Bachelor’s degree, early childhood education
University of New Mexico
Every big idea starts with two small words: what if.
- What if boxes become ships?
- What if the clouds taste like cotton candy?
- What if pigs have wings?
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Imagination
questions open minds.
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Creativity
challenges thought.
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Play
turns ideas into action.
Every child deserves room to wonder from the first giggle to the big ideas that follow.
Tic Tac Grow inspires educators, parents, grandparents, and caregivers to build everyday, ordinary events into strong foundations for young children in their early years.
A child wakes up new every single day full of questions, thoughts, and ideas ready for playful action!
Everyday Play Ideas
5 Toys That Invite Play Right Away!
No batteries, no instructions, no screens. Just simple toys that say “come play!” the moment a child sees them.
- 1BlocksStack, sort, topple, repeat. Build the tallest tower you can, then count the blocks as you rebuild.
- 2A cardboard boxSet it out with a few crayons and say, “I wonder what this could be today.”
- 3Play doughSquish, roll, pinch, poke. Open a pretend bakery and take orders.
- 4BallsRoll, bounce, toss, catch. Balls build eye-hand coordination and cooperation. Share a game of catch just for fun.
- 5Crayons & big paperTape a big sheet under a table and draw lying on your backs.
- Download the printable handout (PDF)
- Always play alongside young children. For children under three, choose large blocks and balls and skip small pieces.