Susie Allison, M. Ed | Busy Toddler

Comment TOYS to see all of my gift guides ❤️ Or visit the link in my profile if you aren’t a DM automation person (I’m not really either). ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Finding amazing toys for kids is my favorite - I love toys, I love what they do for kids, I love the developmental tool they are. I work for the entire year to find amazing, quality, play-giving toys for kids: and I share my findings via these gift guides. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I test every toy that I recommend. I don’t share anything just because it’s trendy. These are toys I live and watch kids play with every day. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ If you looking for toy help this holiday season, check out my 16 toy gift guides - from babies to tweens, books, games, puzzles, art and more. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Comment TOYS or visit the link in my profile. (Reels inspiration from @littlemissmomma)

Comment GIFT GUIDE for my updated Toy Lists ❤️ or follow the link in my profile. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I’ve added over 150 new items to the 2024 gift guides - this has been a year-long project leading up to today’s release. Each toy and gift has been selected with care, thought, and reason, based on thorough testing. I never include anything on these lists unless I’ve had firsthand experience with it. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ These guides aren’t about chasing the latest trends, flashy gimmicks, or the highest-reviewed products. They’re about finding the best toys - toys spark real play and imagination, ones that truly support a child’s growth and development. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ For me, it’s about choosing toys that last - beloved favorites I’ve seen span years of ages and learning stages. I’m so proud of what’s on the lists this year. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The gift guides are broken into ages: -Babies -One year olds -Toddlers -Preschoolers -5-8 year olds -Tweens And by topic: -Books that makes great gifts -Puzzles -Board games -Non-toy gifts -Art supplies -Bath toys ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I truly hope this helps you find wonderful toys and gifts your child. And thanks for sharing these lists with your family and friends. I so appreciate the support ❤️ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Comment GIFT GUIDE for a link to all the lists or follow the link in my profile.

Meet Playing Preschool… ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ …which was born from my frustrations. In 2016, I had an baby, a 2-year-old, and a 3-year-old. Life was chaotic, messy, and exhausting. It was also beautiful, joy-filled, and exhilarating. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ As preschool loomed on the horizon for my oldest, I began to imagine how this would look for my family. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ How would I juggle baby naps and school drop off? Could I fit errands and adventure days around a preschool schedule? When would my kids have time to play together as sibling-friends? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ What struck me most was the price tag. I couldn’t get past the financial cost of preschool outside the home. The numbers were staggering, not to mention discouraging. How could the eventual cost of having 3 kids in part-time preschool for a few years each be the same as a new car? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ After finding nothing online right for me, I sat down and envisioned what I wanted a curriculum to look and feel like, and wrote my own program: Playing Preschool. Playing Preschool officially launched in 2017, and “my style” of preschool was here. I used my background as a K-1 teacher to create a one-of-a-kind, hands-on, play-based program with explicit step-by-step guidance. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Playing Preschool is an ebook. It’s 190 days of at home learning. Comment LEARN and I’ll send you more information on Playing Preschool or follow the link in my profile @busytoddler ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ It’s affordable – it costs about $1 per week for preschool. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ It’s knowledge based and doesn’t focus on rapid memorization. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ It’s specially designed to work with a broad age range (from 2.5 – 5 years old). ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I built the comprehensive program I needed – a program to honor child development, teach the whole person, and create cherished family memories. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Comment LEARN for more information or ask question below. I’m always so honored to share and talk about Playing Preschool.

It’s one of my best tips. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Whenever someone asks me what to gift a younger sibling who already has so many toys because of their big sibling, I always give the same answer: ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Get the little sibling something cool that the big kids will want to play with. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Why??? Because the little sibling is always using the big kid’s toys. And that big kid is always being asked to share their stuff. What if we shift that and add some balance? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Now the big sibling can see that they aren’t the only one asked to share toys and the little one can practice being the person who shares. It’s an amazing role switch. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Example: One year, I gifted magnetic tiles to my 2 year old, knowing that my big kids would be so excited about that new toy. This was an awesome chance for my youngest to graciously share with his siblings, and for the big kids to see that sharing is universal in our home. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ It is (admittedly) a very simple concept - but it has massive impact to future sharing skills & creating a sibling community that has balance. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ If you’re stumped right now on what to buy the baby of a family or your littlest… think about the big kid and a toy they’d be interested in as well. It’s amazing what this little shift can do. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Tag a friend or share this idea with others ❤️

Comment STOCKING for my list of 40+ ideas for toddlers to tweens. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Stockings don’t have to be expensive or just more “stuff.” Useful stocking stuffers that will support play and learning for years to come make for some of the best gifts. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Enjoy this list - it’s my absolute favorite!

“Enjoy every moment” - it’s a phrase that can easily turn into a guilt trip, especially around the holidays. With wonky nap schedules, back-to-back events, and high expectations, it’s hard not to ask yourself: Am I enjoying this enough? What if I’m not enjoying it at all? It may seem like a harmless cliché, but often those words hit harder than people realize. And again, especially at the holidays. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Do you have any parenting clichés that really get under your skin? For me, “just you wait” is at the top of my list. I’d happily strike it from the lexicon. What about you? What’s your least favorite cliché? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Quote from: @askatewouldhaveit

This is just my opinion. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Holidays are about togetherness, and a little flexibility is part of the deal. But why is it that the youngest family members - the babies and toddlers - are often expected to carry the weight of that flexibility? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ It’s almost always the default: just skip nap time, stay past bedtime, alter the sleep schedule so everyone can be together. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ What if we think about kid-sleep the same way we think of adult sleep? We’re pretty protective of our time 😉 I know how hard it is to recover from a late night or missed sleep so I try to avoid that. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Now imagine being a little one without decades of experience managing exhaustion, and being asked to constantly miss out on sleep for big events. That would be rough for anyone, but it hits harder and the effects last longer for them. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Yes, sometimes skipping naps or having late night is unavoidable, and that’s totally understandable. So when we’re planning holiday events, maybe we can approach it with a little more care and compassion instead of expecting the kids to adapt every time. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ What do you think? Does this resonate, or do you see it differently? Let’s keep it respectful, either way. I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Stocking stuffers don’t have to be junk! 😉 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Comment STOCKING, and I’ll send you my full list of 40+ ideas that kids will actually use. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Stockings are fabulous but they can also turn into an expensive Christmas add-on, often stuffed with tiny one-off toys that clutter life. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ At our house, stockings are a chance to give the kids things they actually need for all our activities and day-to-day life. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Instead of random bits that take up toy box space, I use stockings to refresh supplies, stock up on favorites, or try something new. (That’s how sticky notes became a household love years ago!) ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ This stocking stuffer list is one of my all-time favorites and includes ideas from Busy Toddler Christmases past, present, and future - so many ideas from toddlers to tweens. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Want the full list? Comment STOCKING and I’ll send it your way. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Now it’s your turn: What goes in stockings at your house? Share your ideas below, and let’s make a giant list!

Let the kindness countdown begin! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Missing your Thankful Turkey from November? Here’s the December “version:” a paper chain countdown with a kindness twist. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ We started this back in 2019, and now we’re celebrating our sixth kindness countdown. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ In November, our Thankful Turkey helped us focus on gratitude. Now, this paper chain countdown lets us spend December talking about kindness and giving. It’s such a simple idea but sparks meaningful conversations with kids - about lifting others up, spreading joy, and showing care for the people around us. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ HOW TO MAKE IT ➡️ It’s a regular paper chain counting down to Christmas, but each strip of paper includes one simple, kid-friendly act of kindness. Some examples: -Help clean up a mess you didn’t make -Be last all day -Make a thank you note for the garbage collector I keep it easy, intentional, and achievable for my kids. Each morning at breakfast, they take turns pulling off a link, and they’ve always managed to remember whose turn it is (amazing, right?). ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ NEED IDEAS? You don’t have to brainstorm from scratch - I’ve done the work for you. Just swipe and screenshot my post or comment KINDNESS and I’ll send you my list to print. No need to reinvent the wheel! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ A FEW NOTES ➡️ This is a big concept for little ones, but modeling kindness and helping them participate makes it so tangible and real. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ AGES? We started when my youngest was just 3, and he totally got the idea. Kindness is universal - even the littlest kids can join in! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ SHARE BELOW ✨ Have you done this kindness countdown with me before? How did it go? I’d love to hear about your experience!

Happy Thanksgiving ❤️ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Thank you for being a part of our family. Thank you for growing up along side us. Thank you for cheering us on in all our endeavors, be it hang life, box life, or any other life. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ We are so grateful. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ With love, Susie and Chuck Sam, Kate, & Matt ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Photo credit: My dear friend who snapped this picture on her doorstep over the weekend.

Holidays can be stressful for EVERYONE. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ These big, high-expectation events can throw any of us off balance - now imagine navigating it all as a child. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ This will be my 12th holiday season with kids ✨ and I’d love to share what’s helped our family in seasons past: ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 🗣️ Talk about the event beforehand. 🎙️ Prepare as much as possible. 🧸 Bring comfort items from home (like a favorite toy or familiar snacks). 👩‍👧‍👦 Stay close. ✨ Take breaks together. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ❤️ And most importantly: Watch for signs that they’ve hit their limit - and step in with love and support when they do. What a privilege it is for us to show up for our kids during these moments. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ And please, please remember: What happens on a holiday is not a reflection of you as a parent or of your child. You’re both doing a great job, no matter how the day unfolds. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ SHARE BELOW ❤️ What advice do you have for parents navigating the holidays? Let’s lift each other up, especially those facing their first holiday season with toddlers.

Something to consider. I get it: buying kids toys when we’re out is so tempting. Their faces light up, and it feels good to say yes or bring home a surprise. It’s a joy, truly. But here’s why I try to avoid it whenever possible: Kids can get overwhelmed by too many toys. When they can’t find what they’re looking for, or the toy box feels like a cluttered mess, it eats into their ability to play independently or play at all. We don’t want that. We don’t want kids freezing up because the sheer number of options makes it hard to decide what to play with. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ And constant new toys can also make it harder for kids to form deep, meaningful connections with the ones they already have - connections that fuel imagination and independent play. So here’s the takeaway: More toys doesn’t equal more play AND more toys can actual hinder play. HOWEVER, this is all just food for thought from some lady on the Internet. If toys as treats is your thing and it works for your family: you do you. But if toy overwhelm has become a challenge, maybe this is the reminder you need. SHARE BELOW ➡️ How’s the toy situation at your house? What’s been working (or not working) for your family?