About Kaitlynn Blyth
Owner and Founder, Happy Day Play, Inc.
“I believe in engaging directly WITH families rather than talking AT them, offering support that aligns with where they truly are on their unique journey. Whether they seek guidance or just want to have fun here, both are equally important and wonderful. No one knows your child and family better than you, so I wanted to avoid the typical class structure that spews out generic childhood development information as if it’s applicable to everyone in that moment. Each family is on a unique journey, so the experience needs to be customized. You can’t effectively empower and support families with a one-size-fits-all model. While many talk about empowerment and expertise, Happy Day Play genuinely and uniquely embodies it. That’s why we designed an educational model that avoids large class sizes and generalized information, all while providing certified support for your child, you as a parent, and your entire family — there is nothing else like it. Every child and family deserves to be uniquely celebrated and accepted just as they are. Traditional models can’t achieve this, which is why our family life science approach is so valuable. Our approach is built on personalized connections and a genuine understanding of each family’s dynamics.”
Background and Expertise
Kaitlynn Blyth is the visionary behind Happy Day Play, leveraging her expertise as a Family Life Educator and affiliation with the National Council on Family Relations. With a mission to transform family support and natural learning opportunities during crucial formative years, she integrates evidence-based insights into practical solutions for modern families. Drawing from her experience in effectively communicating and setting the highest standard of credibility to help millions of parents when leading organic content strategy for the digital arm of What To Expect When You’re Expecting, the world’s leading parenting and pregnancy brand, Blyth combines professional knowledge with personal experience as a mother of two.
Originally conceived as an online platform, Happy Day Play launched in May 2023 to deliver emerging childhood and family development research in accessible formats, seamlessly integrated into daily family routines. Responding to high demand, Blyth expanded the platform to include engaging in-person classes, consulting with top developmental child and family researchers to develop a "grown-up and me" program. This innovative framework promotes educational family fun while supporting holistic development for children, parents, and siblings alike.
She is deeply grateful for the rapid traction this idea has gained in such a short time and eagerly anticipates catalyzing change in education both within the United States and globally. At the heart of her mission is the belief that family is paramount and affects EVERYTHING. Everyone believes in family-first and she believes this should translate over into effective, high-quality education done correctly.
Favorite Piece of Parenting Advice
“We have to remember that children are tiny humans: they all are wired differently, have their likes and dislikes, their strengths and weaknesses. This is normal.”
Favorite Class at Happy Day Play
The 'Play and More!' class series holds a special place in her heart due to its versatility. Whether indoors or outdoors, themed or spontaneous, there's always a creative angle to explore in our classes.
Favorite Event at Happy Day Play
Mom Prom and Free Family Wellness Day with Hoopla Family Fun app
Kaitlynn announcing the Babies R Us and Happy Day Play partnership.
Fun Facts About Ms. Kaitlynn
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Red
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She is obsessed with all things carousel and even had a vintage carousel from 1916 at her wedding. She's always been a big kid at heart and loves to have fun!
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Planning parties, dreaming of Disney vacations, and shopping at Primark
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She has a soft spot for quality wooden toys and plays an active role in the Melissa & Doug Living Playfully community, providing valuable feedback.
At the top of her recommendation list is a wooden play kitchen set complete with all the accessories.
From Kaitlynn on Becoming a Mom
Becoming a mom has been the most incredible and empowering experience of my life. They weren't kidding when they said your brain changes forever. Motherhood has shown me that I am capable of so much more than I ever imagined, and it has ignited a belief in myself to dream big and pursue those dreams fearlessly.
My children have been my greatest teachers. They've shown me that the only limits are the ones we place on ourselves. The worst anyone can say is no, and even then, they've taught me the importance of perseverance and resilience—to keep pushing forward no matter the obstacles.
Motherhood has also taught me the invaluable lesson of surrounding myself with people who genuinely support and celebrate me. It's about being with those who welcome you wholeheartedly and uplift you. This realization has been transformative, and it's a lesson I am determined to instill in my children—to always know their worth and surround themselves with authentic, supportive individuals.
Through the journey of motherhood, I've come to understand the immense potential within each of us and the importance of nurturing a positive, empowering environment. My children inspire me every day to strive for the best version of myself and to create a life filled with love, authenticity, and boundless possibilities.
A Letter of Love to the Happy Day Play Community
As a mom of two adorable hooligans, deeply immersed in the chaotic "early years” of parenthood, and an absolute nerd when it comes to babyhood and childhood development, my main goal for Happy Day Play was to make the journey of parenting and raising little ones a tad easier, no matter who you are or where you come from. I wholeheartedly believe that every family deserves support and every child deserves a quality education, starting right at home with their own family as their first teachers.
With years of experience working for the world's top pregnancy and parenting brand, What To Expect When You're Expecting, combined with my own personal interests and specialized education in pre and early literacy, and being a member of the National Council on Family, I've soaked up knowledge about every little developmental milestone imaginable. Being the oldest sibling of three, surrounded by a bunch of younger cousins, and having kids gravitate towards me wherever I go (probably because I'm just a big kid at heart), I thought I had parenting all figured out when I excitedly got pregnant with my first child.
But oh boy, reality hit me like a ton of bricks after she was born. I never anticipated the lack of support, the endless juggling act, and the constant questioning that crept in even when I knew exactly what to expect at each stage. And let me tell you, even someone as confident as me was shaken to the core when I realized that I had to be the expert on my own child's growth and well-being, navigating through all the challenges. It's overwhelming, to say the least.
But hey, us moms always find a way, don't we? I managed to survive and even thrive, but truth be told, it shouldn't have been as tough as it was. No family should have to go through that. Thankfully, I am forever grateful for the support system I built over time – the village I created, the friends I made, the incredible parent-child class teachers who became like family, and my amazing husband who embraced the beautiful chaos alongside me.
Fast forward a few years, and here we are, having welcomed our second bundle of joy into the world. With each passing moment, my fascination with childhood development has only grown stronger (yes, somehow!). I've delved deep into the intricate connections between outside support, family dynamics, and a child's overall growth, uncovering the gaps in the traditional early learning model. And that's when the idea of Happy Day Play was born.
Let's face it, being a parent, all we want is the best for our little ones. But let's be real, society doesn't always make it easy for modern families. That's why I wanted to bring a touch of simplicity and joy into parenting by providing easily accessible information, injecting humor into the fog from sleepless nights, and sharing valuable insights through fun digital downloads, relatable expert articles, adorable yet informative YouTube videos, and more. I've collaborated with other early childhood experts, family-oriented brands, and various businesses to show families how to infuse everyday activities with learning and create unforgettable moments. And due to popular demand, introduced in-person programs that brought everything together full circle.
I've often times questioned where the magic of learning went for families. And let me tell you, there's so much more out there – innovative, educational, natural and downright fun. Other local state or city mandated programs may stick to their own rulebooks, doing what they know best and have done for years or following a standardized model - and that’s great. There is a need and are reasons why those exist. At Happy Day Play though, we provide a different experience unlike anything else currently offered, focused on holistic family learning and fun. Each offering is designed to wow your family, to spark that sense of wonder and make learning exciting all over again and more importantly, accessible to everyone!
So, whether you're simply looking for expert parenting tips or want to exclusively join our “mommy and me” style program in NYC or NJ, we are thrilled to have you as part of the Happy Day Play crew! Because together, we can make this magical time of parenting even more memorable and enjoyable for every family.
It is an honor to serve and know your family! Here’s to creating the best memories, together!