A Letter From The Founder
Dear Families,
I was once asked, “When do you start teaching your child?”
My answer was simple: In the womb.
From the moment I became a mother, I saw every day as a classroom, the world itself as the curriculum. Whether we were baking muffins, visiting museums, or walking through farmers’ markets, my children were learning. I taught them to ask questions, follow their curiosity, and engage fully with whatever was in front of them.
Over time, I developed what I now call the 4 E’s Framework: Exploration, Experimentation, Experience, and Engagement, a child-led, heart-centered approach that shaped not only my children’s education, but also my life’s work.
As a former early childhood educator and long-time homeschooling mother of four, I’ve spent years building spaces — both at home and for the public — where learning could unfold naturally. But one thing was always missing: a permanent place here in Fairfield that reflected our values and gave children a world built just for them.
Tiny Town Solano is that place. It’s the city I used to dream about — a mini world where kids can play, pretend, build, and become. It’s learning disguised as play, wrapped in community, rooted in developmental theory, and sprinkled with wonder.
I was raised in Fairfield since the age of five. Now I’m raising my own children here. Like many of you, I’ve driven out of the county just to give my kids experiences we couldn’t find at home. But Tiny Town changes that. It brings the magic here — to the heart of Solano County — in a place our kids can return to again and again.
Whether they’re running a pretend business, designing art, solving a mystery, or discovering a new interest, I want every child to leave Tiny Town believing they can shape the world around them. That they are builders, dreamers, creators and that their ideas matter.
This isn’t just a play space.
It’s a love letter to childhood.
It’s a resource for families.
It’s a learning lab for the next generation.
And it’s my honor to build it with you.
With deep gratitude,
Nikila Gibson
Founder, Academic Beginnings LLC
Tiny Town Solano & Oak Meadows Academy
Tiny Town Foundation
4 E’s Framework
Built on the 4 E’s Framework
Tiny Town Solano is the physical home of Academic Beginnings LLC, and every detail is guided by the 4 E’s Framework: Exploration, Experimentation, Experience, and Engagement This framework was born out of my years as a homeschooling mother and educator, where I saw firsthand how children thrive when learning is active, curious, and connected to real life.The 4 E’s Framework Exploration, Experimentation, Experience, and Engagement grew from years of watching curiosity in motion.
Exploration invites children to wander, question, and make sense of the world around them.
Experimentation gives them the freedom to test, tinker, fail, and try again with courage.
Experience transforms learning into something felt and remembered—where every discovery has texture and meaning.
Engagement connects it all back to people, places, and community, reminding us that knowledge truly sticks when it’s lived and shared.
This theology is grounded in both research and real-world practice shaped by the science of how children learn best and refined through years of hands-on work: raising my four daughters, designing learning environments, and seeing theory come to life through play.
As the founder of Academic Beginnings, I’ve spent years designing programs that bridge child development, educational psychology, and real-world learning. Tiny Town brings that expertise to life transforming research into play. Here, every activity is more than fun; it’s developmental science in motion, giving children the freedom to explore, experiment, and grow through experience and engagement.
Why Tiny Town is Different
Most play spaces focus on entertainment. Tiny Town was intentionally designed as a child-sized discovery museum for growth a place where play and developmental science meet. Every storefront, workshop, and enrichment class is guided by the 4 E’s Framework: Exploration, Experimentation, Experience, and Engagement. Each moment sparks curiosity, builds problem-solving skills, and nurtures confidence. This isn’t just playtime it’s the foundation for fearless, lifelong learners.
A Local Vision with Global Influence
From Fairfield to experiences beyond our county, I’ve gathered insights from educators, communities, and families worldwide. Tiny Town Solano reflects the best of those ideas while celebrating the beauty of our own county scaled down into a world children can explore on their own terms.
Curious about the research behind our play-based learning? Learn About our Learning Lab
Our Value
Better Future through Play
Why Tiny Town? Because for years, families in Solano had to drive out for experiences like this. As a homeschooling mom of 4, I wanted to change that. Tiny Town is the local answer to a global need: spaces where children can grow through play.
Mission
To turn play into magic — a place where kids don’t just imagine the world, they build it.
Vision
A generation of fearless dreamers who see every corner of life as a playground for possibility.
Values
Wonder is Power, Bravery in Small Steps, Together is Better.
Tiny Town Solano is built by a family who calls Fairfield home, for families across our county and region.
Be part of the story — join as a Founding Member, bring your group, or sponsor a space
Creativity
Interest
Fun Enviroment
Testimonial
Parent Say About Kidzonia.
4.7
(357 Review) From Google
