Why We Built a Hollow Instead of a Classroom

Children joyfully play in a circle on a sunny day, holding hands on green grass.

by Little Learning Hollow Academy

When I first started dreaming up Little Learning Hollow, I wasn’t thinking about test scores or classroom walls. I was thinking about muddy boots, creekside stories, and the kind of learning that happens when children are free to explore. That’s how this nature-based preschool was born — out of a desire to create something slower, more joyful, and rooted in curiosity.

I didn’t want desks. I wanted a hollow.

✨ A Play-Based Preschool at Home

Little Learning Hollow Academy isn’t a traditional school — it’s a virtual preschool program that supports homeschooling families and curious little learners with a flexible, play-based approach.

With years of experience in early childhood and special needs education, I created this space to give children the chance to grow through wonder, not worksheets. Here, we believe learning should be joyful, sensory-rich, and as screen-light as possible.

Whether you're brand new to preschool at home or already knee-deep in nature walks and picture books, our programs are designed to work with your family — not against it.

💻 What We Offer

At Little Learning Hollow Academy, we blend virtual learning with real-world magic. Here's what you'll find:

✅ Virtual Preschool (Ages 3–4)

A play-based preschool experience with themed video lessons, printable activities, and hands-on projects — perfect for early childhood education at home.

🌲 Hollow Gatherings: Nature Play Meetups

Held outdoors in Bristol, VA, these nature playgroups bring children and families together for seasonal crafts, storytelling, and cooperative games — all guided by curiosity.

📚 Homeschool Support (Ages 3–8)

Personalized planning, encouragement, and homeschool help for young children — especially helpful for parents of neurodivergent learners or those just starting their journey.

🐛 Who This Is For

Little Learning Hollow is for families who want more than a checklist. It’s for the wild ones and the watchers. The ones who ask “why?” a hundred times a day. It’s for homeschooling parents who want support, community, and meaningful learning that doesn’t require a Pinterest board or a teaching degree.

If your child lights up around bugs, books, dirt, and play — they’ll thrive here.

💫 Let’s Grow Together

This blog is the start of something real — a place where I’ll share ideas, stories, resources, and reflections on what it means to raise and teach children in a way that feels grounded and honest.

Whether you’re looking for a preschool curriculum at home, a local homeschool community in Bristol VA, or just a slower way to begin your child’s learning journey — you’re welcome here.

Learning through play isn’t just our philosophy — it’s our way of life.