My name is Stephanie Neo, and I'm the founder of Lil Montess. Lil Montess began with a simple yet profound belief: the way we nurture curiosity in childhood shapes the adults we become. Growing up, I was fortunate to have parents who understood the importance of intentional play and believed that no dream was too big (I wanted to be an astronaut once!).
My parents, especially my mom, placed a strong emphasis on fostering creativity, exploration, and learning by creating an environment where I could discover and grow at my own pace. Their unwavering trust in me as I navigated my own growth helped build my confidence over the years, and that bond remains strong today. It’s this same sense of trust and encouragement that we strive to instill in both parents and children through our products.
As I embarked on my professional journey—from engineering to mental healthcare, consulting, and now entrepreneurship—I carried those early lessons with me. My diverse experiences taught me the importance of adaptability, problem-solving, and intentional growth, all of which I now bring to Lil Montess. But beyond career milestones, I found that what truly connected all my pursuits was a deep desire to build something that would make a lasting impact.
Lil Montess was created from a heartfelt commitment to helping parents nurture a love of learning in their children, and by understanding what we do in a child's first five years of life - not just the first year - profoundly influences how he or she will behave as an adult.
Inspired by Montessori principles and grounded in everyday parenting, our play kits offer simple, screen-free play experiences that support natural development and offer children the freedom to explore, learn, and play. And here’s the fun part: each kit come with playful guides to help parents learn along the way. You get to be the guide, while your child leads the adventure!
We understand the modern parenting challenges—balancing screen time, engaging children in meaningful ways, and fostering quality interactions. Our play kits are designed by experts to inspire open-ended, meaningful play, offering the flexibility for parents to guide their children’s discovery in a way that feels authentic and intentional.