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Outsidethetoybox

As a teacher and mom, I’ve found that kids learn best when writing feels playful and low pressure. A lot of handwriting development actually starts with fun fine motor and pre-writing activities first.

These are some of our favorite simple ways to practice while still keeping summer fun.

#LTKmomlife #LTKKids

As a teacher and mom, I’ve found that kids learn best when writing feels playful and low pressure. A lot of handwriting development actually starts with fun fine motor and pre-writing activities first. These are some of our favorite simple ways to practice while still keeping summer fun. LTKmomlife LTKKids

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I love when travel toys get played with at home too.

These magnetic people + my favorite small toy storage case have been such a good combo. What I didn’t expect is how often my kids play with them at home too. Open-ended toys like this don’t just do one thing, they shift into whatever kind of play my kids imagine (I love my son’s ball run idea).

Which also means… less packing for trips 🙌

We’ll definitely be bringing these on the plane to Maui this summer.

#LTKTravel #LTKKids #LTKmomlife

This rotating drink dispenser has been SUCH a fun addition to our outdoor play lately though. We’ve used it for color mixing, potion play, pouring practice, “recipes,” and all kinds of mud kitchen fun. The spinning feature makes it extra exciting and keeps them playing forever.

#LTKmomlife #LTKSeasonal #LTKKids

These underwater animal cages were SUCH a hit with my kids 🐠

You just put the animals inside, drop them down, and kids have to dive to push the release button. It’s like a little underwater rescue mission.

My kids spent an entire hour doing this over and over yesterday. It’s such a great way to build their swimming confidence while having a blast.

#LTKmomlife #LTKSeasonal #LTKKids

As a former preschool teacher, one thing I know for sure is that young kids learn math best through play…not worksheets or flashcards.

That’s why I’ve been so impressed with the new @lovevery Math Skill Set. Instead of memorizing answers, kids are building real problem-solving skills through play, movement, patterns, games, and everyday math thinking.

My kids keep asking to play again, and I love that the activities offer more than one way to play.

If you have a preschooler or kindergartener, this is such an important window for building confidence around math before kids start thinking of it as something stressful or frustrating. A strong foundation now can make later learning feel so much easier.

And right now is the best time to grab it because Lovevery is offering $30 off when you bundle Part 1 + Part 2. Part 1 ships now, and Part 2 ships in late October 2026.

#LTKmomlife #LTKKids

My husband used to joke we were putting Melissa & Doug’s kids through college because of how many toys we bought 😂

I used @melissaanddougtoys for years in my preschool classroom, so getting this package felt extra special. I let my son choose what he wanted to play with first and I was totally surprised when he picked the abacus immediately 😂 (although… it tracks because he’s definitely a logic, order, and numbers guy).

They also sent pattern blocks, Sticker WOW, Spell the Word, magnetic calendar, and vending machine play set.

#LTKmomlife #LTKstorytime #LTKKids

Then on the back write “Love you to pieces” + the date and you have a very pretty keepsake gift 🥹

Here are the steps (save this post for reference):
1. Roll out clay on parchment paper
2. Cut out heart shape (4” heart cutter worked well)
3. Add mosaic tiles (love these ones for their color and rounded edges)
4. Push the tiles in a little extra
5. Let dry about 24 hours
6. Add glaze (if any pieces fell off, just add glaze like glue)
7. It’s dry and ready in another 12-24 hours

My son said he made his for Father’s Day 🤫

#LTKMothersDay #LTKKids #LTKmomlife

This might be the simplest way to make the sweetest Mother’s Day keepsake 💐

Kids can draw their own unique designs, then the printing process makes it feel so dramatic… roll, press, and lift for the big reveal! You can reuse the same design to print again and again (perfect for making a few cards for all the special people).

#LTKMothersDay #LTKmomlife #LTKKids

They say “they grow up so fast”… and wow, they really do 🥹

This little hand won’t stay this small, but this keepsake will. A tiny handprint turned into something you can use every day (and keep forever).

I love gifts kids can actually make that feel meaningful, not just another thing to store away. This one holds jewelry, but really it holds a moment in time.

#LTKKids #LTKMothersDay #LTKmomlife

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