Search Results

In a rather confusing turn of events, beloved Montessori climbing toy business, Lily & River announced they were reopening only to close shop again, just two months later. If you tried visiting the Lily and River website in late February, you were unexpectedly redirected to a long, sketchy-looking URL with a message that read: "Closing our doors. Changing Lives Meant Everything. We would like to continue building toys for your Littles and ours but factors out of our control have made it impossible for us to continue our toy factory.”  Yet, just weeks later, their site flaunted a new message, announcing a relaunch,  “GUESS WHAT? We’re relaunching in early April 2025”. ...Well, the relaunch came and went, along with the whole website. 🙃 What happened to the company? I don't have all the answers behind their closure. However, I did some sleuthing on behalf of my fellow confused and curious caregivers. Here's what I've been able to piece together. Disclosure:  After seeing the initial closure announcement in March, I did try to reach out to the company via their contact form. I shared my genuine appreciation for their play equipment and simply asked, “Why are you guys closing?” I’ve yet to receive a reply. ✨ Article Section Overview 🌱 Did Lily and River Actually Close? 🌱 Timeline of Closure & Relaunching 🌱 Customers Express Frustration 🌱 Why It Matters to Mindful Shoppers 🌱 What We Still Don't Know 🌱 Need Help Finding a Pikler Triangle Climber? Did Lily and River Actually Close? An internet archive capture shows that things were going business as usual through mid February. There have been no website crawls since April (the site was crawled monthly in 2024). Lily and River shared a closure announcement on their website sometime between February 20 and March 5, 2025. Between March 13 and March 14, the company explained that the closure was only temporary and they'd be relaunching mid-April. The relaunch did come, but was rather short-lived. By mid-late June, the Lily and River website went completely down. So, I think it's safe to say that they're currently closed. It is unclear if they'll be reopening. Timeline of Closure & Relaunching  February 20- March 5 🔹 Lily & River placed closure announcement on website  March 7 🔹 At least one customer reported difficulty getting responses from Lily & River’s customer support team March 8 🔹 One buyer was allegedly told to “dispute with their bank” if they wanted their money back March 11  🔹 Comments were hidden and turned off on Instagram Between March 13 and March 14 🔹 Lily & River removed the closure announcement and replaced it with a announcement saying, “GUESS WHAT? We’re relaunching in early April 2025.”  No explanation, just a really casual, 'We're coming back!' 🤨 Around Mid-April 🔹 Website relaunches, but not all pages were back up and running. For example, their "Toy Makers (About Us)" section was completely removed. Late May 🔹 The storefront was still running on May 30, 2025, but customers were definitely experiencing some issues. One reader of this blog post reached out to me explaining that she placed an order towards the end of May. After following up about her order, she received a response that was "beyond concerning." Sometime in mid-late June 🔹 Lily and River website completely shut down their website. No redirects this time. Customers Express Frustration I was surprised not to see the closure mentioned on any of Lily and River’s social media channels. So, I did what any millennial would do, turned to the comment section on their last Instagram post to see what people were saying— and sure enough, customers had questions.  Here’s the conversation exchange from their last IG post between a follower and a customer in the comment section on March 9: jennifaaaaaa : Are you guys restocking? nemoisnobody:  they're not and they are done clau.s.cajal:  Does anybody know what is happening with the purchases already made? Are we getting them? Is anybody in this situation? nemoisnobody:  @clau.s.cajal my sister got a really, really rude response on email from them after just nicely asking them when would she get her order. They told her to just dispute with the bank clau.s.cajal:  Can you dm me? clau.s.cajal:  @clau.s.cajal so far they have been nice to me, and told me I would get it, but from last week I'm getting no answers.  * * * Seemingly annoyed about the conversations happening in the comment section, Lily & River's responded by hiding previous comments on their IG posts, in addition to turning off their comment section. Thank goodness for screenshots! Since there appears to be at least one alleged incident of Lily and River advising a customer to dispute with their banks, this strongly suggests they could not or would not process refunds directly. According to my mock law consultant, ChatGPT (model GPT-4o), when companies provide responses like this, it's usually a “sign of financial distress, or an effort to minimize losses before shutting down.” It’s worth noting that another brand selling wooden climbing toys, Wiwiurka , has also temporarily closed, but with more transparency. Their homepage clearly states: 
NOTICE: Our store is temporarily closed. We currently have no inventory available. While Wiwiurka kept their temporary closure off social media channels, they aren't hiding customer/follower comments.  Why It Matters to Mindful Shoppers I’ve never personally purchased from Lily & River, but I’ve seen firsthand all the fun that their toys bring kiddos— while babysitting for families, and watching my bestie’s toddler conquer his Pikler climber. It’s been such a joy to see these little ones develop the gross motor skills to master their play equipment with autonomy and confidence. That’s why I’ve included items like their Little Dome and Pikler Climber on my list of Curated Resources for Gifting Kids' Toys .  But transparency matters. As much as we all love the quality of their toys, it’s hard to ignore the company's lack of communication. Customers should be able to trust that brands are open and honest, especially when such high-ticket purchases are involved. What We Still Don’t Know Since the relaunch went live in April, Lily and River still hasn't acknowledged the confusion they’ve inadvertently caused. Caregivers and potential customers deserve some clarity to the following questions: What happened with the “uncontrollable factors” that forced them to close? Were there supply chain issues that have since been resolved? Was this a mismanaged transition or a business restructuring? What happened to customers with pending orders? Why was the closure so secretive? Why is their website down again? Even if their website goes back online soon, I highly suggest you proceed with caution before making a purchase. Keep in mind that none of the aforementioned questions have yet to be addressed . Hopefully this post validates any confusion you or another Lily & River fan might be feeling. Need Help Finding a Pikler Triangle Climber? I've vetted some solid pikler triangle brands and compiled them into a spreadsheet (no affiliates or paid endorsements)! Check it out to compare the sizes, specs, prices, shipping costs, and more. I created it so you can spend less time researching toy specs and more time with your kiddo or ya know, cleaning up after them! I'm currently building out similar resources for the climbing ramp slide and climbing ladder attachments, as well as for climbing dome alternatives, arches, and pikler sets. So stay tuned for those! --> Click here to view my full pikler triangle climber comparison table on google sheets! Thanks a bunch for reading! Did I get anything wrong? Please let me know. And if you were on Lily & River's email list, impacted by the closure, and/or have more info, leave a comment below or send me an email. Sincerely, Briesh P.S. Stay Conscious + Curious!

When it comes to picking out a play couch, you’ve got some options these days. My top recommendation is the Nugget play couch . Nothing against the other brands— Nugget happens to be one of the only brands that I’ve been able to observe children playing with consistently over many years. The one other brand that I’ve seen kids play with firsthand (Kiidu) closed shop.  Related: What's the Deal with Play Couches? Please note, I'm not  an affiliate with Nugget and they're not paying me to recommend them. I will admit to having a slight bias, due to the fact that four of the families I work with who own play couches all have Nuggets.    But why did all four of these families go with the Nugget play couch? Let’s take a look at what makes Nugget a leader in a growing industry, where kid’s furniture meets toys. Then, I’ll help you answer a few lingering questions you might still have about the brand.   ✨What's so special about the Nugget play couch?  It's the Nugget brand that makes the company so special. Here are four reasons why Nugget play couches stand out above its competitors: the vibe, rapport, verifiable Greengold Gold certification, values-driven company.   ✅ Vibe:     Just three seconds browsing their website and you can immediately tell that Nugget stands for play and fun! Between their bright orange logo, emphasis on imaginative play, and authentic photos of kids at play with their play couches, they make it so easy for you to envision your kiddo having just as much fun with their Nugget set. Sure the kids are photographed by a photographer. But, the photos throughout their Builds Inspiration page  are clearly not staged. It looks like they just take kids to a playroom with a play couch and say, "okay, go have fun now, feel free to do whatever you want. I'll be in the background snapping some photos.” Nugget carries their bright and playful branding into a small selection of their fabric covers, while also meeting the preferences of millennials that gravitate towards muted color palettes. Rather you’re looking for a pop of color to add more character to a playspace or if you just need a color that matches the aesthetic of your living room, the fabric covers are available in 20+ colors. ✅ Solid Rapport: Nugget is the original play couch creator, they've been in the game since 2014. While a number of other brands have released their own versions of play couches, none of them have been around or stuck around as long as Nugget.  It’s also worth noting that up until a couple years ago, Nugget exclusively sold play couches. That means they spent nearly 10 years tweaking and perfecting their play couch before expanding their product line. Plus, nothing shouts reputable like 50,000+ five-star reviews from satisfied customers.   If I haven't convinced you to be a Nugget fan quite yet, here's something else to chew on (get it?)— the company has sold over 1 million Nuggets!  That's right, their play couches are sitting in the homes of over 1 million households. This impressive stat shows us that there's a unique magic that Nugget brings to little ones and is a great example of a brand that's committed to making mindful memories. ✅ Verifiable Greenguard Gold Certification: Each of the Nugget fabric covers, as well as the liner set, are all Greenguard Gold Certified. This means that no harmful flame retardant or chemicals are applied to the foam or the fabric. And they have the receipts to prove it. Some play couch brands make similar certification claims. But, unfortunately a number of them fail to publicly list the suppliers of their materials, which makes it very difficult for potential customers to verify their claims.   🔗 Links to Nugget’s Greenguard Gold Certifications through third-party testing via UL Solutions:  Double Brushed | Corduroy  | Microsuede  | Mixed Material  | Liner Cover Set ✅ Values-Driven Brand: Nugget continues to demonstrate that they're an ethical company that values diversity, inclusion, equity, justice, and equality. This is shown through their commitment to their Black Futures initiative, Talk Starters series , sponsorship of the Raising Us podcast, and partnership with Ms. Rachel . ✨Common Nugget Play Couch FAQs Answered Before making a purchase on a high ticket item like the Nugget play couch, you probably have some questions. I’ve attempted to answer some of the more common ones below.  Overview of Questions 🤨 Are Nugget play couches actually worth it? 📍 Where are the materials for the Nugget sourced? 👧🏼 What age is best for a Nugget play couch?   😡 Why doesn’t my kid play with their Nugget play couch? 🔸 Does a Nugget set come with a liner cover set too or only with the fabric covers? 🛋️ Does Nugget Make Any Other Play Furniture? ⭕ What Can Kids Do with a Play Ottoman? ➕ Should I Buy the Nugget + Chunk Bundle? 📦 What is the foam made from? Is there an off gassing to consider? 🤨Are Nugget play couches actually worth it? Yes, I say, buying a Nugget set is 100% worth it, as long as you have the space! Although I don't own an Original Nugget set, I've observed how kiddos from four families that I babysit for (10 kids total) engage with their Nuggets during countless play sessions. Amongst all four families, it’s hands-down one of the most used toys they own.     📍Where are the materials for the Nugget sourced? Nugget sources the fabric for their covers from Vietnam, China and El Salvador, and their foam is produced in Mt. Airy, North Carolina. All of their products are assembled by their production team in their factory which is located in Butner, North Carolina. 👧🏼What age is best for a Nugget play couch?  Nugget play couches are marketed for ages 1+. While 1 and 2-year-olds can safely play on nuggets, little ones in this age range require assistance and support to engage with the couch as a toy.    Once toddlers develop more gross motor skills, like the ability to jump (typically between ages 20 months-2 ½ years), they're able to get a lot more use of their nuggets.I'd say, Nuggets are most suitable for ages 3 and up, particularly if you're looking for indoor toys that provide an outlet for a kiddo with a lot of energy.  With that said, children that have older siblings tend to learn how to maneuver the play couches much earlier than kiddos without older siblings. Tbh, I've actually seen the most imaginative use cases for Nuggets amongst kids ages 5 and up, which speaks to the value and longevity of the play furniture.  😡Why doesn’t my kid play with their Nugget play couch? When it comes to engaging with Nugget play couches, between ages 3 and 4 is when you'll truly begin seeing your kiddo optimizing their play couch. If your kiddo is any younger, it’s normal for it to take some time for you to feel like your investment was worthwhile.  Why? Because this tends to be the age range when kids develop the strength to move and position the rectangular base (12 lbs.) and cushion (9lbs.) independently without a grownup. Equipped with their newfound agency, you'll start to notice a lot more creative uses and integration of their Nugget into daily play sessions! 🔸Does a Nugget set come with a liner cover set too or only with the fabric covers? The liner set  is sold separately. This means it’s not included in your purchase of a Nugget set, which only comes with your selected fabric cover.  🛋️Does Nugget Make Any Other Play Furniture? Yes, the Chunk ottoman is Nugget’s latest addition to their product line of play furniture. Also, once a year, close to the holiday season, they release Mini Nugget play couches.   The Chunk is a circular ottoman that grownups can use as a functional piece of living room furniture, or kids can use as a playroom toy to complement their imaginative play.   The play ottoman is made up of 4 pieces total: 1 hoop (the surrounding of the ottoman); 1 pad (ottoman lid); 2 pucks (circular foam pieces that can nest inside the ottoman or be used in play).  As for the Mini Nugget, it’s exactly what it sounds like, a mini play couch. Kiddos that love their Nugget can get a kick out of pretending that their stuffies, baby dolls, or action figures have their own play couch.    ⭕What Can Kids Do with a Play Ottoman? Kids can use a play ottoman as a playroom table, as a seat, for toy storage (think: a home for their playsilks ), as a hoop or goal. I can also see kids with siblings using the smaller circles as stepping stones during a classic game of “the floor is lava.”  I only know one family with a Chunk. It’s set up in their playroom with their play couch. One child, Charlie*, age 3 ½ at the time, enjoyed using the ottoman almost as a springboard or vault to launch herself on to the play couch where she continued to practice tumbles.  ➕Should I Buy the Nugget + Chunk Bundle? There are some pretty cool configurations kids can build with the Nugget and Chunk bundle, and having both can take your kiddos play to the next level. Plus, they throw in a 10% discount. Personally, I only recommend you buy the Nugget + Chunk bundle off the bat if all the kiddos that will be playing with it are 3 years old and up. For obvious legal reasons, their website notes that adult supervision is required for all Nugget products. But the Chunk would truly require constant supervision for children under 3, as the ottoman can pose minor entrapment risks.    If you’re on the fence about the bundle, don’t feel too guilty about skipping the Chunk up front, kids can do so much  with a Nugget set alone! Plus, delaying the purchase will give you another opportunity to buy from the awesome company later down the road.   📦 What is the foam made from? Is there an off gassing to consider? Here’s the response the company provided when a shopper asked this question: “We use open-cell polyurethane foam. Most of our customers don’t experience off-gassing, as this process has usually happened before Nuggets and Chunks are sent out. On the rare occasion that there is a lingering scent when the product is first opened, it typically dissipates within a few hours.”

ICYMI: Nugget has announced a collaboration with the amazing children's educator and awesome human being, Ms. Rachel! A Mini Nugget is featured in this image, in lieu of the Special Edition Ms. Rachel play couch. On October 16, 2025, Nugget sent out an email blast announcing the collaboration we didn't realize we needed— Ms. Rachel x Nugget! The colorful collab is geared towards shoppers with kiddos in the 1-2 age range. Heads Up: All rights are reserved on photos of the Ms. Rachel Nugget. But keep reading to find an Instagram post featuring the Nugget set embedded! The Ms. Rachel play couch set comes with the same items included in any standard Nugget order: (1) rectangle base; (1) rectangle cushion; (2) triangle wedges. But, the fabric material paired with this set is the double-brushed microsuede fabric cover. The base and triangular wedges feature adorable illustrations of Ms. Rachel, along with other bright objects associated with her show on a vivid blue background. The pattern is decorated with recognizable objects referenced in her hit children's songs, including: a school bus, a rainbow, a dog, a rabbit, music notes, a duck, a sun, a caterpillar, and an elephant.  The cushion is a solid color– a soft aqua blue. And the Ms. Rachel play couch  set is available now to be purchased for $289.     📦 When will the Ms. Rachel play couch begin shipping? The official ship date for the Special Edition set was November 14, 2025, so anyone that placed a pre-order should have received their set. Unless, you chose the delay shipping option for the holidays (which is only available for a few weeks of the year). 🛍️ Can you buy just the Ms. Rachel fabric cover? Not to worry, if you already own a Nugget set, you can still buy the Special Edition Ms. Rachel cover set  for $159. And if or when your kid outgrows their fandom, you can always switch back to your original fabric print later down the road. 🤔 Why does the Ms. Rachel and Nugget collab matter? You might be thinking, "Who cares about a play couch company collaborating with Ms. Rachel?"  I hate that ChatGPT has made this phrase so cringe… But, it’s not just about Ms. Rachel’s face being  printed on a Nugget fabric cover that thousands of kiddos will love. It’s also about Nugget’s collaboration with Ms. Rachel holistically. Despite being vocal about her stance on the conflict in Palestine, Nugget still pursued a partnership. Just recently, in late November 2025, Ms. Rachel shared an Instagram post revealing that three venues (play cafes) in NYC turned her down when she asked them if she could set up a special day of play for Rahaf, a 3 year old from Gaza, who is a double amputee . Thankfully, one awesome play cafe ( @paynefamilynyc ) agreed to have them. Despite her fame and notoriety, not every brand is willing or interested in working with Ms. Rachel. This is likely only one example of a plethora of rejections that she receives from brands as a result of her advocacy efforts. While we can only infer, perhaps the partnership with Ms. Rachel is symbolic of Nugget's deeper values as a company. Regardless, one thing is certain, Ms. Rachel and Nugget stand for all kid's right to play. There’s something ever so validating about seeing your favorite brands partner up. The voice inside your head cheers, “OMG, I knew you guys would get along!”  This means that in the past couple years, Nugget has partnered up with three amazing brands: Sarah's Silks , A Kids Co. , and now Ms. Rachel!  I just love seeing some of my favorite brands teaming up, it gives me hope that the universe is aligning for good! What brand is next? Perhaps Schleich, Melissa & Doug, or LEGO?? I can't wait to see what 2026 brings for Nugget's collabs. Stay Conscious + Curious! P.S. If you've read this far, do me a favor and cast your vote in the poll below or leave a comment with your own guess! I'm exploring ways to build engagement with my readers and it'll make my day to hear from you! Thank you in advance! ☺️

“What’s racism?” When a kid hits you with that question, it can catch us grownups off guard— even the most mindful parent, teacher, babysitter, or auntie. At Nugget’s first-ever Talk Starters Book Club with A Kids Co. founder, Jelani Memory, attendees explored how to open up conversations about race and racism with kiddos using A Kids Book About Racism as a guide. And don't worry, there were no lectures, just authentic, doable advice. If you’ve ever felt unsure about where to begin, these three simple takeaways from the book’s author offer a clear and practical place to start. ✨ 3 Tips for Talking to Kids About Racism ❌ Don't Try to Wrap It All Up In One Conversation ✅ Start With Where You're At ✅ Start Today Disclaimer:  The following advice is taken directly from the transcript of the recorded book club titled, Talk Starters: A Kids Book About Racism.   It is being shared with permission from the Nugget marketing team! Minor edits have been made for grammar and editorial brackets have been added to clarify, correct, or add context within a quote without changing the original speaker’s words. Video Timestamps indicate where the advice is shared within the video. ✨ Don’t Try to Wrap It All Up In One Conversation 🗣️ Jelani Memory | (Video Timestamp 8:16): Here's my first bit of advice. The temptation for us grownups, when we're introducing a big topic to our kids, is to try and finish it all in one conversation. When we have the birds and the bees conversation, we want to wrap that whole thing in a bow and never come back to it. And [we think], hopefully our 8-year-old, or 10-year-old, or 12-year-old, or whatever age they are, knows about sex forever, and we never have to talk about it again. When the reality is, it should be the start  of a conversation. When it comes to racism, my book is meant to introduce that topic and start that conversation. And once you start that conversation, something amazing can happen– it can keep going. You can have that conversation again the next week. You can have a different conversation. You can revisit my book or another book, but you can keep that conversation going. And guess what? That conversation changes as your kids get older. It's a conversation starter, not a conversation ender. That's my first piece of advice. ✨Start With Where You’re At 🗣️ Jelani Memory | (Video Timestamp 12:25): Some of you might be unsure of how to start this conversation and even worry: • What if I read the book and my kid asks a question? • Am I racist? Did I ever do something racist? • Can kids be racist towards me? Has that ever happened? • Has anybody ever been racist to you? And you feel yourself flummoxed, you're unsure of what to say or how to answer? Here's my next piece of advice: start with where you're at and where your kid's at in their understanding and their readiness to talk about this subject. But you might not have fully investigated where you're at. And the reality is, you might not have started this conversation within your own family or life or friendships until you were a teenager or in college, or even as an adult with kids. Now, might even be the first time you're reflecting on conversations around racism. Allow yourself to be at that first, second or third grade level. That's okay. Don't wait until you go off and get your graduate degree in African American or racial studies to then finally have a conversation with your kids. It's okay to start with where you're at. ✨Start Today 🗣️ Jelani Memory | (Video Timestamp 16:05): Here's my last piece of advice and that’s to start today . Now, I know that might sound scary, and your anxiety's peaking: What do I say? How do I say it? When do I say it? What if I say the wrong thing? But open that door. And once that door’s open and you use the word “racism” with your kids, something interesting happens—they now have permission to use that word with you and back to you . The thing about not starting this conversation is that our kids are very attuned to what’s okay to talk about and what’s not. They know if you never bring something up—even if they learned about it at school, from a friend, or from another book—that it makes you uncomfortable. And if they sense that, they’re unlikely to bring it up. But if you bring it up and say, “I want to start this conversation, but I don’t know how. I’ve got this book coming in the mail. Do you want to dive into it when it gets here? Blah, blah, blah...” Your kid might say, “Oh, we learned about that last month at school,” or, “I had an experience,” or, “I heard that word at school.” And you might go, “Whoa, how come you never shared this with me?” The reality is: there was never context. The door wasn’t open to start that conversation. There has to be a conversation starter. Don’t try to end the conversation the first time. Start with where you’re at. It’s okay to not have all the answers—just start today. Now, I know this isn’t exactly what folks were looking for—those specific, concrete responses [to questions] like: • What if my kid says this? •What if they heard that at school? •What do I say about that? But all I’m asking is that you open the door for these conversations to happen. You will say the wrong thing. It won’t be perfect. But keep learning alongside your kid. If you are looking for more specific answers, be sure to check out the Q & A from the first book club!

Some people think of Halloween as just another commercial holiday! Okay, maybe that's partially true. But, Halloween is also one of the best holidays to incorporate sensory-based activities with kids. While wandering the grocery store, I discovered an alternative to dyeing rice this Halloween. The best part? There's absolutely no prep required , which means you won't have to spend nap time prepping a toddler activity! Plus, all the supplies are super affordable ! This has hands down become my favorite sensory bin activity for toddlers and is one the top favorites amongst the kids I babysit. Keep reading to find out how you can recreate this easy Halloween sensory bin for your little one in no time! 📋 Supply List Transparent Sensory Bin Black Beans Red Lentil Beans Halloween Themed Math Counters Mini Candy Buckets or Cauldrons Squishy Accessories Miscellaneous Halloween Accessories Measuring Cups (optional) Scooper (optional) ⚠️ Note : I've tried this activity with kids ranging from ages 2-6. While it goes without saying, I'm saying it anyway, adult supervision is required. 🎃 Step 1: Dump Halloween Themed Math Counters into Sensory Bin First, designate an accessory that has lots of pieces as your "counters." Then, dump the counters into the sensory bin. While any type of sensory bin will work, I do recommend going with a transparent container. For many years, Target was notorious for selling seasonally themed tiny erasers in the dollar section. They actually make for terrible erasers, but they're awesome as sensory play accessories. Unfortunately, for the past couple years, I haven't found any retailers selling these type of erasers. The good news is, you can use any array of small pieces as counters. Michael's sells small containers of Halloween Decorative Filler for about $5 (pretend flies, bones, and skulls). But, chances are you have a set of counters around the house already. Here are some ideas to help identify your counters or for making your own: Rainbow Bears Transparent Round Counters (think: Bingo pieces) Small LEGO Pieces LEGO Mini Figs K'Nex Pieces Pouch Caps Board Game Pieces Barbie Accessories Toddler Hair Ties Loose Parts (Acorns) Beads Cut tiny pieces of pipe cleaners into "counters" 👻 Step 2: Add in Squishy Halloween Toys Kids seem to truly engage with squishy and stretchy toys. Some kiddos refer to the purple and blue figures as worms and some call them caterpillars. With that said, I have no clue why they have bear faces , but they are a hit ! Toddlers love a variety of tactile toys mixed in sensory bins- after all, it's kinda what sensory bins are all about! Thankfully, these are quite easy to find at stores like Walgreens, Target, and Michael's. Although these additions might seem pretty lame, having a mix of squishy, stretchy, and other sensory accessories support cognitive flexibility. Jeez louise, that was a lot of "s" words! 🦇 Step 3: Add Additional Spooky Accessory Toys Next, you're going to want to add in a bunch of random Halloween tinker toys. I bought the pom-poms from Dollar General during a post-Halloween clearance sale. Small spiders, bats, and finger puppets were in a pack that I found at Wegmans. If you can find a pack with little finger puppets, they are nice to have. I've watched kids place them on their fingers and narrate story lines with them (read: they keep kids occupied even longer). 🫘 Step 4: Pour Black Beans & Red Lentil Beans Over the Tinker Toys 🤯 Who knew that red lentils appear orange uncooked? I was mind-blown to discover this and stoked because it meant I landed on the perfect ingredient to create a no-prep Halloween sensory bin! All you need is one pack of red lentils and one pack of black beans to fill one personal sensory bin. Now you're ready to rip open those black and "red" lentils and dramatically pour in the beans, covering all the toys. By dramatically, I just mean slowly, kids get a kick out of this part! 🪣 Step 5: Add Mini Trick-or-Treat Buckets Mini buckets are optional, but it's handy for kids to have a temporary place where they can drop all the counter pieces and hidden goodies they find along the way. You can also offer kiddos a small bowl, a clear laundry detergent lid, or a variety of other household materials that elevate play! 🔎 Challenge: Ask Child to Find a Specific Number of Items Every time I've done this activity with toddlers, they naturally progress into practicing their counting aloud. You can lean into this by challenging little ones to collect a specific number of counters in each bucket/container or a specific numbers of any of the additional accessories you've mixed into the bin. 🌟 Reactions from Kiddos Whenever I pour the beans over the counters and tinker toys, 2-year-olds are usually genuinely perplexed at where the toys went. Meanwhile, 3 year-olds find it to be super silly and are full of smiles. I've had kids ask, “where the toys go?” I just kinda go along with it by saying something like, “Maybe they disappeared. Or maybe they’re under the beans, can you see if you can find a ghost?" They then spend 5 min sorting through the beans to find the object. Often, they forget what they're supposed to be looking for and get lost in their own play. Twenty minutes later, they stumble upon the ghost and are super excited to show you as they shout, "I found ghost!" Overall, kids have so much fun with this activity. It typically keeps them occupied for 30-40 min (minimum). 🎓 Can a Toddler Learn Anything From Playing in a Halloween Themed Sensory Bin? Absolutely! In addition to counting skills, toddlers practice speech as they narrate the play scenarios within their sensory bins. They may also learn new words and practice using them (think: cauldron; skeleton; vampire). Also, this is an activity that can help kids subconsciously connect the dots between elements of nature (the lentils and beans), play, and mindful memories. Despite this activity being the easiest setup ever, it's still plenty educational. 🧠 Developmental Benefits:  fine motor skills; sensory exposure; color recognition; classification and sorting; counting (STEM); language development and storytelling 🫶🏽 Teaches:   appreciation for nature; simplicity; resourcefulness 🍚 Can I Just Dye Rice Halloween Themed Colors Instead? The texture of beans can offer a different tactile experience for kiddos in comparison to rice, as beans and red lentils are smoother to the touch. With that said, feel free to dye rice in Halloween themed colors if you're up for it! In the past, I've dyed rice purple and orange, mixed in small Halloween themed toys, and thrown it all in a sensory bin— kids loved it! Months later, we ultimately ended up mixing the Halloween batch of rice with other batches of dyed rice in order to make rainbow rice. This year (and every year since 🤫), I simply haven't been interested in investing the time to dye a new batch of Halloween rice. As cool as it is, I dread the process of actually doing it and waiting for it to dry. And let's be honest here, no one wants to spend nap time dyeing rice (unless it's your first time doing it, that's like the only time it's fun lol). From carving pumpkins to getting candy corn stuck in their teeth, Halloween is full of opportunities to expose little ones to festive senses and for making mindful memories! Please leave a comment if you try this activity with your kiddo and what they think of it! Sincerely, Briesh P.S. Stay Conscious + Curious

Looking for a way to get behind underconsumption core this Halloween? Whether you're a mama to little ones, a caregiver to tiny humans, or childfree, a DIY costume is an easy way to repurpose clothes you already own. And if you can't find the items you need in your closet, it's the perfect occasion to hit up the thrift store. I've been going the DIY route since 2012! Once you start putting together your own costumes, you won't want to go back to paying ridiculous retail prices. The most I've paid for costume materials is $20... and that was on a costume that I'm actually rewearing this year (more on that later). → Related: Cheap Halloween Sensory Bin Activity for Toddlers From kid-friendly to scary, classic to minimalist, or just a costume that's easy to put together, I've got some trendy ideas for you. Here's a quick overview of the costume styles you'll find featured in this post: ✨ Featured Costumes Styles: 💖 Kid Friendly → Miss Rachel Costume 👧🏻 Iconic → Wednesday Addams 🧟‍♀️ Scary → Zombie Costume 🤘🏽 Frugal → Kpop Demon Costume 🏴‍☠️ Timeless → Pirate Costume 💰 Mischievous → Robber Costume 🍫 Minimalist → Candy Thief Costume 🐭 Classic → Minnie Mouse Costume 👾 Creative → Bonus Idea   🎃 Is It Better to DIY or Buy a Halloween Costume? Putting together a DIY Halloween costume allows you to repurpose everyday clothing with less involvement in the commercialization of the holiday. You get to participate and enjoy Halloween festivities while leaving a small footprint. Here's a scary statistic for you: The National Retail Federation is projecting that Americans will spend $4.3 billion on costumes alone this Halloween season — 13 percent more than last year!¹ 😲 Personally, I prefer to contribute as little as possible to that statistic. There are items like masks that thrift stores don't really carry. So it's totally understandable if you can't find all of your costume materials secondhand.   The point is to  just do what you can to lower your contribution to the seasonal fast fashion industry that Halloween has evolved into.   📍Where Can I Find Secondhand Costumes? Check to see if a sibling or friend has something that you can borrow Keep at eye out for Halloween costume swamps in your community or at our local library Thrift stores (Goodwill has a cute costume planner tool ) Facebook Marketplace Your local Buy Nothing group Ebay 💖 DIY Miss Rachel Costume Estimated Price | $20 Prep Work Required? | No Style | Kid Friendly & Trendy Miss Rachel, the highly engaging creator that is amazing at keeping your toddler (and millions more) learning and entertained for hours. I dressed up as Miss Rachel for Halloween in 2024. A lot of moms and kids recognized who I was going for and some (mainly dads + childfree people) did not. For context, this was shortly before her toy line with Spin Master took off. And amidst the time when she began receiving a surge of media attention (positive and negative) for her stance on the conflict in Gaza. Since then, Miss Rachel has become even more of a household name, especially now that her show has been added to Netflix! Plus, she made headlines for welcoming a new little one into the world this year, while continuing to be vocal on behalf of children suffering globally. With all this said, I'm going to rep the Miss Rachel costume again this year in pride. I love that she uses her fame to support causes and raise awareness of injustices. Here's how you can give a shoutout to Miss Rachel this Halloween along with me: 🎬 Prep Work: No prep work required. 📜  Things to Note: Miss Rachel wears a bubblegum pink shirt, also called Persian pink. While her headband is a lighter soft pink. And she wears white sneakers. Yes, I did in fact scan through videos to see what color shoes she wears (think: low top Converses but unbranded). I can't tell if she wears socks, if she does, they are no shows. Before you stress out about finding a shirt and headband in the "right" shades of pink, it's really no big deal if you wear any pink shirt and pink headband. That's what I did. Also, I just wore black and white Adidas I already own. People will still get the picture. Full disclosure: I edited the color of my Miss Rachel costume featured here specifically to provide closer shades to her signature look as a reference point. 🏷️ How Much I Spent 🎀 Pink Headband | ~$10 👩🏽‍🌾 Jean Overalls | ~$6 👚 Pink Shirt | ~$4 👟 White Sneakers | Already Owned ＄Total Spent | ~$20 👧🏻 DIY Wednesday Addams Costume (Addams Family) Estimated Price  | $8 Prep Work Required?  | No Style  | Iconic & On-Trend Dark, angsty, rebellious, emotional, meet the classic Wednesday Addams costume. Admittedly, I put this costume together in 2016... many years before the Wednesday show. So, this costume is based on the Wednesday Addams from the iconic Addams Family movie (1991). But trust me, everyone will definitely understand your costume-- there are so many ways to replicate Wednesday's style. If you have a family of your own, you can easily turn this idea into a family affair by assigning them characters from the Addams Family movie as well! 🎬 Prep Work: No prep work required 📜  Things to Note: It's worth noting that this costume is easier and cheaper to replicate for current or past wedding caterers. Years ago I catered formal events on the weekends. White collared blouses and black men's ties were part of my uniform. It can be hard to find a black waist belt with a white buckle. Here's a way to improvise: Use a black men's tie as the belt >> buy a 50 cent piece of white felt >> cut out a belt buckle >> cut slots to thread the felt buckle through >> wrap around waist and tie a bow in the back. The felt will stick to your dress seamlessly. 🏷️ How Much I Spent 👗 Black Dress | ~$8 🤵🏻‍♀️White Blouse with a Collar | ~$4 (Already Owned) 👞 Black Booties | Already Owned 🔲 White Buckled Waist Belt | Already Owned 🖤 Black Tights | Already Owned 💄 Black Lipstick | Already Owned ＄Total Spent | ~$8 🧟‍♀️ DIY Zombie Costume Estimated Cost  | $2-$5 Prep Work Required?  | Yes; Minimum Style  | Scary & Frugal  Walking Dead fan anyone? I completely understand if you stopped watching when Glen was killed off in that heartwrenching baseball bat scene! Yeah, I'm still not over that one. Still surprised that show lasted 12 years. Nonetheless, zombies are timeless . Cheapest 🎬 Prep Work: Step 1:  Locate a worn out plaid shirt, tank top, and jeans in your closet Step 2:  Cut holes in jeans Step 3:  Make clothes look dirty by rubbing them in the dirt or mud; smear red paint or fake blood on clothing Step 4 : Smear fake blood on your body (optional) Ex: I rubbed some fake blood under my nose to make it look like I had a bloody nose ✅ After that, you'll look so creepy scary, you might even get cast as an extra in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon! 🏷️ How Much I Spent 🍂 Plaid Button Up | Already Owned ☀️ Tank Top | Already Owned 👖Worn Out Jeans | Already Owned 🚩 Bandana | Already Owned 🩸Fake Blood (optional) | $2 ＄Total Spent | $2 🤘🏽Kpop Demon Costume (Kid Friendly Zombie) If a zombie sounds too scary for kiddos in your life, skip the fake blood and use some purple body paint to paint lines (patterns) along your skin. And ta-da, just like that, you're a demon from KPop Demon Hunters. Bye bye scary zombie, hello trendy! 🏴‍☠️ DIY Pirate Costume Estimated Price  | $11-$15 Prep Work Required?  | Yes Style  | Timeless & Flirty Captain Jack Sparrow, Captain Hook, Caption Jake of the Never Land Pirates, I'm sure you're familiar with one of those popular pirates! Pirates captivate kids and adults alike. Maybe it's their daring, edgy, and adventurous personality? Well, here's another reason to be drawn to pirates (fictional pirates, not real pirates... I've also seen Captain Phillips 😬)—  their costumes can be put together with just a pair of scissors and a V-neck blouse. Dressing up as a pirate also gives you an excuse to pull out the fishnets and channel your inner Elizabeth Swan! 🎬 Prep Work: Step 1: Find a button-up blouse with vertical stripes at the thrift store. Preferably V-neck if you're going for a flirty style. Not sure who started it, but for some reason vertical stripes give pirate vibes. Step 2: Cut off excess sleeve leaving some sleeve (a bit longer than t-shirt sleeve length). Then, cut small zig-zags along the sleeve borders. Lastly, cut large zig-zags around the bottom of the blouse. 📜  Things to Note: I can't 100% recall if the blouse was long sleeve when I bought it (this was in 2013). Pretty sure it was though, which is why I had no trouble finding a cute-ish style in a small town with only one thrift store. 🏷️ How Much I Spent 👕 Vertical Striped Blouse | $3 🖤 Black Skirt | $4 👀 Eye Patch | $4 💎 Earrings | Already Owned 🥋 Waist Belt | Already Owned 🐠 Fishnet Tights | Already Owned 🚩 Bandana | Already Owned ❂ Necklace | Already Owned ＄Total Spent | $11 💰DIY Robber Costume Estimated Cost  | $3- $5 Prep Work Required?  | Yes; Minimum Style  | Mischievous & Chic Most of the clothing for a mischievous robber costume are probably sitting in your closet already! If not, I'm sure you'll have little trouble finding a black and white striped shirt at any thrift store. Does this costume send the most professional or appropriate message to kids? Nah, not really. But, it does the job and saves you money. 🎬 Prep Work: The only prep work involved requires you to paint a money sign on a canvas bag using acrylic paint. Let it dry and you're good to go! 📜  Things to Note: This was my first time wearing black lipstick. I regretfully bought it from the Halloween section at Walmart (small college town, few options to shop). The lipstick did the job. But it took constant reapplying so it didn't look like I had Oreo crumbs smeared on my lips. Lol 😂 Looking back, I definitely should've checked the actual cosmetics section for a lipstick from an actual makeup brand line. The main takeaway here is don't go too cheap on the lipstick. A quality one will look better, need less reapplying, and last you for future Halloweens. 🏷️ How Much I Spent 👕 Black & White Striped Shirt | (Already Owned) ▸ Black Leggings  | (Already Owned) 👀 Black Eye Mask | $3 🧢 Black/Grey Hat | (Already Owned) 💰Canvas Drawstring Money Bag  | (Already Owned) 💄Black Lipstick | (Already Owned) 🥾 Combat Boots | (Already Owned) ＄Total Spent | $3 🍫 Candy Thief (Kid Friendly Version) If the idea of dressing up as a criminal doesn't sit right with you, just position yourself as a candy thief! Instead of painting a money symbol on your canvas bag, simply paint a piece of candy. A piece of candy corn, or a lollipop are both easy candies to draw freehand without drawing skills. Pictured is an example of a piece of candy I drew in Procreate and collaged onto my canvas "money" bag. It's basic but effective. 🐭 DIY Minnie Mouse Costume Estimated Cost  | $4-$10 Prep Work Required?  | No Style | Cute & Classic If you’re looking for a quick and easy kid-friendly costume, Minnie Mouse fits the bill! The best part is, Minnie Mouse is so classic, it's pretty easy to find a Minnie Mouse shirt at the thrift store if you don't own one already. The hat I wore was not mine (Disney gift shops sell them for absurd prices). I just borrowed it from my sister. That brings us to an important note, always ask around to see what costume materials you can borrow from friends or family before running to the thrift store! Costume swamps should be more mainstream. 🎬 Prep Work: No prep work required! 📜 Things to Note: I kept it really simple with this Minnie Mouse costume and just paired it with jeans. Mainly because I had to go to work and play on the floor with kids all day. Minnie Mouse style skirts aren't very functional for the childcare workplace. Feel free to pair it with a puffy tutu if you'd like, but you'll probably have to borrow or buy one, as I've never seen a puffy tutu sold at a thrift store. 🏷️  How Much I Spent 👕 Minnie Mouse Shirt | $4 👖Jeans | Already Owned 🎀 Minnie Mouse Ears | Borrowed ▪️Black Eyeshadow | Already Owned 👾 Bonus Idea : DIY Tickle Monster Costume Estimated Price  | ?? Prep Work Required?  | Probably Style  | Creative & Open-Ended Here‘s a bonus idea I received from a clever 5 yr old! 🗣️ Me : What should I be for Halloween? 💬 Andrea* : Hmm, I know— you should be a tickle monster! You could dress up as a monster, then when kids come up to you, you just start tickling them! ☺️ I hope this was helpful and gives you inspiration for your DIY costume. Creating a costume with thrifted clothing or via shopping your closet are such accessible ways to celebrate Halloween while remaining a mindful consumer! Source: ¹ NRF 2025 Halloween Spending Survey,  conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics. Date Accessed: September 19, 2025. *Name changed for privacy of child Sincerely, Briesh P.S. Stay Conscious + Curious!

What's the deal with play couches? Why does everyone seem to have one and why on earth would I spend $200+ on a kids' couch? Fair questions, I hear ya. Before you write play couches off as being over-priced, highly glorified couch cushions, let’s talk about them, because (spoiler) they’re so much more than that!  ✨ Overview of Play Couch Questions 🤔 What is a Play Couch? 🚀 So is a Play Couch Considered a Toy?   🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 What Age is a Play Couch For?   🏰 What Can Kids Do With a Play Couch? 🌟 What Are the Benefits of a Play Couch? 🤨 How Do I Know If My Kid Will Use A Play Couch? 🛍️ Where to Buy Play Couches? 🤬 Why Doesn't My Kid Play With Their Play Couch? 🌈 Do All Kids Need a Play Couch? 🧘🏽‍♀️ Do Play Couches Take Up A Lot of Space? 🛋️ Which Play Couches Take Up the Least Space? ✅ Summary: Pros of Play Couches 🫤 Summary: Cons of Play Couches 🤔 What is a Play Couch? A play couch is a form of modular children’s play furniture designed and optimized for kids. Most are made with polyurethane foam and feature a washable fabric cover.  🚀 So is a Play Couch Considered a Toy?  Play couches are a cross between being functional pieces of furniture and a toy. They can be considered toys since they’re tools used to enhance or transform play. At the same time, kids can freely sit, lie on, and move play couches, which also puts them in the furniture family. See? Definitely a combo of the two. Unlike other types of play furniture, play couches grant kids (as young as four) full control of how and what the furniture is used for. 🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 What Age is a Play Couch For?  From my observations*, kiddos ages 3-10 get the most use from play couches. I have seen some 3 year-olds use all their strength to slowly drag and position their cushions. By age 4, typically developing kids have the strength to move the pieces with a lot more ease.  Little ones as young as 1 and 2 can still get a bit of use, as long as they are provided with guidance and prompting from a grownup, older sibling, or school aged kid.  *I've observed how kiddos from five families that I babysit for (11 kids total) engage with their play couches. 🏰 What Can Kids Do With a Play Couch? Kids can do so many things with play couches, the possibilities are endless! Here are some common ways that I’ve seen kiddos use them in action to: Build structures (castle, fort, house)  Utilize them as landing pads when practicing big jumps  Provide custom privacy and comfort Reading nook Use as cushioned base when rough-housing  🌟 What Are the Benefits of a Play Couch? You might not guess just from looking at them, but play couches offer a ton of benefits to kids. They set a great foundation for open-ended play while practically forcing kiddos to tap into their imaginations.  Many children also find ways to use these toys for both active play and dramatic play scenarios (from dinner parties, tents, boats, rocket ships, to everything in between).  Kiddo practicing Josh Allen style hurdles on Nugget play couch. Plus, having open-ended toys like play couches give you an excuse to buy less toys. The next time your kiddo demands a cool playhouse on display at the store, you can challenge them to turn their play couches into a restaurant or maybe even a grocery store stand . Okay, a grocery store stand might be tricky... but definitely not impossible.  🧠 Developmental Benefits:  gross motor skills; hand-eye coordination; problem solving; cause & effect; spatial reasoning; planning  🌱 Teaches:  creativity; autonomy; perception; teamwork (when building with others)  ✨ Bonus Benefits for Grownups and Kids:   When kids aren’t using their play couches, they provide adults with a comfy place to sit while hanging out in the playroom or playspace. I can attest, sitting on these couches is way comfier than spending the whole time on the floor.   Although play couches technically aren’t safety tested as mattresses, many parents over on reddit report using theirs as portable mattresses. The handle makes them very easy to carry from room to room. Just be sure to snag a waterproof liner in case someone has an accident or leaks through their diaper.  🤨 How Do I Know If My Kid Will Use A Play Couch?  I don't think there's a kid in the world that would turn down playing with a play couch if given the chance! Just keep in mind that what their play looks like will differ by stage, age, ability, and personality type. 🛍️ Where to Buy Play Couches? Here’s a list of the most popular play couch brands currently on the market: Nugget  | Price: $249 | Available In: USA & CA Brentwood Home  | Price: $244-$349 | Available In: USA Yourigami  | Price: $199 | Available In: USA & Select Countries Figgy   | Price: $269 | Available In: USA Roo & You  | Price: $289 | Available In: CA & USA Possum   | Price: €295 | Available In: UK, EU, AU Be on the look out for an upcoming post breaking down the differences between each brands’ play couches!   🤬 Why Doesn't My Kid Play With Their Play Couch? It’s frustrating when you spend a lot of money on a toy and your kid doesn't play with it. But, there are a few justifiable reasons why a kid might not be getting as much use of their play couches as you imagined. The most common reason is that they’re too young to execute builds without assistance. Between ages 4-5 is when kids gain the strength to maneuver the cushions around independently.   Another reason has to do with the overall temperament of your kiddo. Play couches are amazing for adventurous and active kids that love jumping, tumbling, rough-housing, and engaging in risky play.  As for kids that are more timid and chill, their engagement looks different. These kiddos tend to utilize play couches as a means to seek fortitude, privacy, and/or a calming space for reading. It doesn’t mean they don’t like their play couch, they just have different use cases.  🌈 Do All Kids Need a Play Couch? No, kids don't need  a play couch. However, any child (school age and up) can find ways of integrating play couches into their style of play . As with any toy, play couches are just another handy tool from the toy box that can expand play.   🧘🏽‍♀️ Do Play Couches Take Up A Lot of Space? Not gonna lie, play couches do take up quite a bit of space. When laid out flat, most play couches measure 66 inches in length and 33 inches in width (a little wider than a baby crib). For perspective, your average yoga mat is 68 inches in length, whereas a baby crib is 28 inches in width. However, when play couches aren’t in use, you can simply fold and stack or position it out of the way.  🛋️ Which Play Couches Take Up the Least Space? From the brands I’ve been able to research, Yourigami play couches take up the least amount of space. This brand has the shortest standard base cushion at 62 inches in length and 31 inches in width when folded. The length is 4 inches shorter than other leading brands. I will note that Yourigami customers have shared mixed reviews, mostly in regards to the strength of the foam cushions and off gassing of the couches. So, those might be trade-offs to consider. ✅ Summary: Pros of Play Couches Provide Open-ended Play : There's no right way to use play couches. Kids can use them to build forts, launch pads, castles, reading nooks, and whatever else they dream up. Supports Child Development : Helps build gross motor skills, spatial reasoning, problem solving, teamwork, and creativity. Long Play Life : Ages 3–10 get the most use, but even toddlers can crawl on the cushions or roll around. Furniture & Toy Combo : Doubles as a comfy lounge spot for grownups or a quiet space for kids to chill. Durable & Washable : Most brands use machine-washable covers and sturdy foam that holds up to rough play. Portability : Easy to move from room to room (some families even use them as travel mattresses). 🫤 Summary: Cons of Play Couches Pricey : Most brands cost around $200, which makes play couches more of an investment. Takes Up Space : When laid flat, the bases are around 66" x 33" (wider than a baby crib). Younger Kids Require Assistance : Toddlers often don’t have the strength or coordination to build with the couches independently. Foam Quality Varies : Some brands use sturdier materials than others. Some Kids Will Get More Use Than Others : Timid or chill kiddos might use the couches in different ways than anticipated, like for quiet time, instead of risky play. My goal here was to provide you with some background info around play couches. Hopefully it has helped you make a more informed decision whether or not investing in a play couch is the right option for your family. Have any questions about play couches that you want answered? Feel free to message me or leave a comment on hit post, and I'll get back to you ASAP! Stay Conscious + Curious, Sincerely, Briesh

For the record, I do not have my own toddler, but I’ve cared for many over the years. #IYKYK There are so many bizarre-o daily experiences that come with taking care of toddlers. Rather you’re a parent, nanny, or babysitter, I think you’ll find this list relatable and maybe even have a few “Lol, SAME” moments, enjoy!  🗣️ Toddler Talk Has Become Infused Into Your Daily Vocabulary For some unknown reason, words ending in the letters "Y" and "IE" make up 45% of your vocabulary. From objects, people, animals, and emotional states, to adjectives.  Words/Phrases Ending in “y” mommy, daddy, baby, happy, hungry, thirsty, sleepy, yummy, yucky, mushy, icky, sticky, slimy, itchy, scary, silly, smelly, messy, potty, doggy, kitty, busy, sippy (sippy cup), rainy, sunny, snowy, uppy (up), huggy (hug), tummy, belly, lovey (plush toy that little ones sleep with), Boppy, okey dokey, holey moley, ready, steady  Words/Phrases Ending in “ie” blankie, pacie (pacifier), milkie (milk), fishie(s), ouchie(s), poopie(s), oopsie(s) 🧦 Socks with Grips Have Become an Essential Part of Your Wardrobe It didn’t take long for you to discover the safety risk of walking around with a baby or chasing after a toddler in regular ol’ socks.  Non-slip socks level the playing field and are 100% the way to go. Assuming you’re as clumsy as me, you understand what a life-saver socks with grips are. Collectively, fellow wearers have probably prevented thousands of mini heart attacks and avoided countless injuries that are associated with carrying little ones up the stairs. 🥣 Sometimes You Eat in Secrecy You’ve resorted to eating in secret out of fear of being asked to share your food or snack.  When I’m on my last box of limited edition heart shaped Cheerios or trying to scarf down a pack of Pirate’s Booty while no one is asking for anything, I literally sneak handfuls while the kids aren’t looking. We all do it.  But, sharing is caring!   Yes, and   sometimes you have to spend two minutes nourishing yourself with junk  substance in order to keep up with the endless demands of “more noodles” and “I want dessert.” 🩹 You’ve Been Grossed Out By The Discovery of Used Bandages  I reckon I’m not the only one that finds used bandages in gross places. I’m sure you’ve found one stuck to the bottom of your sock, in your bed sheets, clinging onto clean laundry, and maybe even the kitchen sink.    One time, after handwashing a pile of dishes that weren’t dishwasher safe, I dumped out the dish pan to discover a bloody  bandage hidden by the bubbles and dishes. 🧺 Pouch Caps Show Up in the Most Random Places As you were beating yourself up for throwing away the cap to your little one’s favorite pouch flavor that you were certain they would slurp right down, you just so happen to find a spare cap! Where? The bottom of your bag, your back pocket, the cup holder in the car, the dining room table, or any other random place you wouldn’t expect to find one.  Recently, I found a pouch cap while folding clean laundry. Fyi, pouch caps don’t break the dryer or start a fire. With that said, I definitely don’t recommend you start using them as an alternative to dryer balls or anything… 😂 🧱 You Accumulate Daily Pocket Clutter Emptying your pockets at the end of the day results in finding random bits of kid related contents (tiny LEGO pieces; rubber bands; balloon pieces; caps of every type; toddler hair ties; a googly eye; a stray pom pom; dead batteries; pieces of lint- or God knows what- that you intercepted before your toddler could eat it; you name it). 🎵 Toddler Songs, Nursery Rhymes, and Musical Toys Are Constantly Stuck in Your Head  I bet you can still remember all the words to the Maybe song from the Fisher Price Kick & Play Piano Gym. You know, the "purple monkey in a bubblegum tree" song.  Admit it, the soundtrack to that play gym was 🔥 These days, your playlist featuring Let It Go, Baby Shark, and the Wheels On The Bus (for some reason) is set on repeat.  Every now and then, you sporadically burst out in a song from Ms. Rachel, The Laurie Berkner Band, or Raffi. That's just life with a toddler for ya! 💍 You’ve proudly rocked an item or accessory that a kid has made for you in public Pasta noodle necklaces, beaded bracelets with seven random beads that don’t spell an actual word or your name, pipe cleaner beaded necklaces, perler bead keychains — it doesn't matter how terrible the accessory looks. Your kiddo made it for you, which makes it as invaluable as your wedding ring. 💡Activity Hack:  When introducing beading to younger toddlers, try starting with pipe cleaners before moving to string or laces. This adjustment allows them to get solid fine motor practice in while building the skill and patience it takes to bead with string or lace. 🧩 You Own The Mega Popular Toddleroo Play Yard, Yet Only Step Over the Gate, Never Opening It I’m a big fan of the Toddleroo play yard , it’s a really helpful tool for creating a “yes space” for younger toddlers! I also love that you can remove or add on pieces to meet the size of your space.  However, aside from a view Amazon comments, no one seems to talk about what a pain in the ass it is to open the play yard. Almost every grownup that owns this play yard sticks to stepping over the gate, no one dares to actually open it.  🏰 Storytime: One time, a parent I nannied for needed me to open the Toddleroo gate (she was post C-section). I cringed internally, anticipating the struggle.  And, struggle I did. My mom boss (MB) noticed and tried to explain how to do it. Of course, I already knew how to do it. The trouble is, the hinges are intentionally designed to be adult -child-proof.  Anyway, I was determined to get it open for her, and I did... I also ended up wacking myself right in the face.  MB:  ”Oh my gosh, are you okay?” Me:  [Pretending I was okay] “Oh yeah, sorry about that, I’m totally fine.”  MB:  “Uh, I think you’re bleeding .” Me:   melts in embarrassment 🫠 ✅ Lesson Learned: Opening this play yard is rarely worth the struggle, unless your legs are too short or you have a physical impairment. I’m only 5’3 and have to stand on my tippy toes to step over it, which I’d rather do any day than manually open it.  Be reassured in knowing that of the 5 families I work with that own this play yard, none of the adults (including myself) bother taking the time to open it. And remember, you’re not being lazy, you’re being efficient... and sparing your face an injury.  🛴 You’ve Faced Awkward Scooter Walks Sometimes toddlers get tired of riding their scooter or sometimes they're jazzed about their cool nature finds and want to carry them back home. Unfortunately, this leaves you awkwardly pushing or carrying their scooter along. As you know from experience, both methods are equal measures awkwarddd. 🤯 Potential Hack to Try: Recently, I stumbled upon a potential solution to our collective scooter dilemma: Banwood Carry Straps ! For some reason, I tend to work with kids that desert their scooters, rarely their bikes. However, Banwood's carry straps can conveniently be attached to scooters and small bikes. You'd just have to remember to bring it with you on strolls and have a place to store it, like a small backpack, fanny pack, or stroller if you have multiples. 🍎 You Find Half Eaten Apples Left Around the Kitchen Ah, the IG reels trend that inspired this post — toddlers deserting apples after only taking a few bites! This situation is always rather frustrating because you’re faced with the tough decision of what to do with the darn apple. On the one hand, you don’t want to waste a perfectly good apple by throwing it in the trash.  At the same time, it'd be preposterous if you dare slice it up, since your kiddo has suddenly declared that they, “only eat apples the big kid  way” and refuse to eat apple slices.  🫣 Confession: I’ve wrapped one of these apples in foil and placed it back in the fridge with the kid’s name on it. Unsure if the toddler actually ate it the next day though. 🧚🏽 You Find Stickers Everywhere Aside from the measly five stickers that somehow landed on a sheet of paper, they’re everywhere — the bottom of your socks, the kitchen floor, on your kid’s washed clothes (that now have sticker stains), and possibly your car windows. Goo Gone is your friend. 🖼️ You’ve Had to Face the Artwork Storage Dilemma When a toddler first starts drawing stick figures and objects, everything they create looks like a masterpiece! Then there comes a day when they begin drawing different versions of the same thing over and over (often a blob stick person). And in efforts to perfect their skills, they use a gazillion pieces of paper in the process. Next thing you know, their "artwork" is taking up half your kitchen counter. There's no way you can sustain saving 10 pictures a day. Overwhelmed, you resort to doing what we all do— stuffing their "art" under contents of the recycling bin while they're asleep. ♻️ Disclaimer: Before you panic, I do ask parents if they want to save any of their kid's art before tossing it in the recycling! 🏘️ LEGOS and/or Magna-Tiles Are Everywhere Who needs LEGOWORLD when it already takes up a significant sq. footage of your home. And your kiddos have so many magnetic tiles, you oughta start charging the neighborhood to visit their local Magnaland, featuring original new displays daily. All jokes aside, there are a ton of valid reasons why LEGOS and magnetic tiles are so popular amongst kids and the grownups that spend a pretty penny on them. In fact, I think I'll do a blog post explaining what makes them such awesome toys for toddlers. Stay tuned for that! I hope you find comfort in knowing that you’re not alone. There are many challenges that come with both raising and taking care of toddlers. Despite having a little one clinging to your leg while you're preparing dinner, you wouldn't trade them or their oddities for the world! #TellMeYouHaveAToddler

Photo Credit: Nugget (minor modifications for sizing) ✨ At a loss for how to explain Juneteenth to kids? Trust me, you’re not alone. Luckily, Nugget and A Kids Co. are here to help— their next book club pick is A Kids Book About Juneteenth ! Join the Nugget community for an open conversation with author Garrison Hayes. Garrison will help answer any questions you have while breaking down some of the complexities of the holiday.  Tbh, I’ve never really known how to explain it to kids, and I'm Black , so I certainly plan on attending! This is a great opportunity for us grownups to deepen our understanding of Juneteenth and also learn how the heck to explain this important part of U.S. history to the little ones in our lives. And let's face it, they're bound to ask questions about it eventually (if they haven't already).  ✨ Talk Starters 3rd Book Club 📚 Book: A Kids Book About Juneteenth 🗓️ When: Thurs. June 12, 2025 ⏰ Time: 8:30 PM ET 📍 Where: Zoom 💰 Cost: FREE! 👥 For: Grownups ➡️ Register: https://tinyurl.com/mt742c7d Overview of Sections 🧐 Why You Should Attend 🤷🏽‍♀️ Why Is Nugget Partnering with A Kids Co.? 📰 Is the Partnership in Response to DEI Pullbacks? 😬 Wait, Do I Have to Own a Nugget Play Couch to Attend? ✅ Where to Catch Up On Insights From Talk Starters Past Book Club s 🧐 Why You Should Attend Talk Starters Book Club Over the years I’ve worked with hundreds of kiddos in many different capacities. " Why is your skin brown?” has always been one of the most common questions I get and one of my most dreaded questions to respond to. My internal dialogue usually sounds something like , “OMG, they figured it out. What if they stop liking me or don’t want to play with me anymore? 🤦🏾‍♀️ Stop panicking, Briesha, you know how to explain it.”   Of course, I appreciate that children feel comfortable enough with me to ask about my skin color. But, it never ceases to feel like I'm under pressure to explain the Black race in 30 seconds or less. While I’ve learned to answer the question with great pride, these conversations still leave me feeling hyper visible. I also worry that I didn’t explain enough or give a response their primary caregiver would’ve preferred.    This mental fatigue of conversations about race shouldn’t always be on the first BIPOC babysitter, nanny, or classmate that a child encounters. It would be immensely helpful if more parents and primary caregivers (from all races) learned how to have these nuanced discussions with kids in a meaningful way.   Books like A Kids Book About™ Racism and A Kids Book About™ Systemic Racism are great resources to assist grownups with initiating these conversations early on. Attending Talk Starters with Jelani Memory can make you a lot more comfortable addressing the questions that your little one will undoubtedly ask. Related: Teach Toddlers About Peace Using These 5 Epic Picture Books 🤷🏽‍♀️ Why Is Nugget Partnering with A Kids Co.? Like most businesses in the U.S., Nugget recognizes February as a month to reflect on Black History, but they also acknowledge it as a time to look toward Black Futures.  Talk Starters appears to be an initiative to uphold Nugget's commitment to supporting Black Futures year round. With over 1 million play couches sold since 2014, the company has a large community of Nugget loving fans that can be reached through the hosting of monthly book clubs.  "Every February and beyond, we amplify Black voices, hold space for Black joy, and support organizations working to prioritize play, prosperity, and potential for Black Futures." 📰 Is the Partnership in Response to DEI Pullbacks? It's hard to say if the partnership between Nugget and A Kids Co. is a direct response to the scaling back of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) under the new political administration. One Instagram user left a comment on the reel ad for the event, " Just when other companies are rolling back DEI policies , Nugget goes in the right direction. Love this 👏👏👏." The book club was most likely planned in late 2024 and announced to coincide with Black History Month. The timing of the announcement just happens to make Nugget look great! 🔥 On the other hand, Nugget posted a carousel post on MLK day (Jan 20, 2025), featuring a quote from MLK Jr. which reads, "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. ”  Not only was this Nugget's first acknowledgement of MLK day on social media*, but this quote is often used to challenge complacency and encourage action in the face of injustice. Which made me wonder, was Nugget simply sharing a comforting quote with their fans or something more? Nugget is a very playful brand and notorious for leaving subtle hints or clues about upcoming product releases hidden in their social media posts. It's quite possible that the company intentionally selected the quote as an ode to the controversy or pushback they're anticipating from their upcoming initiatives, of which some of their customers might perceive as too progressive leaning. If this is the case, I'm totally here for it. It's awesome to see big brands like Nugget use their platforms to create meaningful impact. A book club that preps caregivers on how to navigate conversations around diversity and inclusion is one that I'm happy to uplift! *At least in the past 5 years... I didn't feel like scrolling back on their Instagram grid any farther. 😬 Wait, Do I Have to Own a Nugget Play Couch to Attend? No, to my knowledge, you do not have to own a Nugget play couch to attend the book club! However, Nuggets are one of my favorite playthings to recommend to families (don't worry, I go into more details in an upcoming blog post)! For now, just know that play couches are a super fun way to tap into imaginative play and even indoor active play during cold winters. ✅ How to Catch Up On Insights From Past Talk Starters Book Clubs If you missed any past book clubs, I'll be rounding up all the content shared here, whether you enjoy long form videos, long form blog recaps, or short reads: ✨ Talk Starters First Book Club 📚 Book: A Kids Book About Racism 🗓️ Recorded On: Feb 20, 2025 📺 Watch: https://vimeo.com/1059193571 👥 For: Grownups 💡 Deep Dive: Recap of Q & A's Around Race and Racism for Kids  👩🏽‍💻 Quick Read: 3 Pieces of Advice for Explaining Race to Kiddos ✨ Talk Starters Second Book Club 📚 Book: A Little Book About Racism 🗓️ Recorded On: April 15, 2025 📺 Watch: https://vimeo.com/1078303690 👥 For: Grownups 🔸Takeaways from the Transcript Coming Soon!  Hope to see you at the next Talk Starters book club! Leave a comment if you're aware of any other businesses in the play industry doing any similar initiatives to Nugget's Talk Starters book club, I'd love to highlight them as well! P.S. Stay Conscious + Curious! Sincerely, Briesh

Did you miss Nugget’s x A Kid’s Co. first book club with Jelani Memory? Don’t have time to watch the replay ? No problemo. I downloaded the transcript, then collected the questions and concerns raised by the attendees and the answers that Jelani provided.  I know, I know, you’re probably thinking, “wow, she must have a lot of time on her hands.”   Well, not completely. It’s more like, I find these conversations so important, I’m committed to making sure the information is accessible to as many grownups as possible. I’m grateful even if just one person finds this useful! If you have no clue what Talk Starters is, start with questions below. If you just want to jump to the Q&A section, click here.   What is Talk Starters? ICYMI, Talk Starters is Nugget’s awesome new book club for the company’s loyal community of play couch loving Nuggeteers. Each meeting features a book around tough topics like race, racism, and Black culture. One of the coolest parts is, anyone can sign up for the book club, you don’t even have to be a past customer! The establishment of the Talk Starters book club is one example of how Nugget is walking the walk and not just talking the talk when it comes to their racial equity impact work . IMO, it’s incredibly refreshing to see a kid’s brand supporting the Black community year-round, instead of only when it’s trending (think: Black History Month; Black Lives Matter uprisings of 2020). To date, Nugget has donated more than $140,000 to nonprofits with missions ranging from Black maternal health to creative expression. What Book Was Picked for the First Book Club?  A Kids Book About Racism  was selected as the first book for the Talk Starters book club, which was held on February 20, 2025 in collaboration with A Kids Co. What Happened at the First Talk Starters Book Club? Jelani Memory, CEO of A Kids Co. discussed his first book, A Kids Book About Racism, published in 2019. Jelani shared how the book came to be, the message of the book, and how grownups can start conversations around racism with kiddos with or without the book.  Tahjae Hayes, Talent Acquisition Manager at Nugget for about two and a half years, hosted the gathering and moderated the Q&As segment.  ✨ Brief Overview of the Q&As with Jelani Memory 1️⃣:  How to Handle Being Worried You’ll Use the Wrong Words 2️⃣:  Do Kids Need Time to Process After Reading the Book? 3️⃣:  How Young Is Too Young to Have a Conversation About Racism? 4️⃣:  How to Explain to Kids Why Some People are Racist 5️⃣: Tip for Dealing with Racist Family Members 6️⃣:  How to Respond if a Kid Says, “I Wish I Was White” 7️⃣:  Navigating Hard Feelings While Discussing Racism 8️⃣:  How to Start a Conversation About Race Without a Book 9️⃣:  When Do You Explain Slavery to Kiddos? 🔟:  Talking About Skin Color Without Causing Harm 1️⃣1️⃣:  Maintaining Hope Amidst Hate 1️⃣2️⃣:  Continuing the Conversation Disclaimer:  The following transcript is being shared with permission from the Nugget marketing team! Minor edits have been made for grammar and editorial brackets have been added to clarify, correct, or add context within a quote without changing the original speaker’s words. Video Timestamps indicate where the question is raised within the video. 1️⃣: “I worry I'll use the wrong words." Jelani Memory’s Response | (Video Timestamp 13:25):   Guess what? You will. You for sure will, but just be aware of that. Here's what I ask of you is to start with where you're at and tell your kid where you're at.   Here's the easy way in. You can say, “Hey kid, (insert your kid's name) I wanna start this conversation about this tough topic, but I'm not sure how, because I never had this conversation with my parents or my aunties or my uncles or my grandparents when I was a kid. And our teachers never brought it up at school. And it makes me as a parent feel uncomfortable, and I'm not entirely sure what to say. I'm even worried that I'll use the wrong words. But I do think it's important that you learn about it and that I learn about it too. Can we learn about it together?” Show me a kid who's not gonna light up in that moment and go, " yay, we can learn together!"  or "wow, you don't know everything! I might get to teach you something!" This creates a bond and a recognition in which you can have a journey with your kid. You want to teach them about something because you believe it's important and they want to connect with you. Use those two things together and be humble. And if you end up saying the wrong thing, but don't realize it till later, you come back later to your kid and you say, “I said this thing before, but I was wrong about it. I used the wrong word, I said the wrong name. Or I said it in the wrong way. Here's the right way. As I learn, I want you to learn alongside me.” I think this approach is foolproof because the reality is, we all need to be able to start these conversations. We all have to. We all must. But it can't be fair or right that we all need some level of education or even some level of personal experience to start. Now that being said, you can't stay where you're at. You have to move somewhere. You have to keep learning. You have to keep educating yourself. Look, I know this is a book club for my book A Kid's Book About Racism– I love my book, I think it's a fantastic book. It's sold in a hundred countries. It's awesome. And it's done a lot of impact and good. But you don't have to have my book. My book is a bridge to help start that conversation.    But there are a hundred other ways to start that conversation between you and that young person in your life. If you're looking for those words of where to start, great. My book's a great option. You can go on YouTube and watch the book. It's there for free. You can start with wherever you're at, but I don't want you to feel held back or that you need the UPS driver to show up with a book before you can lean in.  2️⃣: Is it important for me to give a child time and space to digest the content before we dive into talking about it [the book]? Or should we go right in, straight into discussion mode? Is there a recommendation? Jelani Memory’s Response | (Video Timestamp 19:12): I’m a big fan of letting kids lead. Kids know when they’re being lectured or talked down to—or when something is being forced on them. I try to open those doors, rather than force my kid to walk through them. If you finish a book like mine, which is very direct, your kid will likely share something unprompted afterwards. For example: “I’m glad we read this book.” “I didn’t know about racism.” “I already learned about that.” Or they might start asking questions about their own skin color—or someone else’s. Again, you’re opening the door and creating the context for it. Don’t feel pressured to have it all in one conversation. You can even revisit it later. Try saying: “Hey, remember that book we read last night? What did you think of it? You never told me.” Find soft ways to open and introduce it that shows it's not a conversation you're hoping to wrap up in a couple weeks, but you're looking to have on an ongoing basis as you learn and grow. And as they learn and grow across many years. 3️⃣: Is there a minimum age where this topic [racism] is appropriate? Is there an age that's too young to read this book with? Jelani Memory’s Response | (Video Timestamp 20:40): No, there is no too young  when it comes to satisfying our kids' curiosity about the world. As parents, we teach kids not to hit or not to call names or not to trip somebody or not to cut in line. It's fine to teach racism right alongside those things There's this phenomenon that I call "accidental racism." It's when somebody does something that deeply wounds and injures someone else, because it's racist, but they didn't know it because they never had anybody talk to them or share with them, or they never had anybody confront them or provide them with something. My book is designed to create a context where kids are learning about this early, very practically, and recommended for ages 5 to 9. But that's from a lexile level perspective. That's from a reading level perspective. Typically by five, kids are in school, they're having their own experiences outside of the home. By [age] seven, they're reading proficiently, probably on their own. And by [age] nine, they're probably pre-smartphone — although that's changing more and more. And they're also still reading typically with their grownups or their parents. If you’re thinking, “Oh, I’ll wait until my kid’s in middle school—that’ll be the right time to have this conversation.” By the time they reach age 12, your kid will give you a big blank wall and go, “ Yeah, no. I have the internet. I know about the world. I have friends. I don’t need you to talk to me about this stuff.”  Starting it early is critical.    And even if your kid goes, "I don't get it."  That's okay too.    The book will be around for them to return to. There is no too early , but there is a too late . 4️⃣: Do you have any recommendations for when your kids are curious about maybe why people are the way that they are? My kids mostly ask why people are hateful. How should I respond? Jelani Memory’s Response | (Video Timestamp 22:58): In all my years of doing this, the question that stumped me came from my son, my stepson, Titus. He asked, "why does racism happen?"    And it was a question that I had never really truly contemplated, where does this come from?  I think the truth of the matter is, we tend to hate what we don't understand or we tend to hate what we're afraid of, or we tend to despise things that we have a lot of distance from.    There's a word called xenophobia, right? Which is the fear of that thing that we don't know or understand. I've found that proximity tends to solve these things. If you live in a city like mine, Portland, Oregon, it's not technically or literally segregated, but there are parts of town where most of the white folks live and the parts of town where most of the brown and black folks live. Being able to get your kids around folks who don't look like them is important. And it starts break down those things [barriers] like of a child being afraid of someone who doesn't look like them or who doesn't live in the neighborhood they live in, or play the same sports that they play, or of course have the same skin color that they do. 5️⃣: What are some ways to navigate relationships with potentially extended family members who may perpetuate racist comments? As you're having these conversations with your children, what do you do if the children begin to pick up on the fact that maybe members of their own family might be racist? Jelani Memory’s Response | (Video Timestamp 22:41): This is tough stuff, tough. I think first, recognize that your kids are more perceptive than we give them credit for. They'll notice when you brush something off or you go, "oh, that's grandpa. He talks like that. It's not a big deal." And they'll take in these things. Ask yourself, who do you want them to be when they grow up? [As caregivers], we engineer their lives in such a way where you're trying to help them become their best fullest self. And a lot of that, you gotta make some of those decisions for them now. We do this from school choice to what books we have them read, to what time they go to bed, to what foods they eat. And it's tough with family relationships. Yet I think [it’s] important if you want them to embody certain values [you might have to say], "I know grandpa does that and I'm not comfortable with it. I think it's wrong and I don't want you to do it. But having that conversation with grandpa' is too hard. I love grandpa and I don't wanna lose grandpa, and we're gonna still stay in relationship with grandpa, but I want you to know this piece of it okay?" Now of course, we know kids hate keeping a secret, right? And they'll go right to grandpa and go, "Mom says you're racist." But I genuinely don't have any other better answers for you then. Truly, honesty is the best policy. Lying to your kids won't help their relationship with you. It won't help their relationship with their grandparents and it won't help their relationship with other folks that they encounter.    Where if they learn, if their family [members] being racist actually isn't a big deal— because it's family and that's how family works, right? [That might not yield the ideal outcome either.]    And I sympathize. I've had comments from my own in-laws made to me and about my son that have stopped me in my tracks. It's hard to deal with and hard to do something about, and yet very important to at least have that conversation with your kids so they have a good context.  This is not me saying go confront every racist person in your life at every moment. I don't think that's productive either. 6️⃣: My daughter is mixed and she stated that she wanted to be white like me. How would you respond in that situation? Jelani Memory’s Response | (Video Timestamp 27:41): Yeah, I mean… this was my son last night, he was frustrated with his hair and he goes,  "I wish I had white hair because then I'd be, (and just listen to this word) 'normal'".    And this is a 15-year-old, who has a dad who's written a book about racism, who is constantly navigating and chatting with them about these challenging bits of culture and race, and history, etc.    I think it is always important to affirm your kids' identity and who they are. The reality is, if your kid isn't white, they're not gonna end up being white. No matter what they do, there's no magical potion that can turn them white. [It’s about] letting them feel comfortable in their own skin and validating them for who they are. I find these things tend to cross over with things [topics like] body image or self-image or self-esteem. But I wanna go a little bit further, and this is more of a conversation for grownup to grownup.  Typically in our society, and I'll draw a box around America, we have learned to despise, treat poorly and make less than Black faces, Black hair, Black culture, Black neighborhoods, Blackness itself. This is called anti-Black racism. And while that typically will come from white folks towards black folks and all sorts of policies, rules, and sentiments, it also gets ingested by Black folks, leading them to go, “I don't like myself for who I am. I wish I were something different.” I've gotten the question from each of my mixed kids, which is, "Am I Black? Am I white? Am I brown? What am I?" What I've encouraged [for them] is the exploration of that identity as opposed to the force.    I want them to explore all the complicatedness of what it means for them to be who they are. 7️⃣: As a Black woman, it is challenging for me to hold conversations about racism and my personal experiences in a neutral way. It comes with a lot of anger, disappointment, and frustration. Do you have any tips on how to teach kiddos about racism without holding so much emotion behind it? Jelani Memory’s Response | (Video Timestamp 30:29): Let that emotion flow. Be where you're at, I think that's okay. I got criticism from a few author friends when I decided to go take my book and publish it. They were like, well, there aren't any real clear examples– “ I wish you dove into this [a specific] moment that happened when you were a kid and somebody said this [a racist] word to you and explained how it felt.”  And I just thought, actually, it's too painful.    It's too painful for me to even place them [the examples] inside of a children's book. I also think there's a way that it could trigger other children who've experienced racism in a way where they stop feeling seen, and they're revisiting that painful moment. Now that being said, I do think it's important to be where you're at and to share with [with your kid] where you're at. That vulnerability, that transparency, that honesty, that will speak more than whatever words you say to your kids. They will remember that, that will implant in their brain in a remarkable and significant way.  And then you'll find those moments where you… that emotion comes down and you can have a different kind of conversation, even if it's built into that very first one. We want our kids to be brave, but we have to be brave first. 8️⃣: How do you start the conversation? My son is two, but it's already on my mind.  I know you mentioned you don't even have to have the book per se, so how would you out of the blue start that conversation? Jelani Memory’s Response | (Video Timestamp 32:24): Yeah. Kids immediately observe skin color at the very earliest ages. Find me a 2-year-old who isn't pointing at somebody going, “they're a different color.” Start there. Get kids to notice their own skin color and get kids to notice other folks' skin color.  Now I know what I've done is broken a big rule. Aren't we not supposed to teach our kids to see all this color and stuff? We get worried that they might start pointing at people in the grocery store or saying something out loud, like, God forbid. Isn't that racist itself? [Then you spiral into thinking that your kid is racist] Timestamp 33:43 |  I wanna very firmly say, it is not racist to notice skin color. It is not racist to notice skin color. It's not racist when your kids notice skin color. Whether they're black, white, or brown, it doesn't matter. To notice that skin color is okay. To see the differences in that skin color is okay. It’s when we take that [observation] further to demean or diminish or rank people based on what color of skin they are and say someone is better or worse because of their skin color.  Getting them to notice their own skin color is a great place to start. And when they're ready, you can take that extra leap and go, “did you know that sometimes people are treated badly because they don't have your skin color?”  or “ did you know that sometimes people are treated badly because they have skin color like yours?” And then they might go, "oh, why, why would that happen?" You could start to talk about some folks being afraid of folks who are different. You might even start to jump into a little bit of the history of our country. I've found a lot of parents start with, let me teach you about racism. And they go right to slavery. Like why does it have to start with a talk about slavery? Don't do that. Slavery's bad and complicated and all the things, but is not the nearest proxy that you need to reference racism. Just start with noticing skin color. I think that's the best place to start. 9️⃣: When do you recommend going into the terrible and violent history of racism? After my family watched the halftime show of the Super Bowl, my son asked about the 40 acres and a mule statement. Do you have a recommendation for when you do transition more to the history versus the present? Jelani Memory’s Response  | (Video Timestamp 35:02): Yeah. To me, it's less about how old kids are and more about the kinds of questions they start asking. Asking a question like, “what's this deal with 40 acres and a mule?” It's a very mature question to ask, sort of pinpointing into something. The reality is, it's a can of worms, but it's the best can of worms that you can open. Don't try and open it all at once and go, we're gonna do the graduate lesson on the history of racism for all of time and all the ways that black and brown people were discriminated against, enslaved, etc. Let that one door from that one question open and share with them what you do know. Or go, “I think it's related to this. Let's Google it together” or “I don't know, let's learn about it together” . Let those things [scenarios] be doors that can always open. You'll find the more comfortable you are sharing about stuff, the more frequent your kids will come back to you and ask questions.  What'll happen is as they grow older, they'll forget that they asked something, so they'll ask a new question that was an old question, but it's a more mature question and then you can have a conversation in a totally different way. I remember watching, The Hate You Give, a wonderful film, with my 13 and 14-year-old at the time. And I remember my daughter Grace was flabbergasted. She was like,  is this what it's like? And I was taken back too because I was [thinking] like, how does she not know? Right? Like, I'm her dad, we talk all the time. But it was something about seeing it through the visual medium of the film, And I was like, “yeah, it is.”  And we got to have so many conversations after that.    Timestamp: 37:30 |  What ended up happening was, and this is my favorite question still to this day, that my kids ask, is she'd come home from school and she'd go:  I heard this at school. Is this racist? Then we'd have a conversation about it and investigate and interrogate, are those words used about somebody racist or not racist? Does that then make that person a racist? And we get to discuss it. Now, all I'm describing is something that's very messy and happenstance and progressive, and it's all these things. It is not [doesn't look like], us sitting down on the couch, setting a timer for 30 minutes and having the racism talk, slavery talk, or the 40 acres and a mule talk. It doesn't work that way. It will pop up in those inconvenient moments, but I’ve found that this is how kids process stuff. This is how they work through those bits and pieces and navigate big issues like racism. 1️⃣0️⃣: Can you share which words are appropriate to use when talking about skin color? We hear Black, people of color, brown, African American, what's the correct word or words to use without offending anyone? My child is colorblind and sees the world differently already, so word choice is even more important for them. Jelani Memory’s Response  | (Video Timestamp 38:35): The most challenging and interesting conversations I've ever had are with my own kids when it comes to the words we use about skin color. My six-year old son, Solomon looks at his skin and goes, “well, my skin's brown.”   He even compares his against mine and says, “mine's lighter than yours, dad. It's still brown, but yours is a darker brown. You're a chocolate brown, I'm a mocha brown.” Then, I remember he was flummoxed. He's like, “well, mom's not white, she doesn't look like this piece of paper. She's more peachy.”  He pulled out a crayon and went, “she looks this color. ”.    When it comes to the right words, look, you're gonna screw it up, it's inevitable. But I often defer to the ways folks refer to themselves. If you're gonna talk about somebody, try and use a word that they've used about themselves.  Timestamp: 40:00 |  This is very akin to a topic like pronouns. It's like, use the pronouns somebody wants to have them use about themselves. Don't just foist upon them something. I prefer to identify as Black. I'm comfortable referring to myself as mixed. I'm even comfortable being called a person of color. I'm not as comfortable with BIPOC, it starts to get into this squishy, weird, sort of large demographic, but it's not offensive. African American is fine. But again, that’s just me.    You might run into somebody and they go, "oh no, I prefer that you use these words about me and when referencing me.”  Again, I can't say enough, you're gonna say something wrong. It's okay to screw up.   What's not okay is to think, I couldn't possibly ever say anything racist because I don't have a racist bone in my body. And I've never said anything bad about anybody ever. This is not true. One of my favorite scholars, Ibram X. Kendi says, “we all have racist ideas. Being anti-racist is about dismantling those racist ideas about culture and society and other people.”   It's okay to go [admit], yeah, I've probably done some racist things, but I'm on the path to trying to not do racist things, use racist words, or treat people in a racist manner.   I know that's a bit of a new concept probably for some folks, but I think it's important. 1️⃣1️⃣: How do you maintain hope that we are making progress on these conversations right now? It feels like hate has become even more emboldened in the world today. Jelani Memory’s Response | (Video Timestamp 41:34): I think I maintain hope by desiring a better future for my kids and doing the most and the best that I can to help create that, knowing I may or may not be successful, but giving up is not an option. And… I don’t know.    It's really tough, especially now. Because it feels like we've had this shift where being racist is in vogue, it's like cool now. I would like to point folks back to a period in our country's history, the civil rights movement, where being racist was the popular sentiment, and mentality and approach to society and to people of color. and we look back at those individuals who did the work, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., James Baldwin, you name it, as heroes–  as figures who did the right thing in a tough moment.    We are living in one of those moments right now, and I don't think this will be the last time one of those moments happen, nor is it the first time one of those moments has happened where not being racist, feels offensive itself.    Timestamp: 43:41 |  I will say, there is a clarifying and heartening reality when folks are saying the thing they mean. When it's not… "oh, we've got a new DEI program and we care about people of color and we're looking at changing our workforce and we're putting inclusion at the forefront"   —  when the reality was and is, a lot of companies, a lot of folks didn't believe those things. It was just a popular thing to say. Yeah, it was cool to put a black square on your Instagram, but you didn't change your language or your behavior or how you treated folks or even your beliefs. When folks are saying what they believe, it's easier to deal with than when it's a bit cloak and dagger, when folks are saying one thing, but doing another. 1️⃣2️⃣: Where do we go from here? Do you recommend any additional resources either for the conversation with the children or for adults themselves to continue to educate themselves about this topic? Jelani Memory’s Response | (Video Timestamp 44:27): Probably my favorite book for adults to read is a book by Isabel Wilkerson called Caste . It's an extraordinary book that frames the existence of racism in the United States, not as a one-off unique thing, but helps put it in the context of the rest of the world and the intricacies and the subtleties of how we have developed our own caste system, based on skin color, that is indeed unique within the world. Yet, it plays out differently in other countries around the world, where caste is structured along different lines, whether those are economic, ethnic, etc. Caste  is a wonderful book and will blow your mind. In fact, there's a wonderful quote from it and I won't get it [quite] right, but Isabelle says [something along the lines of], “….the year 2022 marks the first year that the United States will have been an independent nation for as long as slavery lasted on its soil. No current-day adult will be alive in the year in which African-Americans as a group will have been free for as long as they had been enslaved. That will not come until the year 2111 (Isabel Wilkerson, Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents ).”  That date when America will be in balance, and having had Black folks be free in this country as long as it's enslaved folks will be in 2111 or something like that, some crazy date off in the future —  that's a great book. I love anything that Kwame Alexander  does, he's fantastic. He's got tons of children's books, can't go wrong with any of his books. Ibram X. Kendi has a wonderful book called Anti-Racist Baby . Don't read it to your baby though. It's not great for babies, but it's great for everybody else. And then I'm gonna give an intuitive answer here. And somebody's gonna get mad at me, so I'm just going to take it for granted.  I'm looking at some of these questions in the Q&A, you can sincerely ask these questions on Chat GPT, and I'm not kidding here. It will give you a thoughtful response back, it will. And this is not me saying Chat GPT is super woke and is on top of it. I'm saying, if you're looking for or have a specific question that needs a specific answer, and you're like, "I literally don't know what to do,"  then it's a place to start. Don't take it as gospel, don't take it as the final answer, but it's a great place to start when you go, I literally don't know what to say. How do I navigate this? Hope to see you at the next Talk Starters book club! Stay Conscious + Curious, Sincerely, Briesh

Sometimes changing a little one's diaper feels like you’re pulling teeth. I know, I know, babies don’t have teeth.  Let’s just say that some baby cries can be so particularly excruciating, it sounds like you’re yanking their baby teeth to the surface. 🙃  How on earth do you make things go smoother and get them to stop crying? I’ve put a lot of thought into this while changing thousands of diapers, amongst countless babies and kiddos. The most effective calming solutions are distractions . Distractions allow babies to snap out of their discomfort just long enough to get them cleaned up. Although it probably comes at no surprise to hear that distractions are effective, the true insights come from  knowing which distractions work the best.   In my experience the most effective distractions fall into three categories: Auditory Distractions, Visual Distractions, Tactile/Oral (Sensorimotor) Distractions. One of these simple hacks is sure to make diaper changing go a bit smoother for you as well! ✨ Quick Glimpse at the Mindful Hacks for Diaper Changing 👂🏽 Mindful Auditory Distractions 🎵 Sing 😙 Whistle or Hum 📚 Recite a Familiar Book From Memory 🧌 Speak in a Silly Voice Narrative 🎶 Play Music 👀 Mindful Visual Distractions 🪟 Provide a View of Nature 💫 Hang a Mobile Above Changing Area  🥑 Mindful Tactile/Oral (Sensorimotor) Distractions 🪇 Offer Easy to Grasp Toy, Teether, or Baby Size Book 🧷 Give Baby a Diaper to Hold   🚫 Skip These Distractions ❌ Pacifier ❌ Repetitive verbal reassurance  While babysitting and nannying, I've kept track of distraction techniques that effectively calm infants and tabies (ages 1-2) during diaper changes. Over time, and after trialing with 13 different infants*, I've pinpointed hacks that have reliably soothed and comforted these little ones. 👂🏽Mindful Auditory Distractions Auditory distractions simply act as a different sound to refocus a baby’s discomfort.  Almost all of the following auditory distractions require a tiny bit of vulnerability. Take advantage of the freedom to embrace your imperfections while you can. You’ll start hearing the judgmental comments (that's not how the song sounds)  and know-it-all style call-outs (that’s not what happened next)  around age 4 and sometimes earlier! 😬 🎵 Sing Try singing a classic children’s song (anything Barney would sing). The average baby and/or toddler has no basis to judge us grownups for singing off key. Trial and error has led me to discover a few songs that have worked best with babies vs tabies:  🕷️ Songs for Babies: The Itsy Bitsy Spider; Old McDonald  🚌 Songs for Tabies (ages 1-2) : If You’re Happy and You Know It;  The Wheels on the Bus 👎🏽 Least Effective Song:  Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star  I’ve had so many fails with using Twinkle, Twinkle, I’ve stopped trying it altogether. No clue why it hasn’t worked. However, you don’t have to be limited to children’s songs. Feel free to try singing any song that comes to mind (probably best to keep it G rated). 😙 Whistle or Hum  Whistling is perplexing to little ones, especially if they rarely hear it.  Humming is another really cool, yet underutilized vocal feature that humans have been gifted.  Don’t worry, you don’t have to whistle or hum an actual song— personally, I just make up  tunes.  🧠 FUN FACT:  Sound vibration is actually very effective in moving the body to homeostasis and out of the fight, flight, freeze reaction (1) 📚 Recite a Familiar Book From Memory Any book you can recite verbatim because you’ve read it to your kiddo so many times. It’s easiest to do this with books based on repetition (Brown Bear, Brown Bear; Goodnight Moon; Chicka Chicka, Boom Boom, etc.)  Forget what food the Hungry Caterpillar eats on Day 2? Make something up, they might notice, but they’ll still go with it! 🧌 Speak in a Silly Voice Narrative Change your voice a little and say something like, “I’m a hungry giant that loves to eat baby feet!” Then pretend to gobble down their feet using a friendly sound effect. I know it sounds ridiculous, but it’s surprisingly effective and even brings a few laughs! 🎶 Play Music  🔮 Use a Wind Up Music Box or Snow Globe Music boxes and snow globes play such distinct relaxing melodies, yet they're plenty underused. If you have one, wind it up before a diaper change and make Brahms' Lullaby or Fur Elise (the most common music box lullabies) a routine soundtrack for diaper changes. Characters that move around or floating snow flurries also make for a great visual distraction! 📱Play a Song on Your Phone  Have a go-to playlist with their favorite songs to play. Disney soundtracks work really great, specifically Moana 1, Frozen 1, and Encanto! Any song from a Laurie Berkner album should also help. When you're just over kid's music for the day: try a pop classical playlist and sing along to mainstream pop hits. Sing alongs spark their ears in curiosity just long enough for them to give the waterworks a break. 👀 Mindful Visual Distractions If auditory hacks aren't working, try shifting focus (pun intended) to visual distractions. Some babies are surprisingly easy to calm when they’ve got something interesting to stare at. These visual hacks are low-effort on your part but can be effective. 🪟 Provide a View of Nature If possible, it can be immensely helpful to position a changing area next to a window that your baby can easily look out through. This allows babies to observe glimpses of cloud movement, birds, leaves blowing around— ya know, just nature doing its thing.  💫 Hang a Mobile Above Changing Area  Mobiles are really fun to watch. I've always adored this mobile from PlanToys — the soft pastels give off such chill vibes, while the grey toned ornaments offer contrast and visual stimulation for younger babies. 🥑 Mindful Tactile/Oral (Sensorimotor) Distractions When their little hands are occupied with anything mildly interesting, they’re much less likely to protest. Soft textures, teething toys, crinkle toys, can help shift their attention away from what’s happening below the waist. 🪇 Offer Easy to Grasp Toy, Teether, or Baby Size Book  Keep a few small toys at an arm’s reach. Crinkly baby paper , teething rings, and miniature board books (size: 4x4) are items that are easy for kiddos to grasp and provide a short burst of entertainment. 🧷 Give Baby a Diaper to Hold No luck with any of the auditory distractions and no toys close by? Giving a baby a spare diaper to hold leaves them speechless. They get such a kick out of opening up the diaper and bending the flaps!   🚫 Skip These Distractions ❌ Pacifier I’ve yet to meet a baby that can be comforted with a pacifier during a diaper change. It’s usually just too hard for them to keep the darn thing in their mouth while screaming and crying. ❌ Repetitive verbal reassurance  Repeating reassuring phrases like, “It’s okay” or “You’re fine” over and over again does not comfort or calm a little one during diaper changes. Out of respect for each child, I do make it a point to initially acknowledge every kiddos discomfort, but only once. I usually say something along the lines of, “I know you don’t like getting your diaper changed. I’m sorry that I have to change it, but I’ll try to make it go as fast as I can.” Then, I just proceed to one of the distractions.  📋 Final Notes These hacks aren’t time proof. While the Itsy Bitsy Spider might instantly halt tears for a week or two , some kiddos grow bored of the song over time. In this case, try a different song, recite a book, or use another tool from this list. Relatedly, I encourage you to test different sensory inputs. If you find that a child has zero interest in watching their mobile or refuses to hold on to their favorite lovey, try something from the auditory list– it’s possible they might be craving a different form of sensory input.  Of course, we all want to get the clean diaper on as quickly as possible– but, keep in mind that diaper changes are also a chance to bring comfort. Afterall, babies can’t exactly self-regulate, so they need help from grownups! With some patience and these handy dandy distractions, you’ll be able to turn those diaper-changing tears (including your tears of frustration) into mindful memories filled with connection.  Do you have a favorite mindful hack that I should add to this list? Leave a comment and let me know so I can add it to this list! The more we help one another, the longer our sanity stays in tact! Stay Conscious + Curious, Sincerely, Briesh References & Sources *Demographics of Sample Size:  Ages | newborn babies to 24 months  Location |  in home settings  Total Number of Children | 13 kids (4 boys; 9 girls) Ethnicities | 11 kids were white (Caucasian), and 2 were of multiracial heritage Language | 11 kids were learning English; 2 kids were dual language learners (1) This fun fact is a direct quote from Susan Magsamen, Executive Director, International Arts and Mind Lab at the Center for Applied NeuroAesthetics. Source: Raising Good Humans podcast; Episode title, “ Your Brain on Art: Why Creativity Is Essential for Kids (And for You!)”

Photo courtesy of Cotton Bro Studio via Pexels. Are you looking for ways to reduce your family's impact on the planet? Eco-friendly toy brands offer a great solution! Not only do these toys use sustainable materials and limit waste production, but they also prioritize toddlers' health and safety. Take a look at six of the best toy companies manufacturing toys using eco-friendly and sustainable practices. Top Eco-friendly Toys for Toddlers Aurora Eco Nation Sarah's Silks Green Toys Plan Toys Tegu Eeboo Big Future Toys Gommu by Tiny Cottons Aurora Eco Nation Price | $13- $19 Eco-friendly Materials | 100% biodegradable pellets Best For | Animal Pushes Image Source: Aurora Eco Nation Product Photo Aurora Eco Nation is a sustainably based plush toy company that makes a wide selection of eco-friendly stuffed animals. Although their parent company, Aurora has been around since 1981, the company began transitioning to using sustainable materials for it's plush toys in 2018. Your little one will adore snuggles with these detailed animals. How Are Eco Nation Plushes Made? Similar to Shore Buddies, Aurora Eco Nation shreds plastic bottles into pellets. Some of the pellets go towards filling up the soft animal friends while some are used to create their charming fur. Does Aurora Eco Nation Participate in Other Sustainability Initiatives? Aurora Eco Nation highlights that they're saving over 400 million plastic bottles globally per year and contributing to a greener world by producing all of their plush toys using eco-friendly materials. ✨ Top Aurora Eco Nation Recommendations The Eco Nation line includes a large variety of animals to choose from. The wolf is one of my favorites. But, you can find such a wide range of animals, including farm animals, sea creatures, wildlife animals, mythical creatures, and even dinosaurs! Eco Ebba is their newest line of eco-friendly stuffed animals, designed specifically for babies! Where Can You Buy Eco Nation Plushes? Believe it or not, I discovered these little guys on the shelf of my local grocery store- Wegmans. You can also buy them directly from Aurora Eco Nation and on Amazon. Do Eco Nation Plushes Come in Eco-friendly Packaging? If you buy one of these plushes at the store, they don't come in any packaging, like most stuffies. If you buy directly from the Aurora Eco Nation, you'll find that all of their shipping boxes are made from recycled materials. In the future, Aurora is investing in using poly bags and sourcing recycled J-Hook and Dennison plastic tag pins. Image Source: Sarah's Silks | Photography Fairy, Madlyn Jane Sarah's Silks Price | $10- $30 Eco-friendly Materials | non-toxic dyes & natural silk Best For | open-ended play I’m obsessed with the toy scarves Sarah's Silks makes! But, you might be thinking, what on earth will my kid do with a silk scarf? Give your kiddo an hour with a playsilk and you'll quickly observe that the possibilities are endless! Sarah's Silks are such an asset and a must-have for open-ended play. I've watched kids turn scarves into capes, belts, dresses, and tablecloths. How Are Sarah's Silks Made? Commonly known as playsilks , these scarves are designed using non-toxic dyes and pure silk, which also makes them biodegradable. I know, pretty amazing, right?! ✨ Top Sarah's Silks Recommendations Playsilks make an awesome addition to any playroom because they enhance dramatic play and spark kid's imagination! The soft, silk texture of Sarah's Silks scarves, along with the variety of designs, truly sets the company apart from other playsilks. Sensory-seekers and tactile lovers will really enjoy twiddling the texture between their fingers. You can also pair the giant silk scarves with a fort building kit and wooden playclips to create a memorable experience for little ones! Balloon balls are also a must-have! Does Sarah's Silks Participate in Other Sustainability Initiatives? Aside from producing the scarves with natural silk, the company reduces waste by holding pop up "Sarah's Silks Seconds" grab bag sales. During these sales, you can find scarves with minor flaws (like a misaligned hem) and other toys discounted for 60% off standard prices. Tip : You can only get notified of these sales if you subscribe to their email list Where Can You Buy Sarah's Silks? Sarah's Silks can be purchased at toy stores, children's boutiques, and museum shops worldwide. You can check their store locator for shops closest to you. The most popular scarves are sold on Amazon, but the widest selection of silk scarves can be purchased on their site. Do Sarah's Silks Come in Eco-friendly Packaging? All scarves purchased directly from Sarah's Silks are shipped in fully recyclable brown cardboard envelopes. The packing around individual scarves is made of paper that's also recyclable! Green Toys Price | $12- $20 Eco-friendly Materials | recycled milk jugs Best For | Fine motor & pretend play toys Green Toys is a well-known brand in the world of sustainable toys. The company's commitment to the use of eco-friendly materials throughout production has created an eye-catching line of toddler toys. Many of these toys include soft, inviting pastel colors, and are designed with an emphasis on simplicity. How Are Green Toys Made? Green Toys are made from recycled plastic milk jugs and sometimes yogurt cups. The process is explained as such, "all the plastic is collected by waste management, cleaned, shredded into flakes, reprocessed into our raw material (high-density polyethylene or HDPE), and mixed with food-safe, mineral-based coloring." Every toy is given an extra inspection to meet the company's high safety standards, before being packaged for customers. ✨ Top Green Toys Recommendations I've personally purchased and child-tested many toys from the Green Toys brand. Star Stacker Cups , Helicopter , and Build-a-Bouquet were a hit amongst toddlers I've worked with (ages 1-3) and even with my 4-year-old nephews! Does Green Toys Participate in Other Sustainability Initiatives? Green Toys are completely made in the USA, including the manufacturing, assembly, and distribution of toys. As a result, the company is able to reduce greenhouse gases, energy and save on transportation, in comparison to producing their toys overseas. The company also provides local jobs in their California based business and promotes recycling education in schools. Where Can You Buy Green Toys? You can buy these toys directly from Green Toys, at a variety of retailers, including Amazon, TJ Maxx, and Marshall's. Do Green Toys Come in Eco-friendly Packaging? Green Toys practices green standards all the way down to their packaging- their toys are sold in 100% recyclable cardboard and they don't use additives like blister packs, annoying twist ties, or cellophane wrappers. Labels on the outside of the boxes are printed with minimal color using soy inks. Plan Toys Price | $10- $30 Eco-friendly Materials | rubberwood called Planwood™ Best For | Montessori style toys When you think of Plan Toys, think Montessori toys meet a watercolor palette. I hope that sounds as amazing as it actually is! This company makes a large variety of toys for everyday play, including fine motor, and water play toys. With over 500 items listed on the website, Plan Toys is fitting for babies and toddlers up until about 4 years old. How Are Plan Toys Made? PlanWood is created by grinding sawdust and wood chips leftover from production and using a thermal process to form them into shapes. Plan Toys uses non-toxic, chemical free, water-based paint to create their toys. They also use E-Zero glue in production because it doesn't contain formaldehyde (a toxic ingredient commonly used in wood adhesives). ✨ Top Plan Toys Recommendations Some of Plan Toys' best sellers are toys that focus on gross motor development (like pull-along animals ) and dramatic play- checkout this set of realistic play food , or this original doctor kit . I gifted the Hopping Rabbit to a busy 1 year old and it was a hit (tip: the parents decided to make a small loop in the string for easier grasping and it was genius). The rabbit's tail goes up and down as the child pulls it along the leash. This gorgeous pastel mobile would make for a great piece of decor for any nursery or kid's room. Does Plan Toys Participate in Other Sustainability Initiatives? Plan Toys is involved in a number of community development projects, including the construction of toy libraries, a toy museum, and a playground in rural Thailand, where the company is based. Plan Toys also implemented a number of energy conservation measures within its factories, including the use of solar panels and energy-efficient lighting. The organization is taking many steps towards meeting their goal of being carbon neutral by 2025. This company is very transparent about its' sustainability practices and even has a full sustainability report for customers to view. Honestly, I wish all eco-conscious toy companies would share similar annual reports! Finally, Plan Toys has recently partnered with Toycycle to introduce the world's largest sustainable second-hand toy marketplace. This partnership helps parents with the problem of toy storage, while refreshing kids' toy shelves with quality toys. Where Can You Buy Plan Toys? Plan Toys can be purchased directly from the company's site, where you'll find the largest variety of their toys. You can also find the brand on Amazon and every now and again, you might find a few Plan Toys in the toy aisle of TJ Maxx or Marshall's. Do Plan Toys Come in Eco-friendly Packaging? For a while, Plan Toys boxes were produced with 4-color offset printing. They've since transitioned to a plain brown box made from recycled fiber that includes a printed label. Tegu Image Source: Tegu Toys Product Image Price | $20- $120 Eco-friendly Materials | Central American hardwood Best For | Junior Engineers Know a kid that's really into building with blocks? Tegu is a great place to find a gift for junior engineers. Their blocks help develop toddler's fine motor skills, pattern recognition, and balance. How Are Tegu Toys Made? Tegu blocks are made from authentic wood and sustainably harvested Central American hardwoods in the Honduras. Sustainably harvested wood simply means they never cut down healthy trees just to make blocks. Safe, non-toxic, water-based finishes are used for the colors and clear coating of the blocks. Does Tegu Participate in Other Sustainability Initiatives? Aside from sustainably sourcing wood, Tegu intentionally designs their toys to be high quality and durable. In fact, the company strives for the blocks to be heirloom toys that provide fun for generations of your family. Within the company itself, one of Tegu's missions is to foster a positive social impact on their community in Honduras. The founders also reside there and oversee production of the toys in their factory where they employ 200 local community members. ✨ Top Tegu Recommendations A set of these wooden blocks would make a perfect gift for kids that have mastered Magna-Tiles. With Magna-Tiles, kids can see the magnets around the perimeter of each piece. But, with Tegu blocks, the magnets are placed on certain spots inside of the blocks. The placement of the magnets vary depending on the shape. With that said, I've noticed that most 2 year olds just haven't developed the patience yet to pinpoint and memorize where the magnets are in each shape. However, I've seen 3 ½ year-olds play with these for hours! In case your kid hasn't reached toddler age just yet, Tegu also makes wooden toy cars that are fitting for babies as early as 18 months! The cars come with only 3 pieces- the base of the car/wheels, a triangular piece that goes on top of the base, and a wooden driver figure. This simple design engages young toddlers and they are able to explore and repair the toy independently. Where Can You Buy Tegu Toys? You can buy sets of these magnetic wooden blocks from Tegu , on Amazon, or possibly at a toy retailer near you . Do Tegu Toys Come in Eco-friendly Packaging? All Tegu toys are shipped in fully recyclable cardboard boxes. Eeboo Price | $8-22 Eco-friendly Materials | FSC certified paper, vegetable based inks Best For | Games & Puzzles Eeboo is a unique woman owned boutique most known for its puzzles, games, and paper based toys such as stationary sets. What really makes Eeboo a dynamic brand is the fact that they partner with independent artists/illustrators to design the pictures and characters on all their products— which naturally catch your eye. How Are Eeboo Toys Made? Eeboo uses Forest Stewardship Council° (FSC) certified paper to make all their toys. This certification confirms that the paper they use comes from forests that are responsibly managed. Through using FSC paper, the company’s goal is to “preserve biological diversity and benefit the lives of workers and local communities while sustaining their economic viability”. But Eeboo does go beyond using FSC paper, they also print with vegetable-based, non-toxic inks. The inks are made from easy-to-grow resources and are safer and more sustainable than conventional petroleum-based inks, yet the colors are still vivid! Does Eeboo Participate in Other Sustainability Initiatives? Recently, Eeboo became a certified carbon-neutral company. As a carbon-neutral company, this means for all the offsets and emissions the company produces, they basically make up for it through reforestation projects (like planting a tree). EeBoo is certified through ClimatePartner, an organization that calculates businesses' greenhouse gas emissions, provides advice on how to reduce them, and offsets unavoidable emissions through carbon offset projects. ✨ Top Eeboo Recommendations I Never Forget a Face : Memory & Matching Game I’ve never seen such a beautifully illustrated multicultural memory game. Children from 24 different countries are depicted in traditional clothing, accessories, hair styles, etc. There are 24 matching pairs (48 cards total), which makes the difficulty level a bit high for younger toddlers but challenges big kids When playing with kids ages 2-4, simply remove 8-10 pairs to make the game less overwhelming for littles When playing with various groups of kids, they all want to know “what country is this kid from?!” Either have the box close by to quickly identify their respective countries or have a picture of the list saved on your phone Story Cards : Fairy Tale Mix Ups Create a Story Cards (pictured above) Story Cards are basically imagination prompts that get the creative juices flowing. A kid says “I’m bored” or “I don’t know what to draw,” then I bring out the story cards. Great for independent play Beautiful illustrations Where Can You Buy Eeboo Toys? You can buy Eeboo toys directly from their website or on Amazon . I’ve also seen their toys in-store at Barnes & Nobles. Do Eeboo Toys Come in Eco-friendly Packaging? About 90% of the materials used for packaging Eeboo toys come from recycled post-consumer paper materials. In 2022, Eeboo switched to using puzzle piece bags made with plant-based, biodegradable, compostable, and non-toxic materials. Big Future Toys Price | $59- $175 Eco-friendly Materials | birch plywood Best For | Eco-friendly Magna-tiles Big Future Toys creates high-quality wooden toys that encourage kids to use their imagination. The founders of the minority-owned company designs their toys to be extra durable and open-ended. Such intentionality increases the life cycle, as well as the time kids spend playing with their products. While Big Future Toys’ line of toys has varied, they’re most well known for their Earthtiles. How Are Big Future Toys Made? To make Earthtiles, Big Future Toys uses sustainably sourced baltic birch plywood. The magnetic tiles are then finished with a non-toxic, water-based lacquer. All wood is sustainably sourced from FSC-certified forests and the toys are made in Indonesia. Does Big Future Toys Participate in Other Sustainability Initiatives? With every toy purchase, Big Future Toys plants a tree through a partnership with Plant with Purpose. To date, they’ve been able to plant over 8,000 trees! The owners are big on circularity and encourage parents to pass down or donate toys that kids have outgrown. Even though Big Future Toys is a smaller toy retailer, they’re committed to circularity so much that if you have a hard time finding a new home for their toys, you can email customer support for a return label and they’ll get them in the hands of a grateful kid. ✨ Top Big Future Toys Recommendations Currently, Earthtiles are the only non-plastic substitution for Magna-tiles (Tegu blocks are an alternative to Magna-tiles). While being made of wood prevents Earthtiles from being transparent, the window cutouts within each tile allows kids to carefully construct their build. The pastel set of blocks can add a muted, yet natural color scheme to any play space. Where Can You Buy Big Future Toys? You can buy Big Future Toys directly from their website , Amazon, and on Shopify (where you can buy a drawstring bag for storing Earthtiles). You can also find their toys at popular e-commerce sites, including Pottery Barn Kids, Rose & Rex, The Tot, and Babipur. Do Big Future Toys Come in Eco-friendly Packaging? Earthtiles come in a fully recyclable cardboard box and the prints on the box are made using natural ink. Gommu by Tiny Cottons Price | $36-89 Eco-friendly Materials | eco rubber (hevea tree sap) Best For | natural, biodegradable baby dolls Tiny Cottons has been around as a fashionable Barcelona based clothing brand since 2012. In 2020, the company expanded to kid’s toys and viola, the Gommu collection was introduced. The creators of the toy line were inspired by the simplicity of Japanese culture and decided to name the collection Gommu— which means rubber in Japanese. While their adorable baby dolls are the most popular toys, they also sell miniature dogs, bears, baby ring teethers, and gummu doll accessories. How Are Gommu Toys Made? Gommu toys are uniquely handmade (rare in the toy industry) from the white sap of hevea trees, also known as eco-rubber . Tiny Cottons claims that the dolls are actually 100% biodegradable, making Gommu toys the first line of biodegradable toys in the industry. Each toy is hand-painted with organic, food-grade paint and they're also free from PVC and BPA. All toys from Tiny Cottons are designed to be smooth to the touch and totally safe for the mouthing stage. Plus, they're water play friendly! In fact, each toy is hermetically sealed to prevent the build up of mold or bacteria inside. Does Tiny Cottons Participate in Other Sustainability Initiatives? As an overall brand, Tiny Cottons doesn't appear to be taking any other sustainability initiatives. They do use some eco-friendly materials, including recycled materials, organic cotton, and natural cotton to manufacture select pieces of their clothing. However, the pure fact that Tiny Cottons makes their toys from biodegradable materials demonstrates that they value sustainability and give a great deal of consideration to the life cycle of their toys. I mean, how long do you think it would take a plastic doll to degrade in a landfill?? It's also worth noting that all Gommu doll clothing- Gommu Looks as they call the clothing collection- is made of 100% organic cotton. ✨ Top Gommu Recommendations For babies, a Gommu Ring Bear or a Gommu Bear would make a simple gift that's easier for tiny hands to grasp. For toddlers into dramatic play and caretaking, I recommend a Big Gommu - these dolls fit the Gommu Looks that you can buy as an add on! For toddlers into pretend play, I'd recommend a Pocket Gommu — there's a line of miniature furniture , such as cribs and baby bouncers, that kids can use to create a storyline around! (Note: the furniture toys vary in materials, while tested for safety, they are not biodegradable) Where Can You Buy Gommu Toys? You can buy Gommu toys directly from their website or at one of their storefronts in Barcelona. Not to worry if you don't live in Spain— Tiny Cottons ships worldwide! Shipping to the USA is about $16 and free if you spend over $199. Do Gommu Toys Come in Eco-friendly Packaging? According to their site, all Gommu toys come in recycled packaging, but more details to come! FAQ What Makes a Toy Sustainable? The definition of sustainability has developed over the past ten years and has become a bit nuanced. For simplicity, we're going to focus on two things that make toys sustainable- the manufacturing and circularity. When it comes to manufacturing, the EPA defines sustainable manufacturing as, "processes that minimize negative environmental impacts while conserving energy and natural resources." In the toy industry, sustainable toys are created using natural materials that typically go unused. An example of this would be a toy company that uses un-utilized sticks to make wooden toys. You can think of sustainable toys as nature's leftovers repurposed into toys! Circularity refers to the life cycle of toys. Generally speaking, toys that are produced using sustainable materials are higher quality than cheap plastic toys. Sustainable toys tend to be designed for circularity, meaning the toy companies encourage you to re-share their toys as hand-me-downs. Sustainable toys can include eco-friendly toys. However, if a toy is made using eco-friendly products but it required loads of energy to manufacture and ship to you, and the company doesn't offer proper information on the disposal of the toy- it's not really considered sustainable. It's rare to find many to companies that offer many resources for the end-of-life of their toys. But, consumer demand has began to change this a bit! We're finally starting to see more toy companies (including VTech/Leapfrog , Hasbro , and Spin Master ) partner with companies like Terracycle that offer free ways to recycle their toys. Why Do You Link to Amazon if They're an Eco-friendly Company? While I recommend purchasing toys directly from toy brands, I also want everyone to have access to safe toys for their loved ones. Therefore, I try to provide some brands that can be found on Amazon. Accessibility is important (I use survey apps that pay in Amazon gift cards) and I know I wouldn't be able to afford some of these brands without the gift cards. Please purchase from wherever you can afford. I'd love your help expanding on this list! Comment below or send me a message sharing your favorite eco-friendly toys for kids! Stay Conscious + Curious, Sincerely, Briesh