I’m Valerie, a mom and early childhood educator who’s passionate about making learning fun and meaningful.
I get it. As a parent (or teacher), you’re super busy, but I also know that you want to make sure you’re encouraging your child to be the happiest and best they can be, but its so hard to find the time and resources to do it all.
What exactly is social and emotional learning (SEL) for toddlers? You may understand that these are important skills for your child to learn, but what exactly do they need to learn and how? What is developmentally appropriate for a toddler? The Collaborative for...
It’s the infamous clean-up time, oh no! Let me set the scene for you. It has been a day full of independent play and there are toys scattered around every room in the house. You really want to teach your child independence and responsibility so you ask them politely...
How are independent dressing and buttoning skills going in your house? Not so good? Everything except for snaps, ties, and buttons? Well, this simple DIY will get your little independent toddler buttoning in no time. We have been slowly giving Ruby (now two) a little...
Is your toddler as big a fan of Baby Shark as my toddler? Well, if they are, you are going to want to hear all the details about Ruby’s Baby Shark second birthday party. A two year old’s birthday party is, well, different. I love birthday parties and there are so many...
Do you love play dough, but despise the store bought stuff? Did you know it is super easy to make play dough at home?Today I am going to show you how you can make play dough at home in literally 5 minutes...without turning on the stove at all. I first started making...
Are you at your wit’s end trying to get your toddler to listen? Toddlers are tricky. Testing the boundaries on EVERYTHING is their way of learning. So, not listening often falls into this category. I promise they are not intentionally ignoring you to push every...
With a Master’s degree and 15 years of experience in everything from Montessori to Reggio Emilia schools, I’ve seen the magic that happens when kids learn through play.
But guess what? It’s not just about ABCs and 123s—it’s about sparking those big, beautiful life skills like empathy, problem-solving, and social-emotional growth.
When my oldest was born, my passion for play-based learning exploded, and I knew I had to share it with other parents and educators. That’s how Outside the Toy Box was born. Here, you’ll find practical, hands-on activities that fill kids with curiosity and a love for learning.
