Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Evans.
Hi Sarah, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Calm Little Activities really grew from both my life as a mom of two and my background working with children. Before creating the books, I worked as an early childhood educator in Waldorf, Montessori, and farm school settings. I’m also a certified yoga teacher, and those experiences shaped so much of the way I think about childhood the importance of creativity, nature, movement, mindfulness, slowing down, and giving kids space to explore and connect.
A big part of the inspiration also came during a difficult season in my own family’s life. Our family went through a major change, and I became a single mom. I was trying to navigate that transition while also supporting my children through all of the emotions that came along with it. I found myself looking for simple, gentle ways to help them feel grounded, express what they were feeling, and reconnect during moments that felt overwhelming.
As a mom, I also knew I didn’t want those tools to feel clinical or like one more thing we had to add to an already full day. I wanted activities we could naturally work into everyday life at the breakfast table, in the car, while waiting at a restaurant, before school, or during one of those moments when everyone just needs a reset.
That idea became Calm Little Activities. I started with Calm at the Table and have since grown the collection to include Calm on the Go and Calm in the Morning. The books bring together so many of the things I’ve loved throughout my work with children and yoga creativity, movement, breathwork, mindfulness, gratitude, connection, and play—in a way that feels fun and approachable for kids.
One of the most meaningful parts of this journey has been watching something that began during such a personal chapter of my life grow into something that can support other families, too. Calm Little Activities is now available through Amazon and Barnes & Noble, as well as at BookPeople in Austin and Pear + Pei in League City. Seeing the books on bookstore shelves and knowing they’re making their way into other families’ homes has been incredibly rewarding.
I’m still growing Calm Little Activities very organically. A lot of my ideas come from being a mom, my background as an educator and yoga teacher, and simply paying attention to what kids genuinely respond to. I’m always thinking about how mindfulness and emotional regulation can feel less like a lesson and more like a natural part of childhood.
My goal has never been to create perfectly calm kids or perfectly calm homes. I don’t think that’s realistic, and that isn’t really the point. I want to give families simple, playful tools that can help children understand their emotions, feel more connected and supported, and build skills they can carry with them as they grow.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road. Calm Little Activities was actually born during one of the more challenging seasons of my life. My family was going through a major transition, I became a single mom, and I was trying to support my children emotionally while also finding my own footing. In many ways, creating these books gave me a positive place to channel what I was learning and experiencing.
Building the business itself has also involved a lot of learning as I go. I didn’t come from a publishing or business background, so I had to teach myself everything from creating and publishing the books to distribution, marketing, social media, and reaching out to retailers. There have been plenty of emails that went unanswered, ideas that didn’t work the first time, and moments where growth felt slower than I hoped.
One of the biggest challenges has simply been balancing it all with motherhood. Calm Little Activities is something I’ve built largely in the pockets of time around raising my kids, school schedules, and everyday life. But I also think that has kept the brand very authentic because I’m creating these tools while living the same busy, imperfect family life as the parents who use them.
I’ve learned to celebrate the small wins seeing one of my books on a bookstore shelf, hearing from a parent that their child loved an activity, or watching an idea that started at my kitchen table reach another family. Those moments have made the challenges worth it and reminded me that meaningful growth doesn’t always happen overnight.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My work with Calm Little Activities is focused on creating simple, playful tools that support mindfulness, emotional regulation, creativity, and connection in kids.
My background as an early childhood educator in Waldorf, Montessori, and farm school settings, along with my yoga teaching certification and experience as a mom, all shape what I create.
What sets the books apart is that they’re designed to fit naturally into everyday family life not feel like another lesson or task. I’m most proud that something I originally created to support my own children has grown into a resource for other families and is now available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, BookPeople in Austin.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
One of my favorite childhood memories is spending time at Lake Michigan. We would walk down what felt like a hundred stairs to get to the beach, swim for hours, stay until sunset, and have bonfires at night. I remember feeling such a sense of peace and freedom being surrounded by nature. Looking back, I think those simple moments being outside, slowing down, and just enjoying where we were have really stayed with me and even influence some of what I value and create today.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @calmlittleactivities
