Vanessa Boson, Hallabolou

I have been a fan of Hallabolou in the online world since last summer. The owner, Vanessa, has always impressed me with their unique program offerings, her generous spirit, and her love for providing hands-on fun learning experiences for local children. What is Hallabolou? Hallabolou provides enrichment programs, classes, and camps for children ages 2-12. They are most known for their famous “lego based” classes, but they offer so much more. Read my interview with Vanessa Boson, the creative spirit behind it all!

1) Tell us a little about the goals of Hallabolou?

Simply put…. To have fun! I don’t want to be a grown up, adults have forgotten that learning is fun! Learning is exploring, making mud pies, walking barefoot, getting dirty and best of all asking: what if… A child’s imagination is our future. So Hallabolou embraces the child’s imagination to teach… science, technology, engineering, math (STEM), theater, dance and music! Hallabolou’s first and foremost number one goal is to ensure that… every child feels like a star!

2) How did you come up with the idea to start this company?

As an early childhood educator for 20 years I found that there was a gap in the marketplace for a company that used a hands on learning approach to teaching kids of all ages about science, technology, engineering and math in a fun and creative environment. I felt that we needed to make it fun and adventurous while at the same time educational. Children learn very quickly through play, so I wanted to incorporate play and games as the medium for the learning experience. The kids have a great time playing, building and working together. They don’t even realize that they are learning engineering and math principles.

3) Have you had to overcome any challenges as a business owner?

It has been many long hours into the early mornings. I have had to learn as I go since I haven’t had any partners, mentors or formal training. I didn’t know anything about running my own company so the two steps forward one step back has been frustrating. I have a husband, family and close group of friends that supports me. It has been difficult juggling the competing interests of family, school, kids’ activities and house chores with my own business. That’s probably why I have had to work late at night. But I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I feel like I make a difference in children’s lives now! I am sure that you have heard the poem…. A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove…but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child.”

4) How has being a parent enhanced your experience with Hallabolou?

I taught parenting classes before I had children…. Let’s just say that I haven’t taught one in 9 years (that is how old my oldest son is….) Being a mom has made me the person that I am today! You don’t get it until you are a parent!

My kids are my world… they are Hallabolou… literally

Halla – formal way of saying Hi in Swedish (my husband is Swedish and my children carry dual citizenship)
Bo – My son’s first Name
Lou- my daughter’s middle name

Hello Bo and Lou is what Hallabolou means!

My kids have been test subjects for much of the curriculum and their feedback has been important to shape some of my ideas. Being a parent is part of who I am so that has definitely had an impact on what I want my company to focus on. It is about teaching kids and preparing them for the future, while having a blast doing it.

5) What are you most excited for with Hallabolou as you move towards the future?

I am looking forward to expanding my programs across pre-schools and elementary schools in Northern Virginia. I truly believe that we have an important role to play in educating and preparing our children to become successful. It is an unbelievable feeling to have 20-30 kids in a class love what they do and then say their favorite part of the week was Hallabolou! Gives me goose bumps!

I want to share a story that was an important event in the early days of Hallabolou…

A little 4 year old girl tugged on my purple apron and said… “Ms. Vanessa, I want to be a Hallabolou Kid. Can I be a Hallabolou kid?” “Of course you can” I answered. I went home that night wondering to myself what it really means to be a Hallabolou Kid! Why did the little girl want to be a Hallabolou kid? I realized that a Hallabolou Kid is someone who is part of a family, a team or circle of friends that wants to make a difference. It was that 4 year old little girl that brought it all together for me.