Hi there, we’re the Barons. Welcome to Marley & Moose!

Marley & Moose is a sustainability focused children's store. We were founded in 2021 by Brittany Baron, an early childhood development and education expert of 20+ years and mother of four. Our parenting and development philosophy are influenced by Maria Montessori, Waldorf, and Reggio Emilia, but we don't pretend one method is right for everyone. At the store and at home we are inspired by nature and learning more about different cultures.

The purpose of our blog is to share some of our tips and tricks, lessons learned, and to share any exciting news at the store. We started our digital journey as a travel blog so you may find content inspired by nature and culture ranging from child development to education to lifestyle including travel tips or info on places we've been and love. You can also follow us on Instagram or Facebook to see where we are headed next!

Open-Ended Play
Child Development, Education

Sustainable Open-Ended Play Activities for Toddlers

Nurturing Sustainable Practices from the Start

As parents, we play a pivotal role in shaping our children’s lives. The early years are especially crucial, as they set the foundation for a child’s physical, cognitive, and emotional development. Integrating open-ended play activities into your toddler’s routine not only promotes their growth but also aligns with the values of sustainable and green parenting. In this article, we’ll explore open-ended play activities for toddlers that not only foster your child’s development but also contribute to a more eco-friendly future.

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Eco-Friendly Parenting
Child Development, Education

Eco-Friendly Toys: A Parent’s Guide to Greener Living

As parents, we want the best for our children, including toys that are safe, durable, and fun to play with. But have you ever thought about the impact that toys have on the environment? From the materials used to make them to the packaging they come in, toys can have a significant environmental impact. In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of eco-friendly toys and offer tips on how you can make more sustainable choices for your family.

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Open-Ended Play with Blocks
Education, Lifestyle

What is open-ended play?

Open-ended play refers to a type of play where there are no predetermined rules, fixed outcomes, or specific instructions. It is characterized by allowing children to explore and interact with objects, materials, or environments in a creative and unrestricted manner. During open-ended play, children use their imagination and problem-solving skills to come up with their own scenarios, stories, and activities.

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Family Friendly Hikes near boulder
Lifestyle

The 7 best family friendly hikes near Boulder, Colorado

Boulder, Colorado is a gateway to the beautiful Rocky Mountains. Hiking is a way of life for most locals, but with so many options it’s hard to narrow down the most amazing family friendly hikes near Boulder.

Below are the best of the best. We prioritize hikes based on activities spanning age ranges, meaning easy enough terrain for the toddler, rocks or streams to climb or play for the older kids, and stunning beauty for all.

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Gift Guides, Lifestyle

Essential Guide for Creating a Multi-Store Baby Registry

Congratulations! On the journey of preparing for parenthood setting up your baby registry is one of the incredibly fun milestone events. And lucky you, the days of multiple registries or committing to one big box children’s store are over. Here are the days where expecting parents can use a one-stop multi-store baby registry that pulls from large box stores AND support small and local businesses and makers (like us!).

Keep reading for our quick guide on how to choose a platform for your baby registry. If you are looking for a more detailed guide on what to add you your registry, check back for our soon to be published “Complete Baby Registry Guide”.

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Child Development, Education

The Importance of Developing Language Skills in a One-Year-Old

As parents, we want to give our children the best possible start in life. One of the most important ways to do this is by helping them develop strong language skills. Children who have strong language and communication skills are more likely to succeed in school, have better relationships with others, and have better job prospects later in life. And you don’t need to be a language expert, child development pro, or find magical extra hours in the day to make a lasting impact. Parenting is hard we are here to help make it feel a little so with practical tips, advice, and mom-of-four-tested best practices and research for your real life.

So, how can we help a one-year-old develop strong language skills? In this post, we will go over the practical and easy-to-apply tips to get you started.

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Child Development, Education, Gift Guides

Share your love of books this Valentine’s Day

Celebrating a day of love by sharing your love of books with the little ones in your life? Absolutely! Books are an easy answer to filling in your love-themed gift basket, an alternative to plastic toys and candy, and won’t end up in the trash in a week. Just a few reasons we love books as gifts.

As a former early literacy program director and mom of four, I’ve hand-picked our absolute favorite board books and picture books for celebrating love and kindness with babies, toddlers, and little kids. Check them out below!

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Lifestyle

Family Camping Checklist

If you are like most people, a family camping trip usually comes with grand ambitions of leaving early in the morning, pitching the tent together, and then relaxing by the fire roasting marshmallows. All this while the Instagram worthy meal heats up and the picnic table is set. What usually happens, however, is a mad scramble to pack the car that extends close to noon because you can’t find someone’s socks, you end up at McDonald’s for a late lunch, and you pitch the tent in the dark while the kids groan about being hungry. You then realize you brought hot dogs, but forgot condiments. Trust me, I’m not throwing shade, we’ve been there more often than we’d like to admit! Now that we are four kids deep, we’ve developed a car camping with kids checklist that acts as our guidepost and helps us avoid the fast food and ketchup-less hot dogs.

Fortunately, after four kids and countless outdoor adventures, we feel pretty good about the essentials of camping with toddlers and young kids. This break-down has been curated after years of fine-tuning for a minimalist list of car camping essentials and fun activities, leaving behind the camping gear you just don’t need!

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Child Development, Education, Lifestyle

Kid-friendly and Low-Mess DIY Christmas Ornaments

If you are looking to ditch the glitter and ideas that require a PhD in crafting, we’ve got you covered with these quick and easy, DIY holiday Christmas ornaments. And a big bonus, they just so happen to have mostly eco-friendly materials and are super affordable.

As a former toddler and preschool teacher and current mom to four, I have a tree filled with dozens of handmade ornaments, and the trip down memory lane unpacking the handmade ornaments is just such a calming parenting treat amid the holiday chaos. So let’s get busy!

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