blocks Archives | Cool Mom Picks

Take a look at the brand new It’s a Small World baby collection. (And sorry for the earworm.)

Even if the song can drive me a little nuts, I’ve always loved It’s a Small World. Disney artist Mary Blair created such iconic concept artwork for the attraction, it still makes my retro-modern heart go all a-flutter. And if I were having babies again...

Women Who Dared blocks are the feminist baby gift we’ve been waiting for.

by Caroline Siegrist | Toys + Playthings

The accomplishments of women build on one other. We couldn’t have a female presidential candidate today, for instance, if suffragettes like Elizabeth Stanton hadn’t demanded the right to vote, and pioneers like Shirley Chisholm hadn’t broken that...

Beating boredom with cool wooden toys inspiring art, design, engineering and imagination.

by Kate Etue | Toys + Playthings

Walking the toy aisles of most big discount stores can make any parent feel dizzy, to use a polite word. Where are all the cool wooden toys? Where are the toys that inspire imagination? Why does it seem like every toy made for kids these days is some beeping,...

Creative toys for an 8 year old — no beeps, boops or batteries

by Liz Gumbinner | Toys + Playthings

My daughter loves her screen time, that’s for sure, but lately I have been keenly aware of the other creative toys that she, as an 8 year old, really gravitates to, without any prompting from me. Or really, the toys that I realize I’m always telling her to...

Oh boy, Oh! Toys: The cool kids’ gifts you just can’t find anywhere else

by Christina Refford | Toys + Playthings

Since Cool Mom Picks started a decade ago, we’ve made it our mission to find small, independent stores that sell unique, eco-friendly, hard-to-find toys for your kids so that all you have to do is scroll and shop. My newest favorite, Oh! Toys, goes to great...

6 ways to entertain kids in restaurants without (gasp) pulling out a screen.

by PJ Feinstein | Tips + Tricks, Toys + Playthings

The very first thing my son does when we sit down to eat at a restaurant (well, after ordering both ice water and milk) is ask for my iPhone. I’ll admit that I’m often tempted to hand it over because it’s such an easy way to keep him entertained while we’re...

Handmade baby gifts with an Australian accent. (But no, they don’t talk.)

by Liz Gumbinner | Toys + Playthings

It’s not often I discover a new Etsy shop and automatically think okay, every single thing in there is adorable. But that’s the case with Babee and Me, which I can forgive for being based in Byron Bay, Australia, considering what beautiful work is coming...

6 sets of cool wooden blocks for older kids that are anything but square

by Kate Etue | Toys + Playthings

Just when I think it’s time to put the baby blocks away, my kids will surprise me by building some huge creative structure on the living room floor, enhanced by LEGO men and dollhouse furniture. Still, I can tell the basic square blocks we’ve had for ten...

A paper block city that’s ready to travel with your kids

by Christina Refford | Toys + Playthings

If your kids like building blocks as much as mine, you’ll want to check out Paper Punk’s new Urban Fold paper blocks which allow kids 6 and up to build a sprawling metropolis without the bulk and weight of traditional blocks. This is such a great toy to...

5 creative photo gifts for baby showers. All guaranteed to last longer than a bottle warmer.

by Kate Etue | Art + Decor, Baby

Photo gifts for baby showers can be a win even before the little one arrives. It’s just so personal and thoughtful, and hey, if you’re going to go off the registry, might as well really go off the registry. So we’ve looked around to find some of the...