Welcome to a new year in the studio at Children’s Garden Montessori School—a place where paint splatters become masterpieces, block towers fall (and rise again), and a single spider web can stop us all in our tracks because, honestly, it’s breathtaking. Around here, play isn’t the “dessert” of childhood. It’s the main course. The cake itself.
Children play to make sense of the world, to practice being human, and to test theories like, “If I shout ‘I’m a dragon’ in the middle of dinner, will anyone give me their goldfish crackers?” Spoiler: usually, yes.
This year, our guiding research question is:
How might wonder, creativity, and unstructured play deepen our connections, conversations, and community?
Here’s what we know (and keep rediscovering): - Play isn’t a bonus prize—it’s a human need. (Yes, even for you when you find yourself dancing with a mop.)
- Unstructured, demand-free play teaches emotional regulation, creativity, and joy.
- Solo play matters just as much as group play—it’s not “lonely,” it’s practice for self-discovery.
- Protecting long stretches of flow—the kind where kids are so deep in play they don’t hear you calling them—builds calm, focus, and resilience.
- Mud pies, glitter explosions, and finger paint feasts feed the nervous system better than kale smoothies ever could.
So this year, we invite you to stand guard with us—not just over schedules and routines, but over the sacred, silly, surprising spaces where children’s play unfolds. When kids play, they’re not “stepping away” from learning. They’re stepping into it with both muddy boots.
Let’s make more room for the cake. Every day. All year.
Stay Curious and full of Wonder, Humor, and Heart, Your Studio Teacher,
Angelina Lloyd | 
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