WELCOME TO
Simplicity
P.L.A.Y. Studio

A child-led P.L.A.Y. studio with curated open-ended exploration with loose parts and real-world materials. Where you...

Pretend

Learn

Achieve

Your Way

OUR MISSION & VISION

Mission Statement To reclaim the essentials of childhood through unstructured, child-led play and to foster a village that empowers both the child’s autonomy and the community's connection.

Vision Statement To be the heart of a community where every child is trusted as a capable learner, childhood is protected from the noise of the modern world, and the simplicity of play is recognized as the highest form of education.

Core Values At Simplicity P.L.A.Y. studio, our decisions—from the materials we source to the way we interact with families—are guided by these five pillars:

Radical Trust: We believe children are biologically designed to lead their own learning. We honor their integrity by trusting their ability to navigate risks and solve problems.
The Power of "Less": We prioritize open-ended and repurposed materials to spark creativity. We believe that when we provide less, children imagine more.
Cultivating the Village: We foster a multi-generational community where empathy is practiced and every family feels a sense of belonging.
Freedom to Inquire: We protect unstructured time, allowing children the space to develop critical thinking through experimentation.
Respect for Childhood: We recognize play as the "serious work" of the child and advocate for a childhood that is unhurried and self-directed.

OUR ROOTS

"Play is fundamentally important for learning 21st century skills, such as problem solving, collaboration, and creativity." - American Academy of Pediatrics

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” — Leonardo da Vinci.

Play is the highest form of research." - Albert Einstein

"Play really is the work of childhood." - Fred Rogers

"There are three teachers of children: adults, other children, and their physical environment." - Loris Malaguzzi (Reggio Emilia Approach)

"The greatest gifts we can give our children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence." - Maria Montessori (Montessori Philosophy)

“Ask three questions about anything you are doing in the classroom: What are you doing? Why are you doing it? Who is it for?” - Lisa Murphy, the Ooey Gooey Lady.

"Plop (plop!) n: a book, song, word or object that has the ability to inspire imagination, play and curiosity. It acts as a catalyst to spark all sorts of fantastic learning opportunities." - Denita Dinger

"Lack of free play may not kill the physical body, as would lack of food, air, or water, but it kills the spirit and stunts mental growth". - Dr. Peter Gray

LEARNING THROUGH PLAY SESSION

Drop-In Session

(not currently available)

Monthly Membership

(not currently available)

FAQ

-What to bring to a P.L.A.Y. session

Wear clothes you don't care that get messy. Bring water and a sense of wonder!

-Do grown-ups attend?

All children must have a grown-up present for the duration of the session.

-Can siblings/children a different age then what's listed come?

Of course! The age is more of a suggestion. Children benefit greatly when engaging in mixed-age play.

-What happens at an P.L.A.Y. session?

The main objective of each session is that the children are in charge of what they choose to do, as well as for how long they wish. They do this by using hands-on learning experiences with a variety of loose parts and nature related materials.

This learning environment is led entirely by the children and observed by the grown-ups and myself.