Sit Down, Be Quiet, Follow the Rules—Sound Familiar? Examining the Gap Between Learning and Conformity

What if your success didn’t come from school—but despite it?

Most of us were taught to value discipline, obedience, and test scores. But when we pause to ask what actually shaped us—what built resilience, creativity, confidence—it often wasn’t sitting in rows or following rules.

It was the moments of curiosity. Of play. Of connection.

At Windy Hill Play, we believe childhood isn’t a race to become “Pre-K ready.” It’s a time for exploration, joy, and becoming. Yet today’s system is pushing structure earlier and earlier—and it's leaving both kids and parents anxious and overwhelmed.

There’s a better way. And we’re building it—through play, presence, and the courage to imagine something different.