.png)
Date: March 11, 2026
Time: 9:00-9:45 AM
Location: TBD (Costa Mesa/Newport/Irvine) - Will Receive Specific Location Prior to Event
Workshop Fee:
- $35 per parent–child pair (Covers Registration and 1 To-Go Bugs & Bloom Experience)
Workshop Facilitators: Andi Alvarez & Dr. Samantha Hayes
45 minutes that changes how you play together.
Most parents want more connection with their kids, but in the moment, play can feel awkward, rushed, or hard to enter.
The Playful Connection Lab: Bugs & Blooms gives you a chance to slow down and experience what connected play actually feels like with your child, right beside you.
This is a 45-minute, guided, sensory-rich play experience where everything is set up for you. You show up, play together, and leave feeling more confident about how to create meaningful moments at home.
What Makes This Different
This isn’t a class.
It’s not a drop-off.
And it’s not another thing to prepare for.
You and your child will move through simple, engaging play moments inspired by bugs and blooms: using touch, imagination, and curiosity to spark interaction and conversation.
You’ll See:
• how small play moments invite connection
• how following your child’s lead builds confidence
• how little effort it actually takes to create meaningful play
You’ll Leave With:
• A Bugs & Blooms To-Go Play Kit - the same materials used during the lab
• Play prompts that remove the “what do I do now?” feeling
• A clear picture of what supportive, connected play looks like
• A shared experience you can return to again and again at home
The Playful Connection Lab: Bugs & Blooms isn’t about doing more, it’s about experiencing play in a way that finally makes sense.
The Playful Connection Lab: Bugs & Blooms
Andi Alvarez — Lil Sandbox Co.
Founder of Lil Sandbox Co., a degree in psychology, and a passion for creating meaningful, high-quality play experiences for young children. As a mom herself, she brings a grounded, real-life perspective to sensory and hands-on learning.Dr. Samantha Hayes — Beyond the Screen Families
Educator, keynote speaker, and founder of Beyond the Screen Families. With 20 years of experience and a doctorate in education, Samantha specializes in helping families create moments that stick beyond the screen.We understand that plans can change!
-
Cancellations made more than one week before the playful connection lab will receive a full refund, minus a $3 cancellation fee.
-
Cancellations made within one week of the workshop date will be subject to a $20 cancellation fee.
-
Once the workshop begins, we're unable to offer refunds.
Thank you for your understanding as we plan and prepare for your families' experience.
-
