When I think of spring I think of two things: spring cleaning and spring showers. So right now seems like a great time to do some organizing and pull together a family game basket for rainy afternoons. Said basket would also come in handy for Family Game Night - a tradition I'd love to get started around here now that the kids are getting old enough to enjoy the fun. We already have a few favorite games of our own but I'm always on the lookout for more to keep all the kids interested as they … [Read more...]
Our Favorite Ways to Play Inside
Isn't that structure amazing? C spent a solid couple of hours constructing it the other morning. And then promptly fell asleep on the couch (something he hasn't done in nearly a year!). It was created using a very cool building set that was sent to us last month called Fort Magic. And thank God it was because this time of year in Seattle the kids and I are stuck in the house more than usual and things can get a bit dicey if I'm not careful. Is this happening to you too? In case it is, I … [Read more...]
Gift Guide: Little Explorers
Today's the last of MPMK's 2012 Christmas Gift Guides, and it's a good one - designed to nurture the explorer within. After all, if your kiddo has an adventurous spirit, I say run with it! Whether their fascination lies in the stars above or their own backyard, our finds will help you milk their curiosity for all it's worth. Don't forget you can see all of our 2012 Christmas Gift Guides here. As with our other 2012 Christmas Gift Guides, here's a sneak peak of my top 3 picks: IKEA Kids … [Read more...]
Gift Guide: Artists & Creators
Yay! I'm so excited it's time to talk about our Artists & Creators Christmas Gift Guide. This one is second only to our Builders & Innovators Gift Guide on my list of favorites. But that probably doesn't surprise you, huh? You all know how much I love anything that promotes open-ended creativity. Don't forget you can see all seven of our guides here. And, as we're doing this year, here's a glimpse at my top 3 picks for this guide: Set of 11 Simply Washable 16 oz. Tempera Paints … [Read more...]
Gift Guide: The Vehicle Lover
Gift guide #5 is all about things that go Vroom! If I let C see it, I'm sure he'd want every single item on this list (which is exactly why I'm not showing it to him). Don't forget you can see all of MPMK's 2012 Christmas Gift Guides here. As with all the guides this year, we're starting with our top 3 for those of you who don't have time to peruse the whole thing: KidKraft Limited Edition Waterfall Mountain Train Table $141.95 Battat Take Apart Sets $ 18.15 and up Bruder … [Read more...]
Gift Guide: Doll Lovers
I have so many friends with little girls that are absolutely obsessed with dolls right now that I just had to include this guide (they're just too good of a resource not to take advantage of). Plus doll play is wonderful for dramatic play, teaching emotions, and fostering nurturing and empathetic qualities in children. As with all of 2012's Gift Guides, here's our cheat sheet to this list's top 3: Melissa & Dough Brianna Doll $15.68 Chico Doll Stroller $39.99 Corolle Mon … [Read more...]
Gift Guide: Kids on the Move
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...]
Gift Guide: Dramatic Play
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
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...]