Family Fun
Change is Good
If you’re like me, the announcement of the new iPhone left me perplexed. “You mean I can’t charge my phone and listen with headphones at the same time?” But just like any new version of anything … we’ll all get...
Wish You Were Here
Show your friends and family the highlights of your vacation by sending customized postcards with the Postly app. Just snap a picture with your phone, upload it to Get Postly, design your card, write a message and send! Postcards are delivered worldwide for just $1.99. Available for...
A Bug’s Life
In 1965, entomologist Carlos White wanted to give children a hands-on introduction to insect metamorphosis, entomology and life-cycle learning. After much research and experimentation, he founded Insect Lore in 1969 and created what would be his “flagship product,” Original Butterfly Garden...
Lace Your Hiking Shoes Up
ABOUT THE PRODUCT: The National Geographic Guide to National Parks of the United States 8th Edition ( www.shop.nationalgeographic.com, $28, for the entire family) is a comprehensive guide that contains up-to-the minute, practical advice for national park lovers and visitors. The newest information for...
Adults can color, too!
Who said that coloring was only for kids? Coloring Mandalas coloring books by Quarto Books (www.quartoknows.com , $11.99) is the perfect combination of relaxation, fun, and creativity for those of all ages. Whether you are coloring with the kids or...
Straight from Arendelle
Whether it’s a day out in the snow or by the fireplace sipping hot cocoa, kids can chronicle their holiday highlights with Disney’s Frozen themed HD Action Camera ($79.99, www.kohls.com). Comes with a waterproof case, bicycle mount and helmet mount.
Think Outside the Cube
Travel light during your holiday visits with the Polaroid CUBE HD action camera ($99.99, www.PolaroidCUBE.com). This cute, colorful and compact camera fits perfectly in any pocket, making it a snap to capture holiday memories.
Party Ideas: Party Plan On the Go
Need a little inspiration or a few party ideas? The Partyology app (free for iOS, www.partyology.com) lets you design, plan and shop from top retailers with your iPhone or iPad. Get instant access to great party tips from bloggers and...
Fun Ideas for Kids: Test Your Taste Buds
Have you been BeanBoozled? The BeanBoozled Jumbo Spinner Jelly Bean Gift Box ($24.99, www.jellybelly.com) comes with a spinner and 45 individually wrapped jelly bean packs that include an assortment of 20 lookalike jelly beans – half of them tasty, the...
Two in One
When tasked with a school project to invent the perfect toy, Max took his love for sports balls and teddy bears and rolled them into one … literally. Buddy Balls (MaxLand Toys, LLC, $24.99, www.buddyballs.com, for all ages) transform from...
In the Pocket
Sydney Loew took the skills she learned in a 7th grade entrepreneurial course to a new level when she and her sister Toni, launched a business and created Poketti Plushies ($14,99, www.poketti.com, for the entire family), soft pillows with a...
Chalk It Up
Don’t you love the clean, bright look of restaurant menus penned in colored chalk on white boards or blackboards? Now you can get that same look with Chalk Ink Markers (Prices vary, www.chalkink.com, for the entire family), a must-have craft...
Take a Listen
Great for traveling, Etymotic’s ETY Kids Earphones (www.etymotic.com, $39, Ages 4+) are made just for kids. They come in black, pink and yellow and come with a handy pouch for safe keeping. They fit snuggly to seal the ear canal,...
Cute Poppers
Squeeze Poppers by Hog Wild Toys ($9.99 per set, Ages 4+, www.hogwildtoys.com) shoot mini, soft-foam balls up to 20 feet and are perfect for play at home and on the go! Simply squeeze the belly of the Popper, which is...
For an epic Water Balloon fight!
Summer isn’t complete without a water balloon fight! Forget about the mess and time it takes to fill up water balloons with Bunch O Balloons by Zuru ($9.99, Ages 6+, www.bunchoballoons.com). Balloons seal automatically once filled to capacity. All you...
Foodie Jr.
Cultivate the next generation of foodies with Kidstir (www.kidstir.com, $19.95/month), an L.A.-based company that delivers three healthy cooking activities to subscribers each month. Each box includes recipes, activity worksheets, kid-size utensils and a premium ingredient.
Magnetic Attraction
You don’t have to be a science geek to embrace the magic of magnets. Electricity & Magnetism by Thames & Kosmos (www.thamesandkosmos.com, $59.95, Ages 8+) breaks down and explains the magic in eye-opening 60 experiments. Kids can build circuits; contraptions and switches...
When Life Gives You Lemons
The Lemonade Stand Start Up Kit from Bizainy (www.bizainy.com, $29.99, Ages 5 and up, supervision required) will get kids off their screens and outside to enjoy the fruits of running their own business. Created by mother of two and former...
Hooray for Science!
Cultivate an excitement for science at an early age with Appleseed Lane (as low as $19.95 per month, Ages 4 to 8), a subscription box company that delivers four easy to follow STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) themed projects to your doorstep...
Magnetic Attraction
You don't have to be a science geek to embrace the magic of magnets. Electricity & Magnetism by Thames & Kosmos ($59.95, Ages 8+) breaks down and explains the magic in eye-opening 60 experiments. Kids can build circuits, contraptions and switches to...
Mix it Up!
Science buffs will get a "charge" out of CHEM C1000 ($64.95, Ages 10+), a professional grade beginning chemistry set by Thames & Kosmos. A detailed experiment manual provides an introduction to chemistry, safety instructions and walks you through all 125 experiments. Precautions...
Magic Sand
Sand play is great for tactile learning, so what if you could bring this activity indoors -- without the mess? Sands Alive by Play Visions ($29.99, Ages 3+ years) comes with 1.5 pounds of Sands Alive "sand" which feels like real sand...
Have Your Cake
Planning a birthday party? Culinary challenged? Betty Crocker Birthdays ($16.99) is baking book full of DIY cake decorating ideas with most recipes using cake mixes as a convenient starting point. Mouth watering photos provide inspiration and templates show even the...
Special Bond
National Parenting Publications Awards (NAPPA) judge and distinguished author Helen Foster James has written the perfect book to reinforce the bond between grandparent and grandchild. Grandma Loves You! by Helen Foster James, illustrated by Petra Brown ($14.99, Fun for the entire...
Safe and Sound
nabi Headphones by Fuhu, Inc. ($69.99) are DJ quality headphones that transform into...whatever you’re into. They're the world’s first DJ quality, dual-mode headphones with volume limiting technology for kids. These high performance headphones deliver pristine, isolated listening experiences, while providing peace...
What a Treat
Dogs are part of the family so when it comes to celebrating a birthday, now Fido can have his cake and eat it too. Puppy Cake, Premium Cake Mix (6.99) is made just for dogs with safe, quality ingredients that won't upset tummies....
Crafty Dad
Made By Dad: 67 Blueprints for Making Cool Stuff by Workman Publishing Co.(For the entire family, $18.95) combines the rough-edged, handmade ethos of a Boy Scout manual, a sly sense of humor, and a bottomless pit of imagination to deliver a unique...
For the Fitness Freak
The makers of P90X and Insantity bring a fun, energetic program led by trainer, Chalene Johnson, Turbo Fire by Beach Body (6 monthly payments of $19.95). This fast-paced 90-day workout comes with 14 classes on DVD, an instructional DVD, a...
Take it Up a Notch
If the winter mornings are too cold for you to endure, join Ariane Hundt’s Brooklyn Bridge Boot Camp ($25) in the comfort of your living room. She‘ll take you across the 1-mile bridge and back with cardio blasts that are...
Lessons Learned
All About Bullies ... Big and Small by Various Artists ($15, Ages 6 to 8) is a terrific and timely collection of songs and short spoken-word pieces dealing with bullying as well as related topics like acceptance of difference, individuality, and...
Heaven Sent
For her first children’s album, Chapman (who is a star Nashville singer/songwriter) turned her musical attentions to the sky to create this heavenly album, The Mighty Sky ($14.98, For all ages) that is all about astronomy. She makes the science come alive...
Musical Numbers
Hap Palmer's Count, Add, Subtract! Fun with Math, Music and Movement ($14.95, Preschool to Early Elementary) adds up to one of the best albums made about math. The veteran children’s musician performs the masterfully task of taking basic concepts and turning...
Good Dog
Zoomer (Fun for the entire family, $99.99) is such an endearing Dalmatian that it’s hard to believe this eager-to-please pooch is robotic. Kids can teach him to speak, sit, lie down, roll over or shake in English, Spanish or French. ...
Make Your Marker
Add panache to your paper with Marker Maker by Crayola ($29.99, Ages 8+ years). Ink, marker tubes, caps, tips and plugs along with tools to use help kids color their world with individual flair. Follow the mixing guide or experiment with...
Glitzy Glam
Fun to do and look at too! Glitter Toos ($15.95, Preschool and up) comes with 15 sticker stencils, 6 glitter colors and a nail polish-like bottle of glue for easy glitzy fun. Tattoos are permanently temporary: they last several days...
Imaginative Play
From the lobby and concierge to the game room and guests, enjoy all the amenities you’d expect in a luxury five-star stay without leaving the comforts of home with Playmobil's Large Furnished Hotel ($164.99, Ages 4 to 10). Use your room...
Creepy Crawlers
Like a Habitrail for bugs, HEXBUG Nano V2 Black Hole ($49.99 Ages 3 years+) has rubber techno insects climbing up, free falling and constantly finding new courses. Moving like real bugs these two busy Hexbugs with newly redesigned exo-skeletons scurry...
Putting the “Fun” in Fungi
The Young Scientist Series ($24.99, Ages 9 - 12)offers a variety of projects for older scientists. Each “set” contains three complete kits to be completed sequentially or individually. In Set 4, children actually grow bacteria and fungi and learn how...
Map Quest
Geography is a blast with the Kids Dry Erase Map ($20.99) by WallPops. Available in U.S. and World versions, this reusable and removable decal is easy to apply to walls. Write on the map as you explore, then wipe clean. Dry-erase marker is...
Learn Something New
Kids can play their way to Spanish, French, German, or Portuguese language skills with Quick Tap ($1.99, Ages 5 to 11), a high-speed app where players race to match foreign words to their English counterparts. Teaches more than 100 words for numbers,...
Good Scents
Got a foodie or two on your list? Tinyhands Scented Food Jewelry (starting at $23) will make hearts sing and tummies rumble. Miniature treats include a lollipop, S’mores, salted pretzel, a variety of cupcake flavors and even a corn dog!...
Sleep Soundly
A perfect bedtime soundtrack featuring musicians from all over the world. Instrumental Dreamland by Putumayo ($14.98) includes classics like “Brahms’ Lullaby,” “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” and “What a Wonderful World” and showcases the diverse sounds of the harp, acoustic guitar, piano and...
S’more, Please
A wintertime favorite is packaged beautifully in this S'mores Kit by Whimsy & Spice ($18). Comes with marshmallows (your choice of cardamom or maple), homemade graham cracker shortbread cookies, Valhrona chocolate squares and mini skewers.
Custom Fun
“The Little Boy Who Lost His Name/The Little Girl Who Lost Her Name” ($28, For ages 2-7), is a charming and delightful story written by BBC comedy writer David Cadji-Newby and illustrated by Portuguese graphic designer Pedro Serapicos. The book takes the...
Geek Out
From the editor of Wired.com’s popular GeekDad blog, which receives over one million page views per month, comes the follow-up to the New York Times bestseller Geek Dad The Geek Dad’s Guide to Weekend Fun: Cool Hacks, Cutting-Edge Games, and More...
Plane Fun
Paper airplanes soar to new heights with the Power Up 2.0 Electric Paper Airplane Conversion Kit (ages 8+, $16.99). Easily attach the propeller to the nose and watch your plane travel hundreds of yards. Requires three AA batteries (not included).
Get Packin’
Eliminate the morning rush and get make-ahead lunch box ideas in Katie Morford’s Best Lunch Box Ever: Ideas and Recipes for School Lunches Kids Will Love, ($24.95)
In the Loop
Manage day-to-day activities in one central location with Cozi (free), an app that makes sharing shopping and to-do lists, schedules and calendars a snap through any computer or mobile device.
We Gotcha Covered
Lay down a clean play surface wherever you go with the Monkey Mat ($39.99), perfect for beach outings, camping and picnics. Folds into a portable pouch with a convenient strap that fastens to strollers, backpacks or other outdoor gear.
Toe Tappin’
NAPPA winner Frances England is everything I love about a Children’s artist: she writes catchy songs with smart lyrics, has wonderful branding that speaks to young families and most of all, she’s current. In her latest album, Blink of an...
Freetoes by Freetoes Brand, Inc.
Freetoes ($7.99) were designed by an 8 year old girl named Kate “K8” who loved flip-flops and wanted to wear them even in cold weather. K8 started her own business using her allowance to make and sell hand altered socks. ...
Fun with Tape
Our favorite craft company, Klutz, has introduced Washi Tape Stickers ($16.99, Ages 8 and up) a book that lets kids (and adults too) create fun, patterned stickers by tracing art on to special peel-off backing paper, covering it with washi tape, cutting...
Pampered Pet
Pet owners can hand pick items for their furry friend or receive a surprise box from Get Pet Box (Starts at $29 per month) filled with premium toys, healthy treats and fun accessories for dogs and cats, made from trusted...
Collegiate Care Package
Sure to bring a smile to any co-ed during midterm or finals week, Co-ed Supply,($20 - $35 per month) is filled with toiletries, snacks, school supplies and other college essentials. Comes with plenty of goodies to share with dorm mates...
Back to Nature
Snack guilt-free with Nature Box (Starting at $19.95 per box) offering an wide variety ofsweet and savory treats such as Vanilla Macaroon Granola and Mango Almond Bites, all made with wholesome ingredients. New snacks are introduced monthly. Another reason to...
Crafty Fun
Kids will find everything they need to create DIY art and science projects in the Happy Trunk ($17.95 - $19.95, Ages 3 to 11). Boxes are curated by educators and crafters and designed for two age groups: 3 to 7...
Pedal Power
Add to bike-riding fun with the FUZE Bike Bubbler (www.fuzebikefx.com, $14.99, Ages 5+),a motorized bubble maker that streams bubbles as you ride. A full tank of bubble fluid lasts about 25 minutes. Runs on batteries, mounts underneath standard bike seats...
Go Fly a Kite
Color-Me Kites (www.xkites.com, $11.99, Ages 8+) is a craft and activity. Children can decorate the kite with markers (included), then take their colorful creation on a test flight. Comes ready to fly with handle, line and a QuickClip that makes...
Tidy Up Your Treasures
Save your child’s artwork digitally with the free app Artkive (Books start at $25),compatible with most iOS devices. Snap a photo of each masterpiece, note the artist’s name and date, and order a keepsake book at the end of the...
Get Fit
Burn off the holiday pounds with HOOPERSIZE ($39.95, Ages 6 and up),afitness kit that won’t feel like exercise! The easy-to-assemble hoop is heavier and sturdier than toy hula hoops, making it easier to hoop for longer periods of time. Instructional...
Learn Something New
Kids can play their way to Spanish, French, German, or Portuguese language skills with Quick Tap ($1.99, Ages 5 to 11), a high-speed app where players race to match foreign words to their English counterparts. Teaches more than 100 words...
Spend More Time With Family
Explore Los Angeles “kid style” with The Kid’s Guide to Los Angeles County, ($12.95, Ages 6 – 12). This pocked-sized travel guide encourages quality family time and reveals the best places to sight see, eat and shop. Filled with fun...
Grab a Chic Companion
Enough with scrambling to find a tissue pack at the bottom of your handbag. Uber Mom’s stylish and reusable Wipebox MINI ($6.99) is ideal for anyone on the go.
Grow Your Own
Square Foot Gardening With Kids ($24.99) teaches the importance of sustainable living while helping kids build and grow their own gardens. Clever and fun, it offers a green pastime adults and kids can enjoy together.
A Bird’s-Eye View
Enjoy a unique peek into the life of birds with My Spy Birdhouse ($14.99), which attaches to your window so you can observe from indoors. The one-way mirror lets you see the birds, but hides you from view!