Modern Parents Messy Kids

We're all about finding ways to make family life better while keeping our sense of humor. Check out our famous MPMK Top Toy Awards, already viewed over 7,000,000 times!

Two Tips for Easy, No-Bake Gingerbread Houses

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So I know I suggested decorating ginger bread men in lieu of gingerbread houses in this year's 24 family Advent activities. But then my mother-in-law decided she wanted to host a family gingerbread house party the day after Thanksgiving and she kind of changed my mind about the difficulty of making gingerbread houses - with two very clever tricks. Wanna know what they were?  Read on for all the details... … [Read more...]

Gift Guide: Kids on the Move

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Installment #3 of 2012's Christmas Gift Guide was born purely out of necessity.  With two rambunctious kiddos bouncing off the walls around here, I'm asking everyone in the family to think about gifting active toys this year!  Below is a carefully curated collection of my favorite picks for expelling energy both indoors and out. Don't forget, you can see ALL of this year's gift guides (even those that haven't debuted yet) by clicking here or via our sidebar button.  Before we dive in, here are … [Read more...]

Classic (and Soon to be Classic) Christmas Reads

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MPMK's resident children's literature expert Janssen is back today sharing 10 must-read Christmas books.  I've just finished putting several of them on hold at our local library - thank you Janssen! Could anything be better than reading stories by Christmas tree lights? Throw in a mug of hot chocolate with some marshmallows and maybe a crackling fire, and you're looking at some of my favorite childhood Christmas memories. Of course, having the right books to read with your child is the most … [Read more...]

Gift Guide: Dramatic Play

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  Welcome to the famous MPMK Gift Guides and congrats on finding the most comprehensive and easy-to-use kids' gift guide on the internet! (If you're not familiar with our famous lists, learn all about them here)... On to our finds for dramatic play, yippee!  Why am I so enthusiastic about this list, and dramatic play in general?  Because I truly believe that this type of play is absolutely VITAL to kids' development. It teaches so many wonderful things - literacy through vocabulary … [Read more...]

Gift Guide: Little Builders & Innovators

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Today I'm excited to give you a sneak peek of a big project I've been dilligently working on for quite a while. "Which toys should I spend my money on?," is probably the question I get asked most often by you guys, especially right around now.  So this year, MPMK is doing the gift guide thing bigger, bolder and just plain better! I considered laying out our picks by age, or gender, or even benefit - but then I got to thinking about how I shop for my own kids.  Ultimately, it's what my littles … [Read more...]

How to Buy Toys for Other People’s Kids

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When buying kids’ gifts for birthday parties or other celebrations we can be easily enticed by toys that aren’t necessarily what you would want in your home for your child. I try to keep in mind that no kid really benefits from a ton of toys and that every parent will appreciate a quality gift in the long run. Here are some ideas to keep the fun in that special present, with a forward-thinking, minimalist spin. … [Read more...]

MPMK’s Favorite Things

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                            Happy Thanksgiving!  I hope you're enjoying a cozy day of stuffing yourself silly with your nearest and dearest. Tell me, will you be participating in the mayhem that is Black Friday tomorrow?  If so, don't forget to check out MPMK's Favorite Things before you venture out. This is where we keep inventory of our all-time … [Read more...]

Our Advent Activity List

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image source Yesterday, I shared my favorite Advent calendars.  Today, I thought I'd provide some help filling up your calendar of choice.  I've decided to bite the bullet this year and go with an activity Advent.   Psst one quick thing... Christmas is coming SOON, be sure to check out our SUPER POPULAR toy gift guide (viewed over 7,000,000 times by parents in the know): You Won't Find a Toy List Like This Anywhere Else! Hint: Great picks for kids of all ages and interests on … [Read more...]