Get a jumpstart on your holiday shopping at our favorite toy stores in Boston. Hint: They have great gift recs
The holiday countdown has begun! We know for many parents that means thinking about finding that perfect gift for family and friends, even while driving around to see holiday lights and heading out to find your tree. Sure, it’s always easy to shop online, local toy stores in Boston have some of the coolest gifts for kids in town. With everything from personalized recommendations to gorgeous gift wrapping and free local delivery, these independent toy stores make holiday shopping a breeze. Here’s where to shop small this year.
This "little shop with a big mission" was opened back in 2003 by children's book author, Peter H. Reynolds, the brilliant mind behind The Dot. The large blue bunny outside welcomes kids into the cozy shop that's not only got a great selection of toys, but books as well. As you can imagine, the authors who "hop" into the shop for book signings and readings are some of the best around. Find all sorts of unusual and interesting toys for everyone on your list (no matter what the occasion) when you stop in this store in Dedham.
Insider Tip: Gift wrapping is always free at this friendly store.
Let's just say you'd have to be crazy not to shop here. CouCou (pronounced “koo-koo”) is the French word used for the globally popular children’s game of Peek-a-boo. The store, located in the South End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, offers a wide selection of uniquely curated products for ages 0-10, including clothes, toys, crafts, homewares and gifts, imported from around the globe.
Featuring shiny new things to spruce up your kiddo’s nest, Magpie Kids focuses on modern toys. It’s where you’ll find locally made toys, as well clothing and gift items from recognizable brands like Milkbarn, Angel Dear, and Plan Toys. Stop in to find that just-right gift, whether you're shopping for baby's arrival, baby's first birthday, or any other memorable milestones for your kids. Whatever they're into—arts and crafts, playing music, reading, or just making believe—they've got what you need here.
One of Boston's newer toy stores on the block, The Happy Journey was opened not too long ago by Lindsay Perrelli, an elementary school teacher and children's author. It’s everyone’s go-to spot for educational, high-quality toys, books, and games that Perrelli has personally selected. Stop by each season to browse the skillfully built displays that are as appealing to parents as they are to kids.
With eight Boston-area locations to choose from, you'll definitely find what you need at this super-cool toy store. Shop their online store where you can find gifts sorted by age and interest, as well as some super fun options like personalized surprise packs. With free shipping on orders over $50 and free gift wrap, this is a great option for those who want to check gift buying off their list, but haven't quite gotten around to it yet this year.
You can get tons of toys plus all the essential baby gear you need all under one roof at Magic Beans. They've been around since 2004, so they're totally up on all the hot toys and new products that you need. And did we mention they're parents, too? Takes one to know one when it comes to finding gifts and products your kids will actually use.
This toy shop is a community favorite and has called Jamaica Plain home for over 20 years. It is run by a local mom who is focused on building community and giving back. Don't worry—she also loves stocking the shelves with the coolest toys around. The oversized Alien Boingers that are hanging around outside the store set the tone for your shopping experience here. It's all about fun and finding that just-right toy, book, or game that will be played with time and time again.
Good to Know: There's free local deliveries of orders over $50 and free shipping on orders over $75.
Insider Tip: We can't get enough of the Boing's Kindness Club that encourage kids to perform random acts of kindness in their community for a small prize.
667 Centre St. Jamaica Plain, MA Online: boingtoys.com
8. Eureka! Puzzles
This toy store right in the heart of Coolidge Corner focuses on puzzles, board games, brain teasers, and STEM gifts for kids of all ages. Make shopping for kids easy on everyone in the family (we're looking at your grandparents) when you create a wish list for your kids. It's the best gift to give those who are doing the shopping. And if you're looking for something a little different to give this year? Why not try a personalized puzzle on Eureka's new puzzle press.
Parents-to-be know that Tadpole is the place to go for baby registries and all the gear you'll need to bring the little one home. They also have a ton of unique gifts for kids like including STEM toys, LEGO sets, puzzles, and more. It's a great spot to shop for the toddler in your life.
A pop of greenery is just what you need right now—trust us! And you won’t have to add yet another thing to your to-do list as these plants will totally survive if you forget about them for the next two weeks. Get one delivered to your home today, or send one to a friend for a housewarming gift!
Bird of Paradise—with its broad vibrant green leaves, this tropical plant really delivers on the summer vibes! It’s great for outdoor patio and porch spaces, too. $57
The Sill
Summer Succulent—A colorful mix of hens and chicks (Sempervivum), this succulent requires bright light but little else, making it perfect for anyone traveling this summer. $45
The Sill
Philodendron Birkin—Sought after just like the bag it shares a name with – this unique hybrid houseplant has lush green leaves with white/yellow pinstripes. $48
The Sill
Monstera Adansonii—A fun, quirky plant! Related to the popular Monstera deliciosa, the leaves of the Adansonii are slightly smaller but with even more pronounced leaf holes. $40
The Sill
String of Bananas & String of Dolphins—Two unique trailing succulents perfect for summer. Drought tolerant, they only look difficult to care for. $34
The Sill
Philodendron Prince of Orange—Low maintenance like most philodendrons, yet unique in its leaf color, which changes from bright orange to green as the leaf matures. $43
Bloomscape
Pet-Peromia Collection—This too-cute threesome of pet-friendly peperomia plants will look lovely on a windowsill or in your office. $69
Bouqs
Oasis Snake Plant—Sssspice up your life with this sleek snake plant. Upright green and yellow leaves are known for promoting focus and helping boost your memory. This plant purifies the air, reduces allergens and is low maintenance. $59
Bouqs
Desert Love—This set of two Hoya hearts basically shouts, “Life would succ without you!” Potted in sweet lil’ cement planters with pink rocks, these babies live for bright sunlight. We love this sweetheart’s heart-shaped leaves. $44
One of Japan’s top baby books is coming to America! Author and scientist Dr. Kazuo Hiraki created a colorful book that will grab your kiddo’s attention and may even settle your crying baby!
Moimoi features bold designs that are scientifically proven to hold baby’s attention nearly twice as long other other shapes. The University of Tokyo Baby Lab studied infant eye motions and brain activity. The result was a colorful children’s board book, featuring shapes, sounds, and more.
photo courtesy of The Experiment
What is moimoi? Moi, pronounced like koi, is a nonsense word that will quickly become one of your baby’s fave sounds. Not only will the bullseye-like colorful shapes completely engage your child’s attention, Moimoi may soothe them too.
This high-contrast children’s book has already sold over 500,000 copies in Japan. Moimoi—Look at Me! (written by Kazuo Hiraki and illustrated by Jun Ichihara) makes its American debut Mar. 30, 2021. The board book for babies retails for $7.95. Visit The Experiment Publishing for more information on the Moimoi series and pre-orders or visit Amazon.
If your littles enjoy Moimoi—Look at Me!, Moimoi, Where Are You? will make its grand debut Spring of 2022.
No doubt the high level of coverage surrounding the 2020 presidential campaigns has made kids curious about the voting process, and they’re likely getting lots of opinions thrown at them, directly and indirectly. If you need help navigating these tricky waters, we give ideas in our story Rock the Vote! 4 Ways to Teach Kids About Elections. Mom-owned Makoshey helps make the conversations fun with election-inspired clothing that’s comfortable and locally made. Read on learn how to purchase!
Educate Early and Often
They may be too young to vote, but it’s never to early to teach kids the importance and significance of their right to vote and how hard so many generations worked to secure and expand this right. The Future Voter T-Shirt is cozy, tagless and, just like all Makoshey-branded clothing, encourages kids to live a socially-conscious life.
Don’t Forget to Add Stars
What’s cozier than a good pair of sweats? Uh, we can’t think of a thing. The comfort is that much more irresistible when they’re adorably stylish. The Be You Comfy Joggers Blue & Stars will have you wishing they made adult sizes. They come with a “Be you” message on the leg and they have the all-important pockets that are mandatory for most kids.
Give a Nod to Susan B. Anthony
Susan B. Anthony was an outspoken, relentless advocate for women’s rights and an early leader of the movement to secure a women’s right to vote, declaring in 1875, “Independence is happiness”. The purple and gold colors of the Susan B. Anthony Suffragist T-Shirt are in honor of the use of these powerful colors in the suffrage movement, and the design is inspired by banners used by protestors of the time.
A Note From Makoshey’s Founder, Kristen Flather
“As a mom raising three daughters, I believe strongly that they can do anything, be anything, and like anything. Clothes are expressions of who we are, and so it is important that there are clothes out there for all girls. Makoshey (pronounced Mak-O-shay) is a clothing brand that makes clothes for active, independent girls ages 6-14 looking for a break from the trends of tight, short, pink, and sparkly.
Our t-shirts have unique and empowering designs and a super-soft feel. We have three categories of tees: sports, power words, and inspiring quotes from historical women. We are proud to print all our shirts right here in Chicago.”
Your kids love play dress up and probably know how to mutiny, especially when it comes to veggies, so you might as well accept it, at least for one day: Talk Like a Pirate Day is September 19, and ye need to be sure yer in a Jolly Roger mood. Here be 51 common pirate sayings any good matey should know, fer today or any day. Scroll down fer the list.
Afeard: Afraid, as in “I am most afeared of crocodiles.”
Ahoy: Hello!
Arrrrrr: In certain dialects, pronounced “yarrr” and commonly used to start a sentence and emphasize a pirate was about to say something important.
Avast: A command to stop, as in “Avast, mateys! Let’s weigh anchor here.”
Aye: Yes, yes! As in, “Aye, aye, Captain!”
Bilge: Old, stinky, gross water that seeps into the ship’s hull. “Put him in the bilge and make him drink it!” was a form of punishment most foul.
Booty or bootie: spoils won from war, pillaging or plunder. Now used more commonly to denote prizes of any kind.
Buccaneer: A pirate, especially one who raided the Spanish colonies along the American coast in the late 1600s.
Flotsam: Wreckage from a ship and its cargo found floating on the water.
Freebooter: A person who is searching for plunder aka a pirate. As in, "The lousy freebooter stole my apple again."
Grog: a mixture of rum and water with a bit of lemon. Also any alcoholic drink.
Hearties: Friends. As in, "Ahoy me harties!"
Hornswaggle: To cheat; (someone who cheats is a hornswaggler) as in, “She was sure to hornswaggle the lot of them while they passed out at the card table.” “Or, don’t play Sorry with him, he’s a real hornswaggler.”
iStock .
Jetsam: Cargo or goods cast overboard on purpose, to lighten the ship’s load.
Jolly Roger: The infamous skull and crossbones flag, which was flown to warn “here there be pirates.”
Keelhaul: to punish by dragging under the ship and up the other side. As in, "Drink all the grog again and we'll keelhaul ya."
Kraken: a legendary sea monster, some what like a large ocotopus or squid, that lives in the waters off the coast of Norway. Can be used to declare mayhem, especially when grade schoolers are set free to recess. As in, "Release the kraken!"
Land lubber: A person who does not have much experience at sea or who cannot sail. Usually meant as an insult.
Lass or lassie: A child.
Lily-livered: weak or cowardly. As in, "The lion once was lily-livered but now has found his cuh-raygh."
Matey: What pirates call each other/fellow shipmates. "Hey, Matey, can ye grab me some grog?"
Mutiny: To revolt. For pirates, specifically against a ship’s captain, but can be used to describe any act of rebellion (Warning: It’s possible that the teaching of this word could lead to a “mutiny” against Brussel sprouts.)
Peg leg: A wooden leg. Pirates of olden days lived harsh lives and prosthetic limbs were most often created from salvaged wood and iron hooks.
Pieces of Eight: Silver coins. Originally after the Spanish peso de ocho (worth 8 reales, a Spanish increment of money).
Plunder: To take whatever you want. “My little brother tries to plunder my toys all the time.”
Poop deck: The deck on top of the stern (rear) of the ship. Yep. They get to say poop.
Port: the left side of the ship
Privateer: a pirate for hire; someone hired by the government to pillage enemy ships and weaken their forces
Scallywag: A scamp or a rascal. Not necessarily an evil do-er, but someone out for their own personal gain. “That scallywag traded me empty coconuts for safe passage to shore.”
Scurvy: Originally, a disease with symptoms that includes swollen gums and spots on the skin, brought on by a lack of Vitamin C. Commonly used to describe someone who is nasty, mean or disliked, as in “You scurvy lass, you’ll get none of this treasure.”
Scuttlebutt: A term used to describe gossip, but originally the drinking fountain on a ship. (Around the water cooler, pirate style).
Sea Dog: A pirate, especially an experienced older one.
Sea legs: The ability to keep from getting seasick when out at sea. As in, “Once the storm passed, Davey managed to get his sea legs for the remaining six weeks of the journey and did not get sick again.”
Shiver me timbers: A reference to the wood of a boat “shivering” or rocking with a sudden, unexpected gust of wind, it is an expression that indicates surprise. As in, “Well, shiver me timbers, it’s the Captain’s ghost after all!”
Skull and Crossbones: A human skull above two crossed bones, used on pirate flags and bottles of poison.
Memes (pronounced “meems” for those who’ve been wondering) have been circulating our social media feeds for a while now. And nothing induces a good laugh than a set of totally relatable pictures and captions about living the “Mom Life.” We never thought we’d imagine finding similarities to a crazy faced dog or a football player, but these memes prove that we do! Need a good laugh? Scroll on for this week’s funniest parenting memes.
There’s nothing like teaching your kids their ABCs…until you really start getting into some of that upper vocabulary where everything stops making sense. Dubbed as “the worst alphabet book ever“, P Is for Pterodactyl takes a classic childhood lesson and turns it completely on its head.
We’ve all been there. Your curious kiddo asks why knight is spelled with a “k” even though it makes the “n” sound. And you’re response is—hmm, just because. Well this book is jam-packed with all of those odd little facets of the English language that we sometimes just don’t get.
Photo: Amazon
Written by Philadelphia-based rapper Raj Haldar (a.k.a. Lushlife), along with Chris Carpenter and Maria Beddia (who illustrates the book), P Is for Pterodactyl: The Worst Alphabet Book Ever is something every family should have on hand. Seriously.
The next time your little learner doesn’t believe that “gnat” doesn’t start with an “n” or can’t fathom how “aisle” could possibly begin with an “a”—or even why the word “czar” isn’t pronounced “ka-zar,” this book has you covered. Now, why these words are spelled the way they are is another story—but at least you can point to this book’s whimsical illustrations and tell your kids, “See! I told you.”
A new app wants to help your child become a reader! Developed by Google’s experimental workshop Area 120, Rivet is a reading app that goes way beyond simple story-time software.
According to stats from The Nation’s Report Card, only 36 percent of fourth graders are at or above the National Assessment of Educational Progress proficient mark and that number drops to 34 percent in eighth graders. Here’s where Rivet comes in.
The app bridges literacy and technology, creating an entirely interactive way to learn the basics—and all on your smartphone or tablet. Along with a library of 2,000 plus free books, Rivet uses advanced speech technology to help children as they read. This includes providing real-time feedback.
What else can Rivet do? If your child is stuck on a word, all they need to do is tap it to hear how it’s pronounced. The app also listens to your child as they read and points out which parts of a word they say correctly or incorrectly. Rivet also provides definitions and translations into more than 25 languages, making it an ideal app for non-native English speakers.
The app, which recently finished Beta testing, is available for Android and iOS devices (the real-time feedback feature is still yet to come for iOS) in the Play Store or App Store.
Thick layered paint, rich blended colors, heavy brush strokes: we’re not talking about your two-year-old’s latest creation. We’re paying homage to one of the greatest artists in history, Vincent van Gogh, and offering your itty-bitty impressionists some ideas to recreate his masterpiece, The Starry Night, in style. So no matter your kiddos age, read on for ways to make sure this work really leaves an impression.
Start with the Art
Before you dive into any of these projects, learn about the man behind the painting, van Gogh himself, through books. For the toddler crowd, we suggest In the Garden with Van Gogh, a chunky board book with bright pictures and playful rhymes. Older kids will love Camille and the Sunflowers, based on the story of Camille, who befriends Van Gogh when he moves into town. Another winner is Katie and the Starry Night. Not only is it a fun read, but it’s a great intro to the painting they’ll be working with. Now you’ve got the story, let the mess-terpiece begin!
photo: Allison Sutcliffe
For the Tot Lot When it comes to this age group, two words are all you need: Finger. Paints. Because let’s be honest, there’s no way to go wrong with this messy medium. And lucky for your aspiring artist, finger paints lend themselves oddly well to van Gogh’s dynamic, thick brushstroke style. Work with your little to find colors in her finger paint collection that match the ones in Starry Night. Then let her swish and swirl out sweeping clouds, windy gusts and twinkling stars until her heart’s content. Or use your paint choices to try this intriguing layered finger paint project from The Imagination Tree. It adds another dimension to the basic dip and swirl technique with framable results. Look out art corner, here comes another masterpiece!
Tip: To keep the moon and stars from becoming brown globs, try working on multiple versions at once to keep the little hands busy while you’re letting the layers dry just a bit.
photo: In the Playroom
For Preschool Painters
Sponge painting is always a blast for preschoolers. And this Starry Night project developed by Anna at In the Playroom is no exception. To make this mess-terpiece, couple your sponge-worthy art supplies (think: rollers and cut up sponges) with the free printable on the blog and then get creative with colors and textures, just like van Gogh!
Another easy favorite for this age group is crayon resist painting. Pairing these two classics leads to a lovely work of art, worthy of the starring spot on your fridge. It’s probably best to have mom or dad use a crayon to copy out some swirls, treetops and the glowing moon from the original painting onto paper. Or let your kidlet try her hand drawing out some of these key elements herself. Then break out the watercolors, brushes and bowl because it’s time to make this painting come to life. Using the original as a template, brush the vibrant watercolors over the crayon elements for an effect that’s almost as stunning as Van Gogh’s.
Take your cue from Melissa and Doug and create your own sticker mosaicStarry Night with your school-aged munchkin. Start by having your petite painter draw out his own version of this stellar painting. Nothing too fancy. A focus on the simple shapes in the sky and that magnificent tree that really catches your eye in the foreground will do just fine. Then use the pre-cut foam stickers you can find at your local craft store to patch together the colorful patters van Gogh’s pronounced brushstrokes make in the glittery heavens. Voila!
When 8 1/2 x 11 is just too small, go big on the sidewalk. Use sidewalk chalk to blend or create own sidewalk chalk paint like this one from Mommy’s Kitchen. Use white chalk to sketch some of the basic outlines of the painting’s composition: tree, stars, moon, steeple, etc. Work together to mix up the colors you’ll need for the painting. Look closely: there’s more than one shade of yellow, and shadows are more green than black.
Do you plan to try one of these crafts? Tell us how it goes in a comment.
Baby name regret is real, and if you experienced it, don’t feel ashamed. Maryland couple Will and Carri Kessler named their daughter Ottilie (pronounced Oh-TEEL-ya) after a friend from the United Kingdom.
“I was like, ‘If you say it with a British accent, it sounds really good,'” Carri told Today.com. However, the couple isn’t British – they’re American. “No one could remember [her name] and no one could pronounce it.”
The situation grew worse as family members could not remember how to pronounce Ottilie. Carri admitted that her grandmother was having a hard time. “She said, ‘I don’t know how to say her name. I have Post-its all over the house so I can remind myself.'” Aw, poor granny.
Three months after Ottilie was born, the Kessler’s decided to legally change their daughter’s name to Margot.
The Kessler’s situation is not uncommon as an increasing number of parents experience baby name regret. According to Baby Center Canada, 11% of its users confessed they wished they’d changed their child’s name due to being over popular, mispronounced or simply unfitting.
Do you wish you could change your child’s name? Tell us in the comments below!