About Little Locals

Hi, I'm Maddie

Four years ago, I became a mom in Miami - a new and unfamiliar-to-me city. As someone who grew up with four distinct seasons, South Florida's subtropical landscape felt completely foreign. Palm fronds instead of maple leaves, manatees instead of deer, life blooming year-round instead of the familiar rhythm of dormancy and renewal.

But I knew that if my son was going to grow up here, he should love this place - its coral reefs and mangroves, its incredible wildlife, its unique ecosystem that exists nowhere else in the continental U.S. So I started seeking out books and toys that could introduce him to his new home. A stuffed manatee here, a picture book about sea turtles there. And something beautiful happened: as I helped him discover South Florida's nature, my own appreciation for its diversity and beauty grew too.

Pink Sea Graphic
Green Dots Blue Pattern

The Problem I Kept Running Into

Finding these local, place-specific resources was surprisingly difficult. I'd hunt through nature center gift shops, search online for "Florida animals for toddlers," and piece together collections from different sources. The good stuff existed - beautifully illustrated books by local authors, thoughtfully made toys featuring regional species - but it was scattered and hard to find.

Meanwhile, my professional work in climate resilience research was showing me how critical our connection to local nature really is. The solutions to our environmental challenges often come from understanding and working with natural systems - mangroves that protect coastlines, native plants that prevent erosion, coral reefs that buffer storm surge. But how will future generations have this knowledge if we're not nurturing that connection from the beginning?

Why Place-Based Learning Matters

Children don't need to be overwhelmed by climate anxiety. They need something much more fundamental: to know and love the nature that's part of their daily world.

When a child can identify the cardinal at their bird feeder, recognize the oak tree in their yard, spot a manatee during a family boat ride, they're developing something precious, or recognize the subtle signs of changing seasons - a sense of place. That connection becomes the foundation for caring about and protecting the natural world throughout their lives.

How Little Locals Works

Little Locals curates toys, books, and activities that introduce young children to their local environment through play. No screens, no overwhelming information - just beautiful, thoughtfully chosen items that help families discover the nature that's already around them.

I research and select every item personally, looking for:

  • Educational value that doesn't feel like a lesson
  • Quality materials built to last (minimal plastic when possible)
  • Beautiful design that sparks curiosity and wonder
  • Local relevance featuring species and ecosystems children might actually encounter

Each Place Kit is designed for to be long-lasting and includes guidance for parents on where to spot these animals and plants in real life.

Starting in South Florida

I'm launching with the place I now know best - South Florida's subtropical ecosystems. From the Everglades to coral reefs, from coastal mangroves to urban wildlife, this region is incredibly biodiverse - and, of course, incredibly vulnerable to a changing climate - and deserving of children's attention and respect.

My goal is to expand to other regions across the U.S., always working with local experts, authors, and small businesses who create products inspired by their home ecosystems.

My Background

I have a master's in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Amsterdam and worked at the University of Miami's School of Architecture, focusing on research and climate resilience. I'm a contributing author to Calibrating Coastal Resilience and have organized conferences and educational programs around environmental challenges and solutions.

Little Locals is based in Miami, Florida. Have questions about our Place Kits or want to share your own local nature discoveries? I'd love to hear from you.