Mommy's little helper.
Blocks are a basic toy, but the wooden, cardboard or fabric cubes can inspire a love of learning for little ones. Kids use them to count, to read, to learn. The toy box staple also allows them to design, construct and work with their hands. Check out these five sets that will get your child building. Read more
Blocks have been a staple in the toy chest for many years, but that doesn't mean they are boring! As these beautiful, well-designed sets from Etsy show, the building toys can be a perfect, all-natural, and eco-friendly addition to your lil ones toy rotation. Check out some of our favorites in the slideshow! Read more
Why settle for a boring, adult-designed set of blocks when you can create your own as often as you like? With Naef's new set of Colorem blocks (available in 12 and 15 cube sets for $60 and $100, respectively), tots can express themselves by drawing on the chalkboard painted maple blocks and then rearranging them to create a unique structure. When the lil one changes his artistic direction, the Read more
Let's get building! To the outside observer, putting a child in front of a pile of blocks or tub full of play-doh may just seem like playtime activities, but to many educators, such activities are the basis for play-based education. Giving tots unstructured time to play with different materials, and allowing them to repeat their experiences will help with the development of hand-eye coordination Read more
Whenever I visit the MOMA store I find treasures galore. This Wooden Blocks Rattle Set ($18) is a bull’s-eye gift option for any child with tragically hip parents. The small rattles are made of different types of wood and decorated with funny (almost emoticon-inspired) faces. Each rattle produces a distinctive sound so your little one can learn about music while he shakes, rattles and rolls. Read more
I've taught and taken many a yoga class, and unfortunately I have seen (and experienced) one too many injuries (did someone say torn rotator cuff?). It seems like an oxymoron - yoga is supposed to increase your flexibility, make you stronger while helping you heal and prevent injuries. It is not supposed to make new ones, right? The next time you pop into a yoga class, keep these helpful hints Read more
Tetris, the battle for Earth against alien blocks — Geekosystem 21 signs we should give up on robots — FWD Three kinds of people the Internet invented — Cracked 35 years of Star Wars, in infograph form! — Dvice Is Facebook the biggest IPO flop? — CNET The world's smallest artificial heart saves baby's life — Newser Winner of cutest tech proposal ever: the Pandora proposal Read more
I'm sure everyone can do with a little more cash in their wallets. Here are some great suggestions by Wise Bread for you to make extra money. Even though I'm self-employed full-time, I'm always looking for new and exciting ways to make more money. Earlier this year, I wrote a Wise Bread post on websites that can help you earn extra cash. More recently, I came across a blog post on Zaarly titled, Read more
Required reading for teenagers in America, Jack Kerouac's On the Road is now a big-screen film, and the finished product just debuted at Cannes. It's one of the most anticipated movies to be screened at the Grand Palais — read on to see what we thought. Who's behind it? Walter Salles, of The Motorcycle Diaries, was tasked with directing the picture, which is of course based on the Kerouac Read more
As part of our Styled by You $500 Giveaway with IKEA, Elka Karl and I have been thinking of ways to punch up basic Ikea products. You may have seen how I added block-printed ikat polka dots to this Asele lampshade ($15). Well, now I'm revisiting the same shade with an entirely different approach. Armed with some thin manila rope, a glue gun, and a Bran table lamp base ($20), I set out to create a Read more
