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Do you have a toddler that gets just as excited about going to the grocery store as they do about going to the zoo ? If so, your kiddo will have tons of fun with this low cost dramatic play setup, that's easy to execute in the playroom, your living room, or even within a preschool classroom. Plus, this activity requires the use of recycled materials, which makes it a great opportunity to expose kids to eco-friendly practices. Eco-friendly dramatic play... is that a thing? Can I make it a thing? Let's get started! In order to subsidize the many hours I put into creating this post, and also for my reader’s convenience, you will find some affiliate links. Feel free to use or disregard them. Items to Include in a Pretend Grocery Store Empty shelf space Food packaging and recyclables Old wallet Shopping basket (I use a metal shower basket from my college dorm room days, works great) Cash register (I love the one from Learning Resources, because it doubles as a calculator!) Foreign currency or board game money Small reusable bags Used gift cards Steps for Setting Up A DIY Grocery Store for Kids Consume contents of groceries per usual. Save packaging of food products (items that come in cardboard boxes, plastic jars, milk jugs, etc) Use your imagination to bring the empty packages back to life by making them look and feel realistic! Check out this post for a complete walk-through of the process. Give kid small reusable bags to bag their groceries. If you have any foreign currency- or know a friend that has traveled overseas and has leftover currency to spare- slap some clear contact paper over bills to prevent them from tearing easily. Then, give your kiddo their play money! The range of currency bills is a lot more fun for kids more than the boring grey bills at toy stores. Heck, the colors even excite me as an adult! The vibrant colors are also a way to throw in some color recognition. A few spare dollars from board games will also work. Next, lend them a wallet you're not using. Look through your wallet and find any old gift cards. Give them to your kid to use as pretend credit cards. If you have a few bucks to spare, hit up your local thrift store for a toy cash register. I actually found two at my local Savers and one of them still had working batteries! Educational Benefits of Creating a DIY Grocery Store for Kids Developmental Skills:  fine motor skills; hand-eye coordination; language (vocabulary); observation; intro to STEM (counting); cause & effect Teaches: cultural awareness (foreign currency); resourcefulness Voila! There you have it folks, now get going turning your living room into a grocery store! Drop a comment below, sharing what recyclables you're able to give a second life to! Sincerely, Briesh P.S. Stay Conscious + Curious

Before you waste your money on a set of paper and cardboard food toys, consider making your own out of garbage! Rather you have zero time or lots of free time, there are many free ways to stock up a kiddo's grocery store or play kitchen. First things first, put yourself in a kid's shoes by asking yourself, what would make this package look or feel realistic from a child’s perspective ? Creativity is key here. There are countless ways to repurpose recyclables. Still stuck? Here are some ideas to get your wheels turning. Food Packaging to Startup Your Kids' Grocery Store Here's a list of common food packaging that you can remember to put aside instead of chucking in the recycling bin. You definitely don't need all these items, just some ideas to get your kiddo's store up and running: Full List of Grocery Items Featured: Milk jug (half gallon fits play fridges best) Creamer carton (quart size or smaller) Yogurt containers (32 oz.) Pints of ice cream (Ben & Jerry's; Haagen-Dazs) Any cardboard packaging Crackers Mini cereal boxes Teddy Grahams Egg carton (6 pack) Individual juice boxes (empty) Plastic pasta sauce jar Plastic individual juice containers Peanut butter or sun butter jars Condiment bottles Ketchup & mustard Salad dressing Squeezable jelly Baby food containers Plastic ice cream jars (Talenti) Seasoning bottles Topping containers Sprinkles Shredded cheese Overview of Grocery Categories by Amount of Prep Quick Start Items: Small Items with Opaque Packaging Low Prep Items: Cardboard & Paper Packaging Transparent Plastic Bottles & Containers Items that Require Moderate Prep: Transparent Plastic Bottles & Containers ✨ Quick Start: Small Grocery Items in Opaque Packaging If you don’t have much time to spare and are looking for quick ways to create a grocery store, start by saving small items that come in opaque (non-see through) packaging. List of Small Grocery Items in Opaque Packaging Milk jug (half gallon fits play fridges best) Creamer carton (quart size or smaller) Yogurt containers (32 oz.) Pints of ice cream (Ben & Jerry's; Haagen-Dazs) What You'll Need: Gorilla Glue Instructions for Upcyling Small Grocery Items in Opaque Packaging After washing out the packaging and letting it dry, all that is required is that you use glue to attach the lid. ✨ Low Prep: Cardboard & Paper Packaging Cardboard is king when it comes to imaginative play, even when it comes in small sizes. To make your toddler's cardboard items durable, you'll want to add some stuffing inside the boxes. I know it's tempting to hand kids an empty box and say, "Here, go play with this!" But, by doing a few minutes of low prep work up front, you'll prevent the items from getting crushed under the wheels of a balance bike in two days. List of Grocery Items to Use: Any cardboard packaging Crackers Mini cereal boxes Cheddar bunnies Teddy Grahams Egg carton (6 pack) Individual juice boxes (empty) What You'll Need: Pillow stuffing, polyester fiber fill , or cotton fiber stuffing Packing tape Instructions for Most Cardboard & Paper Packaging: There are two options for stuffing these items: (a) look around the house for a pillow that you've always hated and repurpose the stuffing (b) purchase a pack of stuffing filler from the craft store or Amazon. After filling up each item, secure the box with packaging tape. Special Instructions for Juice Boxes: Drink and save 6-8 juice boxes, rinse them out and leave to dry for a day. Line up juice boxes in a row (the way you see them on the shelf of a grocery store) onto clear sticky con-tact paper . I found the contact paper to be helpful in securing the juice boxes in a set. This makes it a lot easier to tape them together using clear packing tape . What to do with an empty egg carton? If your kiddo happened to decorate any wooden or plastic Easter eggs, place a few in the carton, so they can be used in the pretend grocery store or play kitchen year round. 🫙 Transparent Plastic Bottles & Containers Transparent plastic bottles and containers make great grocery store props because they're super easy to make realistic again. With just a little paint and glue, you can extend the life span of recyclables and make toddlers feel like they're shopping at a real grocery store! List of Transparent Plastic Bottles & Containers that Require Low Prep: Pasta sauce jar Individual juice containers Peanut butter or sun butter jar Condiment bottles Ketchup & mustard Salad dressing Squeezable jelly Baby food containers Ice cream jar (Talenti) What You'll Need: Acrylic paint Glue Instructions for Low Prep Clear Plastic Containers: Find a paint color that is similar to the contents of the container (ie: bright red for ketchup) Pour a few drops of paint into the container and shake it up until the paint is evenly dispersed amongst the inside. Glue the lid close! ✨ Pretend Grocery Items that Require Moderate Prep: Moving on to my favorite category, pretend grocery items that require moderate prep! Rest assured, these mini craft projects will be well worth the time and effort you put into making them, as you're sure to see little ones deeply engaged in their play. Although some of these items are tedious to prepare, you can mindlessly work on them while binging Netflix. And if you need a show recommendation, check out The Black Doves starring Keira Knightley as a kickass spy and mom. List of Pretend Grocery Items : Snack items Oreo bite size cookies Seasoning bottles Crushed pepper Topping containers Sprinkles Shredded cheese Regular Sprinkles Rainbow Nonpareils How to Upcycle Pretend Grocery Items with Moderate Prep Work: Grocery Item Example Photo Supplies How to Upcycle Snack Items Oreo mini cookies Small plastic circle lids or caps Fill package with small circular lids (contact case lids, pouch caps, water bottle caps) Seasoning Bottles Crushed red pepper Construction paper; hole puncher Collect leftover hole punch dots from hundreds of red, orange, brown, and yellow construction paper Topping Containers Regular sprinkles Dyed rice Fill bottle with rainbow dyed rice Rainbow nonpareils Floam Mix various colors of floam together to. Then, stuff mixture inside bottle. Shredded cheese Yarn Cut up small strands of white and yellow yarn These simple recyclables are likely to be more memorable for your kid than cheap quality play food. Kiddos tend to mouth those products (which likely contain icky BPA) more than they do packaging- probably because they recognize that packaging is inedible. But, heads up, they will try to open the packages. So, do make sure you use lots of tape or glue to seal all contents properly. What kind of toys will you make? Share your creative ideas for recyclables in the comments below! Can’t wait to hear what you come up with! Sincerely, Briesh P.S. Stay Conscious + Curious!

I'm excited to share two meaningful Easter themed toys that kiddos in your life will value, use throughout Lent, and get loads of enjoyment from for years to come! First up, is the Eggmazing Egg Decorator. If you're still dying Easter eggs the old-fashioned  traditional way, you just might be convinced to try out this awesome mess-free way of coloring eggs ,  without the dye!  The second toy I recommend is a Wooden Mass Kit Playset. This beautifully crafted toy set gently introduces little ones to conversations around faith, religion, and the significance of Easter within Catholicism. If you don't want to take my word for it, keep reading to see insights I gathered from kids over multiple play sessions! This post may contain affiliate links, which means I could earn a small percentage from qualifying purchases. Overview of Sections EggMazing Egg Decorator About the Toy Additional Supplies Needed Playtesting Insights What type of eggs can you use with the Eggmazing? How to Use the Eggmazing Tips While Using How long does the activity take?     How Does the Eggmazing Work?   Where to buy Eggmazing Decorator Wooden Church Communion Play Set About the Toy Playtesting Insights Optional Dramatic Play Add-Ons Pieces Included in the Church Play Set EggMazing Egg Decorator Best For |  Creative Play Ages |  3-99 Price | $19.99- $27.99 The Eggmazing decorator comes from a small company owned by a father and son, called Hey Buddy, Hey Pal (HBHP) — you might’ve seen them on Shark Tank a while back (if not, spoiler, they accept a joint deal with Mark and Lori)! We all know that Lori only invests in products and people that she loves and believes in. So, that says a lot about the company right off the bat.  You’ll love how simple it is for kids to use the Eggmazing, all they have to do is hold a marker semi-steady. Selecting which color markers to use is probably the hardest part. In just minutes, your kiddo will have an easter egg designed with their special touch. This toy is one of the very few battery operated toys that I recommend using!   Additional Supplies Needed: Eggs  3 AA Batteries (I used some from Better Battery Co  and they worked great for this toy!) Playtesting Insights After trying my hand at using the Eggmazing, I playtested it with three kids across two families (twins, B3, G3; G9). It was interesting to observe that all four of us, across various ages, were slightly apprehensive or nervous to place our marker tips down on the egg the first time.  Wooden display eggs that Iliana (age 9) decorated using the Eggmazing decorator. The whole thing just looks too easy , you don’t want to mess up. After a few seconds of use, each kid quickly realized it is that easy , and they continue on with confidence. “This is so soothing, it’s like therapeutic!”   -Iliana*, Age 9   The only slightly tricky part is coloring the ends of the egg, as these areas require slightly less marker pressure on the egg. However, even the 3-year-old twins were able to figure out how to navigate these areas without grownup assistance.  One of my favorite things about this toy is that it’s fun for all ages!  I was actually introduced to the Eggmazing Mini Egg Decorator   last year by the mom of another one of the families I babysit for. She has two boys- ages 9 and 8 at the time- despite being 'big kids' and using the decorator many times before, the big kids were still stoked to use it and they ended up designing multiple eggs with me.    “I love my egg, it’s so beautiful!”  -Savannah*, Age 3   Developmental Skills:  fine motor skills (pencil grip); hand-eye coordination; pattern recognition; color recognition; cause & effect Teaches:  creativity; creative expression; tradition What type of eggs can you use with the Eggmazing? A variety of eggs are compatible with the Eggmazing, including: Chicken/ grocery store eggs (yup, you can color real eggs, just read the brand’s tips on the process  first) White wooden eggs  (from Amazon or directly from HBHP ) Wooden eggs  (from Amazon, Target, Michael’s, etc.) ✅ White wooden eggs from HBHP allow the vibrant color of the markers to come through better vs. traditional wooden eggs. There is one tradeoff to consider though: the HBHP eggs do not have a flat bottom. Whereas, it's easy to find wooden eggs that have a flat bottom for upright display on a table, shelf, or fireplace mantel-- but, the colors will be less vibrant. ❌ I personally tested out a white egg made from cardboard and paper, as well as a white plastic egg. Unfortunately,  these eggs are not compatible , they're too light in weight and unable to withstand hand/marker pressure while in motion. How to Use the Eggmazing Step 1:  Insert the egg in the egg holder and turn the side switch to “on.” Immediately the egg will begin spinning rather quickly.  Step 2:  Remove cap from the marker.  Step 3:  Use a pencil grip to hold the tip of your marker anywhere along the egg. Watch a horizontal line form in seconds!  Step 4:  Switch markers when you’re ready to change colors.  Tips While Using  Tip #1:  To create thicker lines, hold your marker on the egg for a longer amount of time. To create thin lines, hold your marker on the egg for just 5-10 seconds.  Tip #2:  Sometimes the rubber bands pick up marker ink during use. To avoid ink smudges on your next egg, it can be helpful to either wipe the rubber bands down between uses or give the bands a couple minutes to dry before putting in a new egg. How long does the activity take?  It takes between 5-10 min for kids to decorate one egg using Eggmazing. The amount of time varies depending on the pattern design a child chooses, as well as the number of color changes.  It’s highly likely that your kiddo will end up wanting to decorate more than one egg , so plan on spending 15-20 mins per child. If you have multiples, kiddos can switch back and forth taking turns.  How Does the Eggmazing Work?  The batteries allow the spinning mechanism to kick into action when you turn the toy on. Underneath the egg, there are four spinning valves with red rubber bands. The rubber keeps the egg in place as it spins.  Where to buy Eggmazing Decorator I was quite surprised to find this toy in the seasonal section at Target this year for $19.99, which is less than what it costs on HBHP website, where the same set is listed for $27.99. You can also find the Eggmazing on Amazon priced between $24-$27.99. The Original Eggmazing Egg Decorator:   🪺 HBHP x Peeps Eggmazing Egg Decorator: Photo Credit: HBHP & PEEPS 🪺 Eggmazing Mini Egg Decorator   (Amazon Exclusive) : 🪺 Wooden Church Communion Play Set Best For |  Dramatic Play Ages |  3-11 yrs Price | $51.99 For many families, faith and church are particularly significant during the Lent season and at Easter. If you regularly (or even irregularly) attend church with your kiddo, they’ll have a ball reenacting a service and predicting what Easter mass might look like this year using this Church Communion play set  from Shining Light Dolls! Growing up, my sisters and I would “play church” using medicine cups and crackers. 😂Thankfully, toys like the wooden mass play set have come around to bring ritual play to the next level. The price point definitely makes it a premium toy, but keep in mind that it’s a 20 piece set and there’s nothing else out there quite like it. Plus, the playset is made with sustainable solid rubberwood from Forest Stewardship Council certified sources, and coated with non-toxic water based paints. Playtesting Insights Shining Light Dolls does list the dramatic play set as suitable for kids as young as 18+ months. I found that age to be a bit too young, my 24 month old niece couldn't understand the significance of the objects yet or relate it to Easter. However, I can say that the toy set is developmentally appropriate and a major hit amongst kids that I’ve playtested it with, ages 3-10 (across genders).  While observing kids from multiple families play with the set, I’ve noticed that older siblings (especially ones that have made their First Communion) really get into showing their younger siblings how to set up the altar and what goes where. Then, they assign themselves the role of priest or pastor, and walk the younger kid(s) through how mass is going to go. Let's just say their director style play personality comes out.  From the outside, this behavior can appear bossy, but I resist stepping in, since the younger kids happily engage and go along with the show. Tbh, from a kid’s perspective, that’s probably what church looks like in real life — churchgoers observe, listen, and do things on cue or when permitted (like when grownups recite responses in unison on command or we breakout in song after hearing a few piano keys).  And that's exactly why kids need dramatic play, it gives them the freedom to act out their version of reality. Developmental Skills:  fine motor skills; executive function (retention and recall); hand-eye coordination; language (vocabulary); observation; cognitive flexibility Teaches:  faith and tradition through ritual play; cultural awareness; respect; leadership Optional Dramatic Play Add-Ons: For Toddlers:  Small tea light LED candles For Big Kids:  Candlestick (holiday LED window candle → Note: this isn’t actually a toy, but I let kids 5 and up use it carefully) For All Ages:  Small white tablecloth; small white handkerchief for pretending to dry hands after the lavabo; kid’s bible for reenactment of the gospel reading; secondhand “church clothes” for dress up How three girls chose to set up their altar display. Tea lights not included, but make a fun add on. Pieces Included in the Church Play Set 1 Lavabo bowl (small white bowl)  2 White candles and 2 flame disc inserts 1 Altar cross  1 Chalice (the wine cup) 1 Ciborium (taller raised bowl) with removable lid  1 Water and 1 wine cruet with removable lids  1 Pall (white square coaster) 6 Communion hosts  1 Large Celebrant's Host (XXL communion host) 1 Paten (small round tan plate) *To protect the privacy of the kids I’ve worked with for long stretches of time, I’ve assigned them pseudonyms

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 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. 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 Not 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

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