• stocking stuffers for kids Archive

    As much we love to spotlight those big-ticket items on the top of every wish list, we also like to pay fair tribute to the smaller guys: those companies that fuel kids’ imaginations and give us yet another reason to wish we were little again. Urban Canvas is one of our latest favorites. They make eco-friendly toys fashioned out of recycled and reusable cardboard, including trains, buildings and even bugs. We love their Build 52 Playing Cards, a full deck of blank (save for standard numbers and letters) cards that kids can design and customize to their hearts’ content…and then use to assemble their own house of cards (thanks to their interconnecting edges). Not only is this toy a cool craft, but it lets kids [&hellip

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    My 4-year-old loves her stuffed animals like Frosty treasures his magic hat. Sure, they don’t make her shout “Happy Birthday” when she jumps out of bed every morning and “comes to life.” But she does dress them up, carry them around and treat them like gold. And why shouldn’t she? These indispensable buddies provide her lots of comfort, especially on those days when she’s not feeling so great. No wonder then that Thermal-Aid Zoo is a hit with kids in need of a little TLC. A ice pack/heating pad cleverly disguised in the likenesses of a cuddly koala bear, elephant, hippo, monkey and rabbit, these plush pals are more than just a playtime companion. When your little one is feverish, pop one of them in the [&hellip

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    Right about now, you’re probably wrapping up (pun intended) your holiday shopping and hunting for anything that might qualify as a stocking stuffer. In my house, that can mean anything from a new toothbrush, to chocolate-covered Santas (can’t have one without the other, you know!). If you’re looking for a something a little more inventive, but just as festive, consider the crowd-pleasing, sugar-free favorite of kids everywhere: stickers, of course. I’m still amazed at just how far these small treats can go. Sure they still give them out at preschool for putting away the blocks at clean-up time, and they’re a must for the potty-training crowd. But even the tough-to-please grade schoolers can still appreciate a cool sticker every now and then. This holiday season, [&hellip

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    As the first leaves over our pond slowly begin to show hints of red, I’ve been noticing more of the local wildlife anticipating the coming change in seasons. Squirrels that have scampered playfully these last few months are suddenly scampering to gather nuts (yes, already!), while the Canadian geese have returned to claim their share of the pond waters. It won’t be long before all the trees are dressed in a rich palette of reds, oranges and yellows and, dare I say, the first snowflakes decide to fall. Because my family delights in watching these changes in nature take place, we try to do our part in caring for our fellow “friends”–and that includes those of the feathered variety. If you think birdwatching/bird-feeding is…well, for [&hellip

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