful and unique gifts, and are ideal for sibling and even classroom center play!