Hollie Mayes Educational Design

As a mum of twins and a teacher, I know how quickly boredom can tip a manageable journey into a really difficult one.

So over the years I’ve put together a travel kit that I pack for every trip that keeps my kids screen-free.

Nothing that complicates or adds to the overwhelm. These genuinely make summer travel feel easier for everyone in the family, with games and activities to keep your little one creative and curious, without screens.

Comment TRAVEL below and I’ll send the links to these analog summer essentials straight to you. We all need to unplug for a digital detox over the holidays 🤍

Set your kids up for an analog summer with these! I do these every year and they only take a few hours but will make a big difference over the next 3 months.

Without them, I always find a carefully organised space turns into complete chaos within about 48 hours.

Simple systems that make a huge impact. Comment SUMMER for my favourite toy organisation products!

Audiobooks are one of the most underrated language development tools for children, and most parents don’t even think to try them.

They build vocabulary, deepen comprehension, and introduce your child to topics and ideas in a way that feels like listening, not learning.

🎙️ Comment the word AUDIO and I’ll send you my current favourites.

Here’s an IKEA Trofast hack to make the most of this setup 👇🏼

Skip installing the shelves on one of the units and you’ve got an instant tabletop. A play surface, a craft station, a sensory tray setup. Whatever your child needs it to be.

Comment MIX and I’ll send you 🔗s so you can create the same setup at home.

What if the goal isn’t “less screen time” for children… but more inviting alternatives?

Sometimes small spacial shifts create big behavioural changes.

This unused cupboard became a tiny reading retreat and suddenly we added an invitation to cosy up, dive into stories, and nurture a love for reading.

If you’d like ideas for creating something similar in your home, send me a message 🤍

Have you ever watched your child ignore an expensive toy and play for hours with something simple? That’s not a coincidence.

Good toys invite open-ended thinking, support development, and give children the freedom to lead their own play. Bad toys demand attention rather than encourage it, offer one outcome, and leave little room for creativity or growth.

Knowing the difference changes everything about how you shop for your child.

Comment TOYS and I’ll send you the links to educational toys that truly support your child’s learning at home 👇🏻

Most families don’t start with the perfect space. They start with what they have, and make it work.

That’s exactly what we did here, turning an ordinary room into a storybook, nature-themed playroom designed to bring the outdoors inside, keeping little ones active and curious all summer long.

Every element of this kids’ room transformation was chosen with purpose. The result is an intentional play space that genuinely supports how children play, explore, and learn, no matter the size or starting point.

I work with families all around the world 🌍 to create spaces like this. Get in touch to learn more!

The room your child moves into does not have to be the room they stay in. With the right design direction, even the most uninspiring room can become somewhere your child truly thrives.

Reach out if you’d like to reimagine your child’s space. We work with families all around the world 🌍

STOP buying your children more books… and do this instead!

Teaching a toddler to read isn’t about getting through the book. It’s about building a relationship with language before they ever sound out a single word. Repetition, expression, pointing, pausing, asking questions, these are the tools teachers use every day in classrooms around the world.

The good news is you can use them too, starting with tonight’s bedtime story. Save this for your next reading session 🩷