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.
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...
Thinking about gifts for an infant is challenging because they cannot tell you what they want and really they don't need or want much. Babies also don't remember or have much of a reaction to their first Christmas, but parents and loved ones often still want to get...
If you love all things Autumn and sensory play, but need some fresh new ideas, then you have come to the right place. We do some sort of sensory play daily. There are days I feel more motivated and have planned ahead, but there are also days I haven't planned anything...
Get out your play dough, kinetic sand, oobleck, clay, sand, or other sensory base, it’s time to learn some writing skills!Nope, I did not make a mistake there. We truly can help support writing skills with little ones without using a pencil and paper. Children need...
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.
