diff --git a/manifest.yaml b/manifest.yaml
index 6be2b51..4e47d10 100644
--- a/manifest.yaml
+++ b/manifest.yaml
@@ -297,12 +297,101 @@ css:
       overflow: hidden;
     }
 
+    /* ---- Robust responsive layout ------------------------------ */
+    /* The host Tailwind JIT scans rendered BUILT-IN html and lags on
+       theme-only classes, so every layout-critical grid, section
+       rhythm, and hero size is driven by these compiled-every-build
+       rules — never by responsive Tailwind utilities in the theme
+       templates (which are dropped on a cold provision). All are
+       mobile-first: 1 column by default, widening at breakpoints. */
+
+    .kg-section { padding-block: clamp(2rem, 5vw, 3rem); }
+    .kg-sect    { padding-block: clamp(2.25rem, 5vw, 3.5rem); position: relative; }
+
+    .kg-cols { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr; gap: 1.5rem; }
+    @media (min-width: 640px) {
+      .kg-cols-2, .kg-cols-3, .kg-cols-4 { grid-template-columns: repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr)); }
+    }
+    @media (min-width: 1024px) {
+      .kg-cols-3 { grid-template-columns: repeat(3, minmax(0, 1fr)); }
+      .kg-cols-4 { grid-template-columns: repeat(4, minmax(0, 1fr)); }
+    }
+
+    /* Hero — full sizing + type in CSS so it never depends on the
+       (unreliable) min-h-screen / responsive Tailwind in the template. */
+    .kg-hero {
+      position: relative;
+      overflow: hidden;
+      display: flex;
+      flex-direction: column;
+      justify-content: center;
+      min-height: clamp(24rem, 58vh, 38rem);
+      padding-block: clamp(2.5rem, 7vw, 4.5rem);
+      background-color: hsl(var(--accent) / 0.15);
+      color: hsl(var(--foreground));
+    }
+    .kg-hero-media { position: absolute; inset: 0; z-index: 0; }
+    .kg-hero-media > img { width: 100%; height: 100%; object-fit: cover; }
+    .kg-hero-overlay { position: absolute; inset: 0; background-color: hsl(var(--foreground) / 0.4); }
+    .kg-hero-mascot {
+      position: absolute;
+      left: 50%;
+      bottom: -0.25rem;
+      transform: translateX(-50%);
+      width: clamp(88px, 16vw, 150px);
+      pointer-events: none;
+    }
+    .kg-hero-mascot svg { width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; }
+    .kg-hero-inner {
+      position: relative;
+      z-index: 10;
+      width: 100%;
+      max-width: 56rem;
+      margin-inline: auto;
+      padding-inline: 1.5rem;
+    }
+    .kg-hero--center { text-align: center; }
+    .kg-hero-title { margin-top: 1rem; font-size: clamp(2.25rem, 6vw, 3.75rem); line-height: 1.06; }
+    .kg-hero-abc { display: inline-flex; gap: 0.35rem; margin-top: 1.1rem; font-size: clamp(1.5rem, 4vw, 2rem); }
+    .kg-hero-abc .kg-wiggle-letter:nth-child(1) { color: hsl(var(--primary)); }
+    .kg-hero-abc .kg-wiggle-letter:nth-child(2) { color: hsl(var(--secondary)); }
+    .kg-hero-abc .kg-wiggle-letter:nth-child(3) { color: hsl(var(--accent)); }
+    .kg-hero-sub { margin-top: 1rem; font-size: clamp(1.125rem, 2.5vw, 1.5rem); color: hsl(var(--muted-foreground)); max-width: 42rem; }
+    .kg-hero-desc { margin-top: 0.75rem; color: hsl(var(--muted-foreground)); max-width: 36rem; line-height: 1.6; }
+    .kg-hero--center .kg-hero-sub,
+    .kg-hero--center .kg-hero-desc { margin-inline: auto; }
+    .kg-hero-cta { display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; gap: 1rem; margin-top: 2rem; }
+    .kg-hero--center .kg-hero-cta { justify-content: center; }
+    .kg-hero-trust { margin-top: 2.5rem; }
+    .kg-hero-logos { display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; align-items: center; gap: 1.5rem; margin-top: 0.75rem; }
+    .kg-hero--center .kg-hero-logos { justify-content: center; }
+
+    /* Chunky rounded buttons (crayon sticker edge). */
+    .kg-btn {
+      display: inline-flex;
+      align-items: center;
+      justify-content: center;
+      gap: 0.5rem;
+      border-radius: 9999px;
+      padding: 0.85rem 1.75rem;
+      font-family: var(--font-heading, "Baloo 2", "Quicksand", sans-serif);
+      font-weight: 700;
+      font-size: 1.05rem;
+      line-height: 1.1;
+      text-decoration: none;
+    }
+    .kg-btn-primary { background-color: hsl(var(--primary)); color: hsl(var(--primary-foreground)); box-shadow: 0 4px 0 0 hsl(var(--foreground) / 0.15); }
+    .kg-btn-outline { background-color: hsl(var(--background)); color: hsl(var(--primary)); border: 3px solid hsl(var(--primary)); }
+
     /* Alphabet strip (persona block). */
     .kg-alphabet-strip {
       display: flex;
-      flex-wrap: wrap;
+      flex-wrap: nowrap;
       gap: 0.6rem;
-      padding: 1rem;
+      padding: 0.6rem 1rem;
+      overflow-x: auto;
+      scrollbar-width: thin;
+      -webkit-overflow-scrolling: touch;
     }
     .kg-alphabet-letter {
       flex: 0 0 auto;
@@ -369,8 +458,7 @@ css:
     .kg-polaroid:nth-child(2n) { transform: rotate(1.5deg); }
     .kg-polaroid:nth-child(3n) { transform: rotate(-0.5deg); }
     .kg-polaroid:hover { transform: rotate(0deg); }
-    .kg-polaroid > img,
-    .kg-polaroid > .kg-polaroid-image {
+    .kg-polaroid > img {
       display: block;
       width: 100%;
       aspect-ratio: 1 / 1;
@@ -378,6 +466,23 @@ css:
       border-radius: 0.5rem;
       background-color: hsl(var(--muted));
     }
+    /* Empty-media graceful state: a compact, playful crayon wash — NOT a
+       ballooning blank square. Shorter aspect + capped height so three
+       imageless polaroids never dominate the page. */
+    .kg-polaroid > .kg-polaroid-image {
+      display: block;
+      width: 100%;
+      aspect-ratio: 4 / 3;
+      max-height: 220px;
+      border-radius: 0.5rem;
+      background-color: hsl(var(--accent) / 0.16);
+      background-image:
+        radial-gradient(circle at 50% 46%, hsl(var(--primary) / 0.38) 0 9%, transparent 10%),
+        radial-gradient(circle, hsl(var(--foreground) / 0.10) 1.5px, transparent 2px);
+      background-size: 100% 100%, 20px 20px;
+      background-position: center center, center center;
+      background-repeat: no-repeat, repeat;
+    }
     .kg-polaroid-caption {
       text-align: center;
       margin-top: 0.75rem;
@@ -419,6 +524,7 @@ css:
        with JS off. No canvas anywhere else in the theme. */
 
     .kg-mascot {
+      display: inline-block;
       transform-origin: center bottom;
       animation: kg-bounce 2.4s ease-in-out infinite;
     }
diff --git a/templates/kindergarten/landing.ninjatpl b/templates/kindergarten/landing.ninjatpl
index 220ec3d..c97dde0 100644
--- a/templates/kindergarten/landing.ninjatpl
+++ b/templates/kindergarten/landing.ninjatpl
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 {{ head_html|safe }}
 <body class="kg-page kg-dotted-paper min-h-screen flex flex-col antialiased">
 	{{ admin_banner_html|safe }}
-	<header class="w-full absolute top-0 left-0 right-0 z-40">{{ slots.header|safe }}</header>
+	<header class="w-full sticky top-0 z-40" style="background-color: hsl(var(--background) / 0.9); backdrop-filter: blur(6px); border-bottom: 3px solid hsl(var(--primary) / 0.25);">{{ slots.header|safe }}</header>
 	<main class="flex-grow w-full">{% if slots.main %}{{ slots.main|safe }}{% else %}<div class="max-w-6xl mx-auto px-4 py-12"><div class="kg-empty">No content blocks assigned to this page yet.</div></div>{% endif %}</main>
 	<footer class="w-full mt-auto">{{ slots.footer|safe }}</footer>
 	{{ body_end_html|safe }}
diff --git a/templates/overrides/kindergarten/cta.ninjatpl b/templates/overrides/kindergarten/cta.ninjatpl
index 8426816..83943a8 100644
--- a/templates/overrides/kindergarten/cta.ninjatpl
+++ b/templates/overrides/kindergarten/cta.ninjatpl
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {# cta kindergarten override: scanline overlay, heading, kg-pop CTAs. All field reads preserved. #}
-<section class="relative overflow-hidden py-16 md:py-24 bg-background text-foreground{% if class %} {{ class }}{% endif %}">
+<section class="kg-sect overflow-hidden bg-background text-foreground{% if class %} {{ class }}{% endif %}">
   <div class="relative z-10 mx-auto max-w-6xl px-4">
     <div class="{% if background == "band" %}rounded-2xl bg-primary px-6 py-14 text-center text-primary-foreground md:px-12{% elif background == "card" %}rounded-2xl border border-primary/50 bg-card px-6 py-14 text-center text-card-foreground kg-crayon-shadow md:px-12{% else %}flex flex-col items-center gap-8 rounded-2xl border border-primary/30 bg-muted px-6 py-12 text-foreground md:flex-row md:justify-between md:px-12 md:text-left{% endif %}">
       <div class="{% if background != "split" %}mx-auto max-w-2xl{% endif %}">
diff --git a/templates/overrides/kindergarten/feature-grid.ninjatpl b/templates/overrides/kindergarten/feature-grid.ninjatpl
index dd46d53..cec6a65 100644
--- a/templates/overrides/kindergarten/feature-grid.ninjatpl
+++ b/templates/overrides/kindergarten/feature-grid.ninjatpl
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 {# feature_grid kindergarten override: scanline hero overlay, mono eyebrow, heading, neon HUD cards. All field reads + control flow preserved. #}
-<section class="relative overflow-hidden py-16 md:py-24 bg-background text-foreground{% if class %} {{ class }}{% endif %}">
+<section class="kg-sect overflow-hidden bg-background text-foreground{% if class %} {{ class }}{% endif %}">
   <div class="relative z-10 mx-auto max-w-6xl px-4">
     {% if eyebrow %}<p class="kg-mono text-center text-xs font-semibold text-accent">{{ eyebrow }}</p>{% endif %}
     {% if heading %}<h2 class="kg-display mt-2 text-center text-3xl font-semibold tracking-tight md:text-4xl">{{ heading }}</h2>{% endif %}
     {% if intro %}<p class="mx-auto mt-4 max-w-2xl text-center text-lg text-muted-foreground">{{ intro }}</p>{% endif %}
-    <div class="mt-12 grid grid-cols-1 gap-6 sm:grid-cols-2 {% if columns == 2 %}lg:grid-cols-2{% elif columns == 4 %}lg:grid-cols-4{% else %}lg:grid-cols-3{% endif %}">
+    <div class="mt-10 kg-cols {% if columns == 2 %}kg-cols-2{% elif columns == 4 %}kg-cols-4{% else %}kg-cols-3{% endif %}">
       {% for item in items %}
       <div class="{% if layout == "card" %}rounded-2xl border border-primary/40 bg-card p-6 text-card-foreground kg-crayon-shadow transition-transform hover:-translate-y-0.5{% elif layout == "centered" %}text-center{% endif %}">
         {% if item.icon %}<div class="mb-4 inline-flex h-11 w-11 items-center justify-center rounded-2xl bg-primary/10 text-primary{% if layout == "centered" %} mx-auto{% endif %}"><svg class="h-6 w-6" aria-hidden="true"><use href="/icons/{{ item.icon|split:":"|first }}.svg#{{ item.icon|split:":"|last }}"></use></svg></div>{% endif %}
diff --git a/templates/overrides/kindergarten/hero.ninjatpl b/templates/overrides/kindergarten/hero.ninjatpl
index 4694957..48793e0 100644
--- a/templates/overrides/kindergarten/hero.ninjatpl
+++ b/templates/overrides/kindergarten/hero.ninjatpl
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-{# hero kindergarten override (GO-BIG showpiece): a bouncing mascot, wiggling ABC letters, and a dependency-free confetti canvas fill the panel when there is no backgroundImage. The canvas lazy-inits on view, honours prefers-reduced-motion, and degrades to a static confetti wash with JS off. All builtin field reads + macro + branch structure are preserved from the default hero — only the styling changes. #}
+{# hero kindergarten override (GO-BIG showpiece): a bouncing mascot, wiggling ABC letters, and a dependency-free confetti canvas fill the panel when there is no backgroundImage. The canvas lazy-inits on view, honours prefers-reduced-motion, and degrades to a static confetti wash with JS off. Sizing + typography are driven by compiled .kg-hero* CSS (NOT min-h-screen / responsive Tailwind, which the host JIT drops on a cold provision). All builtin field reads are preserved from the default hero. #}
 {% set eyebrowText = eyebrow.text|default:eyebrow %}
 {% set headlineText = headline.text|default:headline %}
 {% set subText = subheadline.text|default:subheadline %}
@@ -10,35 +10,26 @@
 {% set variant = template|default:"centered" %}
 {% set hasImage = backgroundImage %}
 {% set showOverlay = hasImage and overlayColor != "none" and overlayColor != "" %}
-{% macro playmascot() %}<div class="kg-confetti-wrap" aria-hidden="true"><div class="kg-confetti-fallback"></div><canvas class="kg-confetti-canvas"></canvas></div><div aria-hidden="true" class="pointer-events-none absolute inset-0 z-[1] flex items-center justify-center"><span class="kg-mascot inline-block"><svg viewBox="0 0 200 200" width="180" height="180" role="img" aria-label="Pip the mascot"><circle cx="100" cy="115" r="70" fill="hsl(var(--accent))" stroke="hsl(var(--foreground))" stroke-width="4"></circle><circle cx="78" cy="100" r="8" fill="hsl(var(--foreground))"></circle><circle cx="122" cy="100" r="8" fill="hsl(var(--foreground))"></circle><circle cx="78" cy="98" r="3" fill="hsl(var(--background))"></circle><circle cx="122" cy="98" r="3" fill="hsl(var(--background))"></circle><path d="M 75 130 Q 100 155 125 130" stroke="hsl(var(--foreground))" stroke-width="5" fill="none" stroke-linecap="round"></path><circle cx="60" cy="115" r="6" fill="hsl(var(--secondary))"></circle><circle cx="140" cy="115" r="6" fill="hsl(var(--secondary))"></circle><path d="M 50 60 L 60 35 L 80 50 Z" fill="hsl(var(--primary))"></path><path d="M 150 60 L 140 35 L 120 50 Z" fill="hsl(var(--primary))"></path></svg></span></div>{% endmacro %}
-{% macro herocontent(align) %}
-{% if eyebrowText %}<span class="kg-sticker mb-4">{{ eyebrowText }}</span>{% endif %}
-{% if headlineText %}<h1 class="kg-display text-4xl sm:text-5xl lg:text-6xl font-bold leading-tight text-foreground"><span class="kg-crayon-underline">{{ headlineText }}</span></h1>{% endif %}
-<span class="mt-4 inline-flex gap-1 text-3xl" aria-hidden="true"><span class="kg-wiggle-letter text-primary">A</span><span class="kg-wiggle-letter text-secondary">B</span><span class="kg-wiggle-letter text-accent">C</span></span>
-{% if subText %}<h2 class="mt-4 text-xl sm:text-2xl text-muted-foreground max-w-2xl{% if align == "center" %} mx-auto{% endif %}">{{ subText }}</h2>{% endif %}
-{% if descText %}<p class="mt-4 max-w-xl leading-relaxed text-muted-foreground{% if align == "center" %} mx-auto{% endif %}">{{ descText }}</p>{% endif %}
-{% if pText or sText %}<div class="mt-8 flex flex-col sm:flex-row gap-4{% if align == "center" %} justify-center{% endif %}">
-{% if pText and pUrl %}<a href="{{ pUrl }}" class="kg-display kg-pop inline-flex items-center justify-center gap-2 rounded-full bg-primary px-7 py-3.5 text-lg font-bold text-primary-foreground kg-drop">{{ pText }}</a>{% endif %}
-{% if sText and sUrl %}<a href="{{ sUrl }}" class="kg-display kg-pop inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-full border-[3px] border-primary bg-background px-7 py-3.5 text-lg font-bold text-primary">{{ sText }}</a>{% endif %}
-</div>{% endif %}
-{% if trustLogos %}<div class="mt-10">
-<p class="kg-eyebrow mb-3">Loved by families at</p>
-<div class="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-6{% if align == "center" %} justify-center{% endif %}">{% for logo in trustLogos %}{% if logo.url %}<a href="{{ logo.url }}" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="opacity-70 transition-opacity hover:opacity-100">{% img logo.image alt=logo.alt class="h-8 w-auto" %}</a>{% else %}{% img logo.image alt=logo.alt class="h-8 w-auto opacity-70" %}{% endif %}{% endfor %}</div>
-</div>{% endif %}
-{% endmacro %}
-{% if variant == "split" %}
-<section class="hero grid grid-cols-1 lg:grid-cols-2 overflow-hidden bg-background text-foreground{% if class %} {{ class }}{% endif %}">
-<div class="relative min-h-[340px] bg-accent/15 {% if mediaPosition == "left" %}order-1 lg:order-1{% else %}order-1 lg:order-2{% endif %}">{% if hasImage %}{% img backgroundImage alt=headlineText class="absolute inset-0 h-full w-full object-cover" layout="hero" %}{% else %}{{ playmascot() }}{% endif %}</div>
-<div class="flex flex-col justify-center px-6 py-16 lg:px-12 {% if mediaPosition == "left" %}order-2 lg:order-2{% else %}order-2 lg:order-1{% endif %}"><div class="max-w-lg text-left">{{ herocontent("left") }}</div></div>
-</section>
-{% else %}
 {% set align = "center" %}
-{% if variant == "left-aligned" %}{% set align = "left" %}{% endif %}
-<section class="hero relative flex flex-col overflow-hidden bg-background text-foreground {% if minHeight == "screen" %}min-h-screen{% elif minHeight == "50vh" %}min-h-[50vh]{% elif minHeight == "auto" %}min-h-[400px]{% else %}min-h-[75vh]{% endif %} {% if verticalAlign == "top" %}justify-start pt-20{% elif verticalAlign == "bottom" %}justify-end pb-20{% else %}justify-center{% endif %}{% if class %} {{ class }}{% endif %}">
-{% if hasImage %}<div class="absolute inset-0 z-0">{% img backgroundImage alt=headlineText class="h-full w-full object-cover" layout="hero" %}{% if showOverlay %}<div class="absolute inset-0 {% if overlayColor == "light" %}bg-background/60{% elif overlayColor == "primary" %}bg-primary/50{% elif overlayOpacity <= 30 %}bg-black/30{% elif overlayOpacity <= 50 %}bg-black/50{% elif overlayOpacity <= 70 %}bg-black/70{% else %}bg-black/80{% endif %}"></div>{% endif %}</div>{% else %}<div class="absolute inset-0 z-0 bg-accent/15">{{ playmascot() }}</div>{% endif %}
-<div class="relative z-10 mx-auto w-full max-w-4xl px-4 sm:px-6 lg:px-8 {% if variant == "left-aligned" %}text-left{% else %}text-center{% endif %}">{{ herocontent(align) }}</div>
+{% if variant == "left-aligned" or variant == "split" %}{% set align = "left" %}{% endif %}
+<section class="kg-hero {% if align == "center" %}kg-hero--center{% endif %}{% if class %} {{ class }}{% endif %}">
+{% if hasImage %}<div class="kg-hero-media">{% img backgroundImage alt=headlineText class="h-full w-full object-cover" layout="hero" %}{% if showOverlay %}<div class="kg-hero-overlay"></div>{% endif %}</div>{% else %}<div class="kg-hero-media" aria-hidden="true"><div class="kg-confetti-wrap"><div class="kg-confetti-fallback"></div><canvas class="kg-confetti-canvas"></canvas></div><span class="kg-hero-mascot"><span class="kg-mascot inline-block"><svg viewBox="0 0 200 200" width="150" height="150" role="img" aria-label="Pip the mascot"><circle cx="100" cy="115" r="70" fill="hsl(var(--accent))" stroke="hsl(var(--foreground))" stroke-width="4"></circle><circle cx="78" cy="100" r="8" fill="hsl(var(--foreground))"></circle><circle cx="122" cy="100" r="8" fill="hsl(var(--foreground))"></circle><circle cx="78" cy="98" r="3" fill="hsl(var(--background))"></circle><circle cx="122" cy="98" r="3" fill="hsl(var(--background))"></circle><path d="M 75 130 Q 100 155 125 130" stroke="hsl(var(--foreground))" stroke-width="5" fill="none" stroke-linecap="round"></path><circle cx="60" cy="115" r="6" fill="hsl(var(--secondary))"></circle><circle cx="140" cy="115" r="6" fill="hsl(var(--secondary))"></circle><path d="M 50 60 L 60 35 L 80 50 Z" fill="hsl(var(--primary))"></path><path d="M 150 60 L 140 35 L 120 50 Z" fill="hsl(var(--primary))"></path></svg></span></span></div>{% endif %}
+<div class="kg-hero-inner">
+{% if eyebrowText %}<span class="kg-sticker">{{ eyebrowText }}</span>{% endif %}
+{% if headlineText %}<h1 class="kg-display kg-hero-title"><span class="kg-crayon-underline">{{ headlineText }}</span></h1>{% endif %}
+<span class="kg-hero-abc" aria-hidden="true"><span class="kg-wiggle-letter">A</span><span class="kg-wiggle-letter">B</span><span class="kg-wiggle-letter">C</span></span>
+{% if subText %}<h2 class="kg-hero-sub">{{ subText }}</h2>{% endif %}
+{% if descText %}<p class="kg-hero-desc">{{ descText }}</p>{% endif %}
+{% if pText or sText %}<div class="kg-hero-cta">
+{% if pText and pUrl %}<a href="{{ pUrl }}" class="kg-btn kg-btn-primary kg-pop">{{ pText }}</a>{% endif %}
+{% if sText and sUrl %}<a href="{{ sUrl }}" class="kg-btn kg-btn-outline kg-pop">{{ sText }}</a>{% endif %}
+</div>{% endif %}
+{% if trustLogos %}<div class="kg-hero-trust">
+<p class="kg-eyebrow">Loved by families at</p>
+<div class="kg-hero-logos">{% for logo in trustLogos %}{% if logo.url %}<a href="{{ logo.url }}" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="opacity-70 transition-opacity hover:opacity-100">{% img logo.image alt=logo.alt class="h-8 w-auto" %}</a>{% else %}{% img logo.image alt=logo.alt class="h-8 w-auto opacity-70" %}{% endif %}{% endfor %}</div>
+</div>{% endif %}
+</div>
 </section>
-{% endif %}
 <script>
 (function(){
   if(window.__kgConfetti)return;window.__kgConfetti=1;