Meet Marissa Estrella of Lancaster, CA

Today we’d like to introduce you to Marissa Estrella.

Hi Marissa, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Little Groove was built from a deeply personal journey rooted in love, inclusion, and community. As the founder and operator of Little Groove Play Studio, my inspiration came from raising my son, who is on the autism spectrum. During his early years, therapy sessions became one of the only places where our family truly felt safe, supported, and understood. Through those experiences, I connected with many other parents facing similar challenges—families searching for spaces where their children could simply be welcomed, included, and free to be themselves.
Determined to create the kind of environment I wished existed for my own child, my husband and I opened Little Groove Play Studio with guidance and support from my son’s therapy team, who thoughtfully advised on equipment, sensory materials, and play experiences. Every part of the studio was intentionally designed to support children of all abilities through opportunities for fine motor and gross motor development, vestibular strength, coordination, creativity, sensory exploration, and group socialization.
As Little Groove grew, I realized families needed more than just a play space—they needed connection, support, and community. That vision led to the creation of Little Groove Collective, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding our mission through inclusive programs, family engagement, accessible resources, and meaningful experiences that help parents navigate early childhood and the beginning stages of parenthood. My goal is to help create the village every family deserves while celebrating each child’s unique path as they learn, grow, and thrive together.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Building Little Groove Play Studio and now Little Groove Collective has not always been an easy road. Completely self-funded while raising two young children—one of whom is on the autism spectrum—came with many sacrifices, challenges, and moments of uncertainty. Like many families in our community, we understand firsthand how rising costs of everyday life can make it difficult for parents to provide extra opportunities and experiences for their children, even when they deeply want to. Over time, we saw more and more families forced to make the tough decision to limit how often their children could attend classes, events, and play opportunities simply because accessibility and affordability were out of reach. Little Groove Collective was born from this need and from the belief that every child deserves access to safe, inclusive, and enriching spaces to learn, play, and connect. Our mission is to help remove those barriers by creating programs, events, and experiences that are accessible to as many families as possible, while continuing to foster a welcoming environment where children of all abilities feel valued, celebrated, and free to be themselves.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I have always had a deep passion for children, creativity, and the arts. Growing up in Los Angeles, I attended Creative Planet School of the Arts from 2nd through 8th grade, where I was first introduced to the powerful role the arts can play in childhood development. Through music, movement, theater, and creative expression, I witnessed firsthand how children build confidence, communication skills, imagination, and emotional connection through play-based learning. My love for working with children continued into my teenage years, during which I volunteered to teach music and acting classes to young children throughout high school. As an adult, I have pursued studies to become an elementary school teacher. However, after receiving my son’s autism diagnosis and spending countless hours alongside his therapy team, my passion evolved into a more focused mission centered on early childhood development and inclusion. Inspired by both my personal experiences and professional aspirations, I created Little Groove as a safe, welcoming environment where children of all abilities can learn through play, build confidence, explore creatively, and feel accepted exactly as they are.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I believe some of the most impactful work comes from identifying a need and being willing to step forward despite the uncertainty. Little Groove was built because I knew firsthand how isolating it could feel to search for safe and welcoming environments for children of all abilities. Expanding into Little Groove Collective was another leap of faith, one rooted in the belief that every child deserves opportunities to play, learn, socialize, and feel included, regardless of their family’s circumstances. My perspective on risk is that it should be intentional and purpose-driven. The greatest risks I’ve taken have always been connected to serving families, creating community, and building something that I hope leaves a lasting positive impact for children and parents alike.

Pricing:

• Open Play: $12 daily
• Membership: $35 monthly
• Private Parties: starting at $355
• Classes: $0 – $15 per child
• Events: $0 – $20 per child

Contact Info:

• Website: https://LittleGroovePlay.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littlegrooveplaystudio/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565685217780

Image Credits
Tiyana Calderon