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.
I’ll be honest with you, I am no cooking-with-toddler expert or any kind of chef. In fact, I was pretty nervous to involve Ruby (currently 16 months old) in the kitchen at all. So, if you want some real advice from a real mom on cooking, baking or involving your...
As soon as Halloween was over, we switched gears to Christmas. Thanksgiving was a small Autumn afterthought. Christmas is just so magical, fun, and filled with lots of holiday traditions and engaging play ideas. We have to start early because there are so many great...
You want to involve your baby in all the holiday fun, but you don't want to break the bank because you know they won't remember or show as much excitement as an older child. Well, this is the right place for you. I have carefully curated this list to include several...
Gift-giving is a great way to celebrate traditions as well as show your love and appreciation for those you care about. Love, gratitude, and generosity are amazing values to pass down to your children. So, getting your toddler involved with card or gift-giving is a...
There are essentially two forms of art with children PROCESS and PRODUCT art. Different people value different things when it comes to art (and child-rearing in general), but there are two main differences with process and product art. Process art values the...
If you have a toddler, you may be considering transitioning out of the crib. You most likely have many questions and concerns. Every transition with children is challenging and we begin to second guess ourselves because we want the best for them. While I do have my...
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.
