Cool Mom Picks Holiday Gift Guide: Best 2026 Advent Calendars for Adults
Adult advent calendars include chocolates, puzzles, Dolly Parton gifts, wine, and grown-up toys.
Topic
puzzles
Gifts to get in the bag before December, at Barnes & Noble
Should I start my holiday shopping at Barnes & Noble now? Yes Barnes & Noble already has a broad holiday selection (toys, LEGO, puzzles, games, stationery, advent calendars, and books) so shopping early gives you more options and time.
24 of the absolute best 2023 Advent calendars for crafty kids, cool teens, and Christmas-loving adults
If you enjoy counting down the days to Christmas as much as we do, you'll want to grab one of these fantastic 2023 Advent calendars ASAP! The best ones get scooped up fast. And while the holidays may seem very far away right now, experie…
VOTE: The puzzle
Now that more of us know that voting isn’t just something we talk about on Election Day, and certainly not just every four years, I think this new women VOTE puzzle is the most wonderful gift for a civic-minded friend. Officially titled …
The new LEGO Brick Sketch kits are 3D puzzles made for framing. Fun!
Our house needs more tiny LEGO pieces like it needs a hole in the roof, but then the new LEGO Brick Sketches were finally released on the LEGO site. They're so cute, I find myself actually wanting one.For me. The new kits are part buildi…
3 clever new puzzle and activity books for kids, to keep hands busy and minds sharp
For some kids, picking up a book is pure torture in the summer. For others, well..it's not totally out of the question, provided it's a puzzle or activity book. So if you're looking for some new screen-free, paperback fun for the kids , …
4.2 million women's marchers in one glorious 500-piece puzzle
I've always loved the artful, fun kids' toys and gifts from eeBoo, and now I've got one more reason to love them: The 500 piece Women March! puzzle that's coming out in spring of this year. Prolific illustrator Jennifer Orkin Lewis (you …
Over 20 of the best bunny gifts for Easter, whether you've got toddlers or tweens
Ready for Easter? We weren't either until we started searching the web for ideas, and got excited when we found so many totally adorable bunny gifts for Easter out there! And there's no chocolate, Peeps, or jelly beans in this bunch -- n…
Immerse your kids in Chinese culture without the super long plane ride
We love finding new ways to teach our kids about the big, diverse world that extends far beyond the boundaries of their neighborhood and town. And while nothing can replace actually going to the countries themselves, playsets like this o…
7 unique nativity sets for families with young kids. So basically, not glass.
Now that it's officially December, I will soon unpack and set up my childhood nativity set, even if our holidays are largely secular nowadays. However after three kids who turned my nativity into a sort of dollhouse toy each year, it's t…
Four of the best multiple-solution puzzles for kids. Because there's no one right way to play.
If you're still puzzled (yes, I went there) over what to get some of the kids on your list , keep reading. Whether it is a small wooden puzzle for little hands to manipulate, or something larger and more complex that gets the entire fami…
The best gifts for a 4 year old? Tons of fantastic ideas.
Buying a special gift for a four-year-old is so much fun since this is the age that kids really start to show their preferences and interests. Plus, they aren't sticking every little piece into their mouths (phew) and can play independen…
History wasn't always fun and games. Except when it is.
I've come to understand that for tweens, creating a love of history is often about making it as salacious and entertaining as possible. The British creators of Horrible Histories have nailed that genre, with a successful series of illust…
The Odd One Out: A welcome twist on the classic find-it book
Thanks to a recommendation from our friends at Zoobean , I recently discovered a new book my kids are obsessing over. The Odd One Out: A Spotting Book by Britta Teckentrup puts a modern twist on the classic kids find-it book. You know, t…
Happy National Puzzle Day! 8 irresistible puzzles for toddlers that make fabulous little gifts
Just in case you didn't know, it's National Puzzle Day. And we like puzzles! So I've put together 8 of the most creative jigsaws, blocks, stackers, wooden, handmade, felt and letter puzzles for toddlers that are perfect for kids just sta…
Petit Collage puzzles that are in no way petit
It's true: we're Petit Collage fangirls. So it's only natural we think these new floor puzzles are pretty grand. With lovely artwork and big ol' pieces for petite hands, these new floor puzzles from Petit Collage are right up our alley. …
New photo gifts for kids: The ultimate vanity project. Not that that's a bad thing.
My kids love nothing more than looking at photos of themselves. In fact, if I'm hard pressed to find something to amuse them in the waiting room at the doctor's office or on the train, my go-to source is the camera roll on my iPad . Now …
Personalized puzzles that make perfect birthday gifts. Maybe not just for kids.
I just finished spring cleaning my kids' bedrooms and, while I was able to part with many things, I held onto almost anything that had been personalized with their names. If you too find that personalized gifts hold a special place in yo…
Wonderful wooden blocks for multitasking kids
It's no secret that we're big fans of Petit Collage here at CMP. It's also no secret that we think wooden blocks are an absolutely perfect gift for occasions of all kinds and children of all ages . But when the two combine? Well, to say …
Humble wooden blocks get a beautiful makeover
Whether you are looking for a stunning first-birthday gift for a special child in your life, or your preschooler just loves to build, this beautifully designed set of colorful blocks is one toy they'll treasure. Especially when they are …
A bird in this tree? Worth years of fun for little hands
Puzzles really need to pop to stand out amongst the competition these days. When you give a puzzle, it can sometimes go unnoticed in a sea of blinking lights or licensed Harry Potter allure. I am absolutely in love with this handmade Bir…
The puzzles that give other puzzles puzzle envy (is there such a thing?)
One of my favorite pastimes with my kids has always been puzzles. I love the combination of relaxing and challenging. My son usually only lasts a quarter of the way through, but my daughter patiently works until the very last piece is pl…
The coolest kids toys of 2012: Editors Best of 2012
We love nothing more than finding toys for kids that are handmade, or at least, don't require an on and off switch and 300 batteries. Instead, our favorite toys of 2012 are all powered by the imaginations and little hands of kids. Liz LE…
Clever photo gifts aren't just for grandparents, you know. 5 great photo gift ideas that kids will love.
When you think of custom photo gifts, most people probably think of calendars for Grandma --sweet, but a bit predictable. So why not use photos to make gifts for the littlest members of your family too? Kids love to look at faces--especi…