The Spot: Where your kid is encouraged to discover, play, and get messy — meet A Bloom Approach
It’s barely 10 a.m. on Friday (any, we’re there weekly!) and we enter A Bloom Approach without containing our excitement. We have a look around the one-room space located within the Shoppes at East Wind in Wading River and observe uncluttered, organized, inviting centers throughout. It is serene, cohesive, and calm with friendly, easy-to-enjoy music lightly playing in the background and stimulating yet approachable stations ready to go. Then, the children, and their parents or caregivers, begin to make their way in and slowly the space transforms into an experiential learning oasis. A Bloom Approach is blooming right before our eyes — colors, textures, even smells, showing their best selves as little hands dig right in. The once perfectly designed sensory stations and neatly organized craft table explode with the best messy play you’ve ever witnessed.
Warning: A Bloom Approach is not for the faint-of-heart neat freaks who shrill at the thought of imperfect, (though all are always welcome) because that’s where A Bloom Approach shines.
“Embracing A Bloom Approach means fostering creativity through hands-on experiences like messy art and sensory play,” Brittany Ady, co-founder of A Bloom Approach told us. “At A Bloom Approach, we view the child as innately capable and curious, recognizing their inherent ability to explore, learn, and create. This perspective forms the foundation for our commitment to providing a supportive environment that encourages the natural curiosity and capabilities of every child.”
With over 35 combined years in early childhood education, Brittany and her partner Tara Kochanskyj developed A Bloom Approach through a fusion of their original ideas and inspiration drawn from renowned early learning philosophies, including Reggio and Montessori. Applying these principles, they meticulously crafted a child-led, emergent, and play-based curriculum for Bloom Riverhead, Bloom Moriches, and A Bloom Approach in Wading River.
“Play-based learning is of utmost importance as it adheres to the principles of developmental appropriateness, acknowledging the diverse pace and styles of each child's growth. Extensively researched and proven as the most effective approach to early childhood education, it seamlessly integrates fun and exploration with essential cognitive, social, and emotional milestones,” Brittany added. “Beyond these benefits, play-based learning lays a foundation for a genuine love for learning, instilling a curiosity that lasts a lifetime. This holistic approach nurtures not only academic skills but also cultivates a child's social awareness, problem-solving abilities, and overall well-being.”
In A Bloom Approach, the goal is for children to explore. In addition to its preschool, year-round camps, and birthday party offerings, the center hosts an art, sensory, and play lab on Friday mornings from 10 to 11 a.m. The themes change weekly, sometimes part of a larger series or focused on a season or a holiday, but the vibe is always the same, this spot is one you never want to leave.
Crafting, painting, water play, sensory bins, stories, pretend play, blocks, a projection center, it’s all enjoyed within.
“Witnessing children wholeheartedly immerse themselves in activities, flourish within our space, and thrive on their developmental journey adds an extraordinary dimension to the overall experience,” said Brittany.
A Bloom Approach is located within the Shoppes at East Wind in Wading River. It’s open year-round with varied offerings for young learners (pre- and new-walkers) to children 5 years old, and sometimes even older, depending on the session. Check out their website to learn more and enroll in their latest Friday program, the Storybook Series classes that include reading a story and an invitation for play and free exploration of various creative centers themed by the book of the day.