by Cool Mom Team | Toys + Playthings
I have animal-crazy daughters, a wonderful characteristic I attribute in part to awesome grandparents that think to buy them “animal things” before buying them “princess things.” So I was thrilled to see a nice partnership between National...
by Christina Refford | Toys + Playthings
When we’re running out the door on one of our million weekly errands, it’s way too easy to just grab the iPad or a handheld electronic game to occupy the kids. But in my ongoing quest to “unplug” a little more often, I’ve discovered a...
by Stephanie Slate | Toys + Playthings
Qu’est-ce que c’est? Why it’s only the sweetest cardboard play structure I’ve ever laid eyes on. Okay, I’ve only laid eyes on it online, but still. I think my children need this thing, stat. The French Café from Little Play Spaces takes...
by Delilah S. Dawson | Toys + Playthings
Need a gift for the superstar girl who has everything? She could be 8. Or heck, 38. Either way, I think she’ll like this adorable necklace which it turns out, is a lot more than a necklace. The Super Star Stamp Necklace is an adorable, eco-conscious masterpiece...
by Christina Refford | Toys + Playthings
Maybe it’s because I am so lacking in the artistic/crafty gene, but I’ve always preferred arts-and-craft kits that call for a heavy dose of imagination. In other words, I could never get my final product to look anything like the picture on the box.For all...
by Cool Mom Team | Toys + Playthings
As a homeschool mom, I’ve got plenty of creative ways to teach numbers and counting to my littler ones. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t more creative options out there, like this one from artist and mom CarrieSue Gustafson who I recently...
by Delilah S. Dawson | Toys + Playthings
There’s a box on top of my fridge overflowing with punk-rock ponies, witches on broomsticks, and smiley-faced dolphins, each one representing a special stage in my daughter’s artistic development. They’re amazing in two dimensions. Can you imagine...
by Christina Refford | Toys + Playthings
My handbag is sort of a Mom’s Swiss Army Knife. Need a Band-Aid? Got it. Hungry? I’ve got some mints in here somewhere. But when we get stuck waiting somewhere and the kids are threatening to mutiny out of sheer boredom, it turns out that drawing on the...
by Christina Refford | Toys + Playthings
It’s time for first birthdays! I have two parties coming up; one boy and one girl. Then my own baby girl will celebrate her first this fall. So what are some gift recommendations for this new stage of development? -Elaine Yay for first birthdays! Time for...
by Christina Refford | Toys + Playthings
Summer is all about trying new things, and we’ve got a round-up of picks so new and hot that they will melt your (breast milk?) popsicle. 1. One of our most controversial posts ever involves a European baby doll and a halter top. How do you feel about...
by Cool Mom Team | Toys + Playthings
We’ve long been fans of the beautiful handmade wooden baby toys from family-run Little Sapling Toys, and now there’s one more item that can make you the most awesome gift-giver ever. These personalized wooden alphabet blocks are lovingly handcrafted out of...
by Cool Mom Team | Toys + Playthings
I’m almost embarrassed to think about how many plastic buckets and beach toys we’ve gone through in my seven years of parenting. If only one of our fave brands, Zoe b organic, had come up with this amazing earth-friendly alternative back then. Their new...
