Mother Stories
California Mama Valerie Metz On Life & Play At Home
Written by Katie Hintz-Zambrano
Photography by Lyndsey Yeomans
Nov 27, 2020
When we first ran across Valerie Metz’s vibrant Instagram feed (a.k.a. @mammafolk), we were drawn in by her mesmerizing use of bold colors (especially the countless shades of cheery yellow) and stellar vintage style. But now that we’ve gotten to know the California-based creative and mama of two better, we’re equally inspired by her commitment to raising her children (Hendrix, 3 1/2, and Rio, 11 months) in a conscious way. Plus, the way she’s been able to find silver linings in such a turbulent time.
The combo of all of these aspects—plus her really adorable kiddos—made Valerie the ideal mom to have our final Fat Brain Toys play date with! This time around, we surprised the darling family with a variety of brainy, boldly hued toys that are perfect for babies and preschoolers and look great scattered about the home.
This includes The Sweep, Scrub, & Shine Cleaning Set (Hendrix’s favorite) for little around-the-house helpers, Personalized Name Puzzles that make the best gifts, the colorful Rainbow Arches Stack and Play game (Rio’s fave), and so many other great toys that engage little hands and boost growing minds. Check them all out below, as we discuss everything from at-home learning to quarantine takeaways to Valerie’s love-filled (and Bratz-filled!) upbringing in our candid interview.
Want more Fat Brain Toys suggestions for hours of at-home fun and learning? Check out our playdates with Oakland-based mother of four Naomi Phan-Quang and Portland-based photographer and #boymom (x2) Paige Jones!
This article is brought to you by Mother x Fat Brain Toys.
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First things first: meet the adorable family!
Hendrix, 3 1/2, Valerie, and Rio, 11 months.
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The first toy the kiddos decided to dive into was The Sweep, Scrub, & Shine Cleaning Set by Fat Brain Toys, a beautifully hued bundle of quality wood, pretend-play cleaning supplies.
The set includes a broom, hand brush, dustpan, flat mop, duster, and storage stand, all in the perfect size for your little helper’s hands.
The Sweep, Scrub, & Shine Cleaning Set, $27.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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"Our situation at home is pretty ideal right now! Hendrix is in a private school twice a week for now, thankfully. His school is doing a great job at keeping everything safe for the young kiddos! This has really been helping him, since he was in school before the pandemic and the sudden change really affected him. Besides that, my husband is working from the garage and I try my best every morning to hold down the fort!"
The Sweep, Scrub, & Shine Cleaning Set, $27.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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A mini-sized rack encourages little ones to put away their cleaning supplies when they're done.
The Sweep, Scrub, & Shine Cleaning Set, $27.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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Getting the mop wet and ready!
The Sweep, Scrub, & Shine Cleaning Set, $27.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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"I actually started No Diggity during the beginning of COVID when everyone was going through spring cleaning. I had a ton of vintage that I'd accumulated over the years that I bought for shoots and decided to just sell vintage and see what happened! It's been a good turnout so far, since a lot of people thankfully are choosing to shop secondhand."
The Sweep, Scrub, & Shine Cleaning Set, $27.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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Getting to work on those windows! The Sweep, Scrub, & Shine Cleaning Set encourages gross motor skills, role-play, and imaginative play that could go on for hours!
The Sweep, Scrub, & Shine Cleaning Set, $27.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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"Naps! I have trained the kids to take their naps at the same time, so I get a good 3-hour window myself! I also wake up early everyday so I can read, workout, or catch up on work if needed."
The Sweep, Scrub, & Shine Cleaning Set, $27.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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"We actually live in a tiny home, so our living room is essentially their playroom. Our philosophy is to teach our kids to clean up a toy when they're not playing with it to keep the house feeling cozy and peaceful. One of my biggest fears with having kids was that I was always going to feel overwhelmed coming home to just stuff everywhere! We decided that since we all share the same space, we should teach our kids to clean up routinely. If we want to go for a walk, let's clean up. If we want to play outside, let's clean up. We also do a quarterly toy donation where Hendrix gets to choose what he'll keep and what he'll donate to teach him that less is more and that giving is great!"
The Sweep, Scrub, & Shine Cleaning Set, $27.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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"Play time was really fun growing up! I was born in L.A. and grew up here the first few years. My grandma babysat me, my sister, and my five other girl cousins while our parents worked everyday. It was a lot of imagination, sharing (or fighting) over each other's toys, and running free outside. I'm so thankful I got to grow up with them!"
The Sweep, Scrub, & Shine Cleaning Set, $27.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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And now it's time for Dado Cubes! An exciting twist on classic building blocks, young imaginations are engaged as the slits on each cube are interlocked to create an unlimited number of three-dimensional structures.
The cubes combine art and science as kids explore real architectural principles, like proportion, balance, structure, and color.
Dado Cubes, $28.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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"Oh yes, I was a Barbie, Polly Pocket, Bratz girl! Like actually obsessed."
Dado Cubes, $28.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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"I look for more educational toys for my kiddos! I loved how I played when I was younger, but I do wish at times I had access to educational toys. I struggle with quick problem solving and critical thinking, but I have such a creative, vivid mind, which I think was fueled from having to use my imagination as a kid. I would love for my kids to be creative, but I also want them to be challenged and educated as well!"
Dado Cubes, $28.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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A well-deserved high-five for getting all 10 Dado Cubes to nest inside each other!
Dado Cubes, $28.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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Next Up: GeoMagic Mosaics, a colorful set of 250 blocks in 8 geometric shapes. Kids can recreate specific designs printed in the instruction pamphlet, or make an endless array of creations that are all their own!
This fantastic activity, ideal for ages 3-5, helps boost motor skills, problem solving, creativity, experimentation, and lets youngsters tap into the creative potential of basic geometry!
GeoMagic Mosaics, $29.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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"It's made me appreciate education and educators more. In a lot of ways, the work is now on me to facilitate opportunities and engage my son in preschool learning. As a parent, I believe it's important to be involved in your child's academics regardless of their age. This year has been a great opportunity to expand my role as a parent to now provide Hendrix with educational resources and help him grow in areas with the help and direction of his amazing teachers via distance learning."
GeoMagic Mosaics, $29.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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Little sis might need to sit this one out.
GeoMagic Mosaics, $29.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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"He loves playing 'I Spy' right now! He's at that age where he can follow instructions for a simple game and it's really fun! He also loves building blocks and pretending he's making buildings and such."
GeoMagic Mosaics, $29.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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A little hydration before tackling the next toy.
GeoMagic Mosaics, $29.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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If your kid loves vehicles, they'll love the My Town Block Set. This dynamic toy starts with a 35-piece jigsaw puzzle to build the base of a pretend-play town, featuring winding roadways, friendly trees, and lakes.
After the puzzle's built, your kid can personalize their mini-city with beautifully painted blocks of community spaces—like a fire station, hospital, school, grocery store, and more.
Plus, there are little people, vehicles, and 26 letter blocks for additional learning opportunities.
My Town Block Set, $24.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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"He's mentioned he wants to be a teacher like his dad, so we'll see! He definitely loves having structure and a schedule, so I could definitely see that!"
My Town Block Set, $24.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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The My Town Block Set encourages fine motor skills, spatial reasoning, early reading skills, and imaginative play.
My Town Block Set, $24.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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"It's taught us to be content with being at home! Before, we would be on-the-go almost every day, which we have found to be exhausting for all of us. We're thankful to practice gratitude and contentment in our everyday lives."
My Town Block Set, $24.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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"I feel like I haven't thought about family differently, I'm just learning to be present everyday with the kids."
My Town Block Set, $24.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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"Yes! We are anti screen-time—always have been since the beginning. The kids don't use our phones or iPads, but can watch some TV everyday. I have a lot of thoughts—and so does my husband, since he's a teacher—but all I'll say is this: We choose not to take shortcuts or give into instant gratification so that life is easier as they get older. Every parent does what they feel is best and this is what we chose to do for our family!"
My Town Block Set, $24.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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Touch, push, pop, and learn with one of Fat Brain Toys most popular creations: Dimpl Digits!
Squishy, silicone bubbles captivate little fingers in a way that's impossible to put down, while simultaneously opening a unique new avenue for learning.
On one side of this toy, the bubbles are embossed with the numerals 1 through 10, each accompanied by its matching word in English. Flip it over and you'll find the words written in Spanish, plus dots to feel and count!
Dimpl Digits, $19.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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"It's actually been so good. My husband and I both love to be on-the-go and I feel like being forced to stay at home has taught us to savor these moments so much more. I always pictured memories needing to be formed through a certain experience (traveling, being out, etc.), so I feel like we're teaching ourselves to make memories every second at home."
Dimpl Digits, $19.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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Made of 100% food-grade silicone and ABS plastic, Dimpl Digits encourages fine motor skills, number learning, counting, and fun!
For a mini-sized version that fits on your keychain, check out the Simpl Dimpl.
Dimpl Digits, $19.95, Fat Brain Toys.
Simpl Dimpl, $4.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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"Have ZERO expectations! I feel like I had an easier transition to go from 1-2 than 0-1 because I felt more confident as a mother. When I was first on my own with the kids for 2 months (before the pandemic hit) my mentality every morning was 'What's the worst that can happen?' and I feel like that motto just changed me!"
Personalized Name Puzzle, $26.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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Fat Brain Toys' Personalized Name Puzzle is an affordable keepsake gift that little kids will love! Each and every name puzzle is custom made and hand-crafted in high-quality wood and a modern palette of non-toxic paint.
When your kiddo isn't using it as a puzzle or as a letter-recognition game, you can use the Personalized Name Puzzle Display Stand to set it up in their room for a supremely personal touch.
Personalized Name Puzzle, $26.95, Fat Brain Toys.
Personalized Name Puzzle Display Stand, $4.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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- A pretty desktop scene in Valerie's beautiful bedroom.
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"Hendrix loves The Sweep, Scrub, & Shine Cleaning Set! I've always included him in my house chores, so that I could teach him to help around the house, but also spend quality time together. So, he's excited to have a mini set! He also loves his Personalized Name Puzzle since he's learning letters and their sounds right now. Rio loves the Rainbow Arches since she can chew on them and knock them down!"
Personalized Name Puzzle, $26.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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"I love the Personalized Name Puzzle, as well! It's such a cute display for their rooms and also turns into a learning toy."
Personalized Name Puzzle, $26.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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- Snuggle buddies.
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The open-ended Rainbow Arches Stack and Play toy is great for all ages, but especially 1-3 years old. A unique and tactile color-learning experience, the toy includes 7 vibrantly hued arches that stack to build a rainbow—or a plethora of other shapes!
It's a great activity for babies and toddlers to build fine motor, color recognition, and spatial reasoning skills. Meanwhile, older kids can let their imaginations run wild as they stack up the arches into creative, museum-worthy sculptures, a modern metropolis, curvy racetracks, or anything else.
Rainbow Arches Stack and Play, $21.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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"It's sparked a ton of reflection for both my husband and I with our own experiences with racism—him being white, and not being taught to be aware or actively anti-racist, and for me always feeling like the minority growing up. We're evaluating how to have these conversations with our kids and which proactive measures we can start taking."
Rainbow Arches Stack and Play, $21.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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- The sweetest little face!
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"Ask yourself as a parent reading this article, In what ways can you enrich your child's life during this time?"
Rainbow Arches Stack and Play, $21.95, Fat Brain Toys.
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To keep up with Valerie and her beautiful family, be sure to follow her @mammafolk and @nodiggityshop on Instagram.
To shop the toys featured in this article, head over to FatBrainToys,com.
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