• Author Archive

    Twas the day after Halloween and there was much candy to spare…could this mom get her kids to brush their teeth on a dare? If it feels like dental hygiene falls by the wayside on those busy, harried school mornings, you are not alone. My kids often concoct any excuse in the book to avoid brushing. (Lucky for me, I’ve finally caught up on the ol’ run-the-brush-under-the-water trick.) Of course, if your kids are younger than mine, you probably have more control over their brushing…or do you? For reluctant newbie brushers comes The Brushies, a line of finger puppet tooth brushes for ages 4 weeks-4 years that are as clever as they are cute. Simply put, they take the sting out of using a standard [&hellip

    Read More...

    I seem to find myself in Old Navy more and more often these days. Whether one kid needs a black shirt for a costume, or another kid has gone up a shoe size (again….), I have become a regular customer. But sometimes I can’t help but wonder: What’s in for me? If you feel like you are forever catering to your kids’ needs, join the club…or maybe just treat yourself to a little something while you’re there (other than a new pair of socks). Old Navy’s Kindred Goods new personal care line is not only sweet-smelling and gentle on sensitive skin, but a sweet deal at the register. The collection includes Hand Cream, Hair & Body Mist, Foaming Body Scrub, Body Lotion and Eau de Parfum, [&hellip

    Read More...

    If you have a theater kid, then you must know all about Hamilton. In our house, it’s the perennial soundtrack that my 12-year-old lives and breathes–and she hasn’t even seen the show…yet. While it can be a bit much sometimes, it’s great to see how this musical theater obsession can easily pique a child’s interest in U.S. history. Such is the thinking over at Cobblestone magazine which is hosting the Rap Into History Challenge. To determine what other figures in American history might inspire future Broadway lyricists, Cobblestone is inviting kids ages 9-12 to create and submit original raps that intrigue them. Selections will be judged by a panel of Broadway producers and Cobblestone editors, and winning selections will be featured online and in print. [&hellip

    Read More...

    I miss the days when I didn’t have to bribe my kids to go outdoors. As a toddler, my younger daughter used to bang on the back door, her ‘subtle’ signal that she wanted to play in the backyard. It didn’t matter if it was pouring buckets or sleeting on a cold, spring-ish day; this kid needed to breathe the fresh air and feel the wind on her skin. It was partly because I knew she had developed a true affinity for all the creatures who lived outdoors permanently. To her, it wasn’t fair that they could be outside whenever they wanted. Sometimes, I wondered to myself if she might be part animal. Perhaps that is why the new picture book Halfway Wild speaks to me [&hellip

    Read More...

    With the start of a new school year comes the promise of making new friends. Depending on your child, that may–or may not–come easily. (If you happen to have a daughter, you know exactly what I’m talking about.) Because friendships tend to ebb and flow, kids may not always feel that their BFF of today will hold that same spot tomorrow. Remember when an impromptu tea party with a teddy bear could reverse the effects of a playdate gone bad? If your kid has outgrown her beloved bear, but longs for a new companion, check out Gift’ems. These collectible mini dolls, aimed at girls ages 5-10, are all the rage this season. Packaged in their own gift box, each doll hails from a different city [&hellip

    Read More...

    TGIF! With the first week of school under our belts, the weekend can’t come soon enough. After figuring out how to make umpteen binders fit in one backpack without busting the seams, working out the kinks in an illogical bus route and filling out all that bloody paperwork, I’m ready to head back to the beach and pretend that it’s still summer vacation! No one ever said navigating the long and winding road of parenthood would be easy, but wouldn’t it be nice if you had some sort of road map to get you over some of those bumps all the way? Since that won’t be happening anytime soon, we think we’ve found a handy ‘cheat sheet’ of sorts that can cover some of that [&hellip

    Read More...

    Ah, it’s the most wonderful time of the year…for parents, that is! The start of a new school year may not be your kid’s greatest wish come true, but we parents treasure it. And that’s not necessarily for the reason you might think. Truthfully, I’ve always envied my girls’ ability to start fresh each September; the beginning of a new school year holds so much promise that it’s almost like shedding off your old skin and making room to don a reinvigorated person. And what better excuse is there to mark the occasion than with some new clothes! We’ve been keeping a lookout for new styles this season and came across a line that is perfect for that first day. If this happens to be [&hellip

    Read More...

    There aren’t too many baby toys that also appeal to toddlers. (Have you ever seen a 2-year-old shaking a rattle? Didn’t think so.) When these kids have a captive audience, they love to show off their strength, as if to say, “Hey, someday when you’re older like me, you’ll be able to do this, too.” Imagine, then, if the tables were turned and it’s the infant who’s proving his prowess as a playmate. Enter OgoSport’s Bolli, a tactile and sensory ball that’s as safe for little ones as it is cool for bigger kids. This bendy, stretchy ball helps build muscle power for developing infants, and also provides the perfect platform for tough toddlers to flex their own muscles. (And we know this toy is [&hellip

    Read More...

    Are you as psyched for the release of the new Ghostbusters movie as we are? Just the sight of the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man, and I start salivating for my requisite bag of Twizzlers and movie popcorn. While there’s a lot of buzz surrounding the latest incarnation of the beloved 80s blockbuster, we know there will be plenty of playthings to help kids re-create the magic once the last credits have rolled. One line already on our radar is next summer’s Playmobil Ghostbusters line. We don’t know too much about this assortment, but if the Playmobil name itself isn’t enough indication that it will be top-notch, we think it will be worth the wait. Rumor has it that kids will be able to create their own [&hellip

    Read More...

    Blame it on Jaws. Ever since that blockbuster hit movie theaters back in the summer of 1975, it spooked novice and seasoned swimmers alike and made otherwise confident boaters look over their shoulders a little bit more often. Even 40 years later, the eerie music still freaks me out every now and then while swimming. So it’s no wonder sharks in general have gotten a bad rap, and why so many beachgoers stay ashore when they think they might have spotted the telltale fin emerging from the water. Seeking to remedy this comes Please Be Nice to Sharks, a full-color children’s book that celebrates this ocean creature by zeroing in on the different species and their individual characteristics. Right from the start, readers will learn [&hellip

    Read More...