our story
A little place with a very big heart
Playtime & Adventures began in Malta with a handful of children, a box of craft supplies and a belief that play is serious business. Today we run childminding, camps and activity days all year round — and we still know every child by name.
We're not a big institution. We're a small team who genuinely look forward to Mondays.
a note from Maria
Thank you for trusting us
Handing your child over to someone else is a big thing. I never forget that. Every routine we build, every message we send home and every photo we share is there so you can get on with your day knowing your child is happy, safe and busy having fun.
Come and see us, ask us anything, and let your child show you their favourite corner.
in parents' own words
Messages we'll never delete
Two families sent these to Maria as voice notes. We've tidied and translated them, but the warmth is all theirs.
I just had to message you to say thank you. You have no idea how happy it made me to see my daughter's face on the 14th of August with you. You really do a wonderful job, Maria — I never stop recommending you to people.
You're so good at what you do, so organised, and the people you have with you are lovely too. Take this morning: we were rushing to get to work and got there early, and the moment we arrived she started clinging to me, not wanting to go in. Then the teacher who opened the door did her little bit of magic — abracadabra, wave to mummy, one, two, three — and off she went running and laughing, straight inside. The little things. It's the little things.
I can't start to explain how much my heart is at peace knowing she's with you. You really make my life so much easier. Five stars? No — ten plus. I love your summer school, your Halloween camps, your carnival camps. Anything you do, I love it all.
God bless your brain, your hands, your passion and everything you do with the children. Take care.
A Playtime mum
Sent to Maria as a voice note · translated from Maltese
listen to the original voice note
Recorded in Maltese and English, shared with the family's kind permission.
My son has been attending the Playtime & Adventures summer school for two years now and I have no regrets whatsoever. Last year he found it a bit hard — he was only three and couldn't understand why his kindergarten teacher wouldn't be with him over the summer. The whole team took that transition very seriously and gave him all the safety and reassurance he needed, and gradually he eased into it and was very happy.
So of course I booked again this year, and he was so happy that he walked straight in with no problems at all on the very first day. The teachers are lovely — they truly care for the children. Last year they used to hug him and give him all the affection he needed when he felt insecure, and this year, even though he's much more settled, they still give him that affection whenever he needs it.
The activities are always so well planned, and I can see from the photos that he's really taking part. While I'm at home it makes me happy to see him having fun and doing hands-on things. Every morning when I tell him we're going to school he's super happy, and when we arrive he just waves goodbye and goes inside.
Miss Maria has always been so helpful and reachable — whenever I message, she messages back quickly. You can tell she genuinely cares about every child and knows them personally. They're not just a number: she knows my son and she knows what he needs, and as a parent that means a lot. He's not just going to school so that I can go to work — he's happy, he's thriving and he's learning. I recommend Playtime & Adventures 100%.
A Playtime mum
Sent to Maria as a voice note · two summers with us
listen to the original voice note
Shared with the family's kind permission.
what we believe
Our core values
Love
Every child is cared for like our own
Learn
Curiosity is encouraged in everything we do
Play
The heart of how children grow
Respect
Kindness towards others, always
Discover
New skills, places and experiences
Belong
Every child is part of our Playtime family
the grown-ups
Meet the team
Qualified, safeguarding-trained and endlessly willing to be the dragon in a game of pretend.
Maria
Founder & lead childminder
Sarah
Camp coordinator
Nadia
Creative workshops lead
Julia
Early years carer
(Team names and roles are placeholders for this demo.)
Our promises to you
- We greet every child by name, every single morning.
- We tell you the truth about your child's day — the wins and the wobbles.
- We keep groups small and supervision close.
- We say yes to mess, questions and second helpings of paint.
Come and meet us
Settling-in visits are always welcome before your first day.