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Best Baby and Toddler Books and Toys

12 July 2024 | 1:30 am

Tricky Topic Books Support children and parents alike as they navigate common challenges and transitions; like getting rid of pacifiers, starting preschool, or moving away from screens. Each of the five books provides an easy-to-follow approach that helps a child learn hildren in real situations with real emotions. Each book also features a QR code […]

Best Toys and Games For Imaginative Play

12 July 2024 | 1:17 am

GeoSafari Jr. My First Walkie Talkies Encourage exploration, communication and build confidence. Features a single button for easy use, a secure kid-to-kid radio channel, wrist strap, 90-meter range and durable design. $21.99, ages 4+, educationalinsights.com Cry Babies Minnie Mouse Meet the adorable toy that cries real tears just like a real baby. The newest addition […]

Best Toys and Games for Fun and Learning

12 July 2024 | 1:07 am

GraviTrax Junior Introduce children to marble run and construction toys in a vibrant and easy-to-learn way. Start building right away and immerse yourself in thematic worlds for added creative play. Features jungle, ice, desert and ocean-themed sets and expansions. $14.99-$129.99, ages 3+, amazon.com Professor Maxwell’s VR Atlas Become globe-trotters throughout this 144-page book as you […]

Get Ready for School

12 July 2024 | 12:58 am

Superflex 2nd Edition Kit: Curriculum, Storybook, and Visuals Teach kids about flexibility, self-awareness, executive functions, self-regulation & more. A fun storybook, 25 interactive quests & a detailed teaching curriculum. With hands-on activities, digital and visual supports, extension activities, and evidence-informed lessons, students, parents/caregivers, and educators have found this helpful in tackling social learning and self-regulation. […]

Best Baby, Toddler and New Mom Essentials

12 July 2024 | 12:02 am

Haakaa Ladybug Silicone Breast Milk Collector The ultimate breast pad alternative. Provides a secure, comfortable and discreet fit in a variety of bras. This passive milk collector is designed to save every precious drop of leakage and let-down. Ideal for moms who leak but want to conserve milk without increasing their supply. Wear on the […]

Best Games and Puzzles For Kids

11 July 2024 | 11:39 pm

JoinAround Puzzle, Zoo Featuring four levels of complexity, it’s perfect for the whole family. Youngsters conquer big pieces, while older kids and adults tackle the smaller ones. Work together to complete the puzzle and once done, flip the box over and enjoy four bonus games. $24.99, ages 4+, pennycake.com Math Path Monster Teamwork and math […]

Learning Apps for Kids in Preschool

11 July 2024 | 11:24 pm

Ocean Preschool Features 500+ ocean-theme learning games such as coloring, puzzles, sorting, tracing and much more. Promotes fine motor skills, cognitive skills, hand-eye coordination, logical thinking and creativity. Free, ages 2+, apps.apple.com Dino Preschool 500+ dino theme learning games for kids. Includes coloring, puzzles, sorting, tracing, number learning games, popping bubbles, joining the dots, dressing […]

Connect Through Music, Games and Meditation

11 July 2024 | 11:17 pm

ChatterTime On-the-Go Start conversations that create moments of together time in a lighthearted and playful way. With six question categories, the sky’s the limit for everyone to share memories, dreams for the future, silly moments and much more. To get started, pick a card and read it out loud. Take turns sharing your answer. $9.99, […]

Best Toys and Shoes for Outdoor Fun

11 July 2024 | 11:03 pm

Jet Disc Combines the classic play patterns of flying disks and airplane gliders to get kids outside and moving. Its unique design allows it to be thrown like a disc, while the aerodynamic plane tail allows it to glide smoothly in the air. $7.99-$9.99, ages 5+, target.com GeoSafari Jr. Rocknoculars Junior geologists can take this […]

Best Products for Babies, Toddlers & New Moms

2 May 2024 | 9:59 pm

The Bristle Bottle Brush Features a patented suction cup base for upright, fast-drying. The non-slip handle gives soapy hands a firm grip and the sturdy nylon bristles are tough on dirt. The bristles were developed to reduce the dreaded splash-back when it pops out of the bottle. There’s also a convenient soft rubber nipple brush […]

Great Family Games

2 May 2024 | 9:47 pm

Run Beaver Run Full of excitement and anticipation with each roll. For 2 to 4 players. Includes 4 beaver playing pieces, 1 fold-up gameboard case for easy, on-the-go play, 2 dice, 1 log, 1 log release lever and instructions. $29.99, ages 5+, lukilab.com Mycelia An enchanting introduction to deck-building games, players assemble a team of […]

Imagination and Play

2 May 2024 | 9:33 pm

Rainbow Climber Gym An indoor playground made of high-quality hard beechwood. Features a compact yet spacious design that facilitates physical and emotional development. Suitable for big families and playdates – can bear up to 440 lbs. Comes with double-sided slide, wooden rings, wooden swing and hammock. $779.99, ages 18 months+, amazon.com Flat 2 Fast Card […]

Get Creative

2 May 2024 | 9:23 pm

Claymates’ Family of 4 Designed to encourage open-ended, imaginative play. Includes handmade wooden figures and colorful non-drying clay blocks. Kids create their own characters, facilitating self-expression, fine motor development and social awareness. Crafted from sustainable brown walnut and light maple hardwoods. $33, ages 3+, claymatesusa.com Lite-Brite Super Bright HD, Pokémon Edition Unleash your inner Pokémon […]

Best Shows For Kids

2 May 2024 | 9:09 pm

Unicorn Academy The boarding school of every kid’s dreams. This Netflix-original animated series follows Sophia and the rest of the freshman class as they must bond with their unicorns to unlock their magical powers. Will have these students’ balancing classwork, navigating friendships and rivalries, and dealing with trials and tribulations of typical teen life. Ages […]

Get Ready for Summer

2 May 2024 | 9:00 pm

The Down and Dirty Guide to Camping with Kids Plan your family camping adventure—and get kids outdoors. Filled with tips, tools and checklists, plus new gear recommendations, practical advice, recipes, activities and art projects to keep your kids engaged and connected to nature. $24.95, shambhala.com SwimWays Infant Float Spring Float with Sun Canopy Featuring a […]

Culture & Inclusion

2 April 2024 | 12:22 am

I Am Different, I am Great Mei Mei loves school, but sometimes she feels a bit out of place. She speaks with an accent that makes her stand out from everyone else. When she tells Mommy her worries, Mei Mei finds that she’s more than just her voice. $14.99, ages 2-8, amazon.com AU ZOO (At […]

Best for Parents

2 April 2024 | 12:15 am

Joolz Aer+’s This stroller is designed to make traveling with your little one as smooth and comfortable as possible. Features one-hand one-second fold, a reclining seat and UPF 50+ sun hood with ventilation. $449, ages birth-4 years, joolz.com Harmony Manual Breast Pump A small, lightweight and discreetly portable pump for occasional and convenient pumping at […]

For Graduates

1 April 2024 | 10:50 pm

Dear Graduate This book challenges the age-old question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” by changing it to, “What will you do when you grow up?” It asks 33 questions of graduates of any age about how they want to spend their time and what values they’ll develop. $15.99, ages 5-18 […]

Baby and Toddler Toys & Digital Fun

1 April 2024 | 10:37 pm

VTech Animal Rhymes Music Book Explore familiar nursery rhymes, instrument sounds, colors and vocabulary while building motor skills by sliding and twisting the play pieces on the pages. $12.99, ages 3-36 months, vtechkids.com VTech Bopping & Cruising Baby Driver Bright colors, soft textures and tons of fiddly role-play fun abound in this jam-packed toy. Fueled […]

Baby & Toddler Essentials

1 April 2024 | 10:32 pm

Jet by The Clever Baby A baby teether and dispenser all-in-one. You can use the dispenser to give baby medicine or food purees. The teether is designed to make it easy for baby to grasp and has raised surfaces for sensory stimulation. It can be chilled to help soothe baby’s gums and is the perfect […]

Parents, You’ll Love These

1 March 2024 | 5:43 pm

Wisest Learners: Unlock the Secrets to Your Child’s Academic Success A modern and practical guidebook for both new and seasoned parents, providing invaluable insights and strategies to nurture inquisitive, motivated and triumphant lifelong learners. Discover a wealth of helpful guides encompassing parental strategies, learning foundations and learning strategy management. $19.99, wisestlearners.com Love-me-Tender Nursing Bra Crafted […]

Learning, Sharing, Caring & Inspiring

1 March 2024 | 12:51 am

Encouraging our kids to better understand the world and all the beautiful unique cultures and traditions is a wonderful gift. Through understanding and acceptance we foster kindness and caring. These NAPPA Award winners all all about learning, sharing, caring and inspiring. A Year of Celebraciones Discover how cultures around the world observe the new year […]

Let’s Celebrate Nature & Sustainability

1 March 2024 | 12:37 am

We are celebrating our beautiful planet. These recent NAPPA Award winners bring sustainability into play, learning, creativity and imagination. Gotta Go Green by Debi Derryberry A musical album celebrating sustainability, going green and recycling. Debi is the voice for many beloved cartoon voices including Jimmy Neutron, Draculaura (Monster High), SharkPups (SharkDog). $11.98, debiderryberry.com Puffin Rock […]

Best Easter Gifts

29 February 2024 | 11:08 pm

These recent NAPPA Award winners are wonderful Easter and anytime gifts. PEEPS EggMazing Egg Decorator This whimsical bunny-shaped decorator holds and spins hard-boiled eggs. Using the included vibrantly colored, non-toxic markers, kids create custom, colorful Easter eggs without the mess. $27.99, ages 3+, heybuddyheypal.com BIZYBOO Easter Hide ‘N’ Seek Busy Bags A perfect mess-free, on-the-go […]

Best for Baby, Toddler & New Moms

6 February 2024 | 10:14 pm

Congratulations to these recent NAPPA Award winners best for babies, toddlers and new moms! BIOBOO Hug Wearable Breast Pump Features a unique flower cup with a 140° ergonomic curve, ensuring a gentle and secure fit. Includes 3 modes and 12 adjustable suction levels and is super lightweight. The 1.5-hour battery life can power up to […]

Parents: You’ll Love These

6 February 2024 | 9:57 pm

As parents, we’re always searching for products to help us navigate the parenting journey. These recent NAPPA Award winners each offer ways to support parents and make life a little bit easier and less stressful. Troomi – Safe Smartphones for Kids Provide kids with guardrails for safety and opportunities for growth, learning, personal discovery and […]

Fun, Creativity & Games

6 February 2024 | 9:28 pm

Games can enhance connection, build social skills, support critical reasoning skills and simply add more fun to our daily family activities. Congratulations to these recent NAPPA Award winners: Smart Sudoku A hand-held game featuring 2500 paperless puzzles across 5 difficulty levels. The interactive grid provides instant answer checking, auto-timing and connective battle functions to enhance the […]

Bring Kindness and Inclusion to Your Home

6 February 2024 | 9:12 pm

We’re celebrating Kindness and Inclusion with these recent NAPPA Award winners. Whether it’s through music, books, toys or games, we can show our kids that choosing kindness, celebrating differences and our own uniqueness is always a good idea. Showing respect and compassion not only promotes belonging, but it actually creates a sense of well-being for […]

Best STEM Toys and Games

19 December 2023 | 9:26 pm

Surprise Powerz Talking STEM Doll – Astro The Astronaut This talking doll is full of knowledge about planets, moons and stars. With 75+ phrases, sound effects, and singalongs, Astro helps build STEM vocabulary and ignites imaginative play for budding young astronauts. $49.99, ages 2-5, surprisepowerz.com PYXEL A Coder’s Best Friend A pet that teaches coding. […]

Meet Nelo Lucich, Co-founder and CEO of Skyrocket

19 December 2023 | 9:13 pm

Los Angeles-based Skyrocket Toys has won several NAPPA Awards and is the creative force behind Sky Viper Drones, Faction, My Fuzzy Friends, Blume and Pomsies. We had the pleasure of chatting with co-founder and CEO Nelo Lucich on launching his own company, the joys of being a dad and life in SoCal. Please tell us […]

Meet DeeDee Wright-Ward, founder and CEO of Purpose Toys

12 December 2023 | 7:30 pm

We always enjoying chatting with the creative founders of our NAPPA Award winning toys. Today we’re spotlighting Purpose Toys. The mission behind this Los Angeles-based company is all about celebrating culture and giving children dolls that represent their unique heritage. We’re excited to introduce you to the founder and CEO as we chat about being […]

Spotlight Q & A: Meet Sarah Ezrin, mom, author and yogi

2 December 2023 | 5:53 am

Thank you for sharing your story with us and our readers. Please tell us a little about your book, The Yoga of Parenting, which recently won NAPPA Awards. What led you to write it. I often say that my book, The Yoga of Parenting, is less of a “how-to-parent” manual and more of a “how-are-you, […]

Meet: Bill Nichols and Peter Cmiel of Blip’s Toys

29 October 2023 | 3:32 am

We’re thrilled to chat with Bill Nichols and Peter Cmiel of Blip’s Toys, who have won NAPPA Awards several times. Thank you for sharing your story with us and our readers. 1. Please tell us a little about your company’s mission. Our mission is to offer innovative toys at reasonable prices. We think of ourselves […]

Meet: Mary Couzin, Inventor of People at Play and the Chicago Toy & Game Fair

19 October 2023 | 3:14 am

Thank you for sharing your story with us and our readers. 1. Please tell us a little about your career path and how you ended up in the toy industry? I’d worked in many different industries before finding the toy industry – my tribe. A friend was working at Western Publishing (later purchased by Hasbro). […]

Meet Bill Brady: Founder and CEO of Troomi Wirelss

7 June 2023 | 9:45 pm

We’re so excited to introduce you to Bill Brady, a father and the founder and CEO of Troomi Wireless, a 2023 NAPPA Award winner. The Troomi mission is to provide kids with a safer smart phone. The device gives parents an easy and flexible set of parental controls to help eliminate the pull of social […]

EXPO NOTES: THE LATEST IN BABY AND TODDLER GEAR

23 May 2023 | 4:49 pm

The ABC Kids Expo took place at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel and Casino last month, and I was thrilled to be in attendance. This year’s event once again brought together companies focused on baby and toddler products, ranging from strollers and car seats to smart monitors and anything else that might make parenting and childhood more […]

Be Unique

15 March 2023 | 4:59 am

Learn to be unique with these NAPPA Award Winners. Lots of games and toys to help kids learn in new, exciting ways. The Get Movin’ Activity Deck for Kids: 48 Creative Movement Ideas for Little Bodies A unique children’s movement and play deck, featuring 48 cards with practices and activities for all ability levels. Celebrate […]

Best for Baby and Family

15 March 2023 | 4:43 am

We’re so excited to bring you our latest NAPPA Award Winners just for Baby + Fam. Check out all the great products featured below. Naturepedic Breathable Organic 2-Stage Lightweight Crib Mattress It’s the mattress that truly checks all the boxes. It combines organic materials and chemical safety with waterproof protection, breathability, and flexibility. The washable […]

Let’s Read

15 March 2023 | 12:57 am

Our NAPPA Awards team loves celebrating great reads. Check out our latest NAPPA Award winning books for all ages. Babies & Toddlers Baby Ballers: Venus and Serena Williams Before they were serving up grand slam victories, Venus and Serena Williams were just two sisters growing up in Compton. Follow along this inspiring story as they […]

Screen-Free Fun & Creativity Roundup

14 February 2023 | 4:23 am

Who said you always need technology to have? Check out these NAPPA Award Winners for loads of entertaining activities that don’t require a screen. DISO Podcast Share magical stories with your kids in the spirit of the golden days of radio. Available in English, Spanish and French. Narrated by professional actors. $3.99, ages 3+, podcasts.apple.com […]

Baby, Toddlers & New Moms Roundup

14 February 2023 | 4:06 am

We’re so excited to bring you our latest NAPPA Award winners that are BEST for Baby, Mom, and Toddlers! Alphapals Sets A cozy, cuddly seat full of wonder and play. The soft plush Alphabag is fully lined and includes 26 Alphapals plush letters hidden inside. Each letter includes the trademark signature embroidered smiley face giving each letter […]

We Love It – Celebrating Kindness and Positivity

9 February 2023 | 5:27 am

We’re so excited to bring you our latest NAPPA Award winners that are full of Kindness and Positivity! Sing A Song of Kindness Rediscover your favorite nursery rhymes, adapted to celebrate kindness, friendship and compassion. This beautifully illustrated collection comes with a touching message that a little kindness makes the world a better place. $9.99, […]

Meet the Founders of Hey Buddy Hey Pal

25 October 2022 | 2:22 am

Curtis McGill and Scott Houdashell are the co-owners/founders of Hey Buddy Hey Pal, maker of the NAPPA Award Winning Product, the Cake-N-Bake Challenge game. They started at the kitchen table, where they hatched a fan-favorite idea about coloring Easter Eggs. Now introducing their first-ever game, we got the chance to chat with them about the […]

Meet Jossy Lee: The Mom Behind “Mommy Goes to Work”

18 May 2022 | 7:05 pm

Jossy Lee is the creator and mom behind the 2022 NAPPA Award winning board book, Mommy Goes To Work. We recently chatted with Lee about her company’s mission and parenthood. Please tell us a little about your company’s mission Mommy Goes To Work celebrates working mothers and makes drop offs easier, one story at a time. […]

Mother’s Day Gifts for New Moms

28 April 2022 | 4:05 pm

Becoming a new mom is one of the most special times of our lives and we want to help celebrate all new moms this Mother’s Day. Here are a few of our NAPPA Award-winning picks. For more gift inspiration, visit nappaawards.com Qeepsake: Capture your child’s milestones with this easy-to-use app. Members receive daily texts, prompting them […]

Building a Family Culture of Play

28 April 2022 | 3:44 pm

Building A Family Culture of Play Watching a child build a fort with blocks or a whole imaginary world with sand buckets at the beach is a study in concentration and learning. Play is how kids learn – about the world, about their connection to other people and about themselves. Giving kids the free time […]

Fun & Learning

4 February 2022 | 5:34 am

Meet our latest NAPPA Award Winners announced in January 2022: Preschool Genius A set of dry-erase activities and games with a genius twist. The set has questions that add a deeper engagement with learning. $27.95, ages 3-6, amazon.com The 12 Systems of the Body: Adventure Series Book Set Introduces 12 systems of the human body […]

Self-Discovery & Resilience

4 February 2022 | 5:27 am

Meet our latest NAPPA Award Winners announced in January 2022: Train Your Mind Like a Ninja A card deck with 30 “secret skills for fun, focus and resilience.” Using ninja training and martial arts as a fun framework, these cards help kids increase their focus, compassion, emotional balance and awareness. $18.95, ages 5-9, shambhala.com Name and […]

Best Books & Tunes

3 February 2022 | 11:41 pm

Meet our latest NAPPA Award Winners announced in January 2022: Kindie Rock Stars Podcast Showcases the amazing talents of children’s musicians and family entertainers. Each episode features an artist story, song story and a song. Free, patrickadamsbooks.com Shadow Play Books Unfold the book, turn down the lights and switch on a flashlight to be transported […]

Best for Baby, Toddler & New Mom

3 February 2022 | 11:14 pm

Meet our latest NAPPA Award Winners announced in January 2022: Qeepsake Capture your child’s milestones with this easy-to-use app. Members receive daily texts, prompting them to text back a moment or milestone with a photo. Qeepsake securely builds these texts and photos into a digital journal that can be shared with family and printed […]