Janet A. Young M.A.
Growing up in the hills and valleys of Los Angeles, I was provided a childhood unfettered by unnecessary grown-up intervention. I attribute my ability to imagine, connect and play as an adult to this unique upbringing.
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For over twenty-years, I was a cooperative nursery school Director and Teacher. I earned my Master’s Degree in Human Development proudly at Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena.
As an early childhood educator, I believe in the power of play and its ability to foster meaningful connections between children and adults. For over 20 years I honed my teaching craft and educational values and witnessed children’s intrinsic need for connection. This has become the guiding principle in my work as well as my motivation for launching Playful Designs in the aftermath of the pandemic.
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Today my goal is to create outdoor play activities that encourage children to create at their own pace, explore materials, engage freely in pretend play and most importantly connect with other children. This is my goal whether it's a birthday party for a two year old or a multi-age musical festival. My goals are to offer children unique, open-ended activities that keep them coming back and encourages them to imagine, connect and play.
“Play is our brain’s favorite way of learning.” -Diane Ackerman
“All learning is social-emotional learning.
Children do not learn skills in isolation but through social connection and interconnection to the real world - their world. ~Ellen Booth Church