Ever since I was a little girl, I dreamed of becoming a teacher. Today, I’m a mom of three and a special education professional. I spent four years as a Pre-K teacher before realizing how deeply I wanted to support neurodivergent children. That led me to earn my Early Childhood Special Education license and begin working as a SEIT (Special Education Itinerant Teacher)—a professional who supports young children with developmental needs directly in their school or daycare, helping them learn and thrive in their natural environments.Each day, I work one-on-one with multiple children ages 3–5 across different classrooms. And every morning, the same pattern appears: I can immediately tell which child spent the morning on an iPad or phone. Their attention spans are shorter, sitting still becomes harder, and independent play is more challenging. They need constant stimulation and struggle to regulate themselves—something I was also seeing in my own home.After years of trying to understand my daughter’s behaviors—her tantrums, meltdowns, and overwhelm—we finally received an ADHD diagnosis. That moment changed everything. I realized we needed to make changes, including how much she relied on screens.As a family of five, we travel often with our three children. And during those trips, dinners were becoming especially difficult. Like many parents, we turned to iPads at restaurants just to get a few minutes of quiet. But I quickly noticed that after those dinners, the tantrums were bigger, the meltdowns lasted longer, and she was more dysregulated. I knew something needed to change before our next trip.I searched everywhere for toys, activities, or ready-to-go bags—something engaging, screen-free, and practical for dinners, car rides, air travel… anything that would keep the kids busy without creating more dysregulation later. But nothing truly met our needs.So I created it.That’s how My Playpal was born—out of experience, out of love, and out of a real need for a healthier screen-free alternative.A bag filled with meaningful, hands-on activities that help kids stay engaged, calm, and creative… while giving parents a moment to breathe.
