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Katie Spinner • M.Ed. • Early Childhood Educator

@byktspinner

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👶🏻👦🏻SAHM | Child Development Expert
Motherhood • Favorite Finds
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🎓 MA Ed. Literacy, BS Early Childhood

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Obviously I missed the email 😅
red, white, and blue day and we showed up in... not that.
Schools please do less. Parents are tired. Teachers are tired. We’re all tired. 😂
Did anyone else miss this one or just me?
But remember to vote today!!! by @byktspinner

Self-care as a new mom can feel impossible… but Lauren from Blossom PT makes it possible.

Between taking care of two little ones, finding time for MYSELF isn’t always easy. Having a pelvic floor PT who comes right to my house makes prioritizing my postpartum recovery so much more manageable.

Here’s what we worked on today:
✨ Hands-on work to address my C-section scar and tension in my lower back and glutes (aka my favorite part because it basically a massage)
✨ Deep core activation and coordination
✨ Lower-body strengthening
✨ Rebuilding that mind-body connection postpartum

I love that our sessions aren’t just about exercises. We’re working on reconnecting with my body and building strength in a way that supports my recovery.

And the best part? I can do it all from home with my baby right here. No scrambling for childcare or adding another complicated errand to my day.

Because moms deserve to be taken care of, too. 🤍

If you’re a New Jersey mom looking for postpartum support, check out Lauren at @blossomptnj

When was the last time you did something just for YOU? 🫶🏻 by @byktspinner

We start potty training on Thursday and I’m getting everything ready.

I’ve helped so many of my students learn to use the potty, but this is my first time doing it with my own child, and I am learning right alongside him. So far the setup includes potty stairs (we have one and I just grabbed a second) and a reward system I think you’re going to love 🎁

The educator in me always starts with independence. When little ones can get onto the toilet by themselves, they feel capable, and that confidence carries into everything else.

I’m sharing the whole journey here, so follow along for the real days, the wins and the accidents. And please, send me your best tips in the comments, I want them all 👇

Comment “POTTY” and I’ll send you my list of potty training essentials 🧻

New here? I’m Katie 🤍 A former preschool teacher who ran my own private playgroups, now home with my two littles and sharing play ideas, real-life mom moments, and the things that actually help. So glad you’re here ✨ by @byktspinner

Costume swaps, candy piles, and a whole lot of joy 🎃

This year I let go of it all (kind of on accident) but I just soaked it in. And I don’t have photos to prove it….but we have the memories!!

As a former teacher, here’s what I know: kids won’t remember if the costume stayed on or the photos came out right. They remember that you were right there with them.

How did your Halloween go? Tell me the chaos AND the cute below 👇

Send this to the mama who’s still recovering from the sugar rush 💌

I’m Katie, a former NYC preschool teacher turned Jersey SAHM, sharing play, real-life mom moments, and the little things that matter. Follow along ✨ by @byktspinner

Potty training starts Thursday and we are officially counting down!!!

The educator in me knows toddlers need a reward they are actually motivated to get! Something small, that they get to be a part of choosing, and even better if it’s a toy they can play with that actually supports their development. Opening an advent calendar door to find a surprise toy checks every box.

I’ve helped so many of my students potty train over the years, but I’ve never done it with my own child. Soooo, I need YOU 👇 Please give me all your potty training tips. What worked? What do you wish you’d known? Drop them in the comments!

Comment “POTTY” and I’ll send you my list of potty training essentials 🧻

Follow along for the whole journey, wins and accidents included.

Hi, I’m Katie. Former preschool teacher who ran my own private playgroups, now SAHM with my two littles. Come learn and play with us ✨ by @byktspinner

The only 5 pictures I managed to take on Halloween night… oops

Between chasing toddlers and keeping baby girl happy. While also trying to soak it all in!

Tell me I’m not the only one! 👇🏼 Did you actually take pictures this Halloween, or were you too busy living it? by @byktspinner

POV: You’re a Type B mom and it’s the DAY BEFORE HALLOWEEN and you still haven’t bought the candy. 🎃

A little day in the life of a mom of two:
🍼 Bottles on bottles on bottles
🤱 Pumping… again
👻 Costume try-on session
💻 Therapy
🍬 Last-minute Halloween candy run
🤪 And somehow, it all gets done (eventually)

Tell me I’m not the only one who operates on ✨just-in-time scheduling✨

Did you wait until the last minute to buy your Halloween candy too? 🎃 What did your day-before-Halloween look like? Tell me in the comments! 👇

Follow along for the real, unfiltered life of a mom of two and your very own early childhood expert in the palm of your hands. by @byktspinner

Not every haunted house shows up on Halloween 🤍

As a mom, some of my scariest moments happened in hospital rooms. One of my children was born with a congenital heart defect and needed open heart surgery. My other baby spent her first 24 hours in the NICU, and I couldn’t be there with her. Nothing prepares you for the waiting, the not knowing, or how much your heart can ache while you’re trying to heal yourself.

If you’ve been there too, you’re not alone. NICU mamas, CHD mamas, c-section mamas: I’d love to hear your story in the comments 👇 Let’s make this a place where we hold each other up. Someone scrolling tonight might really need to know they aren’t the only one.

Send this to a mama who walked through her own haunted house, or to someone who held your hand while you were living your nightmare 💕

If you’re new here, hi! 👋 I’m a former preschool teacher who ran my own private playgroups, now a mom of two sharing child development tips, our favorite products and motherhood hacks. So glad you’re here 💕

nicumom nicubaby nicugraduate chdawareness chdmom heartbaby heartwarrior chdwarrior csectionmom momlife motherhood momsupport #hauntedhouse #halloween2026 by @byktspinner

Boo bag season in our neighborhood is one of my favorite traditions 👻 You secretly leave a little Halloween bag at a neighbor’s door, then they pass the fun along, until every kid on the street has been boo’d!

My son helped from start to finish. He decorated the bags with stickers and then carried them up to the door himself.

As an early childhood educator, I love traditions like this for little ones. They get to feel the excitement of giving, not just getting, and they see that they’re part of a community that looks out for each other. Those are big feelings and big lessons, all wrapped up in a paper bag.

If your neighborhood doesn’t do this yet, it’s so easy to start! Grab some bags, a few treats and a “You’ve been boo’d” note, and pass it on 🎃

Send this to a neighbor who’d want to start it with you 💌

Follow along for simple traditions, play ideas and the products we actually love, through an educator and mom lens 🧡

If you’re new here, hi! 👋 I’m a former preschool teacher who ran my own private playgroups, now a mom of two sharing child development tips, our favorite products and motherhood hacks. So glad you’re here 💕 by @byktspinner

Now THIS is a haunted house. 👻

Motherhood is not for the weak.

Now it’s YOUR turn! 👇 What would be in YOUR parenting haunted house? Tell me in the comments because I know we all have at least one!

And if you’re a mom who loves the REAL, unfiltered side of motherhood, toddler life, and recommendations from a former preschool teacher and mom of two, follow along! 🫶 by @byktspinner

After 12+ years in early childhood education, I love finding toys that are actually FUN while supporting little ones’ development. 🤍

🧱 LEGO DUPLO — Creativity, building & problem-solving
🧍 Figurines — Imagination, storytelling & language
🧲 Picasso Magnetic Tiles + Cars — Spatial awareness & early STEM skills
🧵 ALEX Lacing Beads — Fine motor skills & hand-eye coordination
😂 His baby sister’s toys — Because apparently, those are ALWAYS the best ones!

Follow along for toddler toy recommendations, play ideas, and child development tips from your very own early childhood expert in the palm of your hands. 🤍

What toy is your toddler obsessed with right now? Tell me in the comments! 👇 by @byktspinner

As an early childhood educator, here’s something I want every parent to know: your baby doesn’t need more toys. They need new ways to use the ones they have! 🦋

Changing your baby’s position changes the skills they’re practicing. Here’s how we use our butterfly toy:

🦋 Hanging from the play gym: Reaching and swatting encourage hand-eye coordination, visual tracking, and cause and effect.

🦋 Tummy time: Placing the toy within view and encouraging reaching helps build neck, shoulder, and core strength.

🦋 Supported sitting: Reaching for the toy encourages balance, core stability, and reaching skills.

🦋 On her back: Holding the toy overhead and bringing it to midline encourages grasping, two-handed coordination, and sensory exploration.

The takeaway? Rotate positions, not just toys! Simple changes can create new opportunities for learning through play.

Save this for your next play session 📌 Which position does your baby love to play in most? Tell me below! 👇

If you’re new here, hi! 👋 I’m a former preschool teacher who ran my own private playgroups, now a mom of two sharing child development tips, favorite products, and motherhood hacks. Think of me as your very own early childhood expert in the palm of your hands. 🧡 by @byktspinner