Play is how children make sense of the world.
The Little Lab is a space for children ages 2–6 to gather with our trained Story Guides to enter a story-based world of wonder, where questions, play, and hands-on creativity help them explore themselves, community, and the world around them - all while you get three hours of uninterrupted work. At The Little Lab, we don’t separate ‘learning time’ from ‘play time’. For young children, play IS learning.
Our Philosophy
We use story, craft, and play to introduce children to ideas that will shape their lives: What does it mean to belong? What helps things grow? What do we do when things are hard?
These aren’t academic questions; they’re human questions. And children are already wrestling with them - in the little lab, we’re just giving them the tools to develop their own language, images, and experiences to hold on to.
When a child pauses to watch light move across a wall, that’s wonder. When a child shares a crayon without being asked, thats goodnesss. When a child gasps at an illustration in a book, that's beauty. And these moments are all the building blocks for empathy, resilience, meaning-making, and a life oriented towards what’s true and good and beautiful.
We can’t, and don't try to, control what children believe as they grow. But we do hope to introduce them to experiences, through story-based play, that point them to something bigger than themselves.
“We believe children are born with a capacity for wonder, an instinct for goodness, and an eye for beauty. Our job isn’t to create those things. Our job is to notice them and protect them.”
Storytime @ the Little Lab
The Little Lab is designed using principles drawn from Reggio Emilia and Montessori traditions. When parents arrive, they’ll see a whiteboard near the entrance that offers a simple window into the day:
This week’s wondering - “What helps things grow?”
Today’s stories - The Curious Garden & After the Fall
Today’s craft - Mini terrariums
A highlight from the day
As the day unfolds, Story Guides add brief observations to the board. This allows parents to see a snapshot of the session when they pick up their child.
Helper Hours for 2’s and under
During our Monday and Wednesday morning work block, we offer gentle play + extra hands for children ages 0–2.
Helper Hours is a three-hour block of supported play for babies and young toddlers. Our Story Guides engage children in calm, unstructured play while parents work nearby. Caregivers are welcome to come in and out to check on their little ones throughout the morning.
This offering is for members only and is capped at three children per work block.