This past holiday season, my 9-year-old asked for a boy doll. "But not a boy baby doll," she said, "because they're exactly the same as the girl baby dolls when you take the clothes off. They are just girl dolls! Only in blue clothes! Th…
A few years ago, my now 9-year-old daughter had an epiphany while wandering the toy aisles at a discount superstore. She eyed a pink toy vacuum cleaner with suspicion, then asked to go to the boys' aisle instead, because she wanted to be…
It's time to protect that cookie sheet and get your kid a cool snow tube this winter! What I love about snow tubes for kids is that they're not heavy to lug around (although, maybe a bit bulky) and they don't crack after one run like the…
If your kids are getting older and casting off rubber duckies for something a bit more stimulating when it comes to bath toys, we've tracked down some very cool science-based bath toys with an educational spin that might do the trick. Ev…
We've been longtime fans of Nutcase bike helmets , since they offer some of the cutest designs and trustworthy safety features for our kids. So I'm very excited about the brand new launch of their newest designs for their Little Nutty li…
As we bid adieu to 2016 -- or, more appropriately, don't let the door hit you on the way out, 2016 -- I've been thinking about friends who've had it particularly hard this year. If you know anyone who's had a rough go of it too, then you…
With the perfectly timed December launch of Rogue One , of course Star Wars toys for kids are all the rage. Again. If you're looking for an awesome gift for your little padawan -- even if he or she isn't quite so little -- here are 5 of …
After featuring Georgette's post on 6 toymakers making diverse interracial dolls for kids , Facebook fan Melissa asked us if we know of any interracial dollhouse families. I love this question. So many of us want to bring more diversity …
Very little in life is as terrifying as being handed a wad of cash by desperate parents asking you to find a group teacher gift that's meaningful, memorable, and not a lifetime supply of Best Teacher Ever mugs. This year, you can forego …
As a mom to two beautiful biracial girls, I know just how difficult it can be to find diverse dolls for them to play with. When my firstborn was a baby, it was downright impossible. Today, there are so many dolls for girls and boys that …
With Marvel and DC pretty much taking over entertainment for the past decade or so, plenty of kids are clamoring for superhero action figures for the holidays. But what I think is even cooler than Chris Evans in miniature (not that I'd c…
It's no secret that parents love finding tech gifts for kids that we can justify as being both fun and educational, but the true test isn't whether we think they're cool -- but rather, whether our own kids play with them. Over and over a…
Now that Thanksgiving is in the rearview mirror, it's really starting to feel like Christmas to me. And as much as I love the shopping and the hot cocoa and the decorations, my favorite part is the parties. Instead of sending the kids to…
Move over grown ups, there's a new coloring demographic in town. And, we're not talking about kiddie books filled with hearts and teddy bears. Art With Edge -- Crayola's latest line of seven cool coloring books and two coloring kits -- a…
In a world where a quick Google search can answer even the toughest question in just seconds, we love the delicious act of waiting for a surprise in the mail. But while most subscription boxes give you a pretty good idea of what to expec…
The first-ever gift I gave my daughter was a beautiful handmade doll I found on Etsy, and ever since then I've had a thing for gifting my kids one-of-a-kind dolls . Of course, she has her fair share (and then some) of American Girl every…
When you've got a little one, you probably know that means you have a whooooole lot of preschooler birthday party gifts to look for over the course of the year. One gift for each party for each kid in your child's preschool class? Yeouch…
This summer my family hit a new milestone on our bikes: my youngest learned to ride without training wheels, and my oldest is now big enough to be trusted to ride his bike a couple blocks to his friend's house on his own. (Although I sti…
When I discovered the incredibly adorable, beautifully handcrafted fairy doors from Sugar Bush Fairies on Etsy, I instantly fell in love. Because I’m all about bringing a little magic and enchantment into my kids’ lives -- but I’ll be ho…
We all know the transition from balance bike to training wheels to full-on bicycle takes a while (and can get a little wobbly). Add the required coordination to ring that out-of-my-way-new-rider-here bell and your kid may be in danger of…
With four kids who can ride their bikes to school on pavement and sidewalks, but also love to do a little off-roading as well, it's been a little challenging trying to figure out what kind of bike to get them. Until I discovered Cleary B…
Our neighbors have a trampoline in their backyard, and I'm pretty sure it's been there for the last 30 years. It has no net. No cover for the springs. It's kind of a parent's worst nightmare, but the kids beg to get on it every day. And …
The coolest thing you'll encounter in the water this summer may be my daughter, who has transformed herself from a normal 13-year-old into a full-fledged mermaid. And, whoa, if you have a child who would love to swim like one of these cr…
During the summer I usually let my kids stay up late, but we ditch the screens and play board games together instead. So, each year I keep my eye on the Spiel des Jahres award-winning board games to find the best new board games that are…