EPISODE · Jan 19, 2026 · 43 MIN
6. The Power of Block Play for All Ages — with Play Expert Sami Krasny, MSEd
from Between the Chaos & Calm: In the Middle of Motherhood · host With Gloria and Jenna
Don’t sleep on block play! Whether you have a toddler, a big kid, or a tween, this episode with guest expert Sami Krasny will inspire you to make more time and space for open-ended play—especially with her number-one recommended material: standard unit blocks. This century-old material has deep roots in play-based learning and is purposefully designed to do less, so your child can do more. Not sure if your child is really into it? Think again. There is an art and a science behind block play, and Sami helps families prepare their play spaces in a way that ignites the creativity, problem-solving and frustration tolerance skills that all children are capable of (and that blocks brilliantly support). Sami Krasny is a progressive educator, homeschool mom, and consultant for Guidecraft Educational Toys. She became widely known as a "block play expert" when other teachers and parents began turning to her for information on how to support play-based learning, which inspired her to create resources online to make block play more accessible. You can follow her on Instagram at @everydaywitheandj, where she inspires nearly 30,000 followers with her inspiring play setups, tips and tricks. Check out Sami's Resources: WorkshopsConsultations Unit Block Buying Guide Resources mentioned in the Episode: Stages of Block Play The Block Book About This PodcastCo-hosted by Jenna and Gloria, we are two moms who met on Instagram years ago and quickly bonded over our love of the Montessori philosophy applied to parenting and over nerdy child development research. We decided to take the leap by finally taking our chats out of our DMs and inviting you to listen along as we chat about all things motherhood.Gloria is a former 1st grade public school teacher turned SAHM and now Montessori homeschooling mom to her 6 and 4.5 year old. She mentors parents on Montessori homeschooling online and has created multiple masterclasses for parents and educators on how to teach children to read at a foundational level. You can find more about her mentorship program by clicking here and more about her masterclasses and other printables she has created for homeschoolers by clicking here. You can find her on Instagram @MontessoriMamaLifeJenna is a mom of three, communications strategist and child development writer. With a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a specialization in sociology, she began her career in newsrooms and nonprofits before discovering her true calling in education. She partners with Montessori school teams to strengthen their outreach, refine family communications, and foster deeper connections between parents and educators. She also works as a writer and editor for @joyparentingclub. You can follow her musings on Instagram @holdingspacemontessori.
What this episode covers
Don’t sleep on block play! Whether you have a toddler, a big kid, or a tween, this episode with guest expert Sami Krasny will inspire you to make more time and space for open-ended play—especially with her number-one recommended material: standard unit blocks. This century-old material has deep roots in play-based learning and is purposefully designed to do less, so your child can do more. Not sure if your child is really into it? Think again. There is an art and a science behind block play, and Sami helps families prepare their play spaces in a way that ignites the creativity, problem-solving and frustration tolerance skills that all children are capable of (and that blocks brilliantly support). Sami Krasny is a progressive educator, homeschool mom, and consultant for Guidecraft Educational Toys. She became widely known as a "block play expert" when other teachers and parents began turning to her for information on how to support play-based learning, which inspired her to create resources online to make block play more accessible. You can follow her on Instagram at @everydaywitheandj, where she inspires nearly 30,000 followers with her inspiring play setups, tips and tricks. Check out Sami's Resources: WorkshopsConsultations Unit Block Buying Guide Resources mentioned in the Episode: Stages of Block Play The Block Book About This PodcastCo-hosted by Jenna and Gloria, we are two moms who met on Instagram years ago and quickly bonded over our love of the Montessori philosophy applied to parenting and over nerdy child development research. We decided to take the leap by finally taking our chats out of our DMs and inviting you to listen along as we chat about all things motherhood.Gloria is a former 1st grade public school teacher turned SAHM and now Montessori homeschooling mom to her 6 and 4.5 year old. She mentors parents on Montessori homeschooling online and has created multiple masterclasses for parents and educators on how to teach children to read at a foundational level. You can find more about her mentorship program by clicking here and more about her masterclasses and other printables she has created for homeschoolers by clicking here. You can find her on Instagram @MontessoriMamaLifeJenna is a mom of three, communications strategist and child development writer. With a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a specialization in sociology, she began her career in newsrooms and nonprofits before discovering her true calling in education. She partners with Montessori school teams to strengthen their outreach, refine family communications, and foster deeper connections between parents and educators. She also works as a writer and editor for @joyparentingclub. You can follow her musings on Instagram @holdingspacemontessori.
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6. The Power of Block Play for All Ages — with Play Expert Sami Krasny, MSEd
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