Monkeys are fun, no doubt about it. I will even go out on a limb (see what I just did?) and say that watching monkeys leap from branch to branch is one of my favorite stops at the zoo. Which is why the kid inside me--along with my actual…
One of my favorite pastimes with my kids has always been puzzles. I love the combination of relaxing and challenging. My son usually only lasts a quarter of the way through, but my daughter patiently works until the very last piece is pl…
Schoolhouse Rock for me, is more than just a part of my childhood, it's a part of my family. As a kid, my dad worked at the ad agency with creator David McCall, and the other writers and art directors who brought us this genius education…
One of the neat things about sending the kids off to preschool is seeing all the fun developmental toys they get to play with. It's also one of the mildly guilt-inducing things. Like, uh...was I supposed to be giving them all these fun d…
The thing about smart kids is that most t-shirts out there are not made for them. You know what I mean. So I was so excited to find this awesome shop that pays homage to everyone from Carl Sagan and Marie Curie to Tesla and Dr. Who. (Who…
They Might Be Giants makes it sound so easy to put together educational music that is fun and doesn't sound like a lesson plan, but--take it from this homeschooling mama--it isn't so easy to do. In fact, I've found that there isn't a lot…
Perfect prezzie alert: At some point (usually during the Late Toddler/Early Preschool Era ), most kids go through a fascination with the creatures of the Mesozoic Era, otherwise known as dinosaurs. If you have a toddler who adores all th…
Fans of Amelia Earhart, Harriet Tubman, Sakakawea (otherwise known as Sacagawea), and Eleanor Roosevelt, rejoice! We found some really cool shirts that celebrate the resilience, imagination, and bravery of these strong American women. Th…
The only thing more exciting than a present under the tree is a big box on the front porch with a kid's name on it. Whether you're looking for cool kids' crafts and activities to keep your kids busy at home well past December, or a reall…
The world of children's music has come a long way, baby. I definitely grew up in simpler times, lying on my bedroom floor listening to record-album recordings of my favorite stories. While it's incredible to have such diverse offerings f…
I love children's books with messages that support our values, but a lot of those books seem to put the messages ahead of the storytelling. In other words, I'd like to own more books that are as engaging as Eloise but maybe aren't how-to…
Hanukkah comes early this year, kicking of the Festival of Lights on December 8th (or the 25th of Kislev if you want to be technical about it). Which means for some gifts, you need to start getting ready now already (eek!). For parents t…
My kids absolutely love to play store. They'll gather up whatever small toys they want to sell, set them out, and then yell at me until I agree to buy something. (They need to work on their customer service a little.) I imagine my favori…
N is for...nitrogen? And: nerdy niftiness. We're not about to quibble when N stands for something far more unusual than nest . We brought you the Periodic Table Blocks, and now we've got something to hang on the wall over Little Miss Cur…
What's faster than a speeding Mario with a star, stronger than a Wookie with a grudge, and able to build a lava-lamp egg timer in her kitchen? It's Geek Mom, and she's here to entertain, educate, and spread the fun of geekery to families…
Do you have a recommendation for a good "Books I've Read" journal or notebook for kids? -Suzanne, via Facebook Book logs or journals are a great way to give kids tangible pride in all the reading they've done, as well as a place to look …
We love shops like H+M which offer stylish but still affordable clothing--especially for our kids who we know won't be wearing that pair of jeans for another six years. But we're especially excited when we learn that the same shops are c…
It's no secret that we're big fans of Kiwi Crate here at CMP. We love the concept: a subscription service for kids that sends out monthly boxes filled with superfun, educational activities. But now, we can also benefit from the creative …
With all the attack ads on TV, the l-o-n-g debates, and the lack of cartoon characters, it's no wonder that my kids aren't exactly enthralled with politics and the upcoming presidential election. But there's now a cool, non-partisan webs…
Though my kids are mildly amused by the stories of my youth ( what do you mean, there was no internet? ), they are much more fascinated by stories about kids from faraway lands. So I'm excited to find a new series of globe-trotting books…
These days, there's so much intolerance in the world, it's dismaying. As a mom, I try to counteract the negative messages out there by teaching my kids to celebrate diversity , and by taking time as a family to learn about cultures and r…
I panic whenever it's time for teacher gifts . How many apple mugs does one person need? Does she have food allergies? Will the collection of Starbucks gift cards send him spiraling into caffeine-induced madness? But here's one gift that…
I remember sitting down at my very first PTA meeting, excited for my daughter to enter kindergarten at a wonderful public school, until I heard these words: It looks like we'll have to cancel the dance program this year. I felt the tears…
From saving your gadgets to saving your sanity, here are a few of our favorite picks from the past week, just in case you missed them. 1. Our very favorite developer is back with a brilliant new kids' app that rocks. Literally. 2. If you…