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...

Sure, I let my toddler drink soda! Just kidding.

by Shari | School Gear

Oh, those shiny, shiny cans of soda pop that your children look at so longingly. Wouldn’t it be nice if they could have the shiny outside without the sugar inside? Well, thanks to the clever design of these Cozy Cans reusable drink cups for kid from the awesome...

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...

Our favorite gift subscriptions for kids, from toddlers to teens

by Christina Refford | Toys + Playthings

There’s still time to give a special child a special gift that keeps giving each month with one of these awesome subscription boxes. We’ve recently rounded up our picks for the 10 best subscription gifts for adults, but kiddos get their own choices too!...

Great experience gifts for kids, because memories make for awesome presents.

by Liz Gumbinner | Family Travel

When we’re asked for ideas for a great gift for the kid who has everything–or even those who don’t–the first thing that comes to mind for me are experience gifts . They don’t have to be expensive at all, or they can be super splurgey. An...

The building blocks of our nation. Way more fun than that sounds.

by Liz Gumbinner | Holiday Gift Guide, Toys + Playthings

I remember one of the first times I was interviewed by a media outlet, and they surprised me with an off-topic question: What’s the best safe toy for a child? I paused, then stammered, “Uh…blocks.” Not my finest moment. But the truth is, I do...

The Doctor Who TARDIS play tent: because every kid needs a time machine in the living room.

by Christina Refford | Toys + Playthings

If you’re still looking for that one gift under the tree that will make kids scream “OH EM GEE!” (or is that just our kids these days?) this Doctor Who TARDIS Play Tent might do the trick. While it’s not a classic kids’ tent shaped like a...

Best gifts for 8-year-old boys: ideas that will get a big “wow.” Reader Q & A

by Christina Refford | Toys + Playthings

What are the best gifts for an 8-year-old boy? I’m looking for a big gift, in the $50-$100 range. —CMP reader, via Twitter   Oh, you mean the kind of gift that makes a child pause while unwrapping, shout out with glee, and rush over to give you a big hug? Well,...

5 Tech Picks You Won’t Want to Miss

by Cool Mom Team | Cool Tech

Here are 5  five of our favorite posts on Cool Mom Tech this week, just in case you missed them.   1. If you have not yet seen this hilarious parody video, it’s so worth the couple of minutes. Promise. 2. Check out our review of the top 3 e-book...

4 of the best of the latest kids’ music album releases: Recess Monkey, Charlie Hope, Mister G, and Lucky Diaz

by Christina Refford | Entertainment + Media

If Santa is bringing a new MP3 player or you’d love to wrap up a few new cool kids’ music CDs to give your little listeners, here are four cool new releases, by some of our very-favorite kindie artists: Recess Monkey, Charlie Hope, Mister G, and Latin...