Little Fern and Friends

12/24/2025

Happy Christmas Eve from Fern & Friends 🤍
Tonight we bake cookies, slow down, and soak up the little moments — sticky fingers, warm ovens, and big feelings in small bodies.

However your family celebrates tonight, we hope it’s gentle, joyful, and full of love. 🍪✨

12/22/2025

Little Fern & Friends was built with my kids by my side — and it still is. Every story time, sensory bin, smile, and moment of silliness happens with children present, learning alongside us. Many of our volunteers are parents too, and they bring their kids to events — because this space was created for families, by families.

As we grow, the biggest challenge is funding the behind-the-scenes pieces that make these sensory-friendly programs possible:
✨ supplies for events
✨ books and materials
✨ storage and organization
✨ accessibility supports
✨ and the ability to keep programs low-cost or free for families

If you’ve attended an event, shared a smile with us, or believe in inclusive, sensory-friendly spaces for children — your support truly matters.

💚 Donations of any size help us continue creating safe, joyful spaces where kids can be exactly who they are.

12/18/2025

❄️🌿 TOMORROW in Augusta! 🌿❄️
Little Fern & Friends is having our very first event at The Village at 10:00 AM — and it’s Winter Wonderland themed!

Join us for a cozy, sensory-friendly morning where kids can explore, play, and just be in a welcoming space made for them.
Family-friendly • sensory-aware • judgment-free 💚

📍 Augusta
⏰ 10:00 AM
❄️ Winter Wonderland vibes

12/18/2025

Thank you to China Lake Provisions for helping us make this happen!

12/17/2025

💚 “Sometimes that mountain you’ve been climbing
Is just a grain of sand…” 💚
— Carrie Underwood, “So Small”

For many autism and special needs families, the world can feel impossibly big.

Appointments. Paperwork. Advocacy. Sensory overload. Stares. Judgments. Exhaustion.
Mountains that others may never see.

And then there are moments—tiny, beautiful moments—when your child does something the world once said they couldn’t. A new word. Eye contact. A laugh. A calm day. A win that feels huge to your family, even if it looks “so small” to others.

This song reminds us that:
✨ Strength doesn’t always roar
✨ Progress doesn’t always look the same
✨ And the hardest journeys are often carried quietly

At Little Fern & Friends, we see those mountains.
We celebrate the “small” victories—because they are never small to the families living them.

You are not behind.
You are not failing.
You are climbing something brave.

And you don’t have to climb it alone. 🌿

💚 If this song speaks to you, you’re part of our community.

Carrie Underwood's official music video for 'So Small'. Click to listen to Carrie Underwood on Spotify: http://smarturl.it/CarrieUSpotify?IQid=CarrieUSSAs fe...

12/16/2025

Little Fern & Friends is growing — and it’s all because of YOU 🌱

Our Amazon list helps us stock sensory tools, books, crafts, and supplies for our free programs for local families.
If you’re looking for a way to support inclusive play and learning, this is another way 💚

Thank you for helping us build spaces where every child belongs 🌈

12/16/2025

🎄 Christmas Can Be Magical… and Overwhelming 🎄

For many children—especially those with sensory sensitivities—the holidays can feel really big. Bright lights, loud music, crowded rooms, scratchy clothes, new routines… it’s a lot.

If you’re noticing more meltdowns, shutdowns, or clinginess this season, you’re not doing anything wrong—and neither is your child. 🤍

Here are a few gentle ways to make Christmas easier:

✨ Create a calm space
A quiet corner, headphones, or a favorite comfort item can help kids reset.

✨ Prep ahead of time
Talk through plans, show pictures, or use a simple visual schedule so there are fewer surprises.

✨ Lower expectations
It’s okay to leave early, skip events, or do things differently. Joy doesn’t have to look traditional.

✨ Watch the sensory load
Dim lights, lower music, remove itchy outfits, and limit “one more thing” moments.

✨ Offer control where you can
Let kids choose when to participate—or not. Autonomy builds safety.

✨ Build in recovery time
Downtime before and after events helps regulate overwhelmed nervous systems.

💚 Christmas doesn’t have to be loud to be joyful.
💚 Different doesn’t mean wrong.
💚 Regulated kids feel safe—and safe kids can enjoy the season in their own way.

From our hearts to yours,
Little Fern & Friends 🌿

https://www.ppt4kids.com/creating-a-sensory-calming-corner-in-your-preschool-classroom

https://otperspective.com/sensory-overload-in-children-holidays/

12/16/2025

Help us keep the momentum going by supporting our programs—your contribution can truly make a big difference! ❤️

Use Venmo to connect with Little Fern And Friends () - Inclusive, sensory-friendly programs Supporting neurodiverse kiddos 💛

12/15/2025

12/14/2025

🎅🏻Thank You for Joining Us at Sensory Santa ❄️

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to every family who came out to our Sensory Santa experience.

Thank you for trusting us with your children, for celebrating in ways that feel safe and comfortable for your family, and for showing up exactly as you are. Seeing children explore at their own pace, smile in their own way, and feel truly welcomed is why Little Fern & Friends exists.

A huge thank you to our incredible volunteers, community partners, and Santa for helping us create a calm, joyful space where magic didn’t come with pressure ❤️

This wasn’t just a holiday event—it was a reminder that everyone deserves belonging. We are so grateful for this community and can’t wait to keep growing together.

With love,
Little Fern & Friends

12/11/2025

You asked and we are acting! We are now setting aside Mondays from 10am to 1pm for Families who have special needs children. Starting Monday 12/15/25 we will not be scheduling any field trips and we will ask groups and the general public to please wait until after 1pm to visit us, to insure a quiet and calm visit for your children. Mr. Drew is in house on Mondays to have fun with your children and they may be able to watch as he films an episode or two for his YouTube channel!
We are aware that this time may not work for some families but this is just a start and if this goes well and the demand is there, we may incorporate a 2pm to 5pm later in the week.
We also encourage you to make it a picnic adventure and bring your lunch to eat in our party corral in the middle of the education center!
So much independent exploration, sensory tables, animals, art, 2000 pounds of sand to dig in and free popcorn all for $10 per person. We are Where Natural Science Meets Community and We put learning in your child’s hands!