Neurodivergence & disability playgroup in Wauwatosa
This is How We Play: a playgroup for families navigating neurodivergence & disability
Support & connection in a play setting. A come-as-you-are hour at Little Village Play Cafe in Wauwatosa where kids play their way & caregivers connect with other families who get it: the joys, the questions, the hard days & the big wins.
Drop-ins are always welcome. No explanation of your family's needs required, ever.
What is This is How We Play?
This is How We Play is a weekly playgroup for families navigating neurodivergence & disability at Little Village Play Cafe, 6505 W North Ave in Wauwatosa, WI. It meets every Tuesday from 9 to 10am. It's free for Little Village members & the price of open play for non-members, and all ages & siblings are welcome.
Every child plays differently, and every family deserves a place where that's simply how it goes. Here, kids can move, stim, take breaks & connect at their own pace, with quiet corners for low-stimulus moments whenever they're needed. Caregivers get something just as important: an hour with other families who understand, plus gentle, in-the-moment support from a pediatric mental health therapist.
Nobody has to explain their diagnosis, their kid's day, or why they're here. If you've been looking for a sensory-friendly playgroup in Wauwatosa, an autism or ADHD parent support group near Milwaukee, or simply a place where your family can exhale, this is it.
A typical Tuesday morning
Loose by design. There's a gentle shape to the hour, but nobody's required to do any of it. Wander in, wander out, do what works for your kid.
Open play, your way
Our Montessori-inspired play space, with quiet corners for low-stimulus breaks whenever needed.
Story time
Books on feelings, friendship & play. Listen from the rug, from a lap, or from across the room.
Sideline support
Gentle, in-the-moment guidance from a pediatric mental health therapist, so every play style is welcomed.
Caregiver connection
Talk thru a hard morning, swap strategies, or just sit with someone who gets it while the kids play.
Take-home resources
Books & resources you can bring home to keep the learning & the conversation going.
See you next week
Come every Tuesday or whenever it works. Your spot in the circle is always here.
Who This is How We Play is for
Families navigating any disability or neurodivergence, visible or invisible, diagnosed or not. That includes (but is never limited to) autism, ADHD, sensory processing differences, speech & language delays, developmental delays, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, physical disabilities & mobility differences, anxiety, epilepsy, hearing or vision differences, learning differences like dyslexia, and kids who are medically complex or have a rare diagnosis.
- Kids on the autism spectrum or with ADHD who play best on their own terms
- Kids with sensory processing differences who need room to move or a quiet corner
- Kids with speech, language or developmental delays working on connection at their own pace
- Kids with physical disabilities, mobility differences or medical complexity
- Families in the middle of an evaluation, or wondering if they should start one
- Siblings, grandparents & anyone looking for peer support from people who understand
A mom who's living it & a therapist who's spent 20 years in it
This group is co-led by 2 people who bring very different, very complementary things to the room.
Miss Jenni
Jenni is a mom walking her own family's disability journey. She started this group to build the kind of community she wants to be part of: no judgment, no explaining, just people who get it. She also designs our Story Sprouts curriculum & leads our Little Joy Summer Reading Program.
jenni@thelittlevillageplaycafe.com
Miss Caroline
Caroline is a pediatric mental health therapist with 20 years of experience supporting individuals with disabilities, with a focus on autism, ADHD & infant mental health. At group she offers gentle sideline guidance: a strategy if you want one, an ear if you don't.
Why families come back
A room that expects nothing
No sitting still, no sharing on cue, no explaining your family's needs to anyone. Every play style is welcomed & supported, and the quiet corners are there when the room gets to be a lot.
Support that's actually in the room
A pediatric mental health therapist is right there on the sidelines. Talk thru a difficult morning, ask for a strategy, or just have someone listen while your kid plays. No appointment needed.
Where we meet
Little Village Play Cafe
6505 W. North Ave, Wauwatosa, WI 53213
414-477-2188
Free street parking on North Ave & the surrounding side streets. The play space is shoes-off, so socks for everyone.
We're 10 minutes from downtown Milwaukee, 5 minutes from Tosa Village & Mayfair, and a quick drive from Brookfield, Elm Grove, Menomonee Falls, Shorewood & Whitefish Bay.
Frequently asked questions
When & where is This is How We Play?
Every Tuesday from 9 to 10am at Little Village Play Cafe, 6505 W North Ave in Wauwatosa, WI. It runs year-round.
How much does it cost?
It's free for Little Village members. Non-members pay the regular price of open play admission, which covers the whole hour. See membership options if you plan to come often.
Do I need to register?
Drop-ins are always welcome. If you'd like to save your spot ahead of time, you can sign up on Sawyer, which also helps us plan for the right number of families.
What ages is it for?
All ages. Siblings are welcome too, and they play right alongside.
Does my child need a diagnosis to come?
No. If you're navigating neurodivergence or disability in any form, visible or invisible, diagnosed or still figuring it out, you belong here. Nobody will ask you to explain.
What if my child has a hard time in the space?
That's exactly what this hour is built for. There are quiet corners for low-stimulus breaks, a therapist on the sidelines who can help in the moment, and a room full of families who won't blink. Step out & come back whenever you need.
Is this therapy?
No. Caroline offers gentle, in-the-moment support & strategies during group, but this is a playgroup, not a therapy session. If you'd like ongoing support, she's happy to point you toward resources.
Is the play space open to others during group?
Tuesday mornings are members-only at Little Village, so the space is also open to our members during the playgroup. Other families will be around, but it's noticeably calmer & less busy than our regular open play hours, and the quiet corners are always there if your child needs a break.
What should we bring?
Socks for everyone (the play space is shoes-off) & anything that helps your child feel comfortable: headphones, a favorite fidget, a snack. We have the rest.
More for your crew at Little Village
Every one of our classes welcomes every kind of kid. Here's what else is happening this week.
Baby & Me
A peer support group for new parents, Mondays at 8:30am. No sign-up, just show up.
Learn more →
Little Learners
Mondays at 9:30 or 11am. Parachute, music, storytime & sensory stations. First class free.
Learn more →
Memberships
This is How We Play is free for members, plus unlimited open play, members-only hours & 10% off everything.
See membership options →This is how we play. Come play your way.
Tuesdays 9-10am in Wauwatosa. Free for members, open play price for everyone else. Bring your kid, bring your questions, bring the hard week. We've got you.