About Us
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Our story
Hi, I’m Lauren—also known as Shloppie, Lolpops, Lollipop, Lol, or Lau. These names have followed me through life, just like my love for creativity and The Lollipop Tree.
The idea for The Lollipop Tree originated long before it became a business. During my university years, I designed a preschool called “The Lollipop Tree” as part of an assignment. Then, while teaching, my passion for art and creativity grew. I dreamed of starting an art class inspired by storybooks, where we could explore different art techniques and materials.
Later in life, I authored several modules for university programs, including two that ignited my passion for creative education and sustainability. One module focused on fostering creativity, while the other emphasised using recyclable materials in early childhood settings.
Inspired by this, I wanted to create a space where children could explore, play, and express themselves through art. So, The Lollipop Tree became my way of bringing that vision to life while spending more time with my two daughters and encouraging their creativity. A special word my daughter coined when trying to say “imagine” is “remagine,” which beautifully reflects creativity’s limitless possibilities.
Today, The Lollipop Tree is a place where creativity and play come together, offering children the chance to explore art, crafts, and sensory experiences while nurturing their imagination and developing their skills.
The Lollipop Tree is more than just a business to me; it’s a lifelong passion. Every class, craft, and creation reflects my joy in fostering creativity and inspiring young artists. Welcome to our journey—I can’t wait to see where it takes us next!
Frequently asked questions
Playdates:
Artful Playdates are two-hour sessions that offer open-ended and process art, craft, and sensory experiences for children. Each playdate is centred around a theme, featuring several stations where your child can engage in at their own pace throughout the session.
We set up various stations that typically include a playdough bar, sensory play trays, vertical work, a provocation station, a collaborative table, and a craft table.
At these stations children will be painting, collaging, crafting, cutting, glueing, creating, moulding, pouring, scooping, spooning, spraying, dropping, throwing, threading, having fun and getting messy!
We host our playdates in our garden, located in Irene, Centurion. Once you book a playdate with us, we will provide you with the specific address details.
No, parents and childminders accompanying your children do not need to pay.
While these sessions are not specifically messy play-based, your children's explorations and experiments may still lead to it. We recommend dressing them in clothes that are not too special, allowing them to play freely. Additionally, consider packing a spare outfit just in case. We also advise having them wear a hat (if willing) and apply sunscreen to protect their skin.
During the two-hour sessions, your child will be engaged in lots of play, so please remember to bring a snack and a drink. We also have seating areas available for parents. However, our garden has many spots where you can set up a picnic, too, so feel free to bring a picnic blanket.
Frequently asked questions
Arty Packs:
Orders for packs need to be placed 3 weeks before the event to allow time for us to design the pack according to your budget and theme, source the necessary supplies, pack them and courier to your preferred destination.
Go to Arty packs and fill out the form to let us know what you are looking for.