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How to let your kids be kids, learn, grow and thrive via purposeful play, independent learning, and open-ended toys.

Best Experience Gifts for Kids (Instead of Toys!)

Open-Ended Toy Guides | Parenting Resources

Best Experience Gifts for Kids (Instead of Toys!)

Mud play for kids: Yes, it’s worth the mess.

Child Development | Play

Mud play for kids: Yes, it’s worth the mess.

The Toniebox: The Screen-Free Toy For Kids That Will Transform Your Child’s Playtime

Elementary (5-11 Years Old) | Parenting Resources | Play | Pre-School (3-4 Years Old) | Toddler (13-24 Months)

The Toniebox: The Screen-Free Toy For Kids That Will Transform Your Child’s Playtime

20 Must-Have Outdoor Toys for Kids [unique outdoor toys]

20 Must-Have Outdoor Toys for Kids [unique outdoor toys]

23 Best Art Supplies for Kids

Play | Open-Ended Toy Guides

23 Best Art Supplies for Kids

25 Montessori Toddler Activities That Will Keep Your Little One Busy

Child Development | education | Learn | Toddler (13-24 Months)

25 Montessori Toddler Activities That Will Keep Your Little One Busy

Purposeful Play: How to Encourage Children to Play Purposefully

Purposeful Play: How to Encourage Children to Play Purposefully

Benefits of Recess in Elementary School

education | Elementary (5-11 Years Old) | Play

Benefits of Recess in Elementary School

The Best Pikler Triangle: Why You Need One for Your Kids

Infants (0-12 Months) | Open-Ended Toy Guides | Play | Pre-School (3-4 Years Old) | Toddler (13-24 Months)

The Best Pikler Triangle: Why You Need One for Your Kids

12 Fun Indoor Water Play Activities for Kids

12 Fun Indoor Water Play Activities for Kids

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Together we’ll slow down, stop rushing our kids through life and raise lifelong learners who will become confident and independent adults.

thealannagallo

✨ Screen conscious parenting
✨ Let’s prioritize play + exploration
✨ Mom x 4, former teacher with M.Ed
✨ Resources for you ⤵️

As a former high school teacher for over a decade,

As a former high school teacher for over a decade, I know I might get some hate me for this… but more often than not traditional homework is completely unnecessary and actually harmful for children in elementary school (and in my opinion even for middle and high school).Comment NO HOMEWORK to get a link to my latest article on why parents should opt out of traditional homework (especially in elementary school).#elementary #backtoschool #formerteacher #teachersofinstagram #kidsactivities #saynotohomework #homeworkhelp

Struggling and need some screen free activities in

Struggling and need some screen free activities inspiration? Comment SCREEN FREE to get a link to my 50 Screen Free activities guide for kids 🙌🏻As parents, it’s easy to feel like we need to constantly entertain and keep our kids busy, but it’s not our job to fill every moment of their day.In fact, giving children space to explore, imagine, and engage in simple play activities is one of the best things we can do for their development.When we step back and let them take the lead, we foster independence, creativity, and problem-solving skills that will serve them for life.Here are five simple, screen-free activities that encourage independent play:Build with blocks or LEGO: Let their imagination run wild as they create towers, bridges, or entire cities.Create a nature scavenger hunt: Send them outside to explore and find specific items like leaves, rocks, or flowers.Play with playdough or clay: They can mold and shape their own creations, practicing fine motor skills while having fun.Draw with chalk on the driveway: Encourage them to design their own obstacle course, hopscotch game, or sidewalk mural.Set up a pretend store or kitchen: They can use their toys to role-play as chefs, shopkeepers, or customers, developing social skills and imagination.These activities may be simple, but they give kids the space they need to grow and thrive on their own terms.Sometimes, the best thing we can do is offer the tools and step back, trusting in their natural ability to learn and create.If you need more screen free activities inspiration comment SCREEN FREE and I’ll DM you a link to grab my 50 Screen Free Activities Guide 🙌🏻#screenfreekids #screenfreeactivities #activitiesforkids #activitiesfortoddlers #activitiesforchildren #stayathomemom #sahmlife

I feel like this is the answer to so many parentin

I feel like this is the answer to so many parenting problems 🤣 There’s a ton of research explaining why this is true for many people and I’ve definitely found it to be true for our family.Any day where we spend more time outside is a better day overall. Especially if we get up and out by mid to late morning.Is this true for your family?#outdoorkids #nature #natureplay #homeschoolmama #homeschooling #secularhomeschool #forestschool #screenfreekids #screenfreeactivities

What’s your reason? Tell me in the comments!We

What’s your reason? Tell me in the comments!We are also not what most people think of when they think of homeschoolers 🙃 Feel free to ask me anything about our homeschooling journey!As a former teacher with a masters in education I’m always happy to share the reasons why we are choosing this path ❤️#homeschooling #worldschooling #homeschool #homeschoolmom #formerteacher #educator #teacherturnedhomeschooler

Traveling full-time won’t be our forever lifesty

Traveling full-time won’t be our forever lifestyle but for now we love it. But it does come with some downsides and one is lugging all the things to make sure my kids still have some of our beloved toys with us 🤣What toys do you bring when you travel?#fulltimetravel #worldschool #worldschooling #toysforkids #travelwithkids #traveltipsandtricks #homeschooling #openendedtoys #openendedplay

Failure is important for kids to experience for se

Failure is important for kids to experience for several key reasons 👇🏻1️⃣ Resilience and Perseverance: Encountering failure teaches children how to cope with setbacks and challenges. They learn that it’s a part of life and develop the resilience needed to try again and keep going despite obstacles.2️⃣ Problem-Solving Skills: When children face failure, they are encouraged to think critically and creatively to find solutions. This enhances their problem-solving abilities and helps them become more resourceful.3️⃣ Humility and Empathy: Experiencing failure fosters humility, helping children understand that success is not always guaranteed and that everyone makes mistakes. This can also build empathy, as they recognize and appreciate the efforts of others who might be struggling.4️⃣ Confidence and Independence: Overcoming failure independently can boost a child’s confidence and sense of self-efficacy. They realize they have the capability to overcome difficulties, which fosters independence and self-reliance.5️⃣ Intrinsic Motivation: Failure helps children understand the importance of intrinsic motivation—pursuing goals for personal satisfaction and growth rather than external rewards. This internal drive is crucial for long-term success and happiness.6️⃣ Realistic Expectations: Experiencing failure helps children develop realistic expectations about life. They learn that not every effort will result in success and that persistence and effort are necessary components of achieving goals.But a key piece is having an adult who also embraces failure and helps develop growth mindset. Praising their effort, celebrating small wins and helping them see the bigger picture after a failure is our role in making sure we see these positive outcomes from failure vs the opposite outcomes…#growthmindset #empoweredkids #lifeskillsforkids #embracefailure #homeschooling #parenting #adhdkids #parentingadhd

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