Mother Stories
Mama Of Two & Disability Advocate Elena Fong Tries Out Lovevery’s New Home Collection
Written by Katie Hintz-Zambrano
Photography by Photographed by Molly DeCoudreaux
Nov 30, 2020
Looking to add some color to your child’s room? Lovevery is here to help! The brand that brought us expertly curated Play Kits for babies and toddlers, a modern spin on The Play Gym, and the most multi-tasking Block Set out there, has just debuted its very first Home Collection. Thanks to numerous customer requests to incorporate Lovevery’s standout prints and artwork into their nurseries and homes, the Montessori-inspired company is now offering playfully printed Organic Crib Sheets, Swaddle Sets, Cozy Quilts, Changing Pad Covers, and framed Animal Art for the bedroom, plus colorful Placemats & Utensils for mealtime fun (and learning!).
To take these brand-new pieces for a spin, we invited Elena Fong—a Down syndrome and disability advocate and mother of Wynter, 4, and Nova, almost 3—to show us how her kiddos are enjoying the new goodies in their Oakland home. Throughout our virtual playdate, Elena (whom we first profiled two years ago) caught us up on life in lockdown, what 2020 has taught her, her at-home learning philosophy, and what play looked like for her growing up as an only child. Plus, her top picks from the Lovevery Home Collection, and The Helper Play Kit and The Enthusiast Play Kit that she chose for her kiddos. Enjoy!
This post is brought to you by Mother x Lovevery.
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"Both my husband, Will, and I are at home full-time. And both kids are currently in a learning pod, provided by Wild Child 3 days a week. Since they've been in the pod, it has been really great. I thought there would've been a difficult transition period, but they both took to it pretty much immediately."
"I am now able to have some separation, and also have a little one-on-one time with each kid individually. It has allowed Wynter to have a sense of routine again, it was really hard on her once school stopped and distance learning took its place. Also both kids have been able to socialize, play, and learn with their peers. This is Nova's first time being in a learning environment and I have already seen the benefits and positive influence on his development."
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A look at Lovevery's latest Home Collection, featuring OEKO-TEX certified Organic Baby Quilts, Organic Crib Sheets, and Organic Swaddle Packs. Lovevery customers helped weigh in on their favorite patterns (via Instagram Stories!) before they went into production.
"I like the lightweight and quality material of the 100% organic cotton quilts," says Elena. "The kids love the prints, especially the animal print one. They like laying it out and identifying each animal. I chose the Rainbow Rows and Animal Friends prints because I was attracted to the hand-painted designs and felt the kids would be attracted to them too."
"As for the sheets, I love that you get two sheets that compliment each other with each pack. They're extremely soft and breathable. Also, they were slightly oversized for our crib mattresses, which I actually appreciated, because they made them easier to get on! I chose the Animal Friends and Rainbow Rows prints to match the quilts."
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"Wynter loves music. It's the first thing she asks for when she wakes up in the morning. She's still really into pretend/dramatic play. Her ability to identify letters has increased and her language has also increased to 3-word sentences! Her favorite movie is Princess and the Frog."
"Nova has really been into puzzles, dinosaurs, and all animals really. He loves to be physically active and recently has shown more interest in his scooter. He also really enjoys helping. He recently has been 'helping' with making breakfast in the mornings with Will. He has been able to identify a few letters himself and his language has also increased, which has been really exciting. His favorite shows are Sid the Science Kid, Curious George, and Wild Kratz on PBS."
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A little imaginative fun with Lovevery's new Organic Swaddle Packs, which come in a bundle of three playful prints.
"Obviously the kids have outgrown swaddles, but these Organic Swaddles are great for play," says Elena. "Nova likes running through them and letting them fall on his face. Wynter likes to use them as blankets for her baby dolls. I chose the Animal Friends swaddle pack for the playful prints!"
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"For Wynter, it's the weekly activity packs that her school teacher provides. It has been really helpful as a source of learning and engagement when she's not attending her pod. Her speech therapist also provides activities and materials for us so we can keep up on her speech and oral motor exercises. We have been so grateful to both of them. Music has been a huge source of entertainment and engagement for Wynter. I enjoy dancing with her and being silly while her favorite songs are playing. She could watch music videos for hours if we let her."
"For Nova, it's always about engaging in a physical way. He constantly needs that input. So, we rely on a lot of outside time. We head to the park with open space to let him run around and kick and throw the ball. We take daily walks around our neighborhood and he likes to be chased. He has energy to outlast us all! He also loves to build and climb, so we rely on lots of blocks and puzzles, they're great for critical thinking and problem solving. But also imaginative play! He'll create spaces for his toy animals and dinosaurs and stay engaged for a really long time. Also early on while we were 'sheltering in place' we purchased a Montessori climbing set off of Etsy so he could do all the climbing and jumping he wanted while at home."
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- "Yes, we rely on television and the iPad. The kids like very different types of shows and movies. So, when it's 'screen time,' one will get to watch something on the TV, while the other uses the iPad. The reality is that we can't be engaged with our children 24/7, so screen time becomes something we have to rely on at times."
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Wynter taking a break in Lovevery's new independence-building Organic Nap Map, which includes a padded mat, blanket, pillow, and custom buckles made for little hands—all in one piece!
"This Organic Nap Map was a surprising favorite for Wynter," says Elena. "As soon as we rolled it out she snuggled right in. I really like how practical it is and how easily it can be stowed away. It is perfect for Wynter's pod during nap time!"
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- "The thoughtfulness and intent behind them. And the high quality of the products."
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"Their room is definitely in a transitional phase. Currently it's set-up with a crib and converted toddler bed. There is a Montessori-inspired shelf my husband built with a few of the kids' toys and books that they can easily access themselves. Wynter has her dress-up area with a small table, mirror, accessories, dresses, and a cape. We have one large dresser for both of the kids' clothing."
"Before, my vision was that they would both be sleeping in their room and it would be a space where they played together most of the time. Now my vision is for their room to be a bit of a sanctuary for them. Where they can still play and sleep comfortably, but also where they can go if they need some quiet time and separation. I'd love to create a 'quiet corner' with a cozy space where they can curl up with their favorite books, or want to play quietly with their stuffed animals. I'd love to set up a self-dressing area with a clothing rack/shelves at their height to support their independence and enjoyment of picking out their own clothes and dressing themselves."
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- "It hasn't made me think differently about it, but it's validated my feeling that learning can happen anywhere. And that education isn't just about what's taught in the classroom. This time has allowed me to let go more. To allow myself grace when my attempts at doing activities with the kids are a complete fail. That my children aren't 'behind' and that we're all in the same boat, and we're all just trying to figure it out and do the best we can for our kids with what's available to us."
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- "It made me realize that our home should be our sanctuary. That it's a place where we should feel the most comfortable and enjoy and use every part of it. That it's a place of refuge and resources as well. My two children and my husband are my family. Before this time, I included every single person whom I allowed into my safe space as family. But this time has changed the way I feel about that. I cherish and appreciate this time I've had with them. Having Will home has been a privilege and a blessing. It was challenging and it was hard for all of us, but we've grown so much together. We've learned so much together."
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Two other pieces from Lovevery's new Home Collection: sweet Animal Friends Framed Prints and an Organic Changing Pad Cover that comes in a pack of two vibrant prints.
"I love that these Changing Pad Covers come in a pack of two with complimentary prints," says Elena. "Both kids aren't potty trained quite yet, and we still use a changing pad on the floor for pull-ups/diaper changes. It was nice to have covers that are as soft as their bed sheets and they are easy to put on and take off."
"The Animal Prints that hang above the changing area are also adorable. I was really impressed with the quality of the prints and that they came framed and ready to hang!"
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- Wynter getting a little snuggle time in on her Animal Friends sheets before her parents surprise her with a new Lovevery Play Kit!
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- Surprise! Wynter's new The Helper Play Kit and Nova's The Enthusiast Play Kit waiting for their big reveal.
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- "Once I chose a Play Kit for each kid that I thought they'd really be into, I couldn't wait for them to see them and use all of the cool activities and toys!" says Elena. "The Kits were definitely the fan favorite for them, as well."
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From The Enthusiast Play Kit, the Every Which Weigh Scale and Pails teaches kids early STEM lessons in balance and measurement when using the sliders to calibrate the pails.
"We love this scale! Both kids actually really like this one," says Elena. "There are so many ways for the kids to use/play with them. We can use water, sand, beans, anything really! And the buckets can be utilized for all different types of play, not just what they are intended for. Wynter loves carrying them around and filling them up in her kitchen!"
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- Some of the colorful toys found in The Helper Play Kit and The Enthusiast Play Kit.
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- "Pure excitement! It was like Christmas came early! Nova immediately grabbed the Squeaky Clean Squeegee set from his The Enthusiast Play Kit and went directly to our windows and started to pretend to clean them! And Wynter saw the Drop And Match Dot Catcher from her The Helper Play Kit first—she wanted me to open the bag of the colored dots so she could play with them right away!"
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The aforementioned Drop And Match Dot Catcher from Wynter's The Helper Play Kit.
"This was the first thing Wynter grabbed and wanted to play with," says Elena. "The quality is so great, and it's so easy to use. It allows us to practice colors and matching, especially for Wynter. Nova loves matching all the dots to their correct color row. Wynter loves the dots and will actually play with them in the scale buckets!"
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- "If there are ways of incorporating learning for both kids. I think about if I can use them for Wynter's therapies. I consider how they're made. Quality is very important, and I think about if I'm able to hand them down when we've outgrown them. I like toys with a stylish aesthetic, but sometimes unattractive toys are just unavoidable. And I also consider if the toys are something I know they'll play with and engage with. Is it something I know that is of interest to them?"
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Plant them, pick them, or make a bouquet with these felt flowers from The Helper Play Kit.
"These flowers are so adorable, and such a great size!" says Elena. "I had actually been looking for felt flowers for Wynter because she loves flowers so much! When we go on our neighborhood walks she stops to smell them and say hi to them! I wanted something she could always have at home. She likes to use them in her pretend play and Nova likes to give them to me and ask me to dance! It's the most precious thing."
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- "That play is necessary for children in order to learn. There are so many ways to incorporate key developmental exercises when you make learning fun! When the kids are having fun they're encouraged and engaged and they become more curious. And when adults engage and play with their children they feel seen. They feel heard. They feel loved. And it brings so much joy to both the child and parent."
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The Let's Map It Out Routine Cards from Wynter's The Helper Play Kit help kiddos plan bedtime and other daily routines together with their parents, thanks to handy photos and text.
"These cards are BRILLIANT!" says Elena. "We had started a daily schedule with action steps to establish a regular routine for Wynter and her school teacher had made laminated cards for us, but the pictures are illustrated and they aren't all translative enough. These real photo cards are perfect and I will be incorporating them in both of the kids' routines. The real photos will make it easier for the kids to decipher and understand what is being asked of them."
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Cheers! It's tea time thanks to this sweet Pinkies Up Picnic Set from The Enthusiast Play Kit. The darling bundle comes with a tin tea set, organic linens, and a picnic basket.
"This set is adorable and I love the fun colors and little picnic basket," says Elena. "This is a part of Nova's Play Kit, but both kids will play 'tea time' together with it. And it's actually one of Wynter's favorites. She loves playing kitchen and this little set has been added to her imaginary play."
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- "When I was a kid, play for me was being outside with the neighborhood kids. There was a lot of hide-n-seek and riding our bikes until the street lights went out. I grew up right here in the Bay Area as an only child and didn't live in the same neighborhood as my school friends, so there was a lot of playing on my own when I was home. I relied heavily on my imagination. I loved to draw, and could play with my Barbies for hours!"
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- "Dolls and stuffed animals! I loved Barbies, my Cabbage Patch doll, and my stuffed Miss Piggy doll was also a favorite. I would collect stuffed animals and surround my bed with them."
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- One of the highlights of the The Helper Play Kit is this super sustainable sink—that actually works!—with bio-based cups and plates. Kids can run the water for hours without it going down the drain! "Wow! This sink is really cool!" says Elena. "It will help to encourage independence and cleaning for Wynter, while also enhancing her joy for playing kitchen. This is part of Wynter's Play Kit, but Nova absolutely fell in love with it. We took it outside and he wanted to 'wash' all the cups and plates. I even cut one of my sponges in half so he could wash the dishes and cups."
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- A little helper, indeed!
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With this Double-Sided Sunny Day Puzzle from The Helper Play Kit, kids can solve two creative problems through mental and physical rotation.
"I adore this little wooden puzzle," says Elena. "It allows for critical thinking/problem solving, which I love and Nova really enjoys doing puzzles. It's something I want to practice more with Wynter and I appreciated that it was a part of her kit."
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Another one of Lovevery's brand-new releases is the Montessori Placemat & Utensils set, which helps kids learn tabletop manners and the order of utensils in a fun, colorful way!
"I absolutely adore these Placemat & Utensils sets! The mats are so easy to clean and the quality of the utensils are incredible! I want to get more of them! It has actually made meal time fun for the kids. Nova especially likes placing his cup and utensils in the designated areas of the mat. And it's made me want to use cloth napkins all the time now."
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- "I've reconnected with my faith and am working to strengthen my Buddhist practice. And therapy! Finding a therapist was vital for me. My faith and therapy have been absolute life savers!"
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- "Activism! Continuing my advocacy work. To keep learning. To keep pushing myself into those uncomfortable places. It has increased my awareness around disability. Particularly around the Black Disabled community."
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- "Ask yourself: What is the greatest lesson/gift your child(ren) has given you during this time?"
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- After a quick snack, back to playing!
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The Sort and Stack Peg Puzzle from The Enthusiast Play Kit helps kids learn basic shapes while flipping and fitting them onto pegs.
"I really love the look and quality of this little wooden puzzle from Nova's Play Kit," says Elena. "It allows us to practice shapes and offers a fun way for more problem solving when figuring out which shapes fit on which pegs. It's perfect for Nova, and something I can practice and encourage with Wynter."
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- "To make plans again! To take a trip! To see and hug my friends without hesitation! To have a date night with my husband!"
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And that's a wrap!
For more on Elena and her sweet family, be sure to follow her at @lifewithwynterandnova on Instagram.
To check out the new Lovevery Home Collection and Lovevery Play Kits in this feature, head over to Lovevery.com.
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