FAQs
Or rather... frequently had conversations
What is TODDLY all about?
TODDLY’S mission is to support parents/caretakers and kiddos alike in navigating their little life together. Using a teaching-based approach to effectively develop skills and conquer milestones, TODDLY Books offer a unique way for you to show your little one your love, support and confidence that they can take on life's new challenges. As the star of every parable, your child sees how to be successful in a way that’s personal to them, all while bonding with their favorite person (that’s YOU!).
I’m intrigued. So, how does it work?
Customizable stories, told from your child’s perspective, allow your child to see themselves and connect to the learning process that goes along with each book. The illustrations intentionally have minimal detail to stay focused on the concept at hand. The simplicity of the visuals leaves room to emphasize the child’s feelings, expressions, and actions. Personal photos, skin tone match, and loved ones’ faces help the child feel connected and invested in the positive outcome. All books also come with helpful tips for you to help integrate each approach into your child’s life.
But I’ve seen personalized books before. What makes TODDLY different?
We bridge the gap between personalized whimsical books about fantasy that are meant to entertain, and generalized books about common childhood skills that are meant to teach.
Most personalized books on the market offer name replacements as their form of “personalization”. Although this is cute for us as parents, most of our toddler-aged children don’t read themselves, so the connection they feel to the story is limited. There are books out there that offer character options that may look similar to your child - an emoji of sorts - but they don’t have anywhere near the powerful attachment properties of a real photo.
With TODDLY books, your kiddo feels validated in their emotions, gains confidence in challenging situations, and can see how their actions affect others.
Got it, but is my kid the right age for TODDLY?
Each book's topic has its own age range but most topics are suggested for children from 1 - 5 years old. While the typical toddler age range is 1-3 years, certain topics are still very relevant for school aged children. Some concepts and skills span over years of development. TODDLY books teach the basics, so they are always a good reference point. While a 1 year old isn’t quite ready to fully perform the presented concepts, reading stories with their families will build up the pathways in their brain early, and start to lay the groundwork of the basic skills. As they enter the next stage of development, the concepts and ideas will already be familiar.
Wait, the world is digital now…. Why not just send me a digital version?
You’re right! The world is full of blue lights and screens all around us. Our kiddos get to Facetime with Grandma and Grandpa, watch cartoons (Hello, Paw Patrol!), and play iPad games when parents need a much-deserved break. TODDLY Books offers an opportunity to leave technology behind and experience the joy of turning the pages.
Reading together provides both developmental benefits and an opportunity to connect and bond with you. Not only will TODDLY Books give your child a sense of ownership by connecting them to the characters of their stories, but your quality time reading together and physical connection are some ways to help foster a deep sense of secure attachment, support, and trust.
I have 1,000,000 photos of my kid on my phone. But I kinda want to take new ones for this. Got any tips?
Sure do. While ordering, each book will prompt you to upload a couple different pictures of your child showing different emotions. There are probably many photos of your child happy but some of the other emotions might not seem as plentiful in your photo reel. If you are having a difficult time finding photos try playing a fun game with your child where you make a face and they mimic the expression.
What is personalized in each book?
Photos of the child, photos of important adult(s) in the child's life, skin tone matching on the illustrated characters for all uploaded photos, and name & age of the child. The pacifier book has one extra personalization: the unique word your child might use to refer to their pacifier.
We understand each family is different so in order to allow for all family situations, we only customize the child's name in the story. We do NOT customize the adult names. We refer to them as the "family" or "grownups."
Great, so when will I get it?
When ordering please be mindful we are creating a one of a kind book for your child. After we lovingly create your child’s personalized story, we send it to the printer. Since it is a unique print order, it requires about 3-4 days for production time at the printer. Once your personalized book is finished, it will be sent directly to the address you provide. You will have options for your preferred shipping method at checkout.
Please note that due to the custom nature of our products, all sales are final. However, if you see something in your book that you think we created in error, please don't hesitate to reach out to our customer service specialists at toddlybooks@gmail.com and we will do our best to make it right.
What should I do when it gets here?
Enjoy it! Watch your child’s excitement as they see pictures of themself and their loved ones in their own book. Children need repetition when learning. Incorporate it into your regular story time to help build up those neural pathways. As a bonus, each book includes helpful tips tailored to the topic that will give you an extra sense of guidance through some of these childhood challenges.
And you guys are…?
All of these stories are curated and made with love from the minds of an educated preschool teacher, a passionate mother of two, and a creative artist. Meet Us
Okay, I’m totally in… now what do I need?
In order to make your child's book special and unique to them, we’ll need just a few things from you. Below is a list per book of what you’ll be asked to submit during the ordering process. How It Works