We were lucky to catch up with Allyson Burakoff recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Allyson thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
I have 4 kids (twins on my third try) and I have been to all the kids classes over the past 10 years. After that I started thinking that there has to be a way to have the kids more engaged and also provide some type of fun for the parents as well. That’s where I came up with the idea for Toddler Time SD. I do all the messy and sensory projects that parents don’t like to do at home. I noticed during COVID that kids need time to play independently and my kids loved getting messy. I took that concept and ran with it offering themed monthly classes that empowered kids to play on their own with their parents taking a step back.
At my classes I always provide coffee for the parents. As a class chaperone, I always felt like if I just had a cup of coffee in my hands I’d be having more fun instantly. Also, we don’t listen to kids music, we listen to 90’s jams, hip-hop and pop hits that give the parents a little enjoyment and maybe take them back mentally to their younger days.
My mission is to build a better toddler class and I feel like in doing so I have discovered a community of parents and kids that are AWESOME and that keep it real with parenting. It’s not always easy and the more we can create groups that support each other and relate, the happier both our toddlers and their parents will be.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m Allyson and I was a Mom of two taking a break from my career in the nonprofit industry when my husband and I decided to try for our third child. We went to the first ultrasound and they said “you might want to hold hands” and then proceeded to tell me we were having twins (later we learned identical twin girls). My world was rocked and I had some very tough times adjusting to being a Mom of 4 and then living through the COVID era. Once we all got back on our feet, I started scheming about this class I had always dreamed of. That’s when I took the leap and started my business. I had no formal experience in any of the business or finance side, but taught myself along the way. It has been an incredibly fun and fulfilling venture and I truly love what I do and the people I get to hang out with in the classes.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
My social media is a very honest and eclectic collection of things about me and my business. I have shared very vulnerable moments of me as a mother, I’ve shared my challenges and I love to showcase my creativity. I think putting myself out there authentically is what has really drummed up my audience. Since then I have maintained it by creating visually appealing content of both my sensory creations and also the kids participating in my program. It’s almost not fair because when adorable toddlers are playing with adorable things you really can’t strike out on social media!!
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
I think that my reputation comes from one of the most powerful networks there are…..MOMS. When a Mom gets a whiff of a parent participation class that doesn’t feature sing songy kids music that gets stuck in your head for the day where you also get to drink coffee while your kid plays, that word travels fast. Also, my hope is that when a new parent joins the class they feel that there is a great vibe amongst the other parents. Sometimes a parent comes to class and says their child didn’t sleep last night and they’re exhausted, the other parents jump in and help with their kid and offer support and advice. It’s more than a class, it’s also a safe/enjoyable place for the parents.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.toddlertimesd.com
- Instagram: toddlertimesd
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/toddlertimesd
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/toddler-time-sd-san-diego?osq=toddler+time+sd