What can a squishy handful of slime, a splash of paint, or a sandbox teach us about learning? In Episode 10 of The Satellite, we dive into the sensory-rich world of early childhood education at St. Anne’s School to uncover the developmental magic behind “messy play.”

Featuring real classroom audio clips of students in our Program for Young Children (PYC) immersed in finger paint, sensory bins, and collaborative art projects, this episode celebrates the joyful, messy work of growing mighty minds. Grounded in research on sensory integration and early brain development, we explore how St. Anne’s School’s hands-on, play-based philosophy builds the foundation for curiosity, resilience, and lifelong learning with our expert educators. Together, they unpack how unstructured exploration—what might look like “chaos” to adults—actually fuels creativity, problem-solving, and emotional regulation in our youngest learners.

Guests:

Amy Byman, Preschool Teacher

Spencer Jones, Prekindergarten Assistant Teacher and Alum (‘10)

Courtney Severe, Prekindergarten Teacher

Lisa Wells, Head of Program for Young Children