My husband comes from a family of players. Game players, that is. The next time we host a family dinner, I'd love to pull out this gorgeous four in a row wood game to engage in a bit of healthy competition. (Spoiler alert: I've always be…
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…
Some of the best toys don't need a lot of bells and whistles, or even horns, to make them a plaything that kids will love for years. Our newest find is Candylab's stunning, yet durable, wooden toy cars . After Candylab wooden toy cars re…
Every Christmas, one of my kids' favorite things to do is reminisce about each ornament as we hang it on the tree. Sure, it takes us a long time to get the whole thing decorated, but we love trying to remember the story behind each one, …
There aren't many wooden toys for toddlers that I can imagine an older kid would love too, but these super nerdy ABC blocks from Uncommon Goods are a major exception. They're made from locally sourced wood and printed with non-toxic inks…
Okay, so maybe my eight-year-old daughter already knows how to use a coffee maker. And maybe she has her own hand-painted Goblet of Fire mug, in which she begs for a sip of the steaming hot ambrosia of morning. But still, what if I'd got…
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…
Okay, so I'm going to go ahead and say it: The holidays are creeping up. I know that means half of you hate me, and the other half are like "whatever, my list is already done ." In which case, I bow to you. But if you're starting to thin…
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've seen just about everything in the dollhouse world, but we've never seen an elephant you could live in. The natural wooden dollhouse called the Ele Villa ("elephant house"), from natural, sustainable toy company Rock and Pebble defi…
We missed the boat on a big fancy modern swing set for my kids--maybe because we live in the city and don't have a yard? Yeah, that could have a little to do with it. But their Grandma and Papa put up a handmade swing for them which made…
If you're looking for a neat little birthday gift , or perhaps something unique for the Easter basket, check out the Buildex Speed Machine construction toy . Because not every kid wants just a bunny in her basket. These brightly colored,…
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…
Make your kids' Easter baskets a hundred times more adorable by adding some playful chicks and bunnies to your list of Easter basket gift ideas for kids--of course along with some of our favorite Easter candy and Easter-themed gifts . Ou…
If you asked my daughter what her favorite color is, her answer would be "rainbow." I can't agree more, and its bright and cheery vibe makes the sweet rainbow learning toys for toddlers so perfect for spring. This acorn sorting game is a…
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…
Based on the number of awesome-looking, well-made wooden doctor's kits we saw at Toy Fair , we expect that a lot of kids will have fun taking care of all their new patients. Here's a recap of some of the nicest doctor's kits for kids tha…
This week at Toy Fair, I must say a progressive mama like me had a much harder time than expected scoping out smart toys for girls that defy the pink aisle. In other words, the girl dolls and figures were wearing something beyond princes…
At the NY Toy Fair this week, one of the finds I'm most excited about so far is a toy that I can't say is entirely for kids. The gorgeously German-designed collection from playableART is designed to help get minds going and help you find…
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 …
We all know how much babies and toddlers love to look at photos of the people they love, and so a custom photo gift can be a wonderful baby gift . But if you are like me, those puffy, plastic photo albums aren't your idea of great nurser…
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 …
Yeah, they're too young for chocolate hearts. But if you're the sentimental type like me, Valentine gifts for babies aren't entirely out of the question. Here are some ridiculously cute ideas. Bonus: You won't mind having these items aro…