KIM ADAMS, M.A. | PLAY FORWARD
Play, Creativity, & Play-Forward Environments
(650) 630-2608
PLAY IT FORWARD
Moving Learning and Development
Forward Through Play
with Kim Adams, M.A.
It Starts with a Belief
I believe children are born with a natural drive to explore and learn, and that play is the primary mode through which young children develop.
What Is a Play-Forward Environment?
A play-forward environment intentionally protects and nurtures children's natural drive to learn through play. Grounded in trusting relationships, every decision about curriculum, environments, materials, and experiences asks one question: "How can this protect a child's well-being while moving their development forward through play?"
The Challenge
In our desire to help children succeed, we've often tried to move learning forward by adding more instruction and introducing academic skills earlier. While well-intentioned, this approach can unintentionally overlook the way young children learn best.
Play is not a break from learning. It is the primary mode through which young children develop. Through play, children build the foundations for language, literacy, mathematics, self-regulation, problem-solving, creativity, and healthy relationships.
A play-forward approach doesn't lower expectations for children. It aligns our expectations with child development. When we honor how young children naturally grow and learn, we create environments where both development and learning can flourish.
Ready to create a play-forward environment? Whether you're just beginning the conversation or looking to deepen your practice, I'd love to explore how we can move play forward together.
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ABOUT ME
I’m an early childhood educator, speaker, facilitator, consultant, and play advocate with more than 35 years of experience working with young children, educators, and families. I’m also the owner and educator at Barron Park Playschool in Palo Alto, where my work continues to be shaped by what I see, notice, and learn alongside children and teachers every day.
That classroom connection matters to me. It keeps my speaking, professional learning, and consulting rooted in real practice, child development, relationships, creativity, and play.
THE WAY I WORK
My professional learning is grounded in the principles of adult learning and reflects the same curiosity, respect, playfulness, and engagement I hope educators will create for children.
I strive to:
Build trusting relationships.
Meaningful learning begins with connection.
Honor educators’ experience.
Every participant brings valuable knowledge, questions, and perspectives.
Create engaging learning experiences.
I use stories, reflection, discussion, humor, and playful experiences to make learning meaningful, memorable, and genuinely enjoyable.
Encourage collaborative inquiry.
Lasting change happens when educators learn with and from one another.
Connect theory to practice.
Research becomes meaningful when it helps us better understand children and informs our daily decisions.
Support lasting growth.
My goal is not simply an inspiring workshop, but meaningful change that continues long after our time together.We’ll have some fun getting there, too.
MOVING PLAY FORWARD TOGETHER
Whether you're leading a classroom, a school, a district, or a statewide initiative, I partner with educators and organizations to move play forward through professional learning, collaborative inquiry, and coaching.
I PARTNER WITH:
School districts creating play-forward early learning systems.
County offices of education supporting educators across multiple communities.
State organizations advancing high-quality early learning.
Schools and early learning programs strengthening play-forward classroom practice.
Conferences and leadership events inspiring educators to rethink what’s possible for young children.
Families seeking a deeper understanding of child development, play, and positive relationships.
Where Would You Like to Begin?
Every organization has different goals. Whether you're looking to inspire, strengthen practice, support families, or build something new, there's more than one way to move play forward.
Inspire Our Team
Strengthen Our Practice
Support Families
Design Something New
Play Forward Professional Learning
Sometimes a single workshop is the right fit. Sometimes meaningful change needs more time.
I also partner with schools, districts, county offices of education, and early learning organizations to design customized professional learning that develops over time and responds to the goals, questions, and context of the educators and leaders involved.
See & Understand → Respond → Reflect & Adjust → Advocate & Sustain
The process is iterative rather than fixed. We learn, try, observe, document, reflect, adjust, and share, building the capacity to strengthen practice and sustain change across classrooms and systems.
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING
“Kim, you have been the most interesting workshop I have taken in a long time. I agree with all the ideas you presented tonight. thank you for sharing it all with us.”
Pia K, Teacher
Detroit MI
“The workshop changed my whole thought process on how to use materials...great ideas! We are really focusing on more open-ended process based art.”
Margo K, Director
Mountain View CA
“Using design thinking with kids encourages creativity and problem solving as a group. Kim provided a frame work to better explain the learning process."
Maureen L, Teacher
Palo Alto CA
I highly enjoyed the presentations. I felt so engaged and focused and feel so inspired to take what was shared, into my classroom and with my colleagues. Thank you so much for the amazing presentations.
Megan A., Teacher
Fairfield, CA
“Will use Immediately in our conversations and explanations, and in social media campaign about play.”
Kathleen, Program Director
Omaha NE
Thank you so much Kim!! We love having you! I really appreciate the balance humor, relatable classroom experiences and the knowledge you share with educators!
Samantha D. Owner/Director
San Francisco,CA
WHERE PLAY HAS TAKEN ME
Play has taken me into classrooms, schools, districts, county offices of education, conferences, and professional learning communities across California and beyond. I’ve had the opportunity to share and learn alongside educators, leaders, and families at regional, state, national, and international events, including NAEYC, CAAEYC, CQEL, EveryChild California, the U.S. Play Coalition, and the International Play Association. I stay closely connected to professional learning communities focused on play-responsive pedagogy, leadership in early learning, and systems change.
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES
Selected Presentations and Partnerships
NAEYC, U.S. Play Coalition, International Play Association, Head Start West
CALIFORNIA STATE CONFERENCES & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
CAAEYC, CQEL, EveryChild California, California Head Start Association
SCHOOLS, DISTRICTS & COUNTY OFFICES
Selected partnerships supporting TK and early learning through professional learning, collaborative inquiry, leadership development, and play-forward practice.
The Play Forward Series
Every learning experience is grounded in the same core belief: children have a natural drive to explore and learn, and play is the primary mode through which young children develop.
While each session explores a different topic, they all share the same purpose: helping educators, leaders, and families make decisions that move children’s learning and development forward through play. Whether we’re exploring creativity, STEM, behavior, leadership, or systems change, every session is rooted in child development, relationships, and the belief that play belongs at the heart of early learning.
Sessions can stand alone or be woven into customized professional learning designed around the needs of a school, district, or organization.
Play It Forward
The Urgency of Play Play is not a break from learning. It is the primary mode through which young children develop. Play It Forward invites participants to reimagine what is possible when our decisions align with how young children naturally grow, develop, and learn. Grounded in child development, current research, and practical experience, this engaging session explores the urgency of protecting play, strengthening relationships, and creating play-forward environments where children can flourish. Participants are introduced to the SOARS Framework, a practical tool for designing and reflecting on play-forward practice. Tailored for Your Audience For Educators Explore the Play Forward philosophy through the lens of classroom practice. Participants leave with a deeper understanding of child development, practical strategies for creating play-forward environments, and renewed confidence in advocating for play and developmentally appropriate practice. For Educational Leaders Designed for directors, principals, district leaders, instructional coaches, county offices of education, and educational leadership teams, this session explores the leadership decisions that create the conditions for play-forward practice to thrive. Together, we'll examine how leadership, professional learning, and collaborative inquiry can move play forward across classrooms, schools, and systems. For Families Parents and caregivers discover why play is essential to healthy development and how everyday decisions about relationships, routines, and play shape children's growth and learning. Families leave with practical ideas and renewed confidence to protect childhood while supporting their child's development. Available Formats Keynote Conference Workshop 2-Hour Professional Learning Half-Day Professional Learning Full-Day Professional Learning
Press Play
One District’s Journey Elevating Play in TK
Press Play shares how one district used collaborative inquiry, action research, and small shifts in practice to strengthen play in Transitional Kindergarten. It offers a practical look at how educators and leaders can build shared understanding, support teacher growth, and create conditions where play-forward practice can take root across a system.
A District Journey A real-world look at how one California school district moved from believing in play to building a more play-forward TK system through professional learning, collaborative inquiry, teacher leadership, observation, and reflection. From Philosophy to Practice Participants explore how the SOARS Framework helped educators translate beliefs about play into daily classroom decisions and practice. Supporting Change Over Time The session highlights the questions, challenges, decisions, and small shifts that helped sustain momentum across classrooms and leadership teams. Available Formats Keynote Conference Workshop
The Positive Approach
Understanding Behavior Through Connection and Development
The Positive Approach helps educators understand behavior as communication and respond in ways that support connection, regulation, belonging, and development. Grounded in child development, relationships, and practical classroom experience, this session invites participants to look beyond the behavior itself and consider what may be happening around and within the child. Then add a Collapsible Text underneath for the deeper content. Use: What Participants Explore Behavior as Communication Participants consider behavior through a developmental lens and explore how unmet needs, regulation, temperament, sensory experiences, relationships, and the environment can shape what children communicate through behavior. Looking Around the Child Before deciding the problem lives inside the child, participants examine the pace of the day, transitions, movement, sensory opportunities, time for deep engagement, materials, and adult expectations. Practical Adult Moves The session offers concrete ways adults can respond with connection, curiosity, encouragement, and developmentally appropriate limits while supporting children’s growing capacity for self-regulation and problem solving. Available Formats Conference Workshop 2-Hour Professional Learning Half-Day Professional Learning Full-Day Professional Learning
It Might Get Messy
Creativity, Curiosity, and the Courage to Explore
Creating play-forward environments requires more than adding paint, clay, or loose parts. It requires a willingness to embrace curiosity, trust children’s ideas, and make room for the beautiful uncertainty of authentic learning. Sometimes, it can get messy. What Participants Explore This highly interactive workshop invites educators to experience the power of open-ended exploration firsthand. Through hands-on provocations and creative experiences, participants play, experiment, solve problems, and reflect on the conditions that support creativity, innovation, and meaningful learning. Together, we explore how environments, materials, and educator interactions can either nurture or limit children’s natural creativity. Participants examine common biases about creative behaviors, discover practical strategies for designing play-forward learning environments, and leave with fresh ideas for fostering imagination, creative thinking, and collaborative problem solving. Expect to create, wonder, experiment... and yes, get a little messy. Available Formats Conference Workshop 2-Hour Professional Learning Half-Day Professional Learning Full-Day Professional Learning Materials Note This workshop includes a hands-on materials experience. A materials fee may apply depending on the format and number of participants.
STEM Through Play
What If Child-Led Play Is STEM?
Many educators think of STEM as something they need to add to the classroom. But what if meaningful STEM learning is already happening through children’s everyday play? What Participants Explore Grounded in child development and current research, this interactive workshop challenges participants to rethink what STEM looks like in early childhood. Together, we explore how child-led play naturally supports scientific inquiry, mathematical thinking, engineering, creativity, and problem solving. Participants learn to recognize authentic STEM learning in children’s play, create environments that invite exploration and inquiry, and use thoughtful interactions to extend children’s thinking without taking over. Meaningful STEM experiences do not require expensive materials or elaborate lesson plans. They begin with children who are free to wonder, investigate, build, test, revise, and play. Rather than asking, “How can I teach STEM?” participants begin asking, “How can I notice, support, and extend the STEM already happening through play?” Available Formats Conference Workshop 2-Hour Professional Learning Half-Day Professional Learning Full-Day Professional Learning
Save the Gingerbread Man
A Playful Challenge in Creativity, Collaboration, and Problem-Solving
What happens when adults are invited to solve a problem through play? Using the familiar story of The Gingerbread Man as a launching point, participants experience a playful design challenge that inspires creativity, collaboration, and innovative thinking. What Participants Explore Participants explore why play is essential to creativity, why these skills matter more than ever, and how thoughtfully designed provocations inspire children to imagine, create, test ideas, learn from failure, and solve authentic problems together. Grounded in child development and current research, this highly interactive workshop explores the connection between play, creativity, and learning. Participants leave with practical ideas for designing open-ended invitations that foster curiosity, engineering, collaboration, and creative problem solving while honoring children’s natural drive to explore and learn. The real goal is not the solution itself, but the thinking children develop as they imagine, test, revise, and create. Available Formats Conference Workshop 2-Hour Professional Learning Half-Day Professional Learning Full-Day Professional Learning
Playing with Possibilities
A Playful Approach to Creative Thinking and Collaborative Problem Solving
The most meaningful solutions rarely come from one person with the “right” answer. They emerge when people are willing to wonder, experiment, collaborate, and play with possibilities together. What Participants Explore This highly interactive session invites participants into a playful creative problem-solving process designed to unlock new thinking and strengthen collaboration. Through engaging challenges, guided facilitation, and thoughtful reflection, participants experience how curiosity and play can transform the way groups approach complex questions and shared challenges. Centered around one essential question, “What is moving us forward, and what is holding us back?”, participants examine assumptions, generate new ideas, and explore possibilities they may not have considered before. Rather than searching for quick solutions, the process builds a culture of curiosity, creativity, and collaborative inquiry. Whether working with educators, leadership teams, organizations, or community groups, Playing with Possibilities offers a memorable framework for thinking together, solving problems collaboratively, and moving forward with greater clarity and shared purpose. Available Formats 2-Hour Professional Learning Half-Day Professional Learning Full-Day Professional Learning
Parent/Caregiver Education
Families play a vital role in children’s development. These interactive sessions help parents/caregivers better understand child development, strengthen relationships, and gain practical tools that support children both at home and at school.
Play It Forward- For Families
Helping Families Understand the Power of Play
Play is far more than entertainment. It is the primary mode through which young children develop. This engaging parent session explores why play matters, what current research tells us about child development, and how everyday moments of connection, curiosity, and play build the foundation for lifelong learning. What Families Explore Parents and caregivers explore how play supports development, why protecting childhood matters, and how everyday decisions about relationships, routines, and play shape children’s growth and learning. Available Formats Parent Workshop Parent Series Conference Session
Parenting the Positive Discipline Way
Connection, Encouragement, and Steady Guidance
Based on the internationally recognized Positive Discipline approach, this interactive parent education series helps families build respectful, encouraging relationships while gaining practical tools for navigating everyday parenting challenges. Together, we explore child development, effective communication, and positive discipline strategies that foster responsibility, resilience, belonging, and mutual respect. Parents leave with practical tools they can begin using immediately while strengthening the relationships that matter most. Available Formats Parent Workshop Multi-Session Parent Series
RESOURCES TO CLICK ON
A Playful Pause
Notice something nearby that could become a loose part.
What might a child imagine it could be?
What Others Imagined
↓
spoon
microphone
Carl Jung
“The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct.
CONTACT ME
Let’s work together to move play forward and rewrite the narrative of early education.
Contact me to explore how we can create meaningful professional learning, family education, or a customized experience for your school, organization, or event.
kim@barronpark.com (650) 630-2608
