I’m a zealous convert to the play power of dolls. As a kid I was not as excited about dolls but for my daughter it was love at first sight.

Since my little boy looks up to his big sister, it was only a matter of time before he wanted to play with all of her toys, including the dolls. So we got him a Corolle doll to call his own: the charming Blue Suce-Pouce in soft blue footie koala pajamas.

He loves giving kisses to his “baby”, just like his Daddy cares for him…

For children all over the world, a simple pair of shoes can be a gift of hope.

Soles4Souls first came to my attention when I heard that See Kai Run generously donates to their efforts. See Kai Run makes the kind of shoes that have children jumping for joy and adults wishing they came in their size. With bold colors, a hip, retro sensibility, and high quality design, these flexible-soled leather shoes stand out.

See Kai Run has donated thousands of shoes through Soles4Souls, most recently putting together an emergency shipment of 3,000 shoes for children in Haiti.

My son got a special treat for his birthday in April: the Shuttle Imagination from KidsCraft Playhouses.  That’s him in the photo right after he first spotted his new “spaceship.”

Since then, we’ve had lots of fun decorating his spaceship with stickers and crayons, and it has held up for many hours of
“make believe” play. My son enjoys peeking out from the shuttle windows and opening and closing the doors.  Since he loves the Toy Story movie and books about space travel, we’ve had many happy hours playing astronauts or Buzz Lightyear.

Watching your children play with dolls can be like looking through a mirror at your own parenting. Not the part where they grab them by the ankle and drag them up the stairs, of course (thunk, thunk, thunk). Rather, pay close attention to how they cuddle and care for their little pretend babies and you will get a heart-warming affirmation of your nurturing.

Children use dolls to role play and process their day. And they mimic what you do with them and their siblings.

That’s why I love the Corolle Doll Sling.

What says Spring quite like flowery sundresses and brightly colored…hair? My preschool daughter, lover of all things pink, will create entire masterpieces in fuchsia. In her self-portraits, she is sometimes a vivid share of electric pink from head to toe. So, she adores her new punky-funky Corolle Les Dollies Pink Doll.

This little charmer has the sweetest little girl face with bright eyes, full, freckled cheeks, and a mischievous smirk. Her so-trendy cotton candy hair is rooted and brushable. Her trendy little sun dress with vivid butterflies…

Finally, a bouncy seat that matches all my cool Ikea furniture. I love Swedish design!

The stylish BabyBjörn Babysitter Balance is really more like a designer accessory than a piece of baby gear. The reversible fabric gives you four color schemes in one, and the solidly constructed frame has three positions for baby–play, rest and sleep. There’s also the ability to fold the entire seat flat so you can store it under the bed, the couch, or in the trunk of the car…

Learning another language is a big brain boost–plus it is tons of fun, too.

We’ve written before about the benefits of bilingualism. Watching a language video, like the ones from Little Pim, with your older toddler, preschooler, kindergartner, or grade-school age child can help boost proficiency–especially if you discuss the video with your child. And if you are not a native speaker, DVDs and CDs in foreign languages are absolutely essential as part of your language program…

Can you tell me how to get to Sesame Street?

Why, yes, yes I can. In fact, if you are able to get to Madison Square Garden, Mamanista can take you there!

Sesame Street was a favorite of mine as a kid–a magical place of learning, sharing, and caring. So, it is very exciting that we get to share tickets not only with a reader’s family, but also with some children who could use a special day!

Looking for a last-minute Hanukkah present or last-minute Christmas present? Visit your local toy store! There are so many benefits to shopping locally. One of the big benefits: education. Local stores provide personalized service. I have a great relationship with my local store owner, and I have appreciated some of their tips and product recommendations. My neighborhood toy store carries unique educational toys. But I bet you didn’t know that you are actually supporting your local schools when you shop locally.