Meet the Founder
Behind Play Grow Minds is me, Simone Santana. I am a dedicated specialist with a Postgraduate Degree in Special Education, focusing on Cognitive and Motor Domains.
Based on my expertise in human development and inclusive practices, I strive to combine my academic background with my passion for creating accessible, meaningful, and screen-free learning experiences. My mission with this blog is to empower parents, educators, and therapists by providing practical tools and high-quality insights. I truly believe that real development and inclusion are built in daily life, through mindful presence, intentional play, and human connection.
A Movement for Accessibility
Play Grow Minds is a dedicated space for inclusion and accessibility. Our commitment is to democratize access to information and tools that contribute to human development. We believe everyone should have the opportunity to learn, evolve, and fulfill their potential, regardless of their social, physical, or cognitive condition.
More than just a blog, we are a movement that celebrates human learning in its most essential form: one that involves interaction, sensitivity, experience, and deep meaning. We want to inspire families, professionals, and caregivers to see the incredible potential hidden within every small daily activity.
What I Believe In
Before exploring the content, I invite you to discover the principles that guide my daily work:
Special Education & Real Inclusion
Within Special Education, our commitment is to provide ideas, resources, and strategies that respect each individual’s uniqueness. We understand that every child, youth, or adult has their own pace, needs, and unique way of learning. Here, we value true inclusion—the kind that happens in practice through simple adaptations, accessible materials, and activities that can be integrated into daily life without financial or structural barriers.
Screen-Free Stimulation
We do not advocate for the total exclusion of technology, but rather for its mindful and balanced use. We encourage moments of true presence, where touch, movement, creativity, and human interaction take center stage. Concrete experiences are foundational for healthy development, especially in the early years of life, but they remain equally important throughout adulthood and healthy aging.
Handcrafted Therapeutic Materials
Homemade toys and therapeutic resources hold a special place in our project. We value manual creation, magnifying everyday materials, and finding simple, affordable solutions. Often, the most effective resources are not the most expensive ones, but those designed with intention and created with a specific purpose. We share ideas that can easily be replicated at home, in schools, or in therapeutic settings, fostering creativity and autonomy.
Cognitive and Motor Development
We create and share activities that stimulate essential skills such as attention, memory, fine and gross motor coordination, language, sensory perception, and problem-solving. Our goal is to show that engaging the brain and body can be a light, fun, and accessible practice in any environment.
“We are committing a crime against childhood. We are bombarding children’s minds with an excess of digital stimuli and information, robbing them of their childhood, their ability to look within, to contemplate beauty, and to manage their thoughts”.
— Augusto Cury