I’ve heard this so many times from parents and teachers over the years… “Help, my toddler won’t stop climbing everything!” It’s a classic, isn’t it? But what if we change how we think about it and give them something safe to climb on instead?

I had absolute blast covering the Sprouts room (our sweet 1-year-olds!) for an afternoon last week. We have these big, soft foam cushions in the room that usually just sit off to the side. Most days, the littles like to push them around the floor like giant cars or building blocks.

Well, last week, two of our little adventurers decided they were going to attempt scaling the table! Before anyone could take a tumble, I grabbed those big cushions and brought them right over to the middle of the floor.

Turning Table Climbers into Floor Rollers

Instead of just saying “no, no, get down,” we turned it into a game. I placed the cushion on the floor making a little indoor hill and then they took turns rolling right over them. Safe toddler climbing play for the win!

Not only did they have a absolute blast with the “climb,” but a funny thing happened while we were doing it. They learned they had to take turns with their friends! At one year old, waiting even five seconds for your friend to roll out of the way feels like a lifetime, but they did it. They stood there wiggling with excitement while their buddy finished their turn.

PopPop Matt and I talk about this all the time. Toddlers just have this natural urge in their little bodies to go up. Their muscles are growing, they feel strong, and to them, a dining chair or a classroom table looks just like a mountain waiting to be conquered! You can’t really turn off that instinct, but you can definitely give them a better mountain… and a safer choice.

Little Discoveries and Daily Joys

If you have a little monkey at home who is trying to climb your coffee table or bookshelves right now, don’t panic! You don’t need fancy playground equipment to make a safe spot for them. Pull the couch cushions onto the carpet, pile up a few firm pillows, and let them climb, tumble, and roll safely.

It’s such a simple thing, but redirecting that energy saves your furniture, saves your nerves, and gives them a safe outlet to burn off all that boundless toddler energy.

I am so incredibly grateful to smile every single day at the discovery of these youngsters—including my own grandchildren who are right here in the mix with us. Watching their little lightbulbs go off when they figure out a new skill or master a big turn is hands-down the best part of my day.

Love on the little climbers,

Grammy Kim

“Like my parent’s living room…”

Matt and I envisioned the Kindness Hub long before we even chose the physical space for our center. We didn’t want a sterile waiting area; we wanted a sanctuary where siblings and multi-generations could come together, even if just for a few minutes.

That’s exactly what we’ve built, and we love it.

Don’t expect an institutional feel here. Don’t expect a “perfectly” curated, untouched showroom. Instead, expect a lived-in, loved-in space—full of half-finished block towers, open books, and the beautiful, intentional “clutter” of active play. It is the heart of our 6,000 sq. ft. facility, designed to be a safe harbor for learning and connection.

“…and all the cousins playing together”

While our children spend most of their day in their six specialized classrooms, the Hub is where the “big family” magic happens. We use this 500 sq. ft. space for our Before and After Care sessions (6:30 AM–8:30 AM & 4:30 PM–6:00 PM), and it’s our go-to “indoor park” when Wisconsin weather keeps us from the playground. Whether it’s an in-house field trip or a mixed-age morning, it feels less like a classroom and more like a Sunday afternoon at Grandma’s.

What Makes the Hub Special?

• The Family Quilt: As you enter, you’ll see our community quilt. Every child creates their own unique square, which we weave together to show how every individual is a vital part of our whole family.

• The Celebration Screen: We use our display to highlight recent photos of the children in action and to shout out celebratory wishes for birthdays and milestones.

• Kindness from Around the World: This May, the Hub became a global post office! We were humbled to receive “Love & Kindness” mail from as far as Japan and Dubai. Our children are learning firsthand that the world is a big, kind place.

• The “Take One, Leave One” Library: What would a Hub be without books? Our shelves are packed with stories of discovery. We even invite our families to borrow books to take the “Academic Sprinkling” home with them!

Take a peek inside! See the Hub (and a wave from us!) in less than 60 seconds:

Take a peek inside! See the Hub (and a wave from us!) in less than 60 seconds:

Want to feel the warmth for yourself? We’d love to host you for a private Meet & Greet tour to show you how our “Big Family” approach can support your child’s growth.

Book a tour here to meet Grammy & PopPop.

Why Our Private 4K/5K is the Heart of Kindergarten Prep

If you’ve peeked into our Blossoms classroom lately, you might have seen a familiar face! I (Grammy Kim) have been back in the classroom leading our oldest learners, and it has been such a joy to see their growth firsthand.

Whether your child is one of our “Buds” (our younger preschool group) preparing for the next level, or you are a Pewaukee family looking for a smaller, more intentional alternative to the “big” public school 4K programs—we are so glad you’re here. We believe these final years before “big kid school” are the most critical, so we wanted to share exactly what makes the 4K/5K experience at Just Like GRAMMY & POPPOP’S so unique for both our long-time families and the new friends joining us this season.

Purposeful Design (Yes, even the floor plan!)

Some parents notice that our classroom feels a bit “tighter” than a gymnasium-sized public school room. That is 100% intentional! We’ve designed the space to prevent “the zoomies” and running around. Instead, the layout naturally guides children toward focused play and fine motor development. It turns a large room into a cozy, high-functioning learning lab where every corner has a purpose.

The “Sprinkle” of Academics

We are, and will always be, play-based. But in our Blossoms class, we’ve mastered the art of “academic sprinkling.” While the kids think they are just having a blast, we are intentionally weaving in:

• • • Math Magic: Recognizing numbers 0-9, counting to 20, and even simple addition.

    • Early Literacy: Rhyming, identifying first sounds in words, and learning to write first and last names.

    • Spatial Awareness: Understanding “over, under, and behind”—the building blocks of geometry!

Small Groups, Big Results

This is the “Private School” difference. Unlike the large ratios in public preschools, we keep our groups small. This allows me (and our future lead teachers) to work at the child’s level. I can sit with one group that is mastering the tripod grip and writing letters, while simultaneously helping another group that is still in the “beautiful scribbling” stage of expression. No one gets left behind, and no one is held back.

The “Secret” Outdoor Games

Recess isn’t just about burning off steam; it’s about “Gross Motor Mastery.” We play games like Red Light, Green Light, hopping on one foot, and mid-line crossing (like touching your right hand to your left foot). The kids just think they’re playing a special game for being great listeners at the fence—but we know they’re actually building the balance and coordination they need for healthy physical development.

“I can do it myself!” (The Gift of Independence)

A huge part of Kindergarten readiness is self-care. We follow a “try it first” rule. Whether it’s zipping a jacket, pouring a drink, or independent bathrooming, we empower our kids to attempt the task before we step in. This builds a Growth Mindset where it’s okay to make mistakes—because that’s how we learn!

Our 4K/5K Checklist: What We’re Tracking

We don’t just “hope” they are ready for Kindergarten; we track it. We are currently using a comprehensive assessment (that I personally refined) to ensure our kids are hitting milestones in:

• Cognition: Sorting, puzzles, and shape drawing.

• Social-Emotional: Managing impulses, waiting for turns, and showing sympathy for others.

• Health: Using scissors properly and independent dressing.

Why Stay with the “Grammy & PopPop” Family?

We know the “free” public school options are out there. But they can’t offer the tiny ratios, the “home-away-from-home” consistency, and the deep personal relationships we have here. We are shadowing our lead teachers and raising our expectations because your child deserves a transition that feels like a step up, not just a move out.

Space is Limited!

Because we keep our ratios so small, we rarely have more than a couple of spots open at any given time. If you’re looking ahead to the Fall or even next year, let’s chat!

Want to see the Blossoms room in action? The windows face the right side of the front walkway—give a wave if you see us in between our window bean plantings! Or better yet, book a Meet & Greet to walk through and see the lesson plans for yourself.

Have questions? Pop in and ask! We’re here to help your “Blossom” thrive.  Inquire here.

The winning class is our Blossom’s class! (The Blossom’s class has children attending from 3-5 years old. We arrange our classes on developmental milestones vs. calculated ages )

They were thrilled and they get a prize basket of goodies and an ice cream/movie party!

Look at this gorgeous pumpkin made up of all of their fingerprints as blossoms on the flowers… Great job, Ms. Megan and class!

A big THANK YOU to all of you who voted, you added to our fun in big ways.

You can see the top 3 winners here:

1st place: Blossom’s Class with the Flower Blossoms Pumpkin

2nd place: Sprout’s Class with the Hungry Caterpillar Pumpkin

3rd place: Raindrop’s Class with the Forky Character Pumpkin

It’s not an easy task to get a class of infants, toddler, or preschoolers ready to go outside. You might think about it more in the winter about all of the layers to put on to stay warm, but the summer is a lot of work too! Thank you, Teachers! First, you want to make sure you are always guiding behaviors and cleaning up before the inside space is abandoned for outside play. So the clean up songs start playing or teachers start singing and children look for what they should do next.  I hear through the halls, “William, I see a book. Can you put the book away?”  “Good job, William!” and soon they are making their way to the bathroom for diaper changes, potty attempts, clothing changes, and…. SUNSCREEN application.

Tick tock, tick tock

It takes time and each child is at a different level so assistance happens in a variety of ways. Growth is so rewarding as you observe a child on day 1 of limp arms as you manipulate the disrobing and dressing into the swim wear followed by a blink-of-an-eye it seems of that same child taking their own shirt off and putting on their water clothes. It all takes time though when you have a handful of children and one teacher. They all have their own routines and systems and I admire them all!

Away they go

After they get their sunscreen on, they march outside to see what might await them to get their hands on.  This week we had our first real water day as it took a while to get our outside faucet working for the season.  We had an obstacle type inflatable water activity that sprayed water in different directions with tunnels to crawl through or sprays to jump in. From the infants who got their feet wet to the school aged summer campers – they truly had a blast!

Before you know it

It does seem long, and if you asked the children, I don’t think they are ever ready, but 30 minutes of outside play goes by fast! Before you know it, they are marching back inside with their towels and water bottles in hands to disrobe, diaper changes, potty attempts, and getting their dry clothes back on. Again, all by [mostly] one teacher per classroom. Usually by this time, the energy is spent, so they are ready for lunch and quickly followed by rest time!

Here is a Facebook post of a video reel of our recent outside play at Just Like GRAMMY & POPPOP’s. Enjoy and we hope you have a lovely summer of fun, whatever you may be doing!