about
WE PLAY, WE THRIVE was created in 2020 as a way for Danielle (see below) to share and connect around the theme of play-based learning and incorporated in 2023 as WE PLAY, WE THRIVE LLC.
Through videos and social media posts, she shares creative play ideas, encouraging messages, reflections on parenting, ideas for teaching through play, and class experiences using the Tinkergarten curriculum.
WE PLAY, WE THRIVE LLC has expanded by offering classes and events in the St. Louis area to spread joyful and enriching play experiences to young children and their caregivers.
meet danielle
Danielle trained professionally as an elementary school teacher and a teacher for students of other languages (TESOL) with a Masters of Science degree in Elementary Education. After 5 wonderful years of teaching 3rd grade, she became a mother and moved out of state. After staying at home full time for a year, she found Tinkergarten, an organization rooted in getting families outdoors together to play and develop critical life skills. Teaching Tinkergarten classes allowed her to use her skills and talents to fulfill a need for her family as well as their neighbors.
Following another out-of-state move and the birth of her second child, Danielle continued teaching Tinkergarten classes for children and their families outdoors in the Saint Louis area. She is eager to expand the Tinkergarten curriculum and share the richness of play-based education with more of her community through her small business, WE PLAY, WE THRIVE.
testimonials
“We highly enjoyed her lovely ukulele/singing, gentle and kind demeanor, and hands-on activities making a “stone soup” in the park. This was definitely the highlight of our week and we really enjoyed the class!”
“She is such a patient, kind, and inviting presence. She notices each child’s strengths and allows them to explore, invites them to participate, and offers them opportunities to be challenged, all in such a welcoming and peaceful environment.”
“Tinkergarten Explorers is [our] absolute favorite of our many activities. I really can’t recommend this enough...because they are doing all their favorite types of play: hands-on, outside, messy, investigative...I love finding spaces where we can find a way to say “yes, let’s discover/try/develop that!” ...my children are not simply in a space with other children, but they are actually working together with other children...the warmth and kindness within the parents at TG classes rounds it out as something we all look forward to each week.”
