The Power of Play: What We Are Experiencing This Fall at MHK Play Studio
Our fall classes are only a couple of weeks in, and already I’ve been reminded of a truth I’ve carried with me throughout my career:
When children are given the space to explore, create, and connect—growth happens quickly and meaningfully.
This season, I’ve had the joy of being back in the classroom, from infant/parent sessions to hands-on coding with school-age children. And across every class, I’m seeing not only the power of play in action, but also how these experiences ripple out to parents, caregivers, and our community.
Here are some of the discoveries already unfolding:
Baby Ishy Squishy (Parent/Child)
Baby Ishy Squishy - exploring color and light.
In just a week, parents are noticing changes in their infants—new sounds, movements, and ways of responding to the world. What’s powerful here is not only the babies’ development, but the parents’ growing confidence in seeing that development unfold.
When parents slow down and engage with their child through play, they build stronger bonds, notice the little milestones, and recognize just how competent even the youngest learners are. These sessions remind us that family engagement starts with honoring the parent as the child’s first teacher.
Mad Scientist (Preschool)
Mad Scientist - Exploring how much ‘wind’ you need to move the leaf down a ramp.
This week, our preschool scientists turned their curiosity toward leaves—a timely reminder that science is everywhere, especially as the seasons begin to shift.
Children explored leaves in multiple ways:
Going on a nature walk to collect and compare leaves in their environment.
Making prints to investigate shapes, veins, and lines.
Testing what causes a leaf to move — discovering the role of wind.
What stood out to me wasn’t just the activity, but the children’s thinking:
They noticed similarities and differences between leaves.
They asked why certain leaves looked the way they did.
They predicted what might happen when wind interacted with their leaves—and tested their theories.
This is science at its most authentic: hands-on, inquiry-driven, and connected to the real world. For preschoolers, it’s not about memorizing facts—it’s about building habits of curiosity, observation, and wonder.
Code & Create (School Age)
Code & Create - Testing out different code sequences using Cubetto.
In Code & Create, we’re starting with the basics of coding—but in a way that may surprise some people. We’re not beginning on computer screens. Instead, children are learning the logic of coding through hands-on materials, including pixel boards.
By physically arranging patterns, sequencing steps, and writing simple codes off-screen, students are developing a strong foundation in computational thinking:
Sequencing → understanding order matters.
Problem-solving → testing codes, revising, and trying again.
Creativity → designing their own pixel patterns and challenges.
This approach reminds us that coding is not just about technology. It’s about thinking like a coder—breaking problems into steps, anticipating outcomes, and learning resilience when things don’t work the first time.
One of my favorite moments came when an 11-year-old looked up and said: “It’s already been an hour?! This class went by so fast.”
That’s the magic of hands-on learning. When children are deeply engaged, time disappears—and what’s left is confidence, curiosity, and the joy of discovery.
Think Tank (School Age)
This week in Think Tank, we connected science, history, and art through the work of Gregor Mendel, often called the “father of genetics.” Children explored his curiosity about plants while doing their own investigations outdoors.
Our activities included:
Nature observational drawings — encouraging children to slow down, look closely, and add detail to their sketches of different leaves and plants.
Leaf prints — experimenting with shapes, textures, and patterns to notice similarities and differences.
Comparisons and conversations — asking questions about why leaves vary and what they might tell us about the plants they come from.
What stood out most was the way children embraced Mendel’s spirit of observation. They weren’t just drawing or stamping leaves—they were noticing patterns, comparing characteristics, and thinking like scientists.
Think Tank is designed for exactly this kind of experience: where children practice higher-order thinking skills, make connections across disciplines, and realize that science is not about memorizing facts—it’s about seeing the world with curiosity and asking better questions.
Across every age group, one truth shines through: play is not a break from learning—it is the foundation of it.
When we honor play, we give children the tools to think critically, express creatively, and connect deeply with their world. And we give families and communities the chance to witness just how capable children are.
There’s still time to join us this fall! Registration is open for all of our classes this fall.
Here’s to a season of discovery, creativity, and connection.
—Kasey, Founder