When people hear that I'm an Early Years Educator, they often assume that my job has always been about teaching children.
And they're right... at least partly.
For more than 15 years, I have worked with young children in classrooms, childcare centers, and play spaces. I've taught letters, numbers, social skills, problem-solving, and countless life lessons.
But somewhere along the way, I discovered something unexpected:
Some of my best teachers were 3 years old.
The Lessons Children Teach Us
As adults, we often think of learning as something that flows in one direction. We teach. Children learn.
Yet every educator knows the truth is much more complicated than that.
Children have a remarkable way of reminding us what really matters.
They find wonder in things we walk past every day.
A puddle becomes an ocean.
A cardboard box becomes a spaceship.
A handful of blocks becomes a city.
A stick becomes a magic wand.
Children don't need expensive materials or perfect conditions to learn. They see possibilities everywhere.
Watching that day after day changes you.
Curiosity Without Fear
One of the greatest lessons children have taught me is how to be curious.
Young children ask questions constantly.
Why is the sky blue?
Where does the moon go?
Can worms hear?
What would happen if we mixed these colors together?
They aren't afraid of asking "silly" questions. They aren't worried about looking smart. They simply want to understand the world around them.
Somewhere between childhood and adulthood, many of us lose that confidence.
Children remind us that curiosity isn't something to outgrow. It's something to protect.
Learning Through Play
Over the years, I've watched children learn some of their most important lessons through play.
Not because someone instructed them to.
Not because there was a worksheet.
Not because there was a test at the end.
They learned because they were engaged, interested, and motivated.
I've watched children build towers that collapse ten times before finally standing tall.
I've watched them negotiate, collaborate, solve problems, and create entirely new worlds from everyday objects.
I've watched confidence grow one small success at a time.
Play is often mistaken for "just fun."
But play is serious work.
It's how children make sense of the world.
Why Learning Through PLAYtrays Exists
The philosophy behind Learning Through PLAYtrays® didn't come from a boardroom.
It came from years spent sitting on classroom floors, observing children learn through exploration.
It came from watching children become completely absorbed in a simple activity.
It came from seeing firsthand that meaningful learning often happens when children are given the freedom to explore, create, experiment, and play.
Every product we design is rooted in a simple belief:
Children learn best when they are actively engaged in play.
That's not a business strategy.
That's something thousands of children have taught me over the years.
A Thank You to the Little Teachers
When I look back on my career, I remember the children far more than the lesson plans.
I remember their questions.
I remember their laughter.
I remember their creativity.
I remember the moments when they reminded me to slow down, notice the little things, and see the world through fresh eyes.
So today, I want to say thank you.
Thank you to every child who has shared their curiosity.
Thank you to every child who has taught me patience, resilience, creativity, and wonder.
Thank you to every child who helped shape not only the educator I became, but the person I became.
And to every child reading, playing, building, exploring, imagining, and dreaming today:
Never stop being curious.
The world needs more of what makes childhood so special.
After all, some of our very best teachers are only 3 years old.
Happy International Children's Day ❤️ June 1st, 2026
If you feel the same, write me an email about your story at Kamilla@playtraylearning.com
Kamilla
Early Years Educator & Co-Founder
Learning Through PLAYtrays®
