• Monthly Archive:: November 2015

    The holidays always usher in a new crop of kids’ movies, and that usually means a slew of toys to go along with them. If you have plans to take in Pixar’s The Good Dinosaur over the long weekend, don’t be surprised if TOMY’s line of dinosaur figures end up on the top of your kid’s wish list. Among the cast of characters is Arlo, an Apatosaurus who may be the runt of his family, but who proves that his small stature is no comparison to his big heart. Another favorite of ours is Forrest Woodbrush, whose branch-like horns enable him to pass for a tree. While he may be able to blend into the trees, we think this lovable creature will capture kids’ attention, [&hellip

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    Ever wonder what your cat does when you head out of the house for the day? If your answer is “sleep all day,” then clearly you don’t know Nature Cat. A natural extension of the Internet-based feline frenzy comes the latest animated television series from PBS Kids that’s kid-friendly and parent-approved. Centered around an ordinary house cat who transforms into a self-dubbed outdoor extraordinaire, this kitty is no slouch by any stretch of the imagination. Complete in a Robin Hood-esque get-up and an equally spirited energy that defies classic kitty stereotypes, Nature Cat and his gaggle of animal friends set out on a series of action-packed adventures that turn a basic backyard into a playground of non-stop fun. Voiced by SNL’s Taran Killam as Nature [&hellip

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    “One arm longer than the other.” That’s what my mom used to call house guests who came to dinner empty-handed. If there was one thing she sought to teach us kids, it was to always bring something when invited into someone’s home. Next week marks the beginning of a season where we spend more time visiting with family and friends than we do all year. I always like to have a stash of ready-to-go gifts on hand to show the host and hostess how much I appreciate their hospitality, whether it’s my sister or a member of my book group. Of course, finding that universal gift can be challenging, so I usually defer to something that accents the home. And for Thanksgiving, what better place [&hellip

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    Tis the season to play dress-up and look your holiday best..and that includes the kiddies, too. I don’t know about you, but short-sleeve velvet dresses don’t go over too well in my house, so I’m on the lookout for something playful and that’s fashionable, too. This year, Christmas comes early with an entire collection for boys and girls that will knock your toasty socks off. The Children’s Place is debuting colorful and snuggly sweaters, pants and fleece pull-overs that will stand up to the busy holiday social circuit. For girls, we’ve got our eye on these candy-colored leggings paired with a faux fur sweater. For boys, a bold-striped sweater and colored chinos make this a holiday worth celebrating. So forget those tug-of-wars when it comes [&hellip

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    When my husband was younger, his family celebrated Christmas…even though they are Jewish. His parents hung stockings by the fireplace, and his dad even dressed up as Santa for the neighborhood kids. (No Christmas tree, but enough to make him and his younger brother feel like they were not being left out of what felt like the rest of the world’s celebration.) I can’t imagine how he must felt, but I’m sure he and many other kids can relate to those same feelings shared by the title character in the delightful new picture book, Dear Santa, Love, Rachel Rosenstein. Determined to experience the joys of the season–especially a visit from Old St. Nick–she challenges her own family’s decision to remain faithful to its Jewish upbringing. [&hellip

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    Back in the potty-training days, my younger daughter was a bit baffled by her potty seat. Right from the start, she asked me why it looked so different from the one we used. And truthfully, I didn’t have a good answer for her (“This one is so much more colorful, see?”)…and smart cookie that she was, she wasn’t buying my fabricated response. How cool is it that today’s potty-training kids can feel more like a big kid with Summer Infant’s My Size Potty? This pint-sized floor model resembles an adult-sized standard toilet, complete with a toilet handle that makes realistic flushing sounds much to the delight of little toilet trainers. There’s a clip-on splash guard that’s helpful for training young boys, and a removable bowl [&hellip

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