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Outsidethetoybox

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

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

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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

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

Pretend play is how kids learn. They watch, imitate, and explore real-life experiences in their own way.

So when your preschooler wants to bake a Thanksgiving pie just like you (but you still need to get dinner on the table 😅), this pretend pie set is the perfect solution!

This Little Tikes Creative Chef Pie Set comes with cloud dough crusts, pretend whipped cream, and even a cherry jar that opens (The details are so good)!

#LTKHoliday #LTKSeasonal #LTKKids

True story 👇
My son asked for his construction trucks and kinetic sand… but I couldn’t resist giving it a little Halloween twist 🎃

I added orange + yellow risers and a few pumpkins and voilà! Instant fall construction site 🍂

Both kids were obsessed! They mixed colors with the transparent risers, dug, built, and created endless construction stories.

#LTKKids #LTKHalloween #LTKSeasonal

An invitation to play is exactly what it sounds like, an open-ended setup that invites your child to explore, create, and discover on their own terms. There’s no right or wrong way to play, and that’s the magic of it.

This one was as simple as color-changing lights + transparent treasure tubes. My kids explored color mixing, shadows, reflections, and building. They then continued to use them as props in their pretend play.

#LTKKids #LTKFamily

20 Prek kids and their families loved this Fall Sensory bin! The pumpkin pie spice was the favorite, just add oats so it lasts longer.

#LTKKids #LTKSeasonal #LTKFamily

I helped set up a sensory play date for my son’s Pre-K family engagement event, all about literacy through play. Each bin connected to a favorite book and letter activity, and it completely reawakened my preschool teacher heart. This pumpkin patch letter hunt was a success!

#LTKKids #LTKHalloween #LTKSeasonal

A spooky sensory bin perfect for learning through play this Halloween.

#LTKSeasonal #LTKKids #LTKHalloween

Sharing my favorite Target Circle Week deals (as a mom + former preschool teacher)

#LTKKids #LTKFamily #LTKSaleAlert

Since I hung this giant Halloween coloring sheet, my kids keep coming back to it day after day. 👻

It’s the perfect activity to leave out all October and by Halloween we’ll have a colorful banner to display!

Bonus: hanging it on the wall sneaks in extra benefits like upper body strength, core stability, and the coordination kids need for handwriting and everyday skills

#LTKKids #LTKHalloween #LTKSeasonal

My kids are obsessed with these sticker books. We have had multiple versions and they are always a hit.

I love that the stickers are right next to the scene, the spiral binding makes it easy to keep flat, and the designs are so fun!

The Halloween one, The Little Spooky Village, has been the perfect mix of festive and screen-free fun. Plus, it’s a great fine motor activity and helps kids build language and storytelling skills as they play.

#LTKHalloween #LTKSeasonal #LTKKids

If you’re at the point where you cannot handle buying another toy that gets played with for two days and then forgotten, this is for you 👇

I put together a full list of non-toy gift ideas, things kids will actually get excited to open and use on repeat.

#LTKKids #LTKFamily

I rate these fall crafts for toddlers/preschoolers high because they are either super easy to set up, engage for a long period of time, have great learning/skill development potential, or come out with a beautiful end result.

#LTKSeasonal #LTKHalloween #LTKKids