it's time for our annual Top 10 Editors Picks of the Year ! To kick things off, I wanted to start with one of the biggest, most positive events that pops out to us as we reflect on 2019: the growing awareness of gender fluidity and gende…
If the picture up top makes you think, Ack! That's every room of my house, then you're going to be so happy to learn about Second Chance Toys , an organization that will help you get those no-longer-wanted toys into the hands of kids who…
With the holidays coming up, grandparents and friends are naturally asking for ideas for gifts for the kids , but when you are shopping for toys for kids with cognitive disabilities, it can make the gifting a little more challenging. For…
The good news: I finally found the one affordable little gift I know will please every one of my kids. Baby Yoda: The Child Funko POP! figurine , fresh off his Mandalorian boost into meme-of-the-year status, complete with a Lin Manuel ap…
If you're looking to get a head start on holiday shopping -- especially toys for all those kids on your list -- you can score some truly fantastic deals right now thanks to our partner Zulily . And I can help! This parent-fave online ret…
I think you're going to be as excited about LEGO Replay as I am. Because if your kids are like mine, they've accumulated a whoooole lot of LEGO bricks over the years. And there comes a point where maybe they don't need them. Or at least …
Seems like Mattel is having a heck of a month in terms of innovation in inclusivity . Because they've just announced the release of UNO Braille , an UNO deck developed in partnership with the National Federation of the Blind that's going…
When I read the news last night that Mattel is launching Creatable World , the first gender neutral doll and accessories to put kids in charge of their own play experience I teared up. In part because of the tag line, "All Welcome." In p…
The limited edition, totally collectible, geektastic collaboration between Barbie x Star Wars is coming soon, so start saving those Creds. Shipping exclusively from Amazon around November 18, you'll find 3 Barbie figures, including Barbi…
If you're like me, you might be struggling to find a meaningful, inspiring doll choice for your kids on the shelves of the toy aisle in your closest big box store. But when I heard about the new collection of Worldgirls dolls , I got exc…
This month marks the 50th anniversary of the Apollo moon landing on July 20th, and our kids are so excited about it. Considering it's an event that happened way before they were born, I love their enthusiasm. In fact, my son just checked…
The trend of crazy inflatable lawn sprinklers and cool pool floats shows little sign of slowing down. But if rainbow and unicorn sprinklers aren't quite up your kid's alley, I wouldn't be surprised if a predatory, inter-dimension humanoi…
For years, we've written about the joy and beauty and specialness of baby dolls as gifts for our kids , from newborns to toddlers, even our school-aged kids. A doll can be a cherished best friend, a bedtime comfort, a travel companion, a…
It's amazing how few companies are making sports equipment targeted to girls -- unless it's pink or purple or covered in glitter. So I loved discovering KAOS Soccer , a company that blends serious soccer credit with edgy modern design. N…
We have quite the growing collection of Funko Pop figurines, and last week at Toy Fair, there was one that actually made me tear up: A beautiful patina Stan Lee Funko Pop . Maybe because it feels less like a fun figurine and more like he…
A couple years ago, we shared 10 wonderful non-candy Valentine's Day treat ideas for the classroom , and this year, I've put together so many more. And they all come with free printables , whoo! We love giving out little treats with our …
I was so charmed to learn about the Thermal Aid Teddy Bear that delivers comforting heat -- or cold -- in the form of a cute stuffed animal . If your kid has muscle aches from a growth spurt during those "wonder weeks," or from a particu…
Could Mattel be developing a Barbie same sex wedding set ? Well, yeah. They could. And they might. And I am here for it. We've been writing for so long that in all things -- especially for our kids -- diversity matters . Inclusiveness ma…
This is a sponsored message from Monti Kids Kids learn through play. And this is the season so many parents, grandparents, and caregivers have play on our minds. Enter Monti Kids , the only at-home Montessori learning toy subscription pr…
One way I always bring all of my family together over the holidays is with a Secret Santa gifting tradition. Truth be told, it's the most affordable (and let's be honest, fun) way to exchange gifts with a large family over the holidays. …
If a dollhouse is on your kids' holiday wish lists, don't forget to include some dollhouse dolls so that they can get right to the business of playing (while you clean up wrapping paper). But unlike dollhouses which come in lots of diffe…
The #shopsmall movement is one we've been supporting even before there was an unofficial Small Business Saturday followed by a very official Small Business Saturday (now kindly supported by American Express). Lots of our favorite indie b…
This is a sponsored message on behalf of the toys seen here Hitting the stores this Black Friday ? Whether you're braving the crowds or shopping the virtual shelves , you'll want to keep these 6 fun toys on your radar for your holiday gi…
This is a sponsored message from Lakeshore Learning Kids love toys -- all kinds of toys -- and parents love those toys when they get kids excited about learning and building skills they need through play. In fact, learning through play i…