Toys + Playthings Archives

These no-carb dumplings on Etsy are perfect for your Valentine.

by Liz Gumbinner | Toys + Playthings, Valentine's Day

Happy year of the Rat everyone! With the Lunar New Year upon us, I’m so happy to find this adorable new Etsy shop, which celebrates all things dumplings. Only, not the edible kind, so if you’re low-carbing right now, you’re in luck. Christine Jee has...

The best subscription gifts for kids this year: There’s one for every age, and every interest

by Kate Etue | Holiday Picks, Toys + Playthings

It’s final countdown to the holidays, which means last-minute gift ideas, which means subscription gifts for kids, which are always some of our favorites to give — last minute or not! Wwe know from experience that our kids love to receive boxes in the...

A special needs mom shares 4 great toys for kids with cognitive disabilities.

by Kate Etue | Toys + Playthings

With the holidays coming up, grandparents and friends are naturally asking for ideas for gifts for the kids, but when you are shopping for toys for kids with cognitive disabilities, it can make the gifting a little more challenging. For my daughter, play time is also...

A brilliantly easy way to donate your kids’ plastic toys to children who will really love them.

by Christina Refford | Doing Good, Toys + Playthings

If the picture up top makes you think, Ack! That’s every room of my house, then you’re going to be so happy to learn about Second Chance Toys, an organization that will help you get those no-longer-wanted toys into the hands of kids who really do want them...

Baby Yoda Funko POP! The stocking stuffer we desperately want will be here…not by Christmas.

by Liz Gumbinner | Toys + Playthings

The good news: I finally found the one affordable little gift I know will please every one of my kids. Baby Yoda: The Child Funko POP! figurine, fresh off his Mandalorian boost into meme-of-the-year status, complete with a Lin Manuel approved viral Baby Yoda Hamilton...

5 reasons this STEM toy should be at the top of your holiday shopping list

by Cool Mom Staff | Toys + Playthings

Every year, we keep an eye on hot holiday toy trends, and no surprise here, STEM toys are still a big ticket item for the 2019 holiday season. When we look for STEM toys, we particularly appreciate ones that teach kids STEM concepts by encouraging creative,...

5 incredible deals on hot toys at Zulily right now. The holidays are coming!

by Liz Gumbinner | Holiday Picks, Toys + Playthings

If you’re looking to get a head start on holiday shopping — especially toys for all those kids on your list — you can score some truly fantastic deals right now thanks to our partner Zulily. And I can help! This parent-fave online retailer launches...

New LEGO Replay lets you donate your used bricks to kids in need. And it’s so easy!

by Liz Gumbinner | Doing Good, Toys + Playthings

I think you’re going to be as excited about LEGO Replay as I am. Because if your kids are like mine, they’ve accumulated a whoooole lot of LEGO bricks over the years. And there comes a point where maybe they don’t need them. Or at least all of them....

How to play Crokinole: The best game you’ve never played

by Kristen Chase | Toys + Playthings

After someone I follow on Instagram mentioned that her family had a blast playing the game Crokinole, I decided to Google it, having never heard of it myself. What kind of board game buff am I? Not a good one, apparently. Well, as I’ve learned over the last...

Mattel launches the first gender-neutral dolls for kids and everything about this is beautiful.

by Liz Gumbinner | Thinking : Parent, Toys + Playthings

When I read the news last night that Mattel is launching Creatable World, the first gender neutral doll and accessories to put kids in charge of their own play experience I teared up. In part because of the tag line, “All Welcome.” In part because I know...

How to get your hands on the new Barbie x Star Wars dolls before they cost a schmillion Galactic Credits

by Liz Gumbinner | Toys + Playthings

The limited edition, totally collectible, geektastic collaboration between Barbie x Star Wars is coming soon, so start saving those Creds. Shipping exclusively from Amazon around November 18, you’ll find 3 Barbie figures, including Barbie R2-D2, Barbie Leia, and...

Hi! We’re Kristen + Liz!

Kristen Chase + Liz Gumbinner of Cool Mom Picks

We started Cool Mom Picks in 2006 to help make life cooler, easier, more organized, more meaningful, and more fun for parents of all kinds.

Trivia: It was called Cool Mom Sh*t for the first two days. (Yeah, we rethought that.)

We had no idea our site would grow to become a major lifestyle network, that we'd end up sharing our finds with the TODAY Show and Martha Stewart, that we'd be able to make a real difference for so many small businesses and women-run companies, or that we'd end up with an incredible community of the coolest readers on the planet. (If we do say so ourselves).