playbook
Reflections, valuable insights, hand-picked product recommendations, and so much more, all aimed at enhancing the everyday homes of families!
supportive spaces
The number one question from parents who invest in one of our playrooms:
✋🏻What happens to the space when my child stops playing?
I always have the same response:
✨️Our goal is to lay the foundation for all purposeful experiences, regardless of age or stage of life.
This means:
✔️Children feel confident selecting and using their materials.
✔️The task at hand organically transpires and doesn't require adult intervention.
✔️Clean-up is easy.
Whether you're talking about building with blocks or doing homework, your child will always require a supportive space at home.
If you ask us, there is no more important space in the home to invest in than the one your children use most.
all time-favorite
I've got a blank space, baby...
Swipe to see this transformation!
It's one of our all-time favorites, for one of our all-time favorites 🥰
goodby nanny, hello playroom
A significant transformation to get you going this morning...
This family said goodbye to their live-in nanny of several years and was left with massive space and no idea what to do with it.
That's where we thrive✨️
It wasn't about the amount of stuff we brought in; it was about the intention of the design, and the result was a safe, supportive, inspiring space for these boys to learn and grow in for many years to come.
Swipe to see how it started ➡️
gross motor skills
Incorporating gross motor activities into your child's daily play is critical and something we focus on in almost all our spaces.
Gross motor skills involve using large muscle groups to perform movements such as crawling, walking, jumping, and climbing.
These activities are pivotal for physical development, enhancing muscle strength, coordination, and balance.
They also play a significant role in cognitive and social-emotional growth. There are research-tested benefits linking physical activity to improved concentration, memory, and academic performance.
Our go-to for gross motor play is the @brainrichkids gym pictured here, accessorized with a swing, @target crash pads, and the always versatile @riwi_buildit!
dream boat
I am proud to stand alongside these incredible women (and some not pictured). Each of us brings our own light, but together, we're a blazing fire 🔥🔥 .
Here's to the strength, wisdom, and grace of women — may we know them, may we be them, may we raise them✨️
eva’s basement playroom
We loved working with @thehappilyeva on her basement playroom transformation!
She trusted us to deliver something special, and we took the time to understand her family and their needs and wants.
The result is a beautiful, supportive space all three of her children can enjoy.
You can read more about our process and see all the stunning images in Eva's blog post, linked in our bio.
Where there is trust, there is pure magic✨️
incorporating mirrors
A well-placed mirror can transform simple play into an opportunity for learning and growth.
When children interact with their reflections, it helps them understand emotions. They can see how internal feelings change their facial expressions, which is vital for emotional intelligence and empathy.
By watching themselves in a mirror, children also better understand their body's position in space, enhancing their spatial awareness and coordination. This is particularly important for gross motor development.
While traditional designers turn to mirrors because they multiply light and make the space feel larger, we use mirrors so that children can explore their expressions and movements in a safe, engaging environment.
Incorporating mirrors into our playrooms transcends aesthetics; it's a strategic choice supporting early childhood development.
couch-climber combo
The couch-climber combo is a favorite in our play space arsenal. It provides comfortable seating and extends your child's gross motor activity at the same time.
Comfortably hang as your child builds physical strength, enhances problem-solving skills, and boosts confidence, all while keeping your home's aesthetic intact.
Why choose between chic decor and supportive play when you simply don't have to?!
giving your child ownership
Did you know that children’s brains are wired for rapid visual processing? Before they master language, they rely on visual cues to understand their environment.
To play with intention, your child first needs to understand where things belong, and visuals tap directly into the innate language of a child’s brain, ultimately giving them ownership of their space.
When you provide children with a space at home that is thoughtfully and intentionally created just for them, they are given the opportunity to explore their ideas and practice skills they are developing purposefully.
So when we say the success of the playroom lies entirely on the label, we mean it✨️
perspective is everything
Perspective is everything.
And when your child has a space designed specifically for their unique (and changing!) needs, it allows them to reflect on their ideas and experiences.
It provides perspective.
setting up for success
Environment impacts performance. I bet many of you reading this right now spent hours (days?) rearranging your workspace to achieve your definition of "greatness."
In the way a properly conceptualized workspace sets you up for success, a purposeful playroom reinforces the skills critical for healthy development.
Our core philosophy hinges on the playroom being one of the most critical areas of a home, and we believe it should be treated as such.
When you provide a child with a space at home that is thoughtfully and intentionally created just for them, they are given the opportunity to explore their ideas and practice skills they are developing purposefully.
through your child’s eyes
Imagine a playroom where your child's development and creativity are supported, every toy has a home, and your space is organized and serene.
We swear it's possible. Our playrooms are proof it can happen!
It's about seeing the world through your child's eyes and making everything accessible, categorizable, and, most importantly, easy to tidy up!
Creating a space where your child can explore, play, and learn purposefully starts with functional storage solutions.
emotional transformation
When a space goes under renovation, the results aren't limited to the physical transformation. The process can also be filled with emotional transformations, too.
This time last year, I was in the middle of renovating our showroom and office. It was the manifestation of so much hard work and hope. I was overcome with a profound sense of accomplishment as it all came together.
Our playroom projects are no different.
We feel the same sense of accomplishment when completing a playroom, knowing that the process is not just about the physical transformation✨️
this is your sign
Consider this your your sign to do something with that closet under the stairs (other than throw junk in it!).
Happy valentine’s day
All you need is love 💕
And the best team ever ✨️
Happy Valentine's Day from the girls of Greenwich Play!
positive play interactions
Did you know that you can influence the type of play you hope will transpire simply in the way you set up your child's space?
When your child can easily make sense of where things are, freely access what they need, and have space to engage with materials, you can eliminate frustrations before they have a chance to surface and make space for more positive play interactions.
super bowl sunday
Our Super Bowl Sunday goes down in the playroom, where the players are under four feet tall, and a touchdown is scored when toys are put back where they belong.
Team Tidy for the win! 🏈 🏈 🏈
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.
Lights, camera, action
Lights✨️
Camera🎥
Action🎬️
It's all about the functional organization and easy access to materials in this sweet "backstage dressing room."