Rooted In Play Outdoor Learning

01/08/2026

❄️ Who Lives Here? 🐿️🐻

This week in Nature Babies, we’re slowing down to wonder about animals in winter—who might be resting, where they feel cozy, and how the outdoors grows quieter this season.

Through a gentle walk, simple language, and sensory play, babies explored the idea of animal homes in a way that feels safe, calm, and just right for this age. No big explanations—just noticing, wondering, playing and being together. 🌲👶

What does your explorer notice most when the world gets quiet? 🤍

01/06/2026

Hello friends! 👋

We took a little pause here on IG over the holidays to rest, reconnect, and settle into winter’s slower rhythm. Now we’re back—and SO excited to welcome everyone back outside soon!

Winter Nature Babies starts-up again this week, Winter Nature Explorers kicks-off next week, and I truly can’t wait to see familiar faces, meet new families, and spend time learning and playing together in nature. There is so much fun in store! If you haven’t signed-up for a winter class yet, there’s still a little bit of time left to do so—move swiftly though! And, if you are new here and want to try out a class first, trial classes are now available on the website (first-come/first-served, very limited and FREE this winter).

Here’s to cozy layers, fresh air, and (hopefully!) some snow ☃️

See you outside 🩵

11/05/2025

Gratitude grows when it’s modeled. 🍂
When children see us pause to say thank you for the sun’s warmth, pick up a piece of trash, or make time for them, they learn that gratitude isn’t just words, but a way of being. Also, that it feels good to do good!

It’s never too early to begin. Even our littlest ones can notice beauty, offer a smile, or share something they love. 💛

November is and Every Tuesday this month, I’ll be sharing some playful ways you can help kids nurture and practice gratitude together, and how to honor those who came before us.

✨ This season, let’s give children chances to practice gratitude — through small acts of kindness, thoughtful gifts and moments of reflection.

📸 .snapshots

11/04/2025

WINTER NATURE PLAY IS HERE! ❄️✨🧣

Bundle up and join me for a cozy season of outdoor play, discovery, and connection!

Winter is a truly magical and unique time for kids and grown-ups to explore, play, and connect with nature. There’s a season FULL of wonder waiting for you and your explorers outside!

✨ This Season’s Programs Include:

• Nature Explorers (ages 1.5–8): A playful outdoor series full of movement, imagination, and seasonal discovery, with a special focus on persistence and learning from some of nature’s most resilient “animal superheroes.” Begins Jan 4th.

• Nature Babies (ages 6–18 months): Songs, stories, nature walks and movement-based sensory play for our littlest explorers. Begins December 11th.

• Celebrate With Nature (Holiday Mini-Series; ages 1.5–8): Festive classes celebrating the light and joy of the season, while inspiring kids incorporate nature into their celebrations. Begins Dec 10th.

• Nature on the Loose (Playgroup; ages 3–8): Open-ended outdoor play sessions designed to organically spark learning and connection to nature, using “loose-parts play” as the foundation. Begins Feb 12th.

All classes are outdoors, hands-on, and full of playful learning experiences that nurture curiosity, confidence, and connection to nature.

Save $10 with code WINTER10 when you register for Nature Explorers or Nature Babies by Nov 30th!

👉 www.rootedinplaylearning.com (link in bio)

Have questions? Leave a comment or send me a message.

See you outside! ☃️

11/03/2025

🌙✨ Our Annual Lantern Walk was pure magic!

As the days grow shorter and the nights stretch longer, we celebrated the rhythm of the seasons together—walking in light, noticing the beauty of the dark, and sharing cozy moments with friends and family. Your lanterns lit up the park, and your generosity toward the Utah Food Bank helps bring warmth, nourishment and care to those in need in our community this season.

Missed the chance to donate? You can still share the light with a monetary donation by visiting the link in my bio.

Thank you again to all who joined in this most special annual event 💛

See you outside!

10/23/2025

✨Let Our Little Lights Shine Bright✨

As the days grow shorter, we gather to honor the rhythms of nature—welcoming the darkness of winter and celebrating the light we each carry within. ⭐️

Join us on Sunday, November 2 at 5 PM for a peaceful evening filled with playful, nature-based activities and a magical lantern walk through the park.

Lanterns can be handmade or purchased as an add-on during registration, and electric tea lights will be provided—no open flames please!

Just bring your lanterns, your loved ones, and your sense of wonder. 💛

10/13/2025

Pumpkin Patch Community Meet-Up! 🍂
Let’s soak in all the fall magic together at The Kinlands farm!

Pack a picnic lunch, wear your coziest layers, and come play! The Kinland’s offers pumpkin picking, bean pit, big slide, animals, wagon rides, and more.

Admission is free — just pay for any pumpkins or treats you choose to bring home.

📍 The Kinlands
⏰ 11:30 AM–2:30 PM
👨‍👩‍👧 Open to all!

Tap the QR code on the flyer or head to the link in my bio to RSVP so I know who to expect. Let’s make some autumn memories together! 🍁✨

10/05/2025

Wonder Walk 🌈✨❓

In our third Tinkergarten lesson this fall, we took a wonder walk around our outdoor classroom, observing and asking questions about the nature (and wood chipper truck 😅) around us. Then, we noticed something unusual...squiggles that we could use to pretend and spark joy! 〰️

09/20/2025

09/17/2025

✨ Last week in Nature Babies we went on a hidden treasure hunt! ✨

Our littlest explorers searched and explored pans of oats, that had tiny treasures tucked away. Each find sparked curiosity and gave babies the chance to practice early comparison skills—noticing how objects looked and felt different.

The game of searching, finding, and sometimes hiding treasures again also nurtured object permanence—helping babies understand that things still exist even when they can’t see them.

So much learning packed into joyful play! 🧡

✨ Want to join us? There’s a few open spots available and I’d love to have you! Just send a message and I’ll give you the sign-up link.

09/16/2025

What a beautiful day at our Apple Picking Community Meet-Up! 🍎🧺 Families gathered to pick crisp apples, share picnic lunches, and enjoy time together on the farm. Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate apple season and community outdoors.

If you missed apple picking, stay tuned—more fun community meet-ups are coming your way soon 😊

09/16/2025

Last week, our explorers became squirrels on a mission 🐿️✨ We set out on a squirrel-inspired obstacle course where we balanced across branches, scurried and darted, leaped and jumped, and gathered & hid our acorn treasures. 🌰🍂

This lesson’s wellness focus was all about keeping our bodies physically active. Encouraging movement and physical activity early, helps set the stage for lifelong healthy outcomes—plus, it’s so much fun when play leads the way!

If your kiddo was a squirrel, would they balance on a log, gather and hide, or leap from branch to branch? 🐿️💨