Join Us For The
Save Childhood Conference
Let’s gather at Marvelously Made: The School for Young Children in Helotes, Texas, on November 14 and 15, 2025.
Have you ever imagined a school where every single nook is intentionally designed for children, for their development, for their education?
A place where administrators, teachers, and parents come together and step aside to embrace an environment and philosophy that truly honors childhood. One that respects each child’s journey and fosters learning that is authentic, lifelong, and joyful.
We invite you to spend time with us—soak it all in firsthand—and discover practical, inspiring ways to create spaces where children truly thrive.
about our mission
Society is telling us that children should be reading earlier, sitting longer, growing up faster, and be exposed to situations, images, and content that they are not developmentally prepared to process, but our kids are telling us a different story. They are telling us what they really need is us, not another activity, class, or screen. They are begging us for more stories in our laps and songs in their souls. They are yearning for unstructured afternoons full of sunshine and rain, bugs to observe, trees to climb, water to splash in, and sand in their shoes. They are desperate to show us that it’s ok to sit in our emotions; that tears can be embraced, that laughter should be abundant, and love should always be limitless. Above all, they want us to have faith that they are made good and that if we just take a deep breath, learn what they need, and trust the process of growing and learning, they will thrive.
because childhood has changed, but children have not
We want to raise awareness about the challenges children face today and encourage you to make positive changes. By learning about child development, what children really need and what they don’t, together we can ensure that every child has a childhood that embraces this unique, magical, and necessary stage that only happens once in a lifetime. Childhood is not a holding pattern for adulthood. It is a time of wandering, it is a time of authentic learning, a time to make mistakes, to celebrate successes, to learn, to grow, to play. Childhood is essential, it must be honored, it must be embraced, and it must be saved.
Together, we can save childhood!
our fourteen tenets
Saving Childhood may seem overwhelming at first, but we’ve identified 13 tenets that form the foundation of a childhood that honors the way children grow and learn. Little changes can make a big difference, so click below for ideas on how you can start Saving Childhood today.
Check out our resource pages in the drop down above!
Unplug Unplug yourself and don’t plug in the children. Screens are hijacking childhood. They can’t replace a story read by you, the feeling of satisfaction from climbing a tree, or the fun of a game of make believe in a mud kitchen.
Don’t Compare We are all guilty of it. We compare ourselves to the person next to us in line at the grocery store or at church. We compare ourselves to our siblings and our friends. And often the biggest comparison of all comes as we scroll through social media posts. But we don’t only compare ourselves, we compare our children to other children and unrealistic benchmarks
Create We are made to create; to take objects and change them, paint them, combine them, or reimagine them. This allows authentic opportunities to strengthen both fine and gross motor skills, encourage problem solving and social interaction, enhance sensory input, and create a safe space for risk taking.
Guide Children are made good! Discipline often gets a bad rap and at worst it can be is harmful. But discipline means to teach, not to punish, and children need consistent and reasonable discipline as they grow.
Go Outside A happy childhood requires the freedom to play in the creek, feel grass beneath your bare feet, soak in the rays of sunshine, catch raindrops on your tongue, listen to wind rustle the leaves of the tree, and learn that the smallest bug is as important as the lion or the elephant.
Just Read We all want our children to read. But this desire, compounded by social pressure, is pushing our kids to read at younger and younger ages and at levels that are not appropriate for their development. This is leading to a generation of children who are losing confidence in themselves and their ability to read
Let Them Move Children are made to move! When children move, they engage their bodies in ways that strengthen muscles, improve coordination, and support healthy growth. Moving allows children to test, learn, and expand the limits of their bodies; it allows them to develop confidence, and it encourages independence, imagination, and wonder.
Trust The Process Children are made to learn! They want to explore and touch and test things out. They need to move and climb and run. They love to talk and wonder and question. They deserve spaces that allow them to do all these things and adults who invest in understanding how to best support them.
Savor The Moment Childhood is made up of extraordinary moments that we often mistake as ordinary. Enjoy the morning cuddles full of bedhead and little bellies busting out of their pajamas. Relish in the excitement that comes from seeing a bug, jumping in a puddle, learning to do something new, or building a fort.
Understanding Play Play is the most valuable and important work children do. It’s complex and meaningful. It teaches empathy and kindness, problem-solving skills, patience, how to handle frustrations, disappointments, and successes.
Say No We are all overburdened and overscheduled. The easiest solution is one of the hardest: simply SAY NO. Say no to extracurriculars that aren’t passions, which fill your free time and stress the logistics of your household. Say no to overburdening children with assignments, homework, and an endless battery of standardized testing.
Say Yes The world is full of no. But why should we be? Why do we jump to “no” so quickly when saying yes can open a world of possibility? Say yes to wearing a costume to the doctor’s office. Say yes to singing Christmas Carols in July. Say yes to one more story.
Sing The songs you sing with children form the soundtracks to their lives—they’ll remember the impromptu concerts in the living room, the off-key but joyful duets while stuck in traffic, and how free and unrestrained you were while sharing the songs that bring you joy. The songs we learn in childhood remain in our souls our whole lives long.
Embrace Boredom Boredom begets creativity. Boredom gives the mind time to pause and wonder, to go places it would never have the chance to go if it were over-scheduled and overstimulated. Encourage boredom. Resist the urge to offer suggestions to the inevitable “but I’m bored” and you’ll be amazed by what a child discovers.
meet jennifer
Jennifer is the founder and director of Marvelously Made School and the Save Childhood Movement. She is an engaging and sought-after speaker, having presented on a wide range of topics including children’s emotional and physical needs, best educational practices, and all things parenting. She has presented workshops and teachings through organizations such as the Early Childhood Christian Network, San Antonio Association for the Education of Young Children, and the International Play Association, as well as community and parent workshops and as a speaker for online educational summits.
After leading multiple schools through accreditation and licensing, Jennifer embraced the opportunity to create her own school and armed with her knowledge of brain research and child development she opened the doors to Marvelously Made - The School for Young Children in 2010.
From that day, the school has grown from one classroom in a church to a campus with 6 buildings, and from a pre-school to a school that goes from Nursery School to 8th grade. Along the way, Jennifer and Marvelously Made have been recognized for their tremendous impact on education as a play advocate by the International Play Association and as one of five finalists in Texas for the H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards.
She’s excited to have this opportunity to spread the Save Childhood message and use her insight and expertise to help you, whether you're an educator, a parent, or anyone who cares about children.
what they’re saying
Your perspective on the importance of art and appreciation for the children in your care at Marvelously Made spoke so deeply to my soul. The little utopia you’ve created in Helotes is just beautiful. Immediately after your presentation I began a discussion with the director of our program to develop an after school art program. As a creative that would have benefited so very greatly from the loving environment you’re providing now… thank you. Thank you for giving me such a clear calling and purpose.
C. Garcia
Educator & Workshop Attendee
I was encouraged and empowered to advocate for my children after the Road to Reading Workshop last week. As it turned out, the very next day I was faced with the opportunity to advocate for one of my elementary aged children regarding a video game style homework assignment that was causing my child unnecessary stress. I sent my child's teacher a respectful email letting her know why it wasn't a good fit for my child. She responded in full support of my decision. Phew! Thanks to the workshop the previous evening, I felt a bolder sense of confidence that respectfully advocating and setting limits in this instance was the right thing. I am grateful to have opportunities from Marvelously Made to learn and grow how to be a better parent and advocate for my children. Thank you to the staff for making these opportunities available to the community!
Kelly R.
Marvelously Made Parent
and Workshop Attendee
Marvelously Made is a wonderfully made place for children to be. I wanted to stay forever. Thank you for creating inspiring places. I will long remember my time as the place is etched in my memory and heart. Thank you for the beautiful experience.
Sandra Duncan
International Specialist on Early
Childhood Environments & Author
the movement in action
In 2010, Jennifer founded a school in South Texas with a very simple goal - to educate children the way they are designed to learn. Over the past 14 years, the work being done at Marvelously Made School has proven time and again that when you honor development, embrace children the way they were designed to learn, and educate parents to understand what children truly need, everyone thrives!
Check out what Saving Childhood looks like at Marvelously Made!