Toys

Tired of seeing the same old toys and baby gear at every one of your kids' playdates? Consider becoming a (very low-risk) partner to one of Kickstarter's entrepreneurial types. If you're not already familiar with the concept, Kickstarter is an online funding platform for creative products and projects. Anyone and everyone can use the site to seek funds for their ventures, and the children's category is no exception.

Here, check out nine innovative Kickstarter projects that just may appeal to moms in search of the next big thing!

Easter is quickly approaching, and you've found the perfect pastel dress for your little girl, picked out an adorable new basket for all that egg collecting, and ordered your annual Easter ham. But if you want to make the holiday truly over-the-top adorable, then consider one of the following 15 cute chick finds. From sweet treats to nursery decor, dresses, and books, these chicks are ready to hatch, so keep clicking to find your favorite.

It's certainly not hard to come by toys and clothing that's personalized with your child's name, but a doll that looks just like your little one takes customization to a new level entirely. Dolls and toys that look like your tot are sure to make playtime more fun. Check out these sweet dolls, playthings, and even a piece of wall art that mimic your mini me — to a tee!

We're off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of Oz! In celebration of the release of Oz the Great and Powerful on March 8, we've found the most Oz-inspiring toys for your tots. Whether they're eager to catch the flick on opening day or will have to wait and watch it on DVD in a few years (the movie is rated PG), here are seven ways to create some Emerald City fun in your own home!

With Spring just around the corner, we're doing a lil Spring Cleaning around here and will be bringing you everything you need to clean up the playroom, your stroller, and your routine throughout the month. Ask most moms the biggest hurdle to having an organized home and you're sure to hear a chorus of "toys!" Sure, we try to keep our lil one's dolls, trucks, blocks, and puzzles under control, but there's just so much of it and so little space to put it in!

We turned to Sarah Giller Nelson, a Chicago-based professional organizer and the owner of Less is More (and a mom of two), for some advice on what to do with all those toys. According to Sarah, "There's always an accumulation of toys, it's just figuring out the right way to store them." Keep reading to see Sarah's suggestions!

When it comes to the future of toys geared at girls, moms will be glad to learn that empowerment appears to be the key word on the minds of manufacturers. While scouring the latest and greatest at last week's Toy Fair, we were seriously blown away by the number of awesome new brands and lines geared at making girls feel like they can do absolutely anything. Check out five of the hottest trends to watch for in terms of toys to empower your little lady!

For all of the hi-tech excitement that we spotted at this past week's Toy Fair, there's one genre that was refreshingly void of on/off switches, batteries, and USB hookups. Durable, classic wooden toys are a hot trend for 2013, and we couldn't be happier about it. Check out some of our favorite timeless wooden playthings for tots — coming to a toy store near you later this year!

When Jonathan Adler Junior was first introduced, we swooned. The line of playful decor and accessories for kids, inspired by Adler's 5-year-old nephew, is aimed at the next generation of design enthusiasts (and their mod-loving parents) and includes an amazing selection of retro-inspired rugs, wallpaper, pillows, piggy banks, and stuffed animals created through artist collaborations. The newest intros in the Junior line are even better than we could have hoped for, including an incredible selection of toy storage, quirky animal pillows, and a wallpaper design that has us wanting to redecorate our nurseries ASAP! Keep clicking to check out the latest and greatest in Jonathan Adler Junior.

Source: Jonathan Adler Junior

Wooden toys are a classic addition to any child's collection, but we found seven contemporary, colorful options that go way beyond your everyday building blocks. From The Land of Nod's animal-tastic beanbag toss to Melissa & Doug's stackable owl — with modern blocks, puzzles, and imaginary play toys in between — these toys will inspire your little ones and make you feel a bit better about the mounds of plastic you've accumulated! Keep clicking to find your favorite.