It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a girl doll in a superhero costume that you design.

by Delilah S. Dawson | Toys + Playthings

We were so excited when we discovered Lottie, a doll who skips the stilettos and miniskirts (and curves) for clothes that look like what an actual kid would wear. Lottie comes with lots of skin and hair colors and has oodles of outfits and activities from martial arts...

Corolle Les Cheries dolls: The best dolls for 5 year olds who are more interested in berets than burping.

by Liz Gumbinner | Kids

I still stand by Corolle baby dolls as the best of the bigger brands. Designed in France and smelling lightly of vanilla, they’re really everything you want a doll to be. Unless when you’re looking for the best dolls for 5-year olds who have outgrown the...

Heart for Heart Dolls: Because African Girl Dolls, Mexican Girl Dolls and Laotian Girl Dolls are just as fun as the American ones.

by Liz Gumbinner | Toys + Playthings

While I have finally come around to accept my daughter’s affinity for American Girl Dolls, suddenly Saige and Marie-Grace have serious competition with Rahel, the Ethiopian doll from the Heart for Heart Girls dolls collection. I cannot say enough wonderful...

Smart toys for girls that defy the pink aisle. In other words, no princesses, ballerinas or “fashionistas,” whatever career that is.

by Liz Gumbinner | Toys + Playthings

This week at Toy Fair, I must say a progressive mama like me had a much harder time than expected scoping out smart toys for girls that defy the pink aisle. In other words, the girl dolls and figures were wearing something beyond princess garb or sparkly pink lace...

Round up your kids’ toy horses into one of these 7 play stables

by Christina Refford | Toys + Playthings

Want to round up those toy horses and ponies scattered around the playroom and put them into a proper stable? Whether your kids own one of the coveted, gihugic American Girl Doll horses or something a bit smaller, we’ve rustled up a few options for all kinds of...

Clever, creative storage solutions for 10 tricky storage problems from LEGOs to jewelry.

by Kate Etue | Storage + Organization

Now that my house is overflowing with too many toys (thanks to very generous grandparents), it’s time for some serious storage solutions. I’m desperate for some organization for all those Rainbow Loom bands, LEGO pieces and  American Girl doll clothes,...

The coolest kids’ toys: Editors’ Best of 2013

by Cool Mom Team | Editors Best of the Year

There are always so many of the coolest kids’ toys from small companies for us to discover each year and 2013 was no exception. In our Editors’ Best of 2013 series, we offer you our very favorites of the year, each of which was chosen for its originality,...

A DIY Christmas tree dollhouse, also known as “how to put those Amazon boxes to good use”

by Delilah S. Dawson | DIY

If your house is anything like mine, you’ve got two energetic kids trapped inside by nasty weather and a huge stack of shipping boxes waiting for the recycling truck. Put them all to good use with this DIY project that creates an adorable Christmas tree...

The Lottie doll has a lot in common with your little girl. Like being an actual little girl. At last.

by Delilah S. Dawson | Toys + Playthings

I don’t mean to be a traitor to my generation, but Barbie has always made me a little uncomfortable, with her unrealistic proportions and the way her vet uniform is shorter than my negligees. That’s why I’m so excited to introduce you to a new doll...

You won’t need a second mortgage for this dollhouse

by Christina Refford | Toys + Playthings

Once you enter the land of American Girl, it’s not easy to come by real estate that can accommodate dolls of her stature. But we’ve found a doll house on the market that is just the right size for her and a couple of friends. And you won’t even need...