We were lucky to catch up with Yerika Carrizales recently and have shared our conversation below.

Yerika , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

Thank you! I’m really excited too!

I’m Yerika — a teacher, a mom of two, and someone who’s always looking to create meaningful memories with my family. My husband and I moved to the U.S. nearly 10 years ago, first settling in Florida, where we had our two children. About four years ago, we relocated to Indiana.

As a young family, we were always searching for fun, kid-friendly places to visit, eat, and explore — but most of the resources we found were only in English. With a growing Spanish-speaking population in the area, I saw the need for something bilingual, something more inclusive. That’s when I started Happy Kids Indy, a platform dedicated to sharing fun, family-oriented activities, places, and events in both English and Spanish.

Today, Happy Kids Indy is a space where I, along with my husband, our 7-year-old daughter, and 4-year-old son, share ideas and recommendations for families like ours — always looking for joy and connection through simple, everyday experiences.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Growing a bilingual community hasn’t been easy — but it’s been so rewarding. Every bit of growth has happened organically through genuine connection and engagement. It takes time to build trust, especially when you’re creating something that didn’t really exist before.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that consistency and authenticity matter. It’s not just about sharing content — it’s about building relationships with families and businesses. Over time, that’s led to incredible opportunities, like partnering with the largest children’s museum in the U.S., as well as parks, family entertainment centers, and local restaurants.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

At Happy Kids Indy, our strongest source of growth has been our connection with the local Spanish-speaking community. Our mission is to be the go-to resource for families looking for fun, educational, and culturally rich activities around Indianapolis. Whether it’s discovering a hidden gem of a playground, attending a local festival, or finding the best kid-friendly restaurants, we curate everything with family fun, accessibility, and community in mind.

By staying current and sharing genuinely helpful content, we’ve built trust and engagement with our audience — and that word-of-mouth, combined with social media visibility, has been our most powerful tool for growth.

Now, local businesses are reaching out to us — looking for us to visit, record, and share what they have to offer to families. It’s a wonderful evolution that allows us to support small businesses while continuing to serve our community with authentic, family-focused recommendations.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

To me, happiness is seeing a child smile — and feeling the joy and magic in that moment. Childhood only happens once, and in today’s busy world, it often unfolds in the midst of stressed, overwhelmed adults. That’s why I created Happy Kids Indy — to help make life a little easier for parents by offering a quick, simple guide to experiences that spark joy. I want families to spend less time searching and more time living and laughing together.

Some of my favorite moments are when my kids are literally running into the fun — whether it’s a new playground, a pop-up event, or a local museum. That energy, that excitement, is contagious. And when people see those moments in our videos, they instantly connect with the joy, and they know something new is happening in our community. That’s a big part of the happiness I aim to share.

Building a recognizable, trusted brand has been key to growing our audience. Happy Kids Indy has become a familiar name for Spanish-speaking families in the area, and that authenticity and consistency have created a strong, loyal following.

Now, local businesses are reaching out to us — inviting us to discover and share what they offer to families. It’s a beautiful cycle of mutual support, rooted in trust, joy, and real-life connection.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @happykidsindy
• Facebook: Happy Kids Indy