Little by Little Play & Parenting

Protecting Children’s Mental Health through Play

Vanessa Collett Little by Little Pink Shirt

Much of what I believe about children and families began in a co-op classroom.

Hi, I'm Vanessa.

For many years, I had the privilege of leading a cooperative preschool community as both teacher and director, working alongside parents as they learned and grew with their children.

If you've never experienced a cooperative preschool, it's a special place. It's messy, loud, joyful, exhausting, heartwarming... all the things. Parents are in the classroom right alongside their children, and my role was to model, encourage, and guide the community.

We taught the children. They taught us. We all taught each other.

Those were some of the most meaningful years of my career.

I realized that what many families need—and what our society doesn't often make space for—is someone who will slow down long enough to truly listen, notice what's already working, and support parents in better understanding both their child and themselves.

Vanessa Collette Painting Playing Little Folk House

We live in a world overflowing with parenting advice.

While so much of it is thoughtful and helpful, it can also become overwhelming. Sometimes, all that information makes it harder to hear your own instincts/parental wisdom 

I wanted to create more space for those kinds of conversations. That desire eventually led me to pursue my master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, allowing me to deepen the work I had already begun with children and families.

Today, my work has expanded. I'm still in the classroom alongside children, while also meeting with parents one-on-one, leading parent support groups, consulting with early childhood educators, and continuing my graduate studies.

We may not share a co-op classroom, but my hope is still the same: to hear your story, learn about your family, and support you in a way that feels right for your family.

Sometimes we begin by talking about your child.

Sometimes we end up talking about your family.

And sometimes, our conversations gently lead us back to you.

I'm so glad you're here.

— Vanessa

Small Steps,
Big Love.

At Little by Little, we champion real play to safeguard children’s mental health — because play is their foundation.

Wondering what’s behind behavior? Vanessa’s Substack unpacks the “why” with empathy, offering practical tools for educators and parents to connect and grow.

Subscribe for FREE today for weekly insights!

Read Vanessa's Substack

Community Impact

“As an educator stepping into preschool ownership, I knew my heart and vision for children, but I didn’t have the same level of knowledge around the business side of running a program. Working with Vanessa has been a deeply meaningful experience. She holds such deep intention and passion, not only for the work itself but for truly honoring childhood.”

— Danielle, Preschool Director, Itty Bitty Play Co.

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