Baby Mwah received these soft organic blocks ($28) from NewBornMom, a hip eco-friendly baby store, a few months ago. The blocks match NewBornMom’s luxe organic elephant crib sheets($40), which I’d been drooling over since they would look so pretty in my animal-themed nursery. Initially Baby Mwah showed no interest in the blocks, so I used them as nursery […]
Make a Splash
Imagine a toy that is reusable, suitable for toddlers, preschoolers, and school-aged children, rolls up for storage, and inspires creativity without any mess–and you’ll have Aquadoodle. My daughter will draw all day long, but she always wants a clean page. We save a few of her paintings, but mainly she just enjoys doodling. Since she […]
Back to Basics Coupon Codes (Deal of the Day)
Back to Basics carries open-ended toys that spark the imagination for good, old-fashioned fun, like this Wood Construction Site and this Jumbo Nok Hockey Game, both made in the USA. From now until November 15, 2008, use these Back to Basics discount coupon codes to save–finish your Holiday shopping early! Click to Get 12% Off […]
Win A K’NEX Sesame Street Building Set
Award-winning children’s toy maker K’NEX just introduced Sesame Street-Themed Building Sets for children ages two years and older- the youngest audience yet for a K’NEX toy! These new sets were designed to provide an easier building experience for young children. With just a little help, my 2 1/2 year old product tester had no problem manipulating the different […]
Cooking Up Fun!
Preparing food often seems like a chore to adults, but it is fascinating and exciting to children. When I was little, I adored my Snoopy Snow Cone Machine and Easy-Bake Oven. When I look at these products from an adult-perspective, they seem so flawed. I remember how hard it was to crank the handle on the snow cone machine. And […]
Prima Princessa Ballerina
Prima Princessa is a cheerful cartoon fairy who wants to share her love of ballet with your child. She floats, flitters, and glides through a condensed version of Swan Lake, performed by the Paris Opera Ballet. Interspersed with the dancing are clips of preschool girls learning dance steps, young students from the School of American […]
Clip-On Fun
Toddlers have remarkable imaginations. Mine will stick two blocks together and proudly proclaim it a “kitty cat…with shoes!” So, we favor open-ended toys that allow her to explore her own creativity. If you are looking for something a cleaner and less pointy than two sticks and some rocks, then building blocks are a classic for […]
I SPY….A Game The Whole Family Can Enjoy!
Until second grade, I lived in a historic house with horrible TV reception. The only channel that was fuzz-free was PBS. But we were never bored. Instead of watching TV after dinner, we would spend time together as a family playing games. I loved those family game nights, and I think they are one of the reasons why my memories of those years […]
Everybody Loves a Clown
The scent of hay, peanuts, and cotton candy immediately brings me back to the circus. I can vividly recall the antics of the clowns, the grace and courage of the acrobats, and the awesome power of the animals. Our family would take the train into Madison Square Garden and see the whole place transformed into […]
Cabbage Patch Kid Memories
For Christmas 1983, the only thing I wanted from “Santa” was a Cabbage Patch Kid. Just about every kid in America wanted one too, so they were nearly impossible to find in that pre-eBay era. I remember watching the mob scenes on TV: hordes of parents rushing toy stores, Cabbage Patch Kids being transported in armored cars, a mailman […]
