The Playpen
Reflections, valuable insights, hand-picked product recommendations, and so much more, all aimed at enhancing the everyday homes of families!
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!
KID-FRIENDLY LABELS
Why do I care so much about our kid-friendly labels? I’ve seen the incredible transformation that occurs when a child feels a sense of ownership over their space. They naturally develop responsibility towards it.
These labels aid in making that happen.
This ownership fosters independence as they learn to take care of their belongings, tidy up after themselves, and decide how they'll use their materials.
Clearly labeled bins and accessible storage allow children to survey their options quickly, inspiring them to mix and match toys in new and inventive ways.
This accessibility promotes spontaneous and creative play.
A cluttered, disorganized playroom can be overwhelming for anyone, not just children, which makes it difficult to focus on enjoying play. Creating a well-organized space reduces the chaos and provides space for children to engage in their activities without distraction.
This organized environment also happens to make cleanup time less stressful, turning it into a manageable task rather than a daunting chore.
A well-organized and accessible playroom is more than just a tidy space; it’s a tool for development. And that's why I care so much about our kid-friendly labels. Thank you for asking 😏
shop our labels
Your playroom organization is only as good as your labels, and the ones currently on the market all have disadvantages.
From fonts that are practically illegible (also, most little kids can't read) to visuals that are downright hideous, there has never been a label that fits our aesthetic and the function of a purposeful play space.
We found ourselves making custom labels for every project, and those pretty little labels were never up to the task of surviving grabby little hands.
I spent over a year developing these labels and have always had unwavering faith in their capability to transform lives. I hoped that someday I would be able to offer them to everyone, client or not.
I am excited to announce the full collection of our Kid-Friendly Playroom Labels is now available in our S✨️H✨️O✨️P or at greenwichplay.com.
Which color is your favorite? Let me know!
how we started
I often get asked, “How did you get into playroom design?” and it happened twice today. So follow me for a quick trip down memory lane to bring new followers up to speed.
In 2017, pregnant with my first child, I left teaching in the classroom to start Greenwich Play, a consulting agency offering children and caregivers professional support and age-appropriate resources to develop healthy habits at home.
What started as preschool enrichment at home quickly evolved to play space design after numerous requests from clients to help conceptualize fun, engaging, and purposeful spaces for their children to learn and grow.
There is no shortage of momfluencers, interior designers, and organizational experts to advise. But, finding approachable information on setting up a purposeful and well-functioning playroom at home is scarce and my clients knew how much they could benefit from this specific support.
So, what is playroom design, and what are the benefits of hiring an expert like Greenwich Play to conceptualize your child’s play space?
When you provide children with a space at home that is thoughtfully and intentionally created just for them, they have the opportunity to explore their ideas and practice skills they are developing in a purposeful way.
Greenwich Play conceptualizes and executes a plan to provide your child with the space at home for purposeful play, whether that’s an entire basement or a small corner of the family room.
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 we provide them with to learn and grow at home.
Visit the link in our bio to learn more ✨️
top 3 considerations
At Greenwich Play, we aim to create spaces that will influence purposeful play experiences.
Our top three considerations?
1 • Clear allocation of space.
2 • Developmentally appropriate materials, storage, and design.
3 • Functional organization.
A purposeful play space is an area in your home specifically designed for your child’s age and developmental needs. In this space, your child can play freely and safely without intervention.
This space is fun, welcoming, and organized. It contains age-appropriate, easily accessible play materials for your child to engage with and explore.
Not sure where to start? The link in our bio has tons of info 👆🏻
playroom organization
Your playroom organization is only as good as your labels (yes, you need labels!).
Labeling in a way your child can understand provides opportunities for them to work on their problem-solving skills. They also practice sorting, classifying, and learning to be responsible for their belongings.
Visuals offer children a fast and immediate way to grasp concepts and ideas. A picture can instantly convey a message, while words must be processed sequentially for comprehension.
Appropriate labels open the playroom to a world of possibilities and provide your child with numerous opportunities to develop critical early childhood skills.
Comparable labels on the market all have their disadvantages. Trust us, we’ve tried them all. So we set out to make our own.
Our clear adhesive labels are thoughtfully curated and divided into meaningful categories. They are reusable and applicable to any bin, magnet, or clip.
✨️Shop the link in our bio now or at greenwichplay.com/shop👆🏻
zipline therapy
A zipline can be a therapeutic activity for a child, teaching personal boundaries and capabilities in a safe and supervised environment. Additionally, transitioning from the platform down the zipline and executing a precise dismount requires meticulous motor planning.
Running a small business is a lot like riding a zipline. You plan how to get started, take a leap of faith, ride the wave, and pray for a smooth landing. (Take away the safe and supervised environment because you are diving in head first blindfolded!)
While Instagram has a way of making everything look easy and fun, the truth is that the leap of faith you need to take is terrifying, the wave you have to ride is practically endless, and that smooth landing you pray for? It doesn't exist.
So why do it at all? Following the exhilarating experience of speed and height, a child's zipline journey culminates with a sense of accomplishment and pride.
The same sentiment applies to small business owners. The journey is nothing short of an exhilarating experience, culminating in absolute joy and achievement.