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!
boy playing with trains
Child Development, Education

Understanding and Encouraging Open-Ended Play for Young Children 

By
Brittany Baron

There is no shortage of buzzword lingo for identifying the best way for young children to learn and play. Sensory play, creative play, and cooperative play are all important but here we are bringing it back to basics, open ended-play. Breaking down what exactly is open-ended play, what toys can be called open-ended, and clear actionable strategies to encourage open ended-play for young children.

And before I dive in, it’s no secret play, and hanging with my crew of kids is absolutely my jam. I often say my #1 parenting hack is simply finding a short window of time each day to connect and play with each one of them. It isn’t going to happen every day but I 100% see a MAJOR change in their moods and mine when we haven’t been prioritizing play together.

This wasn’t always the case, play didn’t come naturally to me as a mom despite years of formal training, working with hundreds of kids as a teacher and literacy program coordinator and teacher trainer. But we found our groove and here are my best tips and tricks!

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February 24, 2022
Rosa Parks
Supporting Women

13 amazing women who changed the world

By
Brittany Baron

Part of the Marley & Moose mission is about women empowering women. We also strongly believe in educating our own children, three boys, and a baby girl, about the important contributions of women in the world we live in, as well as the possibilities of the women of our future. As part of this, we want to acknowledge and celebrate the accomplishments of women throughout history. These 13 amazing women are just a small sample of the powerful females that have forever changed our world for the better.

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February 23, 2022
Lifestyle

6 Woman-Owned Children’s Brands To Support

By
Brittany Baron
Marley & Moose woman owned seal

At Marley & Moose, we understand the hustle and the incredible sense of community that comes from being a woman-owned business. We put that passion and commitment into action with brands and products that we have in our own home. While we stock a variety of heirloom-quality, eco-friendly clothing and toy brands that adhere to our early childhood development philosophies, we prioritize and strive to empower fellow woman-owned companies both in what we stock and in our community beyond the store. Currently, 70% of our brands are woman-owned and we are continually working to identify and partner with more women-owned companies. Below are just a few of our favorite woman-owned children’s brands doing amazing work.

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February 16, 2022
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