A little bit about me...

Hi! I’m Victoria Hilton, I’m an early childhood specialist,  course creator, and mentor for early childhood teachers who want more play, more fun, and more joy in their work. 

Way back in 2000 (yes, I am THAT old), I started my journey as an early years teacher. My teaching looked different then. It involved many letter-of-the-week activities, monthly themes, circle time, and curriculum planning.

It didn't take me long to see that this forced academic teaching was making me and my class miserable.

Then, I discovered child-focused classrooms, and I fell in love. As soon as I found child-led, play-based learning, everything changed. I loved my job and looked forward to going to work every day.

Fast forward several years, and I had moved from England to the USA and was now teaching in a private school with a very academic approach. This did not suit my teaching style, and I felt trapped. Eventually, I had a wake-up call. I realized that I needed to do it independently if I wanted to provide young children with the best possible start in life. When I was 7 months pregnant with my first child, I quit my job and decided now was the time to set out on my own. 

A year later, I started Stepping Stones Nursery School in my home. I now found myself not just the teacher but also the manager! This meant learning to train and guide other teachers on the play-based approach I loved so much.  

Over time, Stepping Stones grew into three early childhood centers in Chicago with over 50 employees. Being the founder of Stepping Stones completely changed my life. While I have since sold the business, the experience shaped everything I do today. Now, I'm focused on helping passionate educators like you bring child-led, play-based learning into your classrooms—no matter where you're starting from.