The Playroom Fairy

01/01/2018

2017 was a year of some fairly intense growing pains for me... including my body literally growing! I have learned some tough lessons, and struggled through some icky times.

I also was given the greatest gift of my life - my chubby little Giddy baby. I knew love before, but guys - this is unreal. I'm amazed my heart hasn't exploded.

In 2018 I get to be a mama, and have all of those experiences I have been longing for my whole life.

But this post isn't about all of that.

This post is about The Playroom Fairy.

2018 is going to be the year of The Playroom Fairy.

For many years now I have been learning everything I can get my hands on about play, child development, parenting techniques, and childhood education. I have cared for other families' children and experienced many of the common joys and struggles that come with caring for tiny humans.

I wanted to find a positive, loving, joyful approach that would make the job easier and also give children what they need. My sole intent has been to find playful ways to help families live well together and love each other better.

I have read dozens of books, hundreds of articles, and written thousands of words on the subject of play, and I can't wait to share the many wonderful resources I've collected.

I have written a Family Play Coaching program, and I am already working with a few families!

Gaining the confidence to get out there and turn this into a business has been quite the journey. I have had some major hurdles to overcome including postpartum depression, a crippling bout of social anxiety and the discovery that I struggle more than the average person with managing my time and prioritizing tasks...

But 2018... I'm ready for you. The universe has brought me some of the most incredible connections with inspiring people, and the most unexpected forms of support.

I'm going to get out there and spread the gospel of play, and change some lives for the better while doing it.

And I'm going to create the most amazing community of play believers while doing it.

This is the year that The Playroom Fairy takes flight.

09/28/2017

11/22/2016

Do you dream of doing something FANTASTIC with your child's playroom? The Playroom Fairy wants to make your dreams a reality! Here are some examples of rooms that inspire us - let's take an idea and make something that perfectly suits your kids!

http://www.theplayroomfairy.com/design-ideas.aspx

The Playroom Fairy uses many forms of inspiration to generate new designs to inspire creativity and nurture children’s developmental play. This inspiration board is populated with examples that are representative of the level of artistry and fantasy design that The Playroom Fairy engages in when cre...

11/22/2016

Starting to think about holiday shopping for your kids? Look no further - The Playroom Fairy has a wonderful collection of quality toys that will get your kids to learn and develop while having fun! Each toy is carefully selected to help your kids get the most out of the free playtime. Share this page with grandparents and relatives to make it easy for them to pick out a quality item for your kids!

http://astore.amazon.com/thepl08-20?_encoding=UTF8&node=1

11/03/2016

This is a great article and a very important subject! Melissa Bernstein is co-founder of Melissa & Doug, a toy company that makes a lot of wonderful toys that aid in education and development for children, many of which can be found on The Playroom Fairy's Toy Recommendations page.

At The Playroom Fairy, we are completely on board with the idea of "taking childhood back." Our playroom optimization is just the beginning, and our goal is to help parents teach their children to disengage from technology and spend more time in free play.

Our playrooms are designed to make a number of activities available to kids that they can engage in independently or with others. The ultimate goal? More wonderfully beneficial, educational, imagination-engaging play!

You can read more about ways The Playroom Fairy recommends to help your children learn to deal with less passive entertainment, and flourish in the space opened up for creativity and self-direction on our website www.theplayroomfairy.com.

http://time.com/4544654/how-were-endangering-our-kids-imaginations/

I refuse to sit back and watch this loss of childhood

11/01/2016

The Playroom Fairy wants to help parents connect on a deeper level with their children while they play. A strong parent-child relationship is the bedrock of a successful future, and observing your child in play can lead to a better understanding of your child's perspective. Read more in our blog!

Spending one-on-one time with your child and allowing them to lead you in play is a great way to observe that they are a separate person – already devising their own plans and dreaming their own dreams. When we follow their lead, step back, and observe, we give them the space to show us who they rea...

10/04/2016

The Playroom Fairy is all about supporting play in your home! Play is the ultimate form of education for children, and is essential for their optimal development. Read more about play as education here:

http://www.theplayroomfairy.com/blog.aspx?post=3549&title=Play+is+Education+for+Children

Do you remember how free you felt when you went outside to play? The freedom to run amok with the other neighborhood children, the exhilarating democracy involved in deciding what to play and how? Throughout history, children have played in large multi-age groups, learning the art of play from their...

10/01/2016

The Playroom Fairy is much more than a Playroom Optimization Service. Our site is loaded with resources for parents, including this collection of educational and quality toys for every developmental age group. Wondering what to get the kids for Christmas? Try something The Playroom Fairy recommends!

http://www.theplayroomfairy.com/toy-recommendations.aspx

Not all toys are created equal, and The Playroom Fairy recommends toys for every age that help children develop optimally. These toys are guaranteed to be engaging and fun, appeal to a wide range of interests and will inspire your child’s development and learning. Monthly personalized toy recommenda...

10/01/2016

Positive, Playful Parenting is the philosophy at the heart of The Playroom Fairy, and the approach is described in the e-book Room to Play. Read more about this philosophy on our blog!

http://www.theplayroomfairy.com/blog.aspx?post=3453&title=Positive,+Playful+Parenting

To those parents, grandparents and care-givers who love children deeply and only want the best for them. To those who dream of raising a whole and happy child. To those who hope for children who are fully expressed in themselves, free to be bold and just a little bit wild. To those who want their ch...

10/01/2016

A little intro to our business:

The Playroom Fairy is an intersection of my interior design and organization skills, and my passion for raising whole and happy children - even when they aren't my own! The best part is I get to help local families feel closer and play more! The Playroom Fairy will design and optimize your playroom, and maintain it monthly while providing personalized support and guidance. There is so much more to say, but you'll need to read about it here on our website:

www.theplayroomfairy.com

We are officially open for business!

09/30/2016

What do we want? Less TV, More Play! When do we want it? NOW!

Not only do children need to play, but they must engage in self-directed play - What is this, you ask? Read all about it here:

http://www.theplayroomfairy.com/blog.aspx?post=3550&title=What+is+Self-Directed+Play?

Your children whine that they have NOTHING to do, and with the heaviest of sighs you glare at all of the toys, books, and games that lie in piles within arm’s reach and ask yourself, “Why do I even bother buying these things?”

09/30/2016

So, you've provided your kids with an optimized play environment... now what? The Playroom Fairy offers many tips and tricks for getting your kids involved in wonderfully beneficial play - so that you can go do what needs to get done!

http://www.theplayroomfairy.com/blog.aspx?post=3551&title=Teach+Your+Children+To+Play+Independently

Playrooms are meant to foster play, and play is always supposed to be FUN. Play is joyful, and enriching, delighting in exploration and experience – it is the gift of childhood that keeps on giving. When playing with your child, allow yourself to be present in the moment, feel the joy and have fun.…