Hi, I’m Dee Dee.
Educator. Founder. Mother.
I believe children learn best through play, movement, and connection—not pressure and worksheets.
Over the years, I’ve worked as a teacher, reading specialist, instructional coach, and principal. I’ve supported children with diverse learning needs, partnered with families, and helped educators design meaningful learning experiences.
And through it all, I kept coming back to the same truth:
When children are engaged, regulated, and connected, learning naturally follows.
A Personal Note
My work is not just professional—it’s deeply personal.
As a mother, I experienced firsthand the power of sensory development.
My daughter is diagnosed with autism, and from her earliest days, I began to see something profound:
Sensory experiences weren’t just activities—they were a way for her to understand her world.
Through sensory play, I watched her connect, communicate, regulate, and grow.
I saw how intentional, sensory-rich experiences supported not only her development, but her ability to co-regulate with me—and eventually begin to self-regulate.
That experience didn’t just shape how I parent.
It transformed how I understand learning.
Why WonderPlay
Too often, early learning feels rushed, overly academic, and focused on outcomes instead of the child.
I created WonderPlay Learning™ to offer something different—something more aligned with how children actually learn.
A way to bring developmentally appropriate, research-based learning into real life—for families, classrooms, and communities, in a way that feels natural, engaging, and sustainable.
The WonderPlay Approach
At WonderPlay, we use a Book-To-Play™ approach:
Story → Play → Create → Move → Connect
This is a cycle—not a sequence.
Because learning is not linear.
Children revisit, repeat, and re-engage with experiences over time. They enter in different places, make new connections, and build understanding layer by layer.
This cyclical approach allows learning to feel natural, meaningful, and lasting.
This isn’t about doing more.
It’s about doing what actually works.
Sensory-rich experiences
Movement-based learning
Language and connection woven throughout
Designed for how young children develop
What Makes WonderPlay Different
Development first. Theme second. Joy always.
Every experience is intentionally designed—not just fun, but meaningful.
Grounded in child development
Inclusive and responsive to different needs
Flexible across ages and stages
Focused on connection, not perfection
Who This Is For
WonderPlay is designed for:
Families who want meaningful play without overwhelm
Educators looking for intentional, ready-to-use experiences
Therapists and specialists supporting development through play
Communities who believe childhood should feel like childhood
Because when we slow down, follow the child, and make space for play—
we don’t just support learning.
We build connection.
Confidence.
And a foundation that lasts.
Ready to begin your Book-To-Play™ journey?
Development doesn’t need to be rushed.
Play doesn’t need to be over-directed.
When we design the environment with intention,
learning unfolds.
— Dee Dee Swann
