April is all about Easter, bunnies, birds, and celebration of Spring!
🥕🐇🌷
Download your activities below and have them ready for when you need them.

In the pack you will find a sample schedule of how to plan out these activities each week for the weeks of March. It includes sensory play activities, language development, science and early math activities, along with 10 ready-to-go printables for your child to build fine motor skills and create with!

I will be using these activities with my kids during our Morning Basket time
and I would love for you to join us!

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March is all about St. Patrick’s Day, Rainbows, and the arrival of Spring!
☘️🌈🌷✨
Download your activities below and have them ready for when you need them.

In the pack you will find a sample schedule of how to plan out these activities each week for the weeks of March. It includes sensory play activities, language development, science and early math activities, along with 11 ready-to-go printables for your child to build fine motor skills and create with!

I will be using these activities with my kids during our Morning Basket time
and I would love for you to join us!

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February is all about love, Valentine’s Day, and winter fun!
❄️🌹🦢
Download your activities below and have them ready for when you need them.

In the pack you will find a sample schedule of how to plan out these activities each week for the weeks of February. It includes sensory play activities, language development, science and early math activities, along with 10 ready-to-go printables for your child to build fine motor skills and create with!

I will be using these activities with my kids during our Morning Basket time and I would love for you to join us!

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With the snowstorm and icy roads around, sometimes I’m looking for ideas to keep the kids busy inside. The goal is to keep it easy for me to set up and fun for the kids to want to play a while with. We’ve tried a lot of activities over the years and here are the top 6 that win every time:

1. Heal the heart

Cut construction paper in a heart shape. Then cut it into two or more pieces to make a simple puzzle. Have your child “heal the heart” back together with either band aids or stickers.

2. Build a fort

Stack the cushions or wrap a fitted sheet around some chairs and make a cozy space to hide in! My kids will spend hours just carrying stuffed animals and books back and forth to the fort to make it cozy. We’ve even had a picnic inside the tent to keep the fun going!

3. Move the toys to a new spot

This is my go-to hack that works time and time again. If I see a toy (like the play kitchen) not getting any play, I’ll move it to a new spot in the house. When they see their toy in a new location it gives them a new perspective on how to play with it. Sometimes the toys that haven’t been played with for a while start to blend in the room. Once I move it to a new spot, it reminds them of the toy and sparks new ways to play with it again!

4. Make a shadow puppet theater

This one is especially fun for the dark days or if the power gets cut out. Cut a hole in a box and secure parchment paper to it. Use a flashlight and a few toys to bring storytelling time to life!

5. Bead a snowflake

Twist three pipe cleaners together and add beads to make your own snowflake craft. This craft is simple to make but it keeps them focused for a long time. You can hang it up in the window with some string for some winter decor!

6. Try a morning basket

My favorite way to keep kids playing for a long time is with a morning basket.
Fill a basket with activities to color and create with. (I have a guide with over 100+ activities read to go for you if you want to get started! Follow this link to get it!)

Will you give these a try?

January is all about winter animals, winter weather, and the celebration of the New Year!
☃️🦌⛸️
Download your activities below and have them ready for when you need them.

In the pack you will find a sample schedule of how to plan out these activities each week for the weeks of January. It includes sensory play activities, language development, science and early math activities, along with 10 ready-to-go printables for your child to build fine motor skills and create with!

I will be using these activities with my kids during our Morning Basket time and I would love for you to join us!

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December is all about snowmen, winter weather, and the celebration of Christmas!
☃️🦌⛸️
Download your activities below and have them ready for when you need them.

In the pack you will find a sample schedule of how to plan out these activities each week for the weeks of December. It includes sensory play activities, language development, science and early math activities, along with 10 ready-to-go printables for your child to build fine motor skills and create with!

I will be using these activities with my kids during our Morning Basket time and I would love for you to join us!

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After months of talking about it, I finally purged our playroom of all the unnecessary items that have been piling up.

You know how it goes… I try to be intentional about the gifts we give to our kids, but with birthday parties and holidays and events, we still seem to collect an assortment of items that pile up. So, every year I dedicate a few days to sorting and purging our toys. My method is to do most of the cleaning myself and then I invite the kids at the end to help me sort out the last bit. This allows me the freedom to get rid of the items I know they haven’t played with in the past year, and then they get a chance to practice giving too.

✨Shop our Complete Essentials List Here✨

How We Do Gifts & Giving

I think it’s important to note that we see gift-giving as something sacred. When birthdays or holidays come around, I don’t give our family a list of what they can or can’t buy unless they ask for one. Gifts come from the heart. If someone finds something that reminds them of my child, I want my kids to learn how to receive it with gratitude.

I never want to create a sense of entitlement around giving or teach my kids that we control what others choose to give us. That said, not every gift perfectly aligns with our long-term values or the way we curate toys in our home. We accept the gift with thanks, let the kids enjoy it fully, and when it’s no longer being played with, we pass it along for another family to love.

The Toys We Gave Away

During this toy purge I decided to give over half of our toys away. I was inspired by the “less is more” theory. A study from the University of Toledo revealed that, “when toddlers had access to four toys rather than sixteen, they played in more elaborate ways, for longer, and with fewer distractions.” I have seen this in my own experience time and time again. When we have less options out in the playroom, they find more ways to play with them. The main types of toys I got rid of were the following:

• toys they aged out of (baby toys & puzzles that were too easy for them now)

• one-off toys— the random toys and kits that had a lot of tiny pieces to keep up with and were only loved when they first got it

• our older lovevery kits— this one I hesitated to share because we have loved our Lovevery kits over the years, but I noticed that the older kits we owned are more educational and geared towards homeschool learning than they are for open-ended play. Since my girls are in school, they aren’t interested in more alphabet type play at home, so I decided to give away all of our kits and only keep a few of the essential toys they played with from them (the ball drop, science kits, play house, calendar, etc.)

The Essential Toys That Made the Cut

When clearing out the playroom I sorted everything into four bins— keep, donate, fix, or maybe.

The toys I decided to keep are the ones our kids return to and engage deeply with. They often are open-ended, meaning there are multiple ways they can be played with. For example, I kept a set of musical instruments that my kids can make music with, while I donated several musical toys that only play music when you press a button. But not all “closed-ended toys” are bad. My older kids appreciate a variety of choices, so my key to keeping toys was to build intentionality with their play, not to simply get rid of everything that drives me coo-coo.

1. Dolls & Dr. Kits

These have been loved since my kids were babies themselves. We love the Miniland Dolls because they offer a beautiful representation of all kinds of kids around the world & this twin set from Target has been another beloved pair as well. We have a few drs kits that the kids rotate and share. I don’t think there is really any one right kit, but having a few care tools is fun for them and perfect for sick day slower play too.

2. Play Silks

I was hesitant to purchase these originally because I didn’t understand the hype. How can a silk scarf be that interesting to a child? A friend convinced me to give it a try, so we got this Earth Set and I am so glad we did! We’ve added to our collection since then and these silks are one of those open-ended toys that kids can create all types of things will. I display them on this rainbow shelf so it’s easy to find. I use them as a sustainable way to wrap gifts with, the kids have worn them as super hero capes and fairy dresses. The green silk has become grass for the animals, the blue silk has become water for the fishes. The opportunities are endless.

3. Building Blocks & Stepping Stones

Every year we do one big group gift for the kids and these have been the most loved by far. They are also more expensive in terms of gift-giving, but I consider them a worthy investment because they replace a lot of other types of smaller toys we do not own. For example the building blocks can be car ramps, towers, doll houses, and set the scene for a lot imaginative play. The stepping stones can be used in water, indoors or outdoors, and fun for gross motor play, color matching, and more creative play!

4. Animals

Another great set of toys that you can build on as a collection over the years are animal figurines. We have collected a variety of them from Amazon, craft stores, and my husband’s travels. I love to add these in as stocking stuffers and they make great gifts for kids of all ages.

5. Cars and Tracks

I was not prepared for the change my son would make going from cute train sets and a train table to the love of race cars and monster trucks, but here we are. We moved his train table into his room, but he seems to play a lot more with this flexible track and his random collection of race cars. We also love these trucks by Green Toys, which spent most of their time outside in the summer, but are now back inside and still good as new.

6. Musical Instruments

There are are a lot of musical toys out there, but I suggest looking for musical toys that make music by the effort of your child playing them and not just by the push of a button. This will save your sanity. I also share this piece of advice with a grain of salt because as you can see, we have a mix of both. This Bluey drum set has been beloved by all three of my Bluey fans and it is one of the few exceptions I make. Otherwise I prefer to build out our collection with musical toys like this wooden toy set or this one.

7. Magnetic Tiles

If I had to choose one toy to gift a child of any age, this would be it. Magnetic tiles are open-ended and SO much fun for kids ages 2+. This is a gift you can build on over the years as well. Instead of having to think up new gifts, I would just add more to our collection and now the kids can create all sorts of things with these!

Now let’s hear from you! What toys are essential in your home?

I’d love to know!

November is all about fall, turkeys, and the celebration of Thanksgiving! 🦃🍂🕯️
Download your activities below and have them ready for when you need them.

In the pack you will find a sample schedule of how to plan out these activities each week for the weeks of November. It includes sensory play activities, language development, science and early math activities, along with 10 ready-to-go printables for your child to build fine motor skills and create with!

I will be using these activities with my kids during our Morning Basket time and I would love for you to join us!

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Launching today, I want to share the story behind my new Christmas Activity Kits and how I create them. Every year I design a collection of printable activity pages for kids to countdown to Christmas with and this year is my best one yet! I have 3 kits available— Toddler Kit (ages 2-4), Preschool Kit (ages 4-6), and Kids Kit (ages 6-9).

Q: What inspires you?

When creating a new kit I take a lot of inspiration from my kids and their current interests. My kids are 3, 6, & 7, and have very different preferences, yet some things they all agree on. I look at the toys and games they are drawn to, the movies they like, and keep a running notes tab on my phone with a list of those ideas. I also build out a Pinterest board of inspiration of colors, patterns, and trends I’m drawn to. My ultimate goal is to create activity pages that kids are drawn to and wrap it with crafts and a parental guide book that parents would enjoy. It’s truly geared toward the whole family.

(Image from: ms.studio)

This year I’m drawn to handmade paper crafts, geometric and vintage floral patterns, and capturing a nostalgic childhood feeling. I love the idea of layering paper chains around the halls, so I designed a paper chain collection that could work for the holidays and beyond.

I can’t get enough of 3D paper stars! So I created my own version of them in the activity kits. Hang them with some colorful velvet ribbon like this and you have a mix of handmade & whimsy all in one. I’ll be hanging these from our chandelier over our kitchen table.

These are just a few of the decor items included in the kit. What I love MOST about this year’s collection are the craft prompts. There are 5 creative craft prompts and printables to help you capture your child’s littleness.

Q: How do you know which activities will work for your child?

When I first became a mom, I found out my daughter was going to have some sensory challenges. She was born with a rare condition at birth, has a miracle story of her first 48 hours of life, which led to us living in the NICU for a few months and learning more about her health road ahead. During that time I began researching and studying different educational philosophies. Along the way I fell in love with Montessori and began implementing it in our home. 15 months later we had our second daughter and I started Joy of Creative Play as an online journal to document which activities were working and not working for my kids.

Over the years I have continued a steadfast approach to studying different educational philosophies, widening my gaze toward other philosophies like Waldorf, Classical, and Charlotte Mason. I don’t subscribe to just one educational philosophy anymore, but I do gather the best of each style and include a variety of ways to learn colors, numbers, letters, storytelling, practical life, and fine motor skills.

Q: For someone new to your activity kits, what are three words to describe what to expect from them?

Playful. Creative. Educational. Every activity is created with the intention that your child can get started on their own and learn new things along the way!

Q: How and when do you use these activities?

We keep our activity pages in a basket, along with a few art supplies, and use it to countdown to Christmas with. We will do at least one activity per day, and add in a few of the crafts and other options along the way! We use these activities as a screen-free way to start our mornings, but on busy days, we use it as a calming activity for the afternoon time too. It’s versatile so that you can use these activities when you need them most.

You can now shop the full collection of activities here!

October is all about pumpkins, farms, leaves, and the start of Fall! 🌽🚜🎃🍂🕯️
Download your activities below and have them ready for when you need them.

In the pack you will find a sample schedule of how to plan out these activities each week for the weeks of September. It includes sensory play activities, language development, science and early math activities, along with 10 ready-to-go printables for your child to build fine motor skills and create with!

I will be using these activities with my kids during our Morning Basket time and I would love for you to join us!

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September is all about apples, the changing of weather, leaves, and the start of Fall!
Download your activities below and have them ready for when you need them.

In the pack you will find a sample schedule of how to plan out these activities each week for the weeks of September. It includes sensory play activities, language development, science and early math activities, along with 10 ready-to-go printables for your child to build fine motor skills and create with!

I will be using these activities with my kids during our Morning Basket time and I would love for you to join us!

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August is all about the end of summer, camp, cars and going back to school! Download your activities below and have them ready for when you need them.

In the pack you will find a sample schedule of how to plan out these activities each week for the four weeks of August. It includes sensory play activities, language development, science and early math activities, along with 10 ready-to-go printables for your child to build fine motor skills and create with!

I will be using these activities with my kids during our Morning Basket time and I would love for you to join us!

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July is all about fresh fruits, beach/water play, and celebrating America’s birthday! Download your activities below and have them ready for when you need them.

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This month’s collection includes themes around bugs, lemonade, watermelon, Father’s Day and exploring outside in sunnier days! ☀️

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This month’s collection includes themes around butterflies, bugs, flowers, Mother’s Day and exploring outside in sunnier days! ☀️

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This may ruffle some feathers but…
here are 3 types of toys you DON’T NEED and why:

1. Toys that claim to teach your child multiple things at once

Have you met a toddler? They don’t multitask very well. So why do most of the toys marketed to toddlers expect that of them? These toys are labeled “educational” or “learning toys” only because they want to capture a parent’s attention who is searching for those things. They do not, in fact, provide a solid foundation of learning for a child. They do the opposite. Toys that claim to teach a baby the abcs while also teaching colors, numbers, and reading, while flashing lights and music are playing are overstimulating and exhausting a child’s desire to learn. Instead, look for toys that teach one skill at a time. A musical instrument that plays music by touch, a puzzle that includes the alphabet, a cart that can be filled with a collection of toys. These toys provide a calmer, engaging learning experience that encourages the child to develop on their own timing.

2. Loud, flashing toys that do all the work

There is passive play and active play. The purpose we are looking for toys to fulfill is active play. We want the toy to engage our child’s attention and give them the tools to play independently. When a child is given a toy that turns on at the press of a button and does all of the work itself, it creates passive play. The child may seem interested in the noise and flashing lights, but they are not actively playing or expanding on their play. These toys quickly become boring and then the child will want to move onto the next dopamine hit. Instead of filling their playtime with toys that do all the work, look for active toys that require the child to make them work. For example, building toys, open ended play things, and manual musical instruments.

3. Play food

Hear me out on this one… play food is not a necessity. In fact, there are many other open ended toy options that can be used as play food AND as other things as well. If you want to simplify your toys and create more opportunities for creative play, get rid of the play food and replace it with loose parts. Yes, a funny name for a type of toy we love in our home. While you do need a few plates or pots and pans to include in your play kitchen or imagination corner, “loose parts” can encourage some really fun ideas for play! Our blue pieces have been blueberries, grapes, rain drops, tears of a unicorn, flower petals, and the list goes on. This is an easy swap to encourage more play with less stuff!

What would you add to the list? Let me know in the comments below!

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TOYS. Isn’t it ironic how quickly we go from expecting toys to be our “saving grace” keeping our kids busy to seeing them as the enemy that infiltrated our homes? One of the biggest mindset shifts I made was seeing toys as problem solvers, not problems.

It isn’t fun to step on a lego in the middle of the night. It hurts. We’ve all been there. But that lego has the ability to teach my child how to build, scale, learn cause & effect, match colors, create worlds, and enhance my child’s imagination. It serves a purpose in my child’s play, so it remains a valuable belonging in our home.

We can look at the toys scattered around the home as a problem or we can look at them as an opportunity to teach our kids how to care for their environment. We can discourage play by saying things like, “I hate this toy! It’s always in my way.” or “Your room is trashed. I don’t know how you get around in here!” Or we can encourage play by saying things like, “This toy does not belong in the kitchen where it can get stepped on. Let’s find a better home for it over here.” or “It looks like you had a lot of fun in here. It’s time for us to clean it up now. Let’s see if we can do it fast in under 5 minutes!” If we want our children to value play, it starts by how we talk about their toys & belongings.

I have a lot more to say on this, but I’ll leave it here for now.
What are your thoughts on toys? I’d love to know in the comments 👇

It’s not so much what we have in this life that matters. It’s what we do with what we have.” — Mr. Rogers

Now that I’m a mother I find myself reflecting back on my childhood and seeing it through my mother’s eyes. I know she wanted to give me the world, maybe to her it didn’t feel like enough. When my friends were getting shiny, new toys we were making things with cardboard. I don’t remember if I was grateful at the time or not. If I wished for more or not. But what I do remember is creating things with her. And I hope my children will remember the same.

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