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.
My Hopes and dreams It's been a whole year and I didn't think I would survive this long. I'm not sure what I thought would happen. Maybe in the beginning I thought I would die of sleep deprivation. Maybe I didn't think my relationship would survive. I really didn't...
Not sure if you are in the same boat as me, but my little almost one year old constantly puts everything in her mouth. It's as if she has no other sensation in any of her body parts and has to explore the world through her mouth. Ugh, why? I want to play with sand and...
If you have followed us for any amount of time, you probably understand my passion (obsession) with loose parts play. If you are new here, welcome, you may want to read my post “Loose Parts Play for Infants and Toddlers” to see the many benefits and learning...
I have been dreaming of taking a trip to the beach. We plan to make a trip to the beach as soon as we are able and I really wanted to get Ruby (11 months) a sandbox so she could get used to playing in the sand without eating it, but I have not done that yet. She...
At 6 months of age, something magical happens where your little wobbly infant becomes a lot more alert, interactive, responsive, and interested in the world around them. Typically between 4 and 9 months, babies begin to sit up unassisted and this opens up a whole new...
People always say the best gift was the box. Well, in this case, that may be true. Quarantine life got me feeling really crafty. Maybe because I am bored with all of my baby’s toys. Or maybe because I don’t want to spend any money. Either way, I made the following...
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.
