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Outsidethetoybox

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

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

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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

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

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

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

✨ Play dough + festive cutters → 8/10
Great for squeezing, rolling, and fine-motor work (always a solid win in our house).

✨ Green rice + mini light bulbs + counting trees → 7/10
Still fun, but adding it to the lightbox definitely boosted engagement and curiosity.

✨ Kinetic sand gingerbread decorating → 10/10 ⭐
The clear favorite...creative, calming, and played with again and again.

#LTKHoliday #LTKKids #LTKSeasonal

If you have a kid who builds rockets out of anything they can find, this one is such a fun (and unique!) gift idea.

The flexible pieces, the wheels that actually glow, the open-ended building… it all invites so much hands-on exploration.

#LTKKids #LTKGiftGuide

If Santa were a preschool teacher, this is what he’d slip into every kiddo’s stocking. ✨

These little All About Me family counters from @learningresources look simple… but they pack in SO much learning:
• counting + early math
• sorting by color, size, and “family”
• endless pretend play
• language + storytelling
• fine motor practice
• social-emotional conversations (“Who is in your family?”)

Basically: a tiny manipulative with huge play + learning power.

A way better stocking stuffer than another random trinket 😅

#LTKHoliday #LTKKids #LTKGiftGuide

We absolutely love crafting around the holidays (okay… year-round). There’s just something so magical, calming, and connection-filled about it. ✨

#LTKSeasonal #LTKKids #LTKHoliday

Keeping it simple (and festive!) with a Christmas play dough invitation today 🎄✨

I pulled out some of our favorite loose parts, a few dough cutters, the tools my kids always reach for, and the Christmas play dough mats from my Activity Pack — and they were off.

#LTKKids #LTKSeasonal #LTKHoliday

Such a fun and unique little gift for kids. Perfect for the stocking!

#LTKHoliday #LTKGiftGuide #LTKKids

So many excellent finds for kids under $10 for Cyber Monday!

#LTKCyberWeek #LTKGiftGuide #LTKKids

This one was such a hit with my son. He decorated so many little gingerbread people and kept coming back to it all afternoon. I pulled together a few simple pieces: gingerbread kinetic sand, fake sprinkles, cinnamon, cookie cutters, and some loose parts and it turned into the cutest holiday invitation to play.

#LTKHoliday #LTKKids #LTKSeasonal

When you don’t want to give another toy but you still want them to be excited. These practical gifts are still fun to open.

#LTKKids #LTKHoliday #LTKGiftGuide

These lil dino buddies are both pop toy and sensory tube. They make a great toddler gift or travel toy.

#LTKGiftGuide #LTKKids #LTKCyberWeek

Such a fun and easy Christmas craft that makes a beautiful keepsake ornament. We made extras for teacher gifts too.

#LTKHoliday #LTKSeasonal #LTKCyberWeek

This Fry ‘n Fly game is such a blast, I was literally sweating trying to catch the flying eggs with my kids! Great for visual tracking, coordination, and tons of family fun. It also makes an awesome gift idea!

#LTKKids #LTKFindsUnder50 #LTKGiftGuide

This one was so fun, and I love how the finished pieces look on my mantel 😍

I made the cones from repurposed cardboard, but you can also grab craft cones at most craft stores. Just paint on some glue, pour the sand, and let it dry! I love that this craft sand comes in bottles that control the pour, perfect for kids!

#LTKKids #LTKSeasonal #LTKHoliday

Every cat lover needs this puzzle game! It has 60 challenges from easy to expert where the goal is to get all the cats inside boxes. It is the perfect gift for the cat person in your life.

#LTKGiftGuide #LTKKids #LTKFindsUnder50

Such a fun magic-reveal coloring book. It’s perfect for when they want a Christmas craft… but I cannot handle one more mess 🤪.

#LTKKids #LTKHoliday #LTKSeasonal

Which would you choose, camper or sweet treats?
Either (or both) would make an excellent gift for a preschooler!

#LTKGiftGuide #LTKKids #LTKmomlife

Such a fun game for toddlers and, let’s be honest the whole family too 😂
Such a fun gift idea for toddlers.

#LTKKids #LTKGiftGuide #LTKmomlife

Peppermint oobleck for the win.
Here’s what I used:
2 cups cornstarch
1 cup water
A couple drops of peppermint extract

I tossed in some scoops, little cups, mitten tongs, risers, and plastic peppermints and my kids were happily mixing, pouring, and “cake decorating” for a full hour. So good!

Tip: When you’re done, toss the leftover oobleck in the trash, not down the drain.

#LTKKids #LTKHoliday #LTKmomlife

Whether we’re creating sensory bins, sorting by color or size, counting, or making up gingerbread stories, these loose parts invite so much open-ended fun and creativity.

🎄 Bells
🍬 Acrylic peppermints
🍪 Gingerbread resin charms
💡 Mini plastic light bulbs

So many playful possibilities packed into a handful of festive pieces!

#LTKHoliday #LTKKids #LTKSeasonal

I love a good gingerbread house project… but let’s be real, some days I just don’t have the energy (or patience for the mess 😅).

This magnetic tile set is so perfect for adding some Christmas magic without the mess. Plus, they are reusable. I can definitely get behind a holiday craft that doesn’t go straight to the trash after.

#LTKSeasonal #LTKHoliday #LTKKids

As a teacher, I’ve found some of the best play materials where you’d least expect them…like these rainbow acrylic risers!

Perfect for open-ended play, light exploration, sensory bins, and color mixing 🌈

Skip the toy markup and grab these rainbow acrylic risers instead.

#LTKFamily #LTKHome #LTKKids

This gumball machine is so fun! Each gumball hides a little surprise called a Wishie! Inside, you’ll find squishies, stickers, and positive affirmation messages. The lights and sounds make it feel extra magical. There are 7 gumballs in total, but I love that we can even reuse it later for fun notes or an advent countdown. 🎁

I’m already calling it, this one’s going to be a hit with my kids this season!

#LTKGiftGuide #LTKKids

I think our cat block might be my favorite 😹

I used to tape photos of friends and family onto blocks in my classroom and now my kids can’t get enough of it at home!

There’s just something magical about seeing familiar faces show up in their block worlds. They build houses for grandma, drive to school with their cousins, and make up the sweetest stories.

It’s such an easy way to spark imagination and support connection.

#LTKKids #LTKFamily