Even if the song can drive me a little nuts, I've always loved It's a Small World. Disney artist Mary Blair created such iconic concept artwork for the attraction, it still makes my retro-modern heart go all a-flutter. And if I were havi…
The accomplishments of women build on one other. We couldn't have a female presidential candidate today, for instance, if suffragettes like Elizabeth Stanton hadn't demanded the right to vote, and pioneers like Shirley Chisholm hadn't br…
Walking the toy aisles of most big discount stores can make any parent feel dizzy, to use a polite word. Where are all the cool wooden toys? Where are the toys that inspire imagination? Why does it seem like every toy made for kids these…
My daughter loves her screen time, that's for sure, but lately I have been keenly aware of the other creative toys that she, as an 8 year old, really gravitates to, without any prompting from me. Or really, the toys that I realize I'm al…
Since Cool Mom Picks started a decade ago, we've made it our mission to find small, independent stores that sell unique, eco-friendly, hard-to-find toys for your kids so that all you have to do is scroll and shop. My newest favorite, Oh!…
The very first thing my son does when we sit down to eat at a restaurant (well, after ordering both ice water and milk) is ask for my iPhone. I'll admit that I’m often tempted to hand it over because it’s such an easy way to keep him ent…
It's not often I discover a new Etsy shop and automatically think okay, every single thing in there is adorable. But that's the case with Babee and Me , which I can forgive for being based in Byron Bay, Australia, considering what beauti…
Just when I think it's time to put the baby blocks away, my kids will surprise me by building some huge creative structure on the living room floor, enhanced by LEGO men and dollhouse furniture. Still, I can tell the basic square blocks …
If your kids like building blocks as much as mine, you'll want to check out Paper Punk's new Urban Fold paper blocks which allow kids 6 and up to build a sprawling metropolis without the bulk and weight of traditional blocks. This is suc…
Photo gifts for baby showers can be a win even before the little one arrives. It's just so personal and thoughtful, and hey, if you're going to go off the registry, might as well really go off the registry. So we've looked around to find…
I've always loved the Chinese Zodiac and not just because I'm a Chinese American. I am fascinated by the history of the signs and their meanings. So with the Chinese New Year just a couple of days away, we thought it would be fun to roun…
It's going to be a while before I can look out my window and see anything bright and colorful fluttering around my yard, so I'm especially pleased that LEGO has chosen to release LEGO Birds , a brand new set of feathered friends that is …
With so many amazing modern building blocks out there, it's not hard to find a set that I'd love to give to my kids. But I've just discovered SumBlox , the most incredibly original set of durable beech wood blocks that mixes math learnin…
Ahoy mateys, it's Talk Like a Pirate Day , one of our favorite should-be-a-real-holiday days of the year. And though my "pirate speak" is a little rusty, my ability to find some of the cutest and coolest pirate-related treasures is right…
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…
Choosing the best gift for a two year old from among ride-on vehicles, construction toys, dolls and more can seem overwhelming, so we've narrowed it down to some favorites that our own boys and girls have loved. Because that first birthd…
We have featured piles of cool wooden alphabet blocks for kids over the years, from modern design blocks to steampunk science blocks , to Storyblox 's "build-your-own" wooden blocks. And now there's a cool set of custom name blocks on th…
We have played with Tegu and drank the KoolAid. From their mind-bending explorer sets to mobile toy kits, they simply rock the block. Our favorite eco-friendly block-makers have just rolled out a super tricked out magnetic block building…
It's not hard to find signs of love all around us today, like these gorgeously designed wooden blocks that spell out love in 12 different languages. And when you take a closer look at how artful these blocks are, you'll understand why I …
I don't know if there's a more perfect gift for a baby than a great set of modern alphabet blocks. (Besides maybe a great alphabet poster .) They start as decor in the nursery, become a great toddler toy, and eventually you get to watch …
I admit it: I am obsessed with wood toys, despite the fact that, cost-wise, I can get a gazillion plastic toys for one fab wooden toy. Wood is a little more mainstream now in the world of baby toys , but I find the prices haven't decreas…
I try to teach my kids that it's the little differences in each of us that make us so delightfully special...and delightfully weird. And that's exactly what the imaginative minds at Wee Society celebrate and encourage in their new collec…
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 …
We're not saying you need to leggo your LEGO (like your kids would ever let that happen). We're huge LEGO fans ! But this holiday season, we just want you to know about some really cool alternative building systems out there that'll get …