to learn and grow at home
During consultations, I usually get asked in one way or another, “How did you get into designing playrooms?”
It's a fair question!
In 2017, I left teaching to start Greenwich Play, which originated as a consulting agency offering children and caregivers professional support and age-appropriate resources to develop healthy habits at home.
I spent a lot of time with students one-on-one and quickly learned that there were spaces of frustration within the home that ignited unwanted behaviors.
More often than not, the playroom was the number one offender. Sure, it would have lots of toys, books, and materials, yet somehow the space served no purpose.
• It would have no direction, no flow.
• The walls would be covered in an overstimulating and distracting wallpaper.
• The lights would be too bright.
• Nothing was labeled appropriately.
• The storage wasn't functional.
• There were no clearly defined zones.
Enter chaos, mess, and frustration.
I thought that if we could make these areas of the home function better for the child, it would eliminate many of the problems these families were encountering.
As an early childhood expert, I understand that when a room is designed with a specific child in mind, they aren’t consumed by overstimulation, inappropriate materials, or confusing organization. Instead, they connect to their unique learning patterns and interests through independent and stimulating play.
As grown-ups, it’s our job to guide our children to play independently and with intent. This begins with the environment with which we provide them to learn and grow at home.
