by Christina Refford | Toys + Playthings
It only takes about 3/4″ of snow to get my kids begging to go to the sledding hill in town. They used to bang a big plastic sled up and down the hills, arguing over whose turn it is to lug the awkward thing back to the top, but this winter they have something...
by Kirsten | Toys + Playthings
One of my favorite pastimes with my kids has always been puzzles. I love the combination of relaxing and challenging. My son usually only lasts a quarter of the way through, but my daughter patiently works until the very last piece is placed. (I try to quit but she...
by Liz Gumbinner | Toys + Playthings
One of the neat things about sending the kids off to preschool is seeing all the fun developmental toys they get to play with. It’s also one of the mildly guilt-inducing things. Like, uh…was I supposed to be giving them all these fun developmental toys to...
by Liz Gumbinner | Toys + Playthings
I caved. After years of avoiding the store and hiding the catalog, I finally gave in and bought two American Girl Dolls for my daughters for Christmas. But in doing so, I swore that I’d support Etsy artists and crafters by buying as much handmade clothing for...
by Liz Gumbinner | Toys + Playthings
You have to love any DIY tutorial that includes among the instructions “print out Death Star from the Internet.” And I especially love it when it combines two of our favorite things–LEGO and Star Wars. I love this tutorial for a DIY Star Wars...
by Christina Refford | Toys + Playthings
In my part of the country, it is definitely more hot-cocoa time than ice-cream weather. But not according to my kids who know that any day is perfect for ice cream. Which is why this sweet-smelling six-pack of cones would be a welcome addition to their playtime, no...
by Christina Refford | Toys + Playthings
The siren song of electronics has a huge pull on my tweens this holiday, so if I’m going to ask Santa to bring them something that doesn’t begin with an “i” it’d better be something pretty cool. I found something pretty cool....
by Christina Refford | Toys + Playthings
When you consider that most nativity sets include a couple of sheep, some people, an angel, and a stable, is it any wonder that most kids can’t wait to get their hands on them? But after my three were finished playing with the set I had growing up, I understood...
by Kirsten | Toys + Playthings
What little girl doesn’t love tea parties? Well, I sure did. Some of my fondest childhood memories are making my grandfather sit down for nice cup of my make-believe tea. He was always the best sport about it, which meant the world to me. So I have a sweet spot...
by Lexi Petronis | Toys + Playthings
If you–like me–have a little one who has become so devoted to all things “super” that you have to call breakfast “super-Cheerios” and explain that bedtime is the only way to recharge super-batteries, then I guarantee this is a truly...
by Christina Refford | Toys + Playthings
We’re so happy to wish a happy 40th anniversary to Free to Be…You and Me, that groundbreaking collection of songs and spoken word pieces that introduced me to the concepts of equality and tolerance at such a young age. For instance, take the...
by Delilah S. Dawson | Toys + Playthings
Expensive plastic figurines? A Jedi craves not these things. Grab your lightsaber-shaped crochet hook and get busy creating your own galaxy of bite-sized Jedi, Rebels, Empire, and, well, giant squid guys.Trust us– it’s not a trap. You know we love it when...
