BabbaCo creator Jessica Kim knows that we’re always trying to come up with new, more creative ways of entertaining our tots, so she developed the BabbaBox. This set of fun activities for ages 3-7 is mailed to your home each month (May’s theme is “Deep Sea”) and includes everything from arts and crafts to games to books to science kits. One of the best things about this is that everything you need is in the box, saving parents the time of planning out playtime and running around town trying to find all of the required materials. There are different types of subscriptions – the digital ($6.99/month), regular ($15.99/month), and premium ($29.99). I recommend the regular – it comes with four fun activities, and if your tots finish all of those, they can find more to do online with the included digital membership. Learn more on BabbaCo.com.

While some board games are only amusing to tots (I’m looking at you, Candyland), the LEGO Creationary game actually is fun for the whole family. It’s basically Pictionary with Legos, which is great because some concepts can be hard for kids to depict in drawings. Not everyone is an artist, but everyone knows how to use Legos. You roll a die to find out which category (vehicles, buildings, nature, or things) you’ll be building from. There are three levels of difficulty, so don’t worry about tots (or you!) having a tough time. LEGO just recommends that players be seven-years old and up. Since the game is designed for three to eight players, it’s great to have around when you have a bunch of tots over for playtime. The guessing game aspect will keep all of them constantly entertained, and the building allows each one of them a moment to shine. Turns go surprisingly quickly because there aren’t many Legos. Your imagination is really put to the test when you’re limited to so few pieces. It’s interesting to see all of the things your kids come up with! On Amazon for $26.99.

Little girls love playing dress up – to the point where they refuse to ever change out of their princess gowns, even for that fancy dinner you’ve scheduled with your parents. We accept this because we have to, but I’ve found a way to make everyone happy. These adorably ruffled dresses are fun enough for playtime without looking in the least bit costumey. Flowery ruffles decorate the hem of the long dress, which could easily pass for a ball gown or magical fairy outfit when paired with a tiara and sparkling scepter. Plus your tots will love the feel of the comfy jersey knit compared to the usual scratchy polyester costumes! Available on Chasing Fireflies in pink, ivory, and lavender for $88 each.

All moms deserve a break but even if you take the tots out of the house, she will not be able to relax with so many loose ends laying around to distract her with. If you really want to please her and get her something that will make a real difference, get her a hotel room nearby, that way she can feel settled knowing she can be home within minutes. Having absolute peace and quiet is just what the mind and soul needs. She can curl up with a book and actually read more than 2 sentences at a time without interruption. Or even better, if the hotel has a spa, book her a service so she can fully indulge. And when happy hour hits, have girlfriends join her for cocktails by the pool followed by a dinner filled with adult conversation. No talk of diaper accidents.

For me, I escape to the Terranea Resort, just minutes from my house. And look at the view! There is an entire spa retreat with its own gym and pool right at the ocean’s edge. Kids not allowed! This is where I’m spending Mother’s Day weekend. I will roll out of bed Sunday morning and have a lavish brunch with my family and go right back to a nap. If you think my husband planned this out, not a chance. The best gift are those you give yourself. As they say, if you want it done right, you have to do it yourself. So go ahead, book yourself a room if you have to. Leave the guilt at home.

Trust me, those kids riding around the parking lot on their scooters annoy me, too. But children seem to love them, and we all want to make our tots happy. If you’re going to invest in one, then this 3-in-1 mini model is the way to go. Tots can use it from 12 months all the way up to age five (or when they reach 30 pounds – whichever comes first). Since scooters can be expensive, this is a great buy and a safe way to help your little ones develop their motor skills at their own pace. There’s a seat for newbies, then once they hit age 2, you can remove it and let them try scooting around with the support of the O-ring handle. Worried about them being able to stay standing? No fear. They won’t realize it, but with three wheels, it’s like they’ll always have on training wheels. That way even when you replace the O-ring with the taller T-bar, they’ll be safe and sound while they’re on the move. Available on Giggle in pink or blue for $115 each.

After graduating from UC Berkley, yoga teacher Bobbi Hamilton decided to dedicate her career to reversing the childhood obesity epidemic in the US. She came up with a clever way to get kids interested in exercise – Phresh yoga mats. These mats come covered in a “map” of symbols that relate to 108 different positions. Kids can look at cute instruction cards to help them find the right poses (kind of like Twister!). Bobbi has also come up with curriculum manuals for schools to easily integrate the mats into their classes (Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move campaign is just one of the programs that has used the mats). My girls love doing yoga with me, but poses can be hard to explain to adults, let alone kids – these cards make it so fun and easy! Right now the company is having trouble keeping up with demand, so they’re using Indiegogo (a crowdfunding site that raises money for different ideas, programs, products, etc.) to help improve the manufacturing costs of the mats and get them out to customers sooner. Contribute $35 for a teen/adult mat, $50 for a kid mat and card game, or $85 for a mommy and me set. Check out all of the package options on Indiegogo!

If you have a tot who loves Legos, your home can sometimes feel like a Legoland in itself. Well, now there’s a resort with the official title! It opened earlier this month on April 5th in Carlsbad, California. This is the toy company’s first US hotel, but their empire spans the globe with amusement parks everywhere from the US to Germany to Malaysia. The hotel initially had some kinks to work out (like where to pick up the park tickets that come with your room package), so I’m happy we waited a few weeks to go. I got a really great deal by booking before their opening. It was $259 for the room, which came with the offer of two free two-day kid park passes with the purchase of two adult passes. Ordinarily the tickets would have cost $436, and since my total was $489, the room essentially paid for itself. Not a bad way to start off a weekend getaway!

As you’d expect, the hotel is themed from top to bottom. It’s a kid’s dream with every last inch either made from Legos or depicting something Lego-related. Frankly, without those adornments, the hotel would be a lot like the Holiday Inn. There wasn’t much in the way of closet space – just a shelf system and compact hanging bar. I guess most of their guests only need to stay a couple of days to see the park, but more space is always nice. The bathroom was white tile decorated with a Lego shower curtain and some toy bugs on the wall – nothing really impressive or luxe. The best thing to do is ignore the fact that the primary color-themed décor is ugly and enjoy the fun your tots are having. The resort was designed for them, after all.

In fact, your room (which is not considered a suite) is divided by the bathroom to give tots their own space and feeling of autonomy, while parents remain close by. Both sides have TVs, and the wall cleverly keeps the sounds from interfering with each other. Of course there’s a bin of Legos, as well as the thrill of a mysterious treasure hunt on the horizon – mysterious because there are no directions for it, but we were assured there was a treasure chest filled with goodies and gold chocolate coins should we find it.

Remember to take the elevator – as soon as the doors close, a disco ball and music turn on, prompting some seriously adorable dancing. The lobby is where the real Lego action is at, though. There’s a Lego pit at the entrance with a pillar made of the toys that you can break off and fit back on, and at the base of that is a lake full of loose Lego pieces. Whatever your tots come up with using these will be kept in a display case all day. A winner is selected at the end of the day and gets a prize! We didn’t enter, so I’m not sure what it is – taking photo of your mini artists next to their masterpieces would be nice enough.

At the other end of the lobby are a well-positioned coffee shop (you’ll probably need this to keep up!), a Lego castle, and pirate ship next to yet another Lego lagoon. Don’t even think about walking around here barefoot and skip the pool – it faces the parking lot and other than the brightly colored chairs, is pretty bare. I guess since everyone knows that the theme park is the main attraction, maybe they just put in a pool to have a pool. The food was also disappointing, or rather exactly what you’d expect – basic theme park fare. Take a break from Legos and hit the town. There are a lot of great restaurants about 15 minutes away, including my favorite – Vera Cruz Fish House.

Overall, if you’re visiting the area for Legoland specifically, definitely stay at the hotel. It’s just a few steps away from the park, and guests get into the gates an hour before everyone else. Only half the park is open, but it’ll help cut down your list of to-dos because there’ll be no lines. We arrived late Saturday morning, went into Legoland for a few hours, and then came back to the hotel for a much needed nap, knowing that we had the next day to finish seeing everything. This is the best way to visit amusement parks with young kids. And even though everywhere you turn is a brightly colored offense to the senses, my girls loved it, which made it all fun for me. This trip won’t be our last there. Visit the Legoland site to book yours!

This is the most inventive recycling idea ever! Using stickers (printed on 100% recycled paper, of course) to revamp used paper goods? Genius. Turning toilet paper rolls into a telephone with just a string used to be novel, but just like landlines, it looks like their time is up. With the help of Box Play, you can turn empty paper towel rolls into bowling pins ($8.75), milk cartons into fire trucks ($8.87), and toilet paper rolls into binoculars ($2.50) or bracelets ($9.06). My favorites are the bowling pins. You’ll have to save up to get a full set of 10 (the pack come with three stickers), but in a house with kids, that won’t take too long. The stickers are uncoated, so once applied, your tots could even monogram them or add some cute drawings. Not only will this teach them about recycling, it’ll save you tons of money. I’m sure this has happened to you, you buy a fancy electronic toy and your tot ends up having more fun with the box it came in. At least now that box will look cute! Available on Amazon.

Teres Kids makes clothes specifically for tots with tactile sensitivities, like those with skin allergies, autism, or eczema. But who doesn’t love super soft clothes? One of my daughters even hijacked an old pajama top that I was throwing away and now wears it as a giant nightgown! So while Teres Kids has 100% cotton pants, shorts, dresses, and skirts, I’m eyeing the shirts for her. They have no tags, minimal seams, and hems that are raw-edged to prevent any itchiness. My favorite is the unisex Heal the Bay t-shirt – 30% of the profits go to the environmental organization of the same name that helps keep the waters of Southern California clean and safe. A lot of the other options are space-related, which is great for little boys. The Race to Space tee is decorated with rockets, planets, and stars, much like the girl’s fuchsia Fibonacci Spiral shirt or the Path of Venus tee. With these cute clothes, you can save a 100 loads of laundry trying to get the right feel – they come pre-washed to perfection! Available for $30 each on Teres Kids.

Why do the boys get to have all the fun?? These t-shirts could be for girls, too. They might fit a little looser, but when you’re a kid, you don’t care about that kind of stuff. You care about what’s on the shirt, and I know my girls love their NBA gear (we’re die hard Lakers fans!). While there are already a million sports tees out there, they all look the same. So the NBA teamed up with Zara to bring some unique looks at prices worth cheering for. Considering the high street brand is Spanish, it’s a somewhat surprising partnership, but Zara is gaining a bigger name in U.S. households everyday. Besides, who doesn’t love basketball? The collaboration created three limited edition shirts – one for the Chicago Bulls, the Lakers (natch!), and a general NBA shirt. The playoffs are going on now, so pick up one of these to get your tot through till next season! To be available at Zara stores worldwide.

If my tots are going to be using an iPad, I want them to have fun and learn something new. While the number of educational apps grows everyday, Dragon Box stands out by teaching exceptionally tough mathematical concepts. It teaches algebra, and the best part is that your kids won’t even realize that! They’ll think they’re just playing a fun game. To be honest, the higher levels are pretty challenging (even for me!), but kids who have grown up with this technology have an incredible knack for picking up the rules. And in Dragon Box, those rules are taught with the help of dragons, fish, and other cute creatures. You match up opposites and move them from one side of the equation to the other. A sample rule is that what you put on one side you have to put on the other. Or that if you have matching but photographic negative images of creatures, they’ll cancel each other out and disappear. The game starts out using the creatures and boxes, but eventually the creatures become X’s and the boxes turn into A’s and C’s. So your tots end up doing (and enjoying) math, although I can’t say I got that far! Overall, it’s an engaging game and since your kids are going to beg to play on the iPad, at least you can rest easy knowing that they’re getting something out of it. Plus, they’re learning in a much more efficient way than we did back in the dark ages! Available on the iTunes store for $5.99.

With the extensive collection of play tents taking up residence in my house, the last thing we need is another. But how cute is this big top?? At least you can fold tents up and put them away, and besides, Ikea is more than affordable! This circus-themed fun house will inspire so many creative make-believe games for your tots. They can pretend to run a circus with animal acts courtesy of your pets. I’m sure the herd of toy ponies my girls have will soon be used to recreate the Cavalia Odysseo show that they loved so much (definitely get tickets if it’s near you – they’re expensive, but Groupon has deals sometimes). The tent is big enough to crawl around in, not stand in, so this won’t take up much room. And if your kids aren’t big on playing outside, then planting this out in the backyard will be an easy way to get them out in the sun. It’s easy to take down and reassemble, plus at only three pounds, there’s no heavy lifting involved. Your little ringleaders can close the curtains to rehearse and then raise them up for special performances (so get your video camera ready!). Available at Amazon for $39.99.

I love gardening with my tots. Besides being a fun way to spend time outdoors, it’s a great learning experience for them (and bonus – you end up with food!). My kids grew potatoes in our backyard and were absolutely blown away that we could actually eat them. The source of what we consume has gotten so far away that it’s vital for us to educate tots on where our food really comes from. This Seeds of Change organic watermelon starter kit ($18.95) is perfect for showing them the safe, sustainable way to grow food. Watermelons get big pretty quickly, so the payoff isn’t too far away. And if your children have asking to get a pet, this is a cool test to see if they might actually care for it.

Then of course before you start pulling up your sleeves, you need the right tools. Since kids are either fascinated by bugs or scared of them, this colorful Melissa & Doug gardening kit ($24.99) will be a reminder of just how innocent and cute the little guys really are. It comes with gripper gloves, an adorable bucket hat, and a little tote filled with tools and even a coloring book (for when your tots need a break from the sun/dirt). If you think they can handle metal tools, then you probably already have those at home. These plastic pieces are safe and light, so kids won’t tire out as easily from using them. Available on Amazon.

My first thought looking at this was how does a stroller cost $1,200?? Then again, I bought the Bugaboo (which was not cheap) and this Orbit has features that cover all of the annoying issues that had. There are two main components: the base ($500) and the seat ($440), which also doubles as a car seat (a convenience Bugaboo doesn’t have!). Normally I think two-piece strollers are just a hassle, but these hinge together to let you carry them as one. Plus, the seat reclines and swivels in the stroller, so sleepy babies can nap while more curious travelers will have a bird’s eye view of everything going on. This will be fun for the first couple of months, but after that, it will lose its shine. You can then switch out the baby seat for the toddler’s ($280), which is nice but only necessary if you’re set on keeping the same stroller until your baby starts walking.

The hands-down best feature is the smooth ride. The Orbit is so easy to push it’s like you’re not pushing at all! Ultimately, the price of these conveniences is just too high, though. It’s cheaper to buy two separate strollers. Besides, you’d grow tired of carrying around the massive system pretty quickly. Unless you absolutely want the best of the best and have the room to store it, this just isn’t worth the hassle or the cost. Buy all three parts of the collection on Giggle and save $50.

When it comes to buying a baby shower gift, you want to get something for baby and for mom. Instead of bringing two separate presents, why not find one nice gift for both? Noodle & Boo’s elegant set is sure to send ooohs and ahhhs around the party – and there’s no hefty price tag required. If you’ve ever tried to put together a gift basket yourself, you know that it always ends up being much more expensive than expected. Either that or it looks close to empty, which makes the present look cheap and unplanned (even if it’s far from!). So let Noodle & Boo do the work, and you can just rake in the compliments. First off, there’s a candle, which never fails to please, especially when your house is about to start smelling like baby formula and spit-up. The eco-friendly soy blend mixes together essential oils to help soothe new parent headaches. Then there’s an arrangement of baby-proofed products that even mom can use. Your skin is never more sensitive than it is when you’re a baby, so the lotion, shampoo, and body wash are luxuriously formulated with newborns in mind. If mom likes to clean up with baby, this set will give them everything they need to make bath time as fun and stress-free as possible! Available at Neiman Marcus for $85.

We all need some down time once in a while, especially our tots. But entice them with this chalkboard made to look like a laptop and they will find their imagination blossoming. My tots have been nagging me for an iPad and I refuse on principle – we have one iPad the entire family shares, so to satisfy their desire they have made their own iPads out of paper with ingenious flaps that will reveal different apps. What they don’t realize and that my resolve in strengthened when I see them using their creativity in such a way. And that’s exactly why I love this Luddite laoptop, you never know what sparks will fly when you turn off the power. For $39 at one of my favorite tag sale sites, One Kings Lane.

Doesn’t everyone dress up their 8-year old boys?! Learning to be fashionable is like learning a language – the earlier you do it, the longer you’ll retain it. My guy loves to surf and skateboard, but when it comes to dressing up, he has very discerning (read: Snobby) taste. I’m a proud mom! Easter is my favorite holiday to get dolled up for. Oscar has pulled together the best boy looks for this Sunday, so that mom and son can both look good. A pastel dress for me and a linen blazer ($275) and khaki pants ($115) for him! Since some boys are anti-pink, the jacket comes in shell pink and sky blue. Both are equally dashing, especially when paired with a floral tie ($55). Give him a crisp white oxford ($85), and he’ll be ready to ring in the holiday in style! Check out all of the Easter options at an Oscar de la Renta boutique or online.

As a jeweler, Mia van Beek knows that sentimentality beats all. At the end of the day, we would much rather have something our children made us than even the most expensive diamonds. So she came up with the idea to create pieces (necklaces, cuff links, even golf markers!) using a child’s drawing, allowing you to take something from your tot wherever you go. The hand-sawed titanium keychain is what I have my eye on – I can’t wait to get mine made! This would be such a wonderful gift for a grandparent or close relative. It’s something that you’ll cherish more and more as your children grow and change. My daughter loves to make these paper chains of little “girls-stuck-together” holding hands. The keychains get surprisingly elaborate (Mia can even etch the surface to add detail), so I’m hoping she’s able to put at least two girls on mine. Dads out there – Mother’s Day is coming up quickly, so take note of this idea!! E-mail your tot’s drawing to Formia Design for a price quote – it should fall between $89 and $129. Available on Etsy.

Little girls love to dress like their moms. They’ll dig in makeup bags and find the brightest lipstick, walk in heels, and tote around bags all in the name of being “like mommy.” So why not get them their own special bags? Nothing too extravagant, as accidents do happen when they’re young, but we want them to begin acquiring good taste early so a reasonably priced piece is a win-win for all! Here are the cutest tot bags to choose from:

Simonetta Rattan and Patent Leather Bag: This reminds me of a similarly shaped Mark Cross rattan straw bag that I love – mom and daughter could match! On Luisa via Roma for $161.

Dolce & Gabbana Striped Canvas Top Handle: Odds are, your beach bag is already overflowing with sunscreen, sunglasses, snacks, and just about everything else the family could possibly need for a day at the shore. Help lighten your load while also teaching her a little responsibility by allowing her carry her own bag and belongings. Surprisingly, kids love it when you let them help out! On Luisa via Roma for $247.

Burberry Girls’ Leather Crossbody Bag: This is the nicest bag of the lot – the one she can take to special events or just out to dinner (but knowing tots, she’ll even carry it to the dinner table at home). At Saks Fifth Avenue for $225.

Skip Hop Top Toddler Girls’ Zoo Cat Backpack: Above all else, a child’s bag should be fun and whimsical, just like a tot! Little girls love kittens, and the mouse pull tags on this are completely precious. At Bloomingdales for $20.

Stella McCartney does right by boys, lending her keen eye for both style and Mom Snob practicality to create looks that allow boys to be as rambunctious as ever while still showing off their personalities. The little McCartney man is definitely no Little Lord Fauntleroy – that’s only cute under age 3 (well, that depends on who you ask – my sister for one insists that everything I got for my baby nephew was unacceptable and way too “precious”). Stella’s outfits are designed for a boy’s boy. The blue hoodie ($120) is the best thing I’ve ever seen. He’ll have fun zipping it up so that he looks like a Stitch-esque monster (eye holes included!), but when you need him to appear more serious, the hood unzips down the back to lie flat against his shoulders, hiding any signs of animal activity. Easy features like this are what define the collection – kid-favorite Velcro straps keep the shoes snugly on his feet, while simple snap buttons adorn the shorts. The colorblocked shoes ($132) are surprisingly trendy for boys, but not so much that the other kids on the playground will give him a hard time. Same goes for the khaki shorts ($83)! You could even get away with pairing them with a colorful belt like something in mustard or orange. Available on Luisa via Roma.