As much as my older kids love their electronics, good old-fashioned crafts still hold some appeal for them, especially if the finished product is something really worth making. And with summer vacation fast-approaching, I really want to …
Though it's certainly easy to hand our kids a screen when we want to keep them busy at the doctor's office, on a long road trip, or when work needs to get done (and I am as guilty as anyone), I've found there is one alternative to handhe…
This post has been updated with corrections. Fisher-Price is of course the brand behind many of our favorite childhood toys like that now iconic telephone and the little gumball machine looking push-toy. So their big announcement this we…
Is there one kid in the world who isn't fascinated by animals? (Answer: no.) So today, Jane Goodall's birthday, is a perfect opportunity to cozy around your tablet or computer together and dig into her life just a bit. Especially if you …
Anyone of us parents who can still recite the Preamble to the Constitution thanks to the animated shorts of Schoolhouse Rock knows how much kids can learn (and retain) when information is presented in the right way, a.k.a, learning witho…
You can't have a conversation about Women's History Month without including second female Supreme Court Justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg. She's fought tirelessly for women her whole career, and following the success of the best-selling Notor…
My daughter loves her screen time, that's for sure, but lately I have been keenly aware of the other creative toys that she, as an 8 year old, really gravitates to, without any prompting from me. Or really, the toys that I realize I'm al…
To be honest, Black History Month is year round for me. As a black woman, especially one living in the U.S., I'm reminded of and inspired by the endless contributions of black people to the collective betterment of this nation on a daily…
If you're the type willing to seek out creative, responsibly made , well-designed gifts for your kids -- or for one of the endless stream of birthday parties they get invited to -- then you have to check out Treehouse Kid & Craft . We ju…
My kids can easily spend an hour at the kitchen table working on a good DIY project, so I'm always on the lookout for cool crafts kits that will pique their interest. Lately, it's been the globally-minded kits from Festive Roots , which …
Over the years, we have shared our favorite books, videos and websites that help our kids learn about the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. And now, along with learning about his life, we can add an interesting art project that our kids …
I don't want to let holidays like Martin Luther King Jr. Day slip by with my kids thinking it's just an extra day off of school. So if you're like me and are looking for some ways to honor the spirit of MLK while you're home today, we hi…
We've loved our annual new year tradition of compiling the best kids' books of the year, thanks to all the major (and not entirely major) best-of lists and big children's book awards of 2015 from publications, experts, and organizations …
When you think back to the best toys of the year (and other playful gifts for kids) you probably think about tech, tablets, and things that require cords and batteries. And yet there's so much more, from wonderful board games, to handmad…
My kids were in a museum gift shop with friends this summer and of everything in the store, all four spent the entire time fighting over (I mean, taking turns with ) what's best defined as a handmade voice or music recording gadget from …
H i Cool Mom Picks! Can you put to gether some unique holiday gift ideas for creative kids that go beyond the same craft kits I see everywhere? Thanks so much! Ooh, I love this question. We know that all kids have creativity in them, so …
We love finding new ways to teach our kids about the big, diverse world that extends far beyond the boundaries of their neighborhood and town. And while nothing can replace actually going to the countries themselves, playsets like this o…
If there is one gift we always hope our kids get unwrap this holiday, it's an art toy or craft kit , or something that encourages and help develops their artistic sides. For us, toys that build on children's natural creativity are as imp…
My kids' holiday gift requests are coming in fast and while I'm sure Santa appreciates the early input, I want to make sure my kids don't forget how it feels to give to others as well. That's why Little Loving Hands is one of my favorite…
We figured this was a pretty good time to start looking around at some great -- and effective -- books about manners for kids. I'm sure you feel me; my family calendar is already so booked over the next couple months, which means lots of…
Since the first November it launched several years ago, even long before American Express started sponsoring and championing the campaign, we've been staunch advocates for Small Business Saturday. And we're still thrilled to mark on our …
If you could use a little help picking out toys for the kids on your list this holiday, we're about to make things a lot easier for you with a mini holiday toy gift guide, starting with the best educational toys for kids. This is the fir…
This is a sponsored message from SimplyFun board games With Thanksgiving break coming up this week and Hanukkah and Christmas not far behind, it's a great time to be thinking about getting a few family game nights on the calendar. You pr…
Since I'll be busy in the kitchen next week,I'm going to put my kids in charge of the Thanksgiving table decorations. Craft projects and art are usually a fun way for them to fill their down time when they're home from school, and what I…