Aspies and Improv with Maja Watkins

Different Learners – Maja Watkins



Maja Watkins is the SEL Specialist & Co-Founder of Zip Zap Zop Enrichment, which aims to teach Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) using improv as the tool to enhance children’s social skills. She has a robust educational background, including a B.A. in Child Development, and she is also a graduate of The Second City, where she studied improv and sketch comedy. Maja loves her work as a teacher and behaviorist, and her focus is on inclusive classrooms where the curriculum is designed to allow children to reach their highest potential in a fun, relaxed environment.

Maja joins me today to share why she founded Zip Zap Zop then quickly expanded the program and her dreams for the future of the organization. She discusses her experience of quarantine and what it means for her personally and professionally, and the challenges it has thrown up for Zip Zap Zop’s funding. Maja also shares why she was inspired to write her book as a tool for parents and educators, the process of co-authoring with TiaMarie Harrison, and demonstrates one of the improv games from the book.






“All children need to be thrown into the pool, to be organically practicing social skills without judgment and with the freedom to make mistakes or say the wrong things and it's ok because we can organically play out of those moments.” - Maja Watkins

How her autistic older brother influenced her life and the founding of Zip Zap Zop

The link between improv and organic social skills practice

The social/emotional aspect of learning and how she works in schools to enrich and support the curriculum

Their Social Skills Saturdays class relaunch and what attendees can expect

Why it’s so important to continue to raise donations and what additional funding means for the service

How improv works to improve children’s skills

Gift Exchange game - an example of how Maja’s improv enrichment games work





Resources Mentioned:
Larchmont Charter School
Mindvalley Institute
Extraordinary Kids Summit

Connect with Maja Watkins:

The Brain’s Playground: Using Improv to Teach Social and Emotional Learning by TiaMarie Harrison and Maja Watkins

Zip Zap Zop Enrichment website

Zip Zap Zop on Facebook

Zip Zap Zop on Instagram

Zip Zap Zop on YouTube

Connect with Zip Zap Zop

Oscar@zipzapzopenrichment.org and the website www.zipzapzopenrichment.org is also a great way to contact us!

Due to COVID we had to re-vamp some things on the classes side of things but stay tuned! I do have my ebook available for purchase at the link below!

https://ferriswheel.samcart.com/products/10-minutes-of-play-for-10-days-?fbclid=IwAR2D1FA_BAiRgbCfkmrQHy_4D3mzaPLTLxnh8Mv0Pusf5qcjlaOsNO9DzmI


Connect with Different Learners:

Different Learners on Instagram