by Liz Gumbinner | Toys + Playthings
We’re about to head on one of our annual summer road trips, which means packing plenty of toys for the car. We try to avoid the DVD–and generally succeed if we’ve planned ahead. Here, some of my favorite toys for the car for toddlers and bigger kids,...
by Stephanie Mayers | Toys + Playthings
Puzzles are the new family time favorite of our preschooler who is outgrowing her wooden pegged farm animals for more complex designs. I am happy to indulge her, but I refuse to throw down any more money on unimaginative cartoon character puzzles. I think puzzles can...
by Christina Refford | Tips + Tricks
I need a birthday gift idea for my soon-to-be 5-year-old daughter. She has tons of Barbies, tons of clothes – she is a girly girl and loves all things to do with painting nails, wearing girly stuff. I feel like we have way too many toys and clothes. What else is...
by Christina Refford | Toys + Playthings
Once kids are past the age of banging on an overturned pot and wooden spoon,they can now move onto something more melodious than a simple percussion instrument. And while their fingers may not yet be big enough to tickle the ivories, they can make some beautiful music...
by Liz Gumbinner | Toys + Playthings
When I brought home a Best Pals rag doll for my youngest daughter, I had no idea it would end up becoming one of her very favorite of many (many) dolls an stuffed animals. I mean, clearly I loved the simplicity of the design and the wonderful backstory behind its...
by Christina Refford | Toys + Playthings
Long before it was considered the “right thing to do”, one of our favorite toy companies, PlanToys was making imaginative, eco-friendly toys in cool, modern shapes and bright colors. While they’ve pushed the standards in environmentally friendly...
by Delilah S. Dawson | Art + Decor
We love the whimsical designs, beautiful black and white contrast, and durability of Wee Gallery products. So not surprisingly, they make for some of the most interesting nesting dolls we’ve ever seen.Hurry, though– quantities are limited, and you’ll...
by Christina Refford | Tips + Tricks
I’ll be frank, quite a few of us groaned along with many of you when LEGO Friends was announced; that series of pastel-colored, “girl-friendly” kits which seemed heavy on the pink and purple, with themes like Butterfly Beauty Shop. (Gah.) At Toy Fair...
by Christina Refford | Toys + Playthings
I’ve seen enough tangram activities in my kids’ math books to know that they are supposed to be great at fostering an early understanding of geometry, spatial reasoning, and design. But eh, my kids just think they are fun and make neat pictures. So when we...
by Christina Refford | Toys + Playthings
Living with three LEGO-obsessed children, it does seem like these little bricks multiply like magic. But now, it appears that those innocent-looking little minifigures have been busy doing a little uh, multiplying on their own. Oh, yes, we’ve got babies. Citizen...
