Whether you arrived here through curiosity, a puppet’s whisper, or your inner child, we are delighted you found us. Rooted in both research and creativity, this space uplifts the idea that early childhood nurtures us all—inviting us all to wonder and slow down.

About me (the human being : )

I am Frédérique, founder of Giggles and Chisels, LLC, and gentle host of a small puppet world.

Once upon childhood… through years of early childhood education and research… with a lens stretching across oceans… into the heart of parenthood, and onward into the story beneath the story…here is a little about me.

1. I genuinely believe everyone should be deeply curious about young children. After all, they are the ones shaping our future, aren’t they? Infants rolling over for the first time, toddlers confidently exploring their world, or preschoolers drawing dinosaurs with the precision of a paleontologist, early childhood is indeed a fascinating phase of development.
2. My professional journey has taken me into classrooms, through doctoral studies focusing on young children’s mathematical thinking, and research in the field of early childhood. I am always eager to explore and share research-based resources and activities that stimulate their incredible brains.
3. I grew up in France but have spent most of my adult life in the U.S., often reflecting on how both French and American cultures view early childhood. This blend of experience—both personal and professional—shapes the way I see children: unique beings full of curiosity and creativity, often underestimated. I hope you enjoy the French-American perspective that quietly infuses our work.
4. As a mother, I remember how exhausting those early years can be. Parenting is full of ups, downs, doubts, and joys.

   

   If you are reading these words as a parent of young children, I hope our posts bring you comfort and reassurance. Raising children is an extraordinary journey—and there is no need to add unnecessary pressure to yourself.
5. I lost my father when I was four, and in many ways, I have never left those early years. When my daughter Rosie was little, we created a whimsical world together, and founding Giggles and Chisels, LLC from this imaginary world has been unexpectedly healing. I hope the wooden Fellows bring you both joy and comfort. I also hope they awaken the young child inside all of us, regardless of our own early childhood experiences.

About the wooden fellows

Four Fellows from Rosie’s imaginary world are now part of our journey, keeping me grounded in early childhood and reminding me daily why this work matters. Each one brings something unique (and a unique name, see their prononciation at the end of the post) :

Maurice was the first to wander out of Rosie’s imaginary world and into our basement workshop.

Quiet and thoughtful, he sits with me through grey days and long silences—bringing with him a calm presence and a deep knowing. He reminds us that even sorrow has a place.

Mme Rigolotte was discovered soon after, when Maurice went looking for her after spotting a scarf fluttering in the yard. Full of laughter and wisdom, she reminds me that joy lives in the body, and that life is too short to be taken too seriously.

Petite Clothilde arrived, a few months later, full of dreams and gentle ways for self-care. She models how imagination blooms best in slowness, in silence, and in the space of boredom.

Pierre-Qui-Roule was the last to appear—his feet spotted first, peeking from a hollow tree trunk. With his bare feet in the soil, he calls us outside to gather treasures and remember our deep responsibility to care for Mother Earth.

More whimsical creatures have joined us since, the Pouilles, bringing love, the Bouilles, bringing hope, Boule-de-Poil, Bop, and more on their way.

All meant to be together

Somehow, we were meant to find each other. In spending time with the wooden puppets, I came to see parts of myself in each one—and together, we shaped the Petit Refuge, a magical place where early childhood nurtures us all.

We believe the youngest among us deserve to grow in peace, surrounded by adults who truly see them. And we believe that staying connected to early childhood—whether through a young child, puppet’s eyes or a memory from your own—is one way to make the world a little more tender.

Thank you for joining us—one giggle, one chisel, one moment at a time.

How to pronounce Maurice

How to pronounce Mme Rigolotte

How to pronounce Petite Clothilde

How to pronounce Pierre Qui Roule