Janella Watson is an international speaker and educational consultant. Drawing on more than 20 years of work as a researcher and practitioner in children’s museums and science centers, she is renowned for creating curricula and play experiences that center equity and spark joy, learning, and whole-family engagement. As founder and CEO of Watson Creative Consulting, she leads a multi-hyphenate team in the development of culturally responsive children’s content, curricula, and storytelling for clients including Nickelodeon, Spin Master Entertainment, and Sesame Workshop.

Janella deepens her commitment to arts education and connection to the community by serving as board chair for AS220, a grassroots arts organization in the heart of Providence, Rhode Island where she lives, works, and plays with her husband and curious and kind kid.

My Why

My heart’s passion is sharing curiosity and a sense of wonder – fostering the creativity of the youngest learners among us.

What it was like growing up/school experience

I grew up in the foothills of Oakland, CA, and have known Barbara and her family since I was four years old. I played with her son, Andrew, and his neighbor, Nick in her backyard.

I spent my early years immersed in nature, science, creativity, and learning by doing. While I was an engaged student, my key learning and fondest childhood memories were exploring the natural world around me and learning at the feet of the caring adults in my life. My grandpa Peter Klemchuk was my science hero. He was a chemist and self-taught photographer, classical music aficionado, and master gardener, with a true zeal for exploring the world. He and my grandmother Helen, a special education teacher, embraced curiosity and play as lifelong pursuits. The two of them had an indelible impact, not only on my childhood but on my life’s work, centering learning and play as drivers of community connection and well-being.

What does healthy play look like?

My truest Whys in the work that I wonder and wander through are threefold:

What I learned as a museum educator: Throughout my twenty years in museums, I found a passion for creating sensory-rich experiences that invite families to tinker, create, and play together.

Raising my own curious and kind kiddo has taught me the power of following a child’s lead and honoring his unique perspective of the world. Being curious about their interests and fascinations, and using them as a tool to contextualize what they need to learn and practice helps children build voice, confidence, and agency.

Brushes with Social Service and Social Justice: My work with a social service-rooted museum, experiences supporting play for incarcerated parents and their kids, and learning from the inspiring social justice work of AS220, transformed my teaching practice, and made me a passionate advocate. These experiences cemented my commitment to assuring all our children see themselves reflected and respected in the lessons, experiences, and content we create.

In 2019, my work began to make an organic shift from the programmatic spaces of museums, into children’s media, addressing representation gaps on screen and behind the scenes to better support kids and their families.