Hi, I’m Vanessa
I’m a preschool teacher with a focus on music, a mom, and someone endlessly fascinated by
the power of play. And yes… I’m a little obsessed with toys 😆
I truly believe the right toys can transform how children play — and sometimes even give you a
chance to actually finish your coffee without reheating it ten times.
Before finding my passion in early childhood education, my path took a few fun twists and turns
— working in news, singing professionally, and traveling to more than 20 countries. Those
experiences shaped my creativity, curiosity, and love for connecting with people. But it was in
the TK classroom that I discovered what I truly love: helping children learn, grow, and explore
through meaningful play.
Why I Created Toy Teachings
With thousands of toys claiming to be “educational,” it can feel overwhelming to know where to
begin — or which ones will actually get played with for more than a day. After years in the
classroom and at home with my own children, I noticed the same pattern: a few special toys
were returned to again and again, while many others lost their magic almost instantly.
That’s why I created Toy Teachings — to help parents and teachers cut through the noise and
discover teacher-approved, classroom-tested toy recommendations that truly spark imagination,
support learning, and stand the test of time.
No fluff. No hype. Just real toy picks from a real classroom and a real home.
Playcation-Worthy Gift Guides
To make choosing even easier, I developed the Playcation Score™, a simple evaluation system inspired by what I’ve seen work best in my preschool classroom. Watching how children naturally engage with toys over the years helped me identify the qualities that encourage creativity, skill-building, and long-lasting play. The Playcation Score™ brings those classroom-tested insights together to help you quickly spot toys kids will genuinely love — and return to again and again, sometimes even at different ages.
Every toy featured on Toy Teachings is chosen based on real classroom experience and real-life play at home, so you can feel confident choosing toys kids truly love.
I’m so glad you’re here — and I can’t wait to help you find toys that inspire creativity, learning, and lots of happy play at home.
Playtime Pause
So grab that coffee, hide in the bathroom for five minutes,
and let’s talk toys. 🧸☕️
— Vanessa