Meet the founder
Hi, I'm Lauren!
I'm a mom of three and the creator
behind Joy of Creative Play
I spent more than 10 years teaching hip-hop dance and six years as a children's pastor. Once I became a mom, I started exploring different approaches to early learning, mainly Montessori, Waldorf, classical, and unschooling. I found inspiration in each of them, but I also noticed gaps, so I created Joy of Creative Play to bridge them with simplicity, playfulness, and connection.
Working from home with two under two, I was overwhelmed trying to keep up with daily Pinterest crafts and DIY activities, and nothing felt sustainable. That's when I discovered the Morning Basket. It simplified our days and gave a rhythm to our learning, and my kids began building their skills (colors, numbers, the alphabet, fine motor skills, and creativity) all through this simple, rich learning time.
Creativity has always been a core part of who I am, from my childhood love of building toys out of scrap boxes to finding new ways to reuse what we have at home. I want to help other parents, especially those in the thick of it, find that same glimmer of joy and creativity in their role as a parent.
Lauren
What is Joy of Creative Play?
We take the guesswork out of early learning.
Joy of Creative Play is your go-to resource for simple, creative, and educational activities designed to spark curiosity and foster a love of learning at home.
Our goal is to make learning feel joyful and natural through hands-on activities, Morning Basket time, and a nurturing home environment. Our printable Morning Basket kits are full of easy-to-follow, play-based activities for ages 1 to 6, made to support both playful learning and your child's unique journey.
“Children don't need to be busy. They need to be engaged.”
Our core teachings
Learning through play, one day at a time.
Every kit weaves these eleven skills into simple, hands-on activities your child will actually want to do. They'll just think they're playing.
about the creator
Hi, I’m Lauren Carlson, a mom of three and the creative educator behind Joy of Creative Play. With over 10 years of experience teaching children, including 6 years as a children’s pastor and curriculum writer, and 4 years as a professional hip-hop choreographer, I created Joy of Creative Play to share the fun, simple activities I was using with my two under two. When I became a mom, I began exploring different educational philosophies — primarily Montessori, Waldorf, classical, and unschooling. I found inspiration in all these styles but also noticed gaps in each. So, I set out to create something that would bridge these gaps with a focus on simplicity, playfulness, and connection.
One of the most defining moments of my journey as a mom came when I was working from home with my two under two, juggling the challenges of parenting while trying to keep them engaged. I was overwhelmed trying to prepare daily Pinterest crafts and DIY activities, but nothing seemed sustainable. That’s when I discovered the beauty of the Morning Basket, which simplified our days and provided a rhythm to our learning. It was during this time that my kids began to develop their skills—colors, numbers, alphabet, fine motor skills, creativity—all through this simple, yet rich learning time.
Creativity has always been a core part of who I am. From my childhood love of building toys out of scrap boxes to finding useful ways to reuse items we have at home as a parent; I’ve always found joy in creating and looking at the world through a creative lens. I want to help other parents—especially those who feel like they’re in the thick of it—find that same glimmer of joy and creativity in their role as a parent. Whether it’s through activity kits, tips, or resources, I’m here to support families in making learning fun and meaningful.
joy of creative play
Joy of Creative Play is your go-to resource for simple, creative, and educational activities designed to spark curiosity and foster a love of learning at home. We believe that children don’t need to be busy—they need to be engaged, and our goal is to make learning feel joyful and natural through hands-on activities, Morning Basket time, and a nurturing home environment. Whether you’re a parent or caregiver, we provide easy-to-follow resources that support both playful learning and your child’s unique journey.
Over 7,000 families (and counting) are using these kits to create calmer, more connected mornings.
