We at Ava to Zeke love all things curated, so today we’re bringing you the story of two inspiring women and their boutique business. We’re humbled to sit down with Amy Mabry and Regina Paquette, founders of Skip and Play, a company that curates developmentally appropriate toys that are also high on style. Amy and Regina think about toys like we think about baby names: they have to be pretty, for sure, but they also have to grow with your child over time.
All first-time parents know the plight of frantically researching your new baby’s next big stage (on your iPhone, one-handed, while feeding a screaming baby who’s kicking you in the gut) while also trying to just survive in the sleep-deprived moment. You have piles of toys, still in gift bags from your shower, waiting to be assembled. And by the time you get a free minute to unpack them, your baby has outgrown it all.
Amy and Regina have been there, and that new-mom chaos is what makes Skip and Play such a saving grace! If you haven’t heard of Skip and Play yet, it’s a toy subscription service featuring boxes of award winning toys that are hand-picked for your child’s developmental stage and delivered to your door. Yep, that’s right. No need to get dressed. The high-quality toys are carefully chosen by their team using Regina’s background in design and Amy’s background in child development, making this one beautiful and smart operation.
We wanted to get inside the brains of this two-woman team to learn more about their company, their (well-named) kids, and how they balance doing it all. Because we could all use a little weekday inspiration, amiright?
Please tell us a little bit about yourselves.
Amy: I have a beautiful daughter, Hannah Rose, who was just born last year. I call her my miracle baby because she is just that! She took a very long time [to get here], and I think sometimes my husband and I are still in shock that she is here. I like to run, although I haven’t run much since she was born, but I’m going to slowly get back out there, and I love a good glass of wine.
Regina: I have a background in design and finding the right toys that are also aesthetically pleasing is very important to me. I have a son, Gray, and daughter, Bijou (which I’m excited to share more about their names).
Why did you start Skip and Play?
Regina: I knew it was a good idea that had to be brought to life. I would search for hours for the right toys for my son Gray. I knew that it would be more beneficial to spend time playing with him rather than researching what to get him, but because I didn’t know [where to start], I spent most of my time reading Amazon reviews.
Amy: I went to graduate school to study child development. I was fascinated behind the theory of how children grow and function and wanted to study their development. After graduate school, I started working at a pediatrics clinic do in home assessments. It was at that job that the idea for Skip and Play was born. After each session I asked the parents if I they had any questions, and the number one question every parent asked was, “What toys should I get my kids?” I thought, wouldn’t it be great if there was a company who could do this!
Can you tell us about your curation process? How do you decide what goes into your boxes?
Amy: Finding the right toys for kids is critical. The way I look at is, would you put a freshman in high school in calculus if they haven’t taken algebra yet? It’s the same thing with toys. They need the right tools for their age and stage so they can master that skill and move on to the next one. Our curation process is very detailed. We spend time learning about each toy, then we test them with a focus group of children. They have the fun job of being Toy Testers! Once we have assessed the function, we decide if it makes the cut and goes “in the box.”
Regina: It’s my job to ensure that each toy is aesthetically beautiful! I have a background in design and therefore understand the important function of color. I don’t want someone to walk in a room and see the most obnoxious toys. Rather, I want them to be soothing and calming. This can be done by pairing the right colors and shapes together.
Now, tell us about your kids!
Regina: I have two kids, Gray and Bijou. Gray is who made me a mom, and he is 3 going on 16. He loves all things music and art. Bijou is the sweetest yet feistiest baby in the world. She is the most joyful baby.
Amy: I have a daughter Hannah, and she is 10 months old. She is feisty and active, and I love her for her active personality…although she tires this mama out too. She fought hard to get here, and there isn’t a second of it she wastes. Right now she has just learned to wave, and it’s the cutest thing I have ever seen in my life!
How would you describe your baby naming process?
Amy: So I thought I was having a boy and I wanted a traditional yet modern name, so I picked Preston and Tyler. Then we narrowed it down to Tyler because my husband loved that name. He grew up in Hawaii, so I think he liked that it sounded surfer-esque. Our daughter was a surprise, and it was a big surprise because the whole time I thought I was having a boy. I always loved the name Hannah, so I threw it out as a backup in case we had a girl. For a middle name I thought Grace because of what that word means, but then I looked up what the definition of Hannah was and it means “grace,” so I didn’t want to name our daughter “Grace Grace” essentially. So one day I was playing around with middle names and Rose just fit.
Regina: I knew from the first two weeks of each child what I wanted to name them, despite no one ever liking the names I chose. Even though people were against the names, it made me fight for their names even more, because I knew they were meant to be the names of my babies.
What were your biggest considerations when choosing your children’s names?
Regina: I wanted them to feel special and know that feeling in your “gut” that those were their names. I immediately felt connected to those names. I could see them growing into those names as they grew older, and I wanted to feel comfortable saying their names with pride. I love introducing them, and their names ended up fitting their personalities well.
Amy: For me it had to be more on the traditional side. My name is Amy and my husband’s name is John. They are very traditional names. While I know we are in 2019 and you can name and be anything, I still wanted it to fit within our family and be cohesive with us.
Do you think your children’s names reflect your personal styles?
Amy: Oh definitely. I’m more traditional in my style, yet can also have a lot to say, which I why I always introduce her as Hannah Rose rather than just Hannah. Someone told me it sounds snobby to introduce her full name, but I still do it because I love her middle name just as much, and they sound so good together.
Regina: Yes, I can’t think of two better names that complement each other while also being so different. I think that reflects my style.
You two make a business out of having good taste! Are there any baby names or naming trends you’re particularly loving right now?
Regina: I love names that you have to hear a second time or anything that is sentimental. For example, my daughter’s middle name is Kauai, as I grew up in Hawaii.
Amy: I love that nicknames are now full names. You don’t have to have a long formal name anymore, and what we used to abbreviate is now the whole name.
And finally, what’s the single piece of advice you’d give new working moms?
Amy: Oh gosh, it’s so wonderful and hard at the same time. I would say don’t feel bad. On the days I’m with her, I feel like I should be working. But then the days with her get long and I start counting down to work, then when I’m at work I miss her and want to go home. From what I hear that’s a pretty normal cycle. So don’t feel bad for the days you want to leave your child. It’s okay, and you need that time away. Also, don’t feel bad for the days you won’t get any work done. Your baby needs you, and that’s where you should be in that moment.
Regina: Go easy on yourself and try to be present on whichever job you are doing at the moment. When you are home with your kids try not to think about work and when you are at work, try not to think about missing anything at home.
Thank you, Amy and Regina, for your time. And thanks for reminding us to keep our lives filled with balance and beauty!
Readers, visit Skip and Play’s website now and get 20% off your first order with code PLAY. If you don’t have kids or they’re all grown up, Skip and Play’s gift boxes are perfect for that pregnant friend or new mama in your life.
Copyright: All photos are property of Skip and Play.