Little Sprouts Play Place, a Waldorf and Montessori-inspired indoor play space for children ages 0-6, is now open in Ridgefield at 15 Danbury Road in Girolmetti Court Shopping Center, right next to Bach to Rock Music.
I had the opportunity to stop in last week and met with the owner, Michelle Sawin who excitedly showed me around the space, sharing endearingly that her 11-month old niece is her "big boss and is constantly doing quality control of all toys and equipment". When asked further about her inspiration for opening Little Sprouts, Michelle explained how she drew from her past experience to create a space to fill a need for parents of small children.
“Having taught in different educational settings for years, I started to notice the gap between the classroom and the playground. Often times parents are forced to choose between committing to long-term, rigid classes, or sending their kids to aimlessly burn off energy at their nearest park before bedtime. I wanted to create a place that children can do both learn and play, and parents could feel good about providing a meaningful activity.” ~ Michelle Sawin, Founder/Owner of Little Sprouts Play Place
Michelle, whose professional background includes experience as a behavioral therapist and preschool teacher, has carefully thought through every detail of the space design to ensure little ones are engaged with fun, developmentally appropriate activities with ease of mobility and exploration while under parent supervision.
Amid the wide-open playroom, the sectioned off "Teeny Tot Spot" for little ones not yet walking sits across from the custom playhouses including a medical center, a market/cafe and a cozy play house as well as curated toy shelves. Children will enjoy playing with a variety of open-ended wooden toys (use of plastic is intentionally minimized), exploring modular climbing equipment and expressing their creative side through an interactive artistic performance area complete with dress-up items and musical instruments.
“Little Sprouts is such a gem! The space is spotless, well-organized, and filled with toys that are not only fun but also really thoughtful for imaginative play. My daughter absolutely loves it here! The owner, Michelle, is truly wonderful—she interacts so beautifully with the children and creates such a welcoming environment. You can tell she cares deeply about the kids’ experience. There are so many creative play stations: a veterinary clinic, a grocery store, a cozy little book nook for quiet moments, and open spaces where kids can just let their imaginations run wild. I love that it’s designed so parents can always see their child without feeling like they need to hover or worry about where they went. It’s the perfect place for kids to play, explore, and make new friends. Highly recommend to any parent looking for a safe, clean, and inspiring play space!” - Heather
Parents will also love the Little Sprouts front welcome area that offers free coffee for parents, cubicles for removing shoes and jackets, as well as a large table where families can take a break and enjoy snacks/drinks brought from home.
Stop in and begin exploring Little Sprouts Play Place today and let Michelle know you read about her space in Macaroni KID!
Little Sprouts is open Monday-Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm and on Saturdays 8:30am - 12pm. Little Sprouts is closed Saturdays starting at 12 noon through Sunday for private birthday parties and events. Pricing for non-members is $38 for full-day unlimited play and $28 for a half-day of unlimited play after 1pm. Both include free daily re-entry. Siblings save $10. Monthly memberships are available for $170/month for the first child and $120 for siblings. Visit https://www.littlesproutsplayplace.com/ or call 203-817-1415 for more information.
