Outsidethetoybox on LTK

Outsidethetoybox

My kids are obsessed with Tully the penguin… and the puppy and unicorn versions are just as cute! They love following the yoga cards, doing the poses, and then snuggling and playing with it like a little friend.

#LTKActive #LTKGiftGuide #LTKKids

My kids are obsessed with Tully the penguin… and the puppy and unicorn versions are just as cute! They love following the yoga cards, doing the poses, and then snuggling and playing with it like a little friend. LTKActive LTKGiftGuide LTKKids

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hand2mind Penguin BubblePlush Yoga Ball Buddy, Yoga Ball for Kids, Calming Corner for Items, Kids Exercise Equipment, Occupational Therapy Toys, Sensory Toys, Active Play for Ages 3 and Up | Amazon (US)

hand2mind BubblePlush Yoga Ball Buddy, Puppy | Walmart (US)

hand2mind BubblePlush Yoga Ball Buddy, Unicorn for Kids | Walmart (US)

Easter basket ideas for active kids

#LTKSeasonal #LTKKids #LTKmomlife

Easter basket ideas for kids who love cars and vehicles

#LTKKids #LTKmomlife #LTKSeasonal

Easter basket ideas for kids who love dolls

#LTKmomlife #LTKKids #LTKSeasonal

Easter basket ideas for the crafty/creative kid

#LTKmomlife #LTKSeasonal #LTKKids

Easter basket ideas for kids who love dinosaurs

#LTKmomlife #LTKSeasonal #LTKKids

Bunny Math Series (Part 5): Light box math for spring 🐇✨

Sometimes the easiest way to make a learning activity feel exciting is just changing the surface.

For this one I added translucent numbers, colorful cubes, and bunny counters to the light box. My son placed the correct number of bunnies on each number and built little towers with the cubes.

The glow makes it feel extra fun, but they’re actually practicing:
• number recognition
• counting with 1:1 correspondence
• visual discrimination
• understanding number quantities

#LTKmomlife #LTKKids #LTKSeasonal

Bunny Math Series (Part 4): A simple way to introduce addition 🐇➕

One of my favorite ways to show kids what addition actually means.

First we counted one color of bunnies, then used another color for the other number, finally we pushed them together and counted the total.

It’s such a simple visual way for kids to see that addition is really just putting groups together. Even preschoolers can understand it this way.

While they play, they’re practicing:
• counting with 1:1 correspondence
• understanding part + part = whole
• early addition concepts
• comparing quantities

Simple, hands-on math like this helps kids understand the concept, not just memorize numbers.

#LTKSeasonal #LTKKids #LTKmomlife

Bunny Math Series (Part 2): The low-prep sorting bin for Type B parents.

If you love the idea of sensory bins but don’t want to spend 30 minutes setting one up… this one’s for you.

Just pour these colorful bunny counters into a bin and let kids sort them by color as they play. That’s it.

It might look too simple, but they’re actually practicing some great early math skills:
• sorting and classifying
• noticing similarities and differences
• color recognition
• early data skills

I have realized that starting with something super simple allows room for them to come up with their own ideas to extend the play too.

We’ve been using these little bunnies for all kinds of math activities lately, so I’m turning it into a Bunny Math Series with 5 easy ideas you can try at home.

✨ Follow along for the next one!

#LTKKids #LTKmomlife #LTKSeasonal

Bunny Math Series (Part 1): The easiest preschool graphing trick 🐇📊

One of my favorite low-prep teacher tricks:
Turn the manipulatives into the graph.

Just place the bunnies on a copy machine, print the page, and now kids can match them right on top.

It looks like play, but they’re practicing so many early math skills:
• counting with 1:1 correspondence
• comparing more / less
• displaying data visually
• visual discrimination

These little colorful bunnies have been so fun for spring and Easter math.

✨ Follow along for Part 2 as I share 5 easy ways to use these bunnies for early learning this spring!

#LTKSeasonal #LTKmomlife #LTKKids

Super easy spring sensory bin using our painted spaghetti “grass"

#LTKSeasonal #LTKKids

Kindergarten confidence isn’t built in August.

That’s why we’re practicing now.

Handwriting takes time, fine motor control, hand strength, and repetition, not just knowing letters. I’d much rather build those skills slowly this spring than rush in back-to-school season.

These grooved line books write like a regular pen, but the ink disappears after a few minutes so they can practice again and again without going through endless workbooks.

The grooves guide their hand just enough to build confidence without pressure.

If you have a preschooler starting kindergarten in the fall, this is such an easy way to start now.

#LTKKids #LTKmomlife

We read a lot of feelings books over here, but here’s what I learned after 15 years in the classroom:

The most impactful learning happens when you pair reading about emotions and then playing and working through real life experiences.

🌈 After The Color Monster, we sorted feelings into jars and talked about what they feel like in our bodies.

🌧️ After On Monday When It Rained, we used play dough mats to build faces and act out emotions.

😁 With What Are Feelings?, we made a simple sensory bin, uncovering emotion cards and matching them to emoji wooden discs.

It’s really cool when kids start saying,
“I’m frustrated.”
“I feel excited AND nervous.”

That’s when you can see the play and learning in action.

#LTKKids #LTKmomlife

To celebrate Read Across America Week, I’m sharing some book-inspired play ideas so you can celebrate beyond the costumes 🤪📚

One of my favorite ways to make reading feel meaningful for preschoolers is to extend the story through play. When kids experience a book (not just listen to it) the learning sticks.

I love setting up themed sensory bins, but we also add art, movement, dramatic play, and even new ways to read (like with a flashlight inside a cozy fort 🔦✨).

#LTKKids #LTKmomlife

How cool is this magic water paper?! Perfect for low pressure handwriting practice.

As a former teacher, I know the biggest hurdle for kids is often the fear of making a mistake. This ‘magic’ paper is such a game-changer, it uses just water, so they can practice their letters over and over without the frustration of erasing or wasting paper.

It’s a zero-mess win for my Type B heart and a huge confidence builder for my kids. Plus, the water ‘disappearing’ as it dries keeps the novelty alive way longer than regular pencil and paper!

#LTKmomlife #LTKKids

I love any excuse to add a little extra active play to our day, and this balance beam and stepping stone set is perfect for that! It’s affordable, fun, versatile, and stores compact (what’s not to love?!).

These large heart gems are also such a great open-ended Valentine’s Day find, we’ve been using them on repeat for movement, sorting, counting, and sensory play ❤️

#LTKKids #LTKActive #LTKValentine

Add this sensory writing trick to your Valentine’s list! 💌

As a former teacher, I’ve found that changing the writing tool or surface is the easiest way to boost motivation without the power struggle.

#LTKSeasonal #LTKKids #LTKValentine

This looks like pretend play… but here’s what’s really happening 👀💌

As my son delivers Valentine mail to each house, he’s practicing SO many foundational skills:

🚚 Big body movement + pre-writing

🔢 Number sense

👀 Subitizing

🗣️ Language + pretend play

📦 The mail truck we used is one of my son’s favorite vehicles

#LTKSeasonal #LTKValentine #LTKKids

5-year-old boy birthday gift idea.

#LTKKids #LTKmomlife

One year old birthday gift idea.

#LTKBaby #LTKKids #LTKmomlife

This is more than a Valentine’s sensory bin 💗

Friendship can be hard for little kids and they don’t always know what to do when something doesn’t feel kind or fair. I love this activity because it gives them language, visuals, and a safe way to sort through real situations.

As my daughter was placing the hearts, we talked about:
✨ what being a friend looks like
✨ how certain actions make us feel
✨ what we can do instead when something isn’t kind/friendly

It’s simple, hands-on, and opens the door to conversations that really matter…especially right now.

The heart cards + sorting mat are included in my Valentine’s Day Printable Pack, so you can set this up in minutes 💕

#LTKSeasonal #LTKKids #LTKValentine

My daughter chose these hair charm kits for 2 of her friends’ 7th birthdays.

#LTKKids #LTKmomlife

This counts as graphing for preschoolers 💗📊

One of my favorite low-prep math tricks from my teaching days: turn loose parts into the graph by copying them.

What they’re learning while they play:
• counting with 1:1 correspondence
• displaying data visually
• comparing more / less
• visual discrimination
• reading letters, words, and simple phrases

These fake conversation hearts are so fun for Valentine’s Day activities:
• easier to read than candy hearts
• limited, kid-friendly phrases = built-in literacy
• reusable year after year

⚠️ Not for kids who still put things in their mouth—they look very real.

#LTKKids #LTKValentine

Indoor days don’t have to mean chaos 🙃

When we’re stuck inside (cold days, summer heat, sick days, all of it), these are the movement toys we reach for again and again. They help my kids get their energy out and support gross motor skills, without needing a ton of space.

#LTKmomlife #LTKActive #LTKKids

I’m officially skipping candy and junky class Valentines.
This one erupts 🌋 and actually gets used.

As a teacher-mom, I love Valentines that are hands-on, memorable, and easy to put together. This volcano kit is definitely a unique and fun option! The eruption experiment never gets old, so here’s a recipe to repeat at home.

Repeat-at-home volcano recipe:
• 2 tbsp baking soda
• 1 tbsp citric acid
• Food coloring, dish soap, or glitter (optional)
• Add water to erupt

#LTKSeasonal #LTKKids

If you aren’t allowed to bring food/candy or just want something a little different, here are some really fun non-candy class Valentines.

#LTKSeasonal #LTKKids

I’m officially skipping candy and junky class Valentines.
This one erupts 🌋 and actually gets used.

As a teacher-mom, I love Valentines that are hands-on, memorable, and easy to put together. This volcano kit is definitely a unique and fun option! The eruption experiment never gets old, so here’s a recipe to repeat at home.

Repeat-at-home volcano recipe:
• 2 tbsp baking soda
• 1 tbsp citric acid
• Food coloring, dish soap, or glitter (optional)
• Add water to erupt

#LTKSeasonal #LTKKids #LTKmomlife

This snowy white compound is soft, stretchy, so satisfying, and not sticky like most slime, which made it perfect for our winter sensory setup.

#LTKSeasonal #LTKKids

🙋‍♀️ if you live somewhere snowy. We don’t get much snow here in Las Vegas, but even if you do, these ideas might be better than battling boots and mittens to play outside in the real stuff anyway.

Our favorite indoor “snow” play ideas for toddlers:

• Baking soda + conditioner (3 parts baking soda, 1 part conditioner)
• Insta-Snow powder
• Shredded coconut
• Baking soda + vinegar
• Painted pasta
• Cornstarch + shaving cream (equal parts)

#LTKSeasonal #LTKKids

I’m not trying to have a perfect playroom.
I just want toys my kids actually play with.

Over the years (and a lot of preschool classrooms later), I’ve learned that when toys are visible and easy to grab, kids use them more. That’s it. That’s the secret.

These are a few storage pieces that work well for us:
• stuffy organizer
• clear drawers
• sensory bins
• hardware drawers…mostly for me so I can pull loose parts fast, throw together a sensory bin, or extend their play ideas on the fly

Nothing fancy. Just simple systems that make play easier 🙌

#LTKmomlife #LTKKids #LTKHome

Sometimes the simplest toy rotation is just helping kids see what’s available. When toys are out of sight, they’re often out of mind. As soon as I moved our fire station magnetic tiles and Clixo into clear bins, my kids went straight for them.

You don’t need to rotate everything on the shelf for new toys, small changes to the setup can make a big difference.

#LTKKids #LTKHome #LTKmomlife

Ok but this light box made this writing activity 1,000x better and instantly gave it a fun New Year’s vibe ✨

Handwriting is something I’ve been really intentional about practicing lately, especially because both of my kids kinda struggle with it. This keeps things playful, low pressure, and actually enjoyable instead of frustrating. Definitely one to try.

#LTKSeasonal #LTKKids #LTKHoliday

Fizzy play is my go to way to celebrate the New Year with kids. It’s so simple just vinegar and baking soda (and a little extra glitter if you are feeling fancy) and the fizzy reaction is just so exciting and satisfying to watch.

#LTKHoliday #LTKSeasonal #LTKKids

You probably have all you need in your pantry. This 2-ingredient “snow” dough is an easy, low-prep sensory material that makes the perfect base for a winter sensory bin.

Recipe:
• 1/2 cup shaving cream
• 1/2 cup cornstarch

Mix and adjust as needed:
– Too crumbly? Add shaving cream
– Too sticky? Add cornstarch

#LTKSeasonal #LTKKids

I want to make a seasonal activity for each tube now.

The Changing Seasons Sensory Tubes are an easy way to support seasonal vocabulary, language-rich conversations, fine motor exploration, and calm focused play.

I love how each tube feels different when you slow down and really watch the fillers move. For winter, we took it one step further and paired the tube with a winter-themed sensory bin using fake ice, play dough “snow,” and arctic animals.

Learning tip: Narrate what your child notices and wonders. This builds vocabulary, attention, and confidence without turning play into a lesson.

#LTKSeasonal #LTKKids

Simple Christmas counting sensory bin, made a little more magical with the lightbox 💡

#LTKSeasonal #LTKKids #LTKHoliday