Mother Stories
A STEAM-Powered Playdate With Mama Of 4 Naomi Phan-Quang
Written by Katie Hintz-Zambrano
Photography by Photographed by Naomi Phan-Quang
Oct 27, 2020
You know those moms who are so good you just sort of shake your head in wonder? These are the vibes we get from Bay Area-based mother of four Naomi Phan-Quang. The photographer and multi-talented creative behind CLOVE + WHOLE (whom you might just follow on Instagram) comes from a long line of educators and boasts a teaching degree herself. Her studies in developmental psychology and classroom management have come in especially handy while juggling the distance-learning demands of her four kiddos—Mateo, 11, Luke, 9, Abel, 7, and Cole, 5.
You might recall we first caught up with Naomi back in May, when she showed us how homeschooling was going for her in the early days of the pandemic. Now, many months later, with one child starting kindergarten and another transitioning to middle school, we caught up with her again—and more in depth—as she invited us over to her newly revamped studio for a very fun play date filled with enriching goodies by Fat Brain Toys.
With the holidays on the horizon, take a peek at some of Naomi and her family’s favorite screen-free, STEAM-centric toy selections—from DIY robots and desk lamps to musical instruments and a nose drawing game (yes, you read that right). All the while, read up on Naomi’s unique and uplifting take on motherhood, learning, family time, play, and more!
This article is brought to you by Mother x Fat Brain Toys.
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First off, meet the kiddos!
From left to right: Luke (9), Mateo (11), Abel (7), and Cole (5).
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And take a peek at the kids' first Fat Brain Toys pick: Pencil Nose! This hilarious, family-friendly game challenges participants to draw random things using only their nose! Once your teammates guess your drawing correctly, you draw another card and keep drawing until your time runs out. The team with the most correct guesses at the end of the game wins!
Pencil Nose encourages family bonding, cooperative play, coordination, creativity, quick thinking, and communication skills!
Pencil Nose, $24.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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"The Pencil Nose game is hilarious, so I knew this one would be something the whole family would enjoy," explains Naomi. "My kids are among the silliest humans I know."
Pencil Nose, $24.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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"Some of the major changes since the last school year is that our youngest kiddo, Cole (age 5), entered kindergarten and our oldest kiddo, Mateo (age 11), graduated into middle school. Now Cole has her own set of virtual meetings and a playlist of asynchronous work to accomplish each day. With Mateo in middle school now, we are fielding e-mails from 6 different teachers of multiple subjects. It's been a challenge to keep up with all the schedules and assignments, to say the least."
Pencil Nose, $24.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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"Yes! I moved CLOVE + WHOLE to a new space in Emeryville. It's a pretty raw space compared to my live-work loft in Oakland, but I love that! I'm excited to build it out slowly over time, to bring in storied furnishings and fixtures and to focus on restorative work and creative content. We have also thrown a major home renovation in the mix, too. We decided that we would save money by doing the demo ourselves. It's back breaking work! We figure, it's already crazy, so why not? It’s been a juggle for sure, but we’ve given each other a lot of grace along the way."
Pencil Nose, $24.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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"I come from a long line of educators, so teaching was a natural career choice for me. Before kids came into the picture, I taught middle school and high school Language Arts and Algebra. My studies in developmental psychology and classroom management have been so helpful as a work-from-home mom, especially now in the age of virtual learning. I feel very fortunate that I can support the kids with their asynchronous work and provide supplemental teaching for difficult concepts."
Pencil Nose, $24.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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A little assistance from big brother.
Pencil Nose, $24.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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"I've always loved babies and had a lot of kids around me growing up, so I expected that I would have a big family of my own. I always had a maternal quality, like packing extra snacks for my friends and being overprotective. My husband and I never discussed how many kids we wanted, we just knew that after number four, we were done. Every so often the idea of fostering and adoption comes up in our conversations. There are so many children out there in need of a home and we feel like we still have a lot to give, but our kiddos would have to be fully on board if we were to ever make a life-changing decision like that. It would impact the entire family dynamic, after all."
Pencil Nose, $24.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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"My kiddos have definitely grown closer through the pandemic—for better or for worse! There have been far more arguments, but I consider it a healthy thing. We have more opportunities to teach them that we are unique individuals with very distinct perspectives. We may not always agree, but we can engage in respectful and constructive discourse. We can express our point of view, create space for each other, and listen with intent. We can mess up but also seek forgiveness and reconciliation. We are a part of a whole. We all need to learn to live together, which involves more patience, understanding, and compromise. We are also learning how important it is for everyone to do their part. Chores aren't meant to be a drag, but they are ways to invest our energies into creating a comfortable, safe, and enriching environment for everyone."
Pencil Nose, $24.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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"It has only solidified my belief that not all children learn the same. Recently, I took the older boys to the pediatrician and she asked them, 'How do you like virtual learning?' One kid said he likes it because it's flexible and would rather not have to carry all his textbooks up the hill to his school. He often evaluates the world through the lens of pragmatism. The other said he doesn't like it because he misses his friends too much. He's a social learner. One kid prefers working independently. One kid learns best by feeding off of the energy of his peers."
Pencil Nose, $24.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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"Out of all of the games, I liked Pencil Nose because it was fun and also funny," says Mateo, 11. "It's a good way to spend time with family."
Pencil Nose, $24.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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Next up: the Real Engineering/Real Construction: RC Robot (constructed by Luke, 9), and the Real Engineering/Real Construction: Desk Lamp (constructed by Mateo, 11). Both sets allow children to dive deep into STEAM exploration by building their own objects from scratch!
The RC Robot contains 728 stainless steel and plastic pieces that screw together easily and securely to build a fully functional robot with tank-tread wheels and a head that spins! Users can follow the directions step-by-step and then—if desired—take the robot apart and try building their own unique motorized design.
Meanwhile, creating the fully functional Desk Lamp includes using a kid-friendly power tool and wrench to assemble the 615 high-quality, stainless steel and plastic parts into an amazing color-changing lamp. Once completed, kids can use a remote to turn their lamp on, select a favorite color, or have the lamp cycle through all the colors for a rainbow-centric experience!
Real Engineering/Real Construction: RC Robot, $44.95, Fat Brain Toys.
Real Engineering/Real Construction: Desk Lamp, $32.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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"As a kid, one of my favorite things to do was to take things apart and put them back together. I still do! My 10-year-old self would have gone crazy over this Desk Lamp and DIY Robot!" says Naomi of her Fat Brain Toys selections. "I have an aspiring engineer in our family, so this is a way for him to nurture his passion and at the same teach him more about how things work."
Real Engineering/Real Construction: RC Robot, $44.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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Tinkerers unite!
Real Engineering/Real Construction: RC Robot, $44.95, Fat Brain Toys.
Real Engineering/Real Construction: Desk Lamp, $32.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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"Cole has a new 'passion' about every other day. It typically includes a position of royalty, but today she says, 'I want to be an astronaut because I can fly in space.' Abel is still deciding between a lawyer and a performer. Luke says that he wants to be an engineer and invent something that really helps people. And Mateo wants to be a professional athlete."
Real Engineering/Real Construction: RC Robot, $44.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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What lucky kiddos to have a teacher as a mama.
Real Engineering/Real Construction: RC Robot, $44.95, Fat Brain Toys.
Real Engineering/Real Construction: Desk Lamp, $32.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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"Mateo (age 11) likes hands-on science experiments, astronomy, the show Ghostwriter, and TikTok (unfortunately). Luke (age 9) likes reading (his current favorite book is Shiloh), dancing and beat-making, and the show Some Assembly Required. Mateo and Luke are also really into online gaming right now—Fortnite, Madden, Brawlhalla, Among Us, and Brawl Stars. Abel (age 7) likes Typing Club, Zearn, The Last Kids on Earth show, and Brawl Stars. He also likes writing short stories. Cole (age 5) likes Raz Kids, Art Hub for Kids, and Quirkle the board game."
Real Engineering/Real Construction: RC Robot, $44.95, Fat Brain Toys.
Real Engineering/Real Construction: Desk Lamp, $32.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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"I would love that all the toys in our home serve an educational purpose—that when they are playing, they are also thinking."
Real Engineering/Real Construction: RC Robot, $44.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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"I look for things that are both beautiful and useful—objects where form and function meet. I love toys that are heirloom quality and can be passed down instead of ending up in the landfill. I also like toys that nurture creation over consumption, not one-time use toys, but springboards for curiosity and creativity."
Real Engineering/Real Construction: RC Robot, $44.95, Fat Brain Toys.
Real Engineering/Real Construction: Desk Lamp, $32.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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A budding engineer, hard at work.
Real Engineering/Real Construction: Desk Lamp, $32.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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"I can't think of any corner in our home where play is off limits. In the kitchen the kids will pretend to own a restaurant and experiment with recipes. In the living room they like to take the couch cushions and throw blankets and create their own forts. In the bath, they engage in water play and can sit in the tub and splash around until their fingers and toes turn into raisins. One non-negotiable is that the kids have to get outdoors at least once a day, whether it be riding scooters around our cul-de-sac or walking down to the school track, we want them to get out and move their bodies. Once a week we pack up our bikes and find an open space to have a family ride. This has been even more important during this time of virtual learning where they're spending so much time in front of their computers."
Real Engineering/Real Construction: Desk Lamp, $32.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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Ready to get messy? Next up is Fat Brain Toys’ Model Moon Activity Kit!
Littles can learn about space as they build their own molding of the moon—complete with realistic craters and painted with authentic colors—using the sticky arts-and-crafts favorite, Plaster of Paris.
This activity kit—from Fat Brain Toys’ subscription box line, Surprise Ride—includes step-by-step instructions, as well as key moon facts, fun jokes, and a moon-centric short story.
Surprise Ride Build a Model Moon Activity Kit, $24.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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"I like getting messy," says Naomi. "It's so good for a child's development, too, being able to explore and experiment with different materials and textures, not to mention improving their fine motor skills. The Build A Model Moon Kit and Beeswax Candle Activity Kit are perfect for messy play."
Surprise Ride Build a Model Moon Activity Kit, $24.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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Case in point.
Surprise Ride Build a Model Moon Activity Kit, $24.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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Naomi, doing what moms do best.
Surprise Ride Build a Model Moon Activity Kit, $24.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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"This is my favorite toy," Abel says of the Model Moon Kit, "because you learn some things about science."
Surprise Ride Build a Model Moon Activity Kit, $24.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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"Mateo received his first report card with letter grades a few days ago after being anxious about it for weeks. I remember the feeling. We were able to assure him that we won't emphasize grades too much. They're more of a barometer for understanding (or lack of understanding). We hope the kids don't feel too pressured by grades. Instead, we would rather them be concerned about the actual learning that’s happening. That’s why we don’t make it a big deal when they make mistakes. In fact, we welcome mistakes because we believe that’s where the best learning happens."
Surprise Ride Build a Model Moon Activity Kit, $24.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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Team work to make the dream work.
Surprise Ride Build a Model Moon Activity Kit, $24.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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"We have become pretty lenient with screen time. A general rule is that if they choose to be on their screens, we prefer them to involve others. The older boys are really into online gaming right now, and we don't mind it as much when they play with friends."
Surprise Ride Build a Model Moon Activity Kit, $24.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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"Family time has always been a priority for us, but after quarantine, its importance has become unequivocal. Our bodies may be in the same physical space ALL day everyday, but it doesn't necessarily mean we are truly connecting. To be honest, these times of quarantine have made it easy to take each other for granted. Each day becomes a new opportunity to be intentional about forming deeper bonds. Hence, dinner times are sacred. We put away our devices, break bread, and catch up on what each of us has going on. Sometimes it's a family 'huddle' where we discuss important issues that have come up. The hour right before bedtime is also sacred. We talk about world events and big questions and end the night praying for each other. It’s also a time to right wrongs, and make sure we're not going to bed angry."
Surprise Ride Build a Model Moon Activity Kit, $24.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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"With everything happening, most days feel like I'm coming up for air. Personally, I feel pulled in a million directions as I'm sure a lot of people are feeling right now. It's a lot! As a mother to small children, a life partner, a daughter to aging parents, a small business owner during an unstable economy, and a world citizen concerned about the political climate, a global pandemic, social injustice and marginalization, it's like staring down into a chasm of moral obligation and responsibility. I genuinely want to be an agent of change, but sometimes I don't even know where to begin."
"A few weeks ago, we ran into a young family of six that had just lost their home and was living out of their car. We made sure they had dinner that night, but we left heartbroken and wishing we could have done more. We still think about them. In the car on the way home, the kids had a lot of questions. We talked about how many folks are losing their jobs and/or experiencing economic disparities and why compassion and generosity are essential qualities for us to have."
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"It's overwhelming to think about all the work that needs to get done for restoration and healing, but I recall all the conversations my children and I have had on those long drives home, around the dinner table, and before bed. When they get overwhelmed, I usually help them organize their thoughts and ask them to think of only two simple things they can do right now. If I were to apply the same parental strategy to myself, where I am trying to figure out what to do next, I can distill my role into two simple questions:
1. What am I good at?
2. How can I use what I'm good at to meet someone else's needs?
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"If we could collectively answer those two questions I just mentioned, I think we could accomplish much. Together."
Surprise Ride Build a Model Moon Activity Kit, $24.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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The final Fat Brain Toys the family tried out were the Rainbow Music Desk Bells, the Wood Ukulele, Ivan's Hinge, and the Surprise Ride Build Beeswax Candles Activity Kit.
The beautiful Rainbow Music Desk Bells set, pictured here, helps little ones break down the mystery of music. Children are encouraged to line up the colorful bells according to their numbers and ring them in the order on their song sheet to create a specific song. Or kiddos can ding the bells randomly for their own musical creation!
Rainbow Music Desk Bells, $39.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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"I grew up in a musical family, so I'm always looking for ways to expose my kids to music as well," says Naomi. "The Rainbow Music Desk Bells and Ukulele are fun and approachable instruments. Plus, I was in a handbell choir in middle school and the desk bells made me nostalgic."
Rainbow Music Desk Bells, $39.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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While Cole loved her bell set, she said her favorite toy of all was "the Ukulele because I like to play with it, and it makes nice music."
Rainbow Music Desk Bells, $39.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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Meanwhile, Luke says, "My favorite toy was Ivan's Hinge because it's really challenging and fun."
Which is precisely why Naomi picked it out. "The boys love brain teasers and puzzles," she says, "And Ivan's Hinge is really challenging and requires a lot of problem solving."
Real Wood Ukulele, $29.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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For more on Naomi and her beautiful family, follow her on Instagram at @naomipq and @cloveandwhole.
For all of the toys featured in this article, be sure to head over to FatBrainToys.com and explore @fatbraintoys on Instagram.
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