The run-up to Christmas is exciting, isn’t it? So much anticipation in the air and a jolly good advent calendar can add to the atmosphere. Sure, you could pick up the traditional chocolate calendar but why not try something new? Something that gives the brain a little boost in the morning? Something like…. a brain…
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Gift Books for Babies
What is a good book to give a new baby? For starters, the book has to be one that won’t be duplicated in other gifts at a baby shower. That eliminates a lot of popular titles like Goodnight Moon and Dear Zoo. Those are excellent books, but let someone else buy them. Instead pick a…
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Gift Guide for Kids: Best Single Player Logic Games
There is no greater gift you can give parents than a single player logic game for their kids. I’m serious. Single player logic games do the following: Increase kids’ brain power; and Keep the quietly busy for house of independent play. Convinced, yet? I thought so. We happen to have a rather larger than average…
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Best Gifts for Tweens For Creativity & Thinking Skills
You want to give them a Latin-English dictionary. They want a smart phone. Maybe there is a middle ground? What your tween wants is to be entertained. What you want is for them to develop their critical thinking and innovative creative skills. (Note: images and links may be affiliate links, which earn a commission for…
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Kolowis Awithlaknannai: Fighting Serpents Game
Kolowis Awithlaknannai, also known as “Fighting Serpents,” is a traditional abstract strategy game from the Zuni people. The Zunis are Native American Pueblo people from the region presently occupied by New Mexico. The game board consists of pairs of triangles. Traditionally, Kolowis Awithlaknannai is played on a board of 30 pairs of triangles, with 23…
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My Favorite Gift for Kids (That’s Not a Book)
Although the best gift by far is the gift of reading, and near the top is the gift of play, a family favorite gift by far is the ongoing joy of subscription boxes. Subscription boxes have become quite trendy in the last few years, and for good reason! It’s a well-known fact that kids get…
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Chapter Book Series Gift Sets (Ages 6-9)
What are some good chapter book series to give as gifts to 6-9 year olds? I’m glad you asked! A great early chapter book will have kids entranced until the final page, eager to get to the next installment in the series. Perhaps there will be a few, or many, laughs, maybe even a couple…
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Books for 2-Year-Olds That Are New-to-You
If you are reading this list of books for 2-year-olds you are either A) tired of reading the same few books over and over and desperately seeking something new; or B) want to give a new book to your favorite 2-year-old but need to find a book they don’t already have! You’ve come to the…
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Best Games for Kids Ages 10-15
You can’t play Candyland forever. Thank goodness. Our family plays a lot of games. A lot. In order to curate this collection of the best kids for ages 10-15, I’ve taken note of the way different types of games strike their fancy as they get older. This in-between age of not-quite-a-teen to not-quite-an-adult has them…
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10 Best Book Sets for Tweens (Boxed and Unboxed!)
A good book series is just the thing to keep kids reading, and a box set is the perfect gift to open them up to a new world full of imagination, interesting characters and intriguing plot twists. When you’re searching for a gift for your tween pick up some of the titles on this diverse…
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