I've always liked the idea of decorating with vintage children's toys (I now own that there very toy typewriter), but there's another way to achieve that feeling, should you not have the shelf space or the inclination to go thrifting eve…
The coolest kids' furniture and decor of 2013 is next up in our series of Editors' Picks of the Year . We love daydreaming about all the ways to make our nurseries and kids' rooms even cooler--or to rewind time and start over from scratc…
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 gi…
When my kids saw the Create Your Own Monster Kit , they couldn't wait to open the lid to unleash more than a dozen creatures into our living room. Fortunately, these colorful, snarling, lurching creatures don't leave a mess and are actua…
A coloring book can make a fantastic holiday gift for kids : It doesn't require batteries, it's portable for the trip home, and you can start using it right away. Now here's a new one that's fantastic for another reason besides the fact …
They say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but that's exactly what I did when this fabulous new picture book arrived on my doorstep this week. I could instantly tell we were going to love it. And we did! Everyone in the nameless t…
Look! It’s not a bird or a plane, but two super new books for our young superheroes-in-training. Because not even the most energetic superheroes can spend all their time leaping tall (LEGO) buildings or running faster than a speeding (Ne…
Last week, the MoMA Design Store free author events for children continued in New York with none other than Andy Warhol. Of course he was not there himself (that would be a little weird--though very Andy) but we were excited to learn abo…
My kids have always preferred "open-ended" coloring-and-activity books like Fotoplay! or Let's Make Some Great Art over ones that ask them to just stay within the lines. So it's no wonder they're roaring for an imaginative new kids' acti…
I really love the idea of chalkboard paint, but I'll be honest that I'm not a fan of dark walls, particularly in my house that's not well lit to begin with. But white chalkboard paint? I'm crushing hard. These days, Benjamin Moore is off…
If you are going to pick the perfect time to visit New York City, you could do a lot worse than fall. The family-friendly options here seem endless this time of year. So whether you live in town or you are building an itinerary for your …
When two of our favorite peeps get together to raise awareness of two of our favorite animals with fun, free DIY kids crafts , the results are four times the fun. Our pals at Moomah and Tea Collection have joined together to work with th…
If you're looking for a unique nursery decor idea, sometimes the best inspiration can be found right in your grandparents' attic--if you're lucky. I love the look of vintage toys framed as cool artwork for a baby's room, or placed on boo…
Back when we started this site in 2006 (and we have the archives to prove it), messages for kids were all about irony, irreverence and sass. Over the years, it's been thrilling to see the trend turn towards positivity, encouragement and …
Picking a nursery theme doesn't have to be hard--but it doesn't have to be boring, either. We always say, skip the easily outgrown cartoon characters and go for something you won't have to change so fast. We know it's hard to imagine whe…
I have a child who once angrily crumpled up any coloring page if it didn't turn out "perfect." Grass had to be the perfect green, sky had to be the perfect blue, and don't even get me started on the perfect cherry red needed for superher…
The coast is clear. We checked under the bed, in the closet, and behind the curtains. The only monsters we found are these utterly adorable ones framed on the wall. And they look friendly. Well, except maybe for the chupacabra. If you ha…
I love to throw parties for my kids, especially with inspiration from all the great party ideas here on Cool Mom Picks. In particular, I'm always on the lookout for activities where our guests can make cool stuff that they'll actually wa…
There's probably not a kid in existence who hasn't dreamed of drawing on the walls. Okay, most of them actually do it at least once in their lives. Now imagine you loved the results. That's where CMP fave Wee Gallery comes in. Their new …
I've always liked the idea of an alphabet or first initial print for a baby's room, but a lot of them are so easily outgrown. Not so with these gorgeous modern letter prints on sale at Fab this week, but found at the artist's shop when t…
If you love the idea of toys that represent kids of all sorts , we think you'll dig the way one of our favorite indie companies is Kickstarting some even more fun mix-and-match block sets. And the higher-level rewards might just blow you…
Of all my parenting achievements, I'm particularly proud that I've passed on a love for The Muppets to my own three kids. And now that they carry their own torch for Kermit, Beaker, and Fozzie Bear, I think they'll love decorating their …
And here I get all excited when my six-year-old puts together a LEGO Lord of the Rings set and only asks for my help twice. Recently opened, artist Nathan Sawaya's solo show Art of the Brick features unbelievable creations all created ou…
Our Bastille Day celebration continues with these stunning French animal prints that are perfect for a kids' room, although I think I'd like them anywhere in my home. The Blackboard Animal French Prints at Etsy's Eviva Prints are so stri…