Meet Us
Vanessa Collett is the heart behind Little by Little.
Vanessa is the heart behind Little by Little. With over a decade as a play-based preschool director and 25+ years of parenting experience, she brings both practical wisdom and deep empathy to her work with families and educators.
Background & Approach
B.S. in Human and Family Development
Graduate student in Marriage and Family Therapy, with a developing focus on early childhood mental health
Trained in multiple parenting frameworks and experienced in leading parent education
Grounded in attachment theory, systems thinking, and the belief that behavior is communication
How She Works
1:1 parent support and coaching
Educator consulting, teacher shadowing, and program development
Workshops and parent education groups
Essays and reflection writer (Little by Little on Substack), exploring play, behavior, and the inner life of parenting
Developing a podcast and masterclass for parents and educators
Vanessa currently teaches at Little Folk House, where she also supports program development, director and educator mentorship, and parent education. She partners with Itty Bitty Play Committee as well, offering parent support alongside director and educator mentorship.
Based in San Clemente, California, she works with parents and educators to build clarity, confidence, and community — one muddy footprint at a time.
She’s also the proud mom of three kids who continue to teach her what it means to grow alongside our children.
Anja Pellegrino has been working with Vanessa for nearly a decade.
With almost 30 years of experience in creative direction, writing, and web design, Anja brings clarity, warmth, and polish to everything we build.
Her background spans brand direction and marketing from the tech to non-profit world, early childhood education, former preschool teaching, and years as a devoted Waldorf volunteer. She’s also the proud mama of two wild, wonderful little ones, which means she lives the work every single day.
Anja’s vision, humor, and fierce loyalty are woven into every corner of this project. She’d follow Vanessa to the ends of the earth — and honestly, she already has.