playbook
Reflections, valuable insights, hand-picked product recommendations, and so much more, all aimed at enhancing the everyday homes of families!
invest in laying the foundation
Do you hesitate to invest in something for your child because you fear they'll outgrow it? Same.
But, some things are worth the investment; a purposeful play space at home is one of them.
The benefits of a purposeful play space?
• Help connect a child to unique learning patterns and interests.
• Avoid overstimulation, inappropriate materials, and confusing organization.
• Support cooperative play, sharing, negotiating, and resolving conflicts.
• Improve difficult behaviors.
• Provide the opportunity for a child to organize thoughts with intention.
• Help develop autonomy.
... and so much more.
Our approach to play space design is to lay a foundation that can easily transition with your child as they grow and develop new skills and interests, leaving your family with a space that works now and for ✨️many years to come.✨️
Invest in laying the foundation.
now is the time
📣 Listen up! I know you don't want to hear this, but we're about halfway through summer, and those cold, wet, dark days are not too far away...
We're not saying this to dim your summer glow!
We just want you to know that ✨️now✨️ is the time to contact us to start your playroom project, not when the snow starts to fall.
The link in our bio allows you to schedule an on-site consultation (Boston, Greenwich) or a virtual consultation (anywhere in the world!).
We can't wait to transform your space into a purposeful playroom that will grow with your child, encourage independence, and give you back the rest of your house!
adult seating
Adult seating in a playroom might not be the first thing that comes to mind when designing a space primarily used by children. However, we value the importance of adult seating and its critical functions in our designs.
Being comfortable in a child's space allows for better supervision. It allows caregivers to watch children without hovering, ensuring they are safe and appropriately using materials.
Whether reading a book, assisting with crafts, or simply being present, comfortable seating can make or break a grownup's playroom experience.
Children often play for extended periods, and having comfortable seating for adults can make that time more enjoyable for everyone involved.
Bottom line: Adult seating is an imperative component of creating a space that facilitates relationship-building, learning, and growth in play. It isn't merely a convenience; it can be a critical design aspect that fosters a safe, interactive, and enjoyable environment for children AND adults.
back to the roots
I remember the first time I walked into a Threes/Fours classroom. It was at a preschool on the Upper East Side in New York City, and I was a student teacher. I’m not sure what I expected, but upon entering the space, I remember feeling completely underwhelmed.
It was all so basic, labeled, and uncomplicated.
The furniture was small. The walls were empty, waiting for masterpieces to be made.
You knew where to get messy, where to build, where to sit crisscross applesauce, where to get paper and crayons, and where to put them back.
It was all right there, intentional, every bit.
I spent that school year witnessing children successfully use the space independently to explore, collaborate, play, and grow.
And quickly realized that my impression of being underwhelmed was that I had no appreciation for how much research, development, compassion, and expertise went into creating that classroom, all on a budget.
You might even say it was inspiring.
independence day
Independence Day at Greenwich Play is hopefully every day if we do our job right!
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 play.
This means children feel confident and comfortable selecting their own materials and activities, can put things away, and can clean up after themselves (when age-appropriate).
At the end of the day, our goal is to design play spaces that encourage unwavering independence, where children are empowered to participate in the planning and executing of their play.
the dessert list
Let me tell you a little story about The Dessert List.
In our home, everyone automatically starts dinner off on The Dessert List. This means, at the end of the meal, my children get dessert. Great, right?
Well, certain things can happen over the course of the meal that can kick them off the list real fast.
Think not eating enough dinner, not sitting nicely, saying something inappropriate…. These things will get them off faster than they can say, “ice cream.”
But, the best thing about The Dessert List is that there’s always a chance to make it back on before the meal is over. There’s always a chance to turn it around.
This approach to dinner etiquette and rewards works for our family. It puts the control entirely in the hands of my children, and let me tell you, there’s nothing they want more than to be on that list at the end of dinner🍦
Give it a try, let me know how it goes!
Our residential team
Spotlight on our incredible Residential Team in Greenwich: Meet Pati, Jackie, and Olga!
Talented, hilarious, hard-working, stunning (inside and out), just the greatest people on earth and truly what make our projects so special✨️
I pinch myself every single day that these women choose to spend their time at Greenwich Play.
basement reno
For this family, there is life before the playroom existed and life after the playroom existed. Safe to say, things got a whole lot better✨️
encouraging authentic play
Our obsession with this playroom is beyond words!
It's the way the space encourages a type of authentic, self-directed play that every parent dreams of witnessing in their children that truly makes it the MOST magical place✨️
More to come from our new favorite project very soon!
every family and space is unique
Contemplating her next move in the playroom designed specifically for her.
There is no one-size-fits-all model for what we do because every family and every space is unique.
Our spaces are tailored to your children's age, developmental needs, ability, and interests.
Learn more about our approach at the link in our bio☝🏻
experts, creatives, parents
It is important our clients know that when they hire Greenwich Play, they are not hiring just another interior design firm (the world does not need another!).
We are educational experts, creatives, and parents dedicated to our clients and their families’ ongoing happiness and growth.
As parents, we know what it feels like to want to give our children as many opportunities as possible to create, experiment, and independently navigate the world around them.
If the space in which they play and learn does not function to meet their specific needs, then it doesn’t matter what materials, toys, or games you provide.
It all starts with the space.
Let us help you make the most of yours and give your child a purposeful place to explore✨️
set up your space
Setting up spaces that organically extend play is critical for fostering healthy development in young children.
Play is a child's primary way of learning.
By extending play through a well-designed environment, children can naturally explore concepts such as math, science, language, and art, seamlessly integrating learning into their play.
Through our work designing playrooms, we help parents invest in their children's healthy development, ensuring a robust environment that supports all aspects of growth.
endless possibilities
A purposeful play space is always a good idea for summer days that are just too hot or too wet or when a break from the pool is needed!
A great way to encourage independent play is to transform an empty, unused space (like this one under the stairs) into a world of endless possibilities✨️
READY FOR YOU BOSTON
I am honored to introduce Ashley Bernath, the woman bringing @greenwich_play to ✨️Boston✨️ That's right Boston, we are here and ready for all of your play spaces!
Ashley is a former preschool teacher at a small school in Chestnut Hill, where she worked with the youngest learners. She became increasingly interested in understanding how play motivated problem-solving and critical-thinking skills and found ways to support families in establishing effective, integrated, and authentic learning opportunities outside of the classroom.
When Ashley became a mom to two little girls (sixteen months apart!), she quickly realized that being responsible for facilitating play at all times wasn’t a sustainable way of life.
Using her education and experiences in the classroom, Ashley adapted her understanding of space and independent engagement and designed her home to reflect the needs of both of her girls - a vibrant and active space for her oldest and a calming yet physically stimulating space for her baby.
This experience led Ashley to discover her passion for curating spaces that reflect the needs and inspire the spirit of all who live within them. And the universe brought Ashley to us, and we are so excited to have her join our GP family and help us bring purposeful play to the greater Boston area.
Ashley is supported by an amazing team and is now accepting on-site consultations. Link in bio to schedule directly!