At a local indoor playground, I spotted one of the most ingenious toys I've ever seen. Similar to play–dough, PlayFoam [1] is a moldable substance made of foam dots that lil ones can squish or build into shapes and creations of their liking. Unlike their competition, the goods aren't sticky or smelly, which is a nice advantage for mama. And, it never hardens when left out!

The fun stuff is available in various colors, glow in the dark and sparkle versions. The best part about the cool stuff is that it's inexpensive. A pack of six colors will set you back about $8.