Hi! We’re Ashley and Alyssa—real-life sisters, toddler moms, and the creators of the play-based toddler curriculum Rooted in Wonder.

Ashley is a former nanny with a background in early childhood development and a stay-at-home mom to a curious, spirited little boy. Alyssa is a kindergarten teacher passionate about social-emotional learning and learning through play, even during after-work hours with her adventurous daughter.

We had our babies just three months apart—and when they hit the toddler years, we both craved new activities to engage our little ones. We saw their curiosity blossoming, their “I do it!” phase launching, and their natural desire for more meaningful connection with us.

That’s why we created Rooted in Wonder, our seasonal, play-based curriculum for ages 18 months to 3 years. Designed for busy families, it’s packed with low-prep, flexible activities that focus on how little ones learn best: through PLAY! Instead of pushing early academics, we focus on what we believe matters most in these early years:

• Curiosity: Toddlers love exploring the world, and we want to foster that curiosity through exploration and play.
• Confidence: This is a great age to teach little ones how to do things for themselves, helping them feel capable as they take care of themselves and their spaces.
• Connection: Young children learn best through relationships, which is why we offer lots of meaningful activities to do with your toddlers.

We’re in the thick of developing our curriculum, and we share the journey week by week our podcast and blog Sisters Raising Littles. It’s fun to see how our very different toddlers react to the activities, and we love sharing insights as we go. We hope you enjoy the activities as much as we do!

We live in the Bay Area of California with our husbands, cats, and a dog (Alyssa’s). When we’re not working on our curriculum or chasing our toddlers, Alyssa is teaching, playing the piano, or enjoying her big backyard, while Ashley is probably off writing a fantasy story. It’s very likely we both have a coffee (or a mocha) in our hands.

Thanks for being here. We hope Rooted in Wonder brings a dose of joy to every day your spend with your little ones!

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