Why do kids love horses so much? There are a lot of theories, but the one that sticks best for me is this one, from Laurel Braitman, an MIT graduate student who writes about animals, in an article from NPR: “Horses and dolphins and unicorns — these are all borderland creatures; gateway animals to other worlds… They help us ... Read More »

There’s a reason why every preschool has stacks and stacks of chunky wooden puzzles: piecing a puzzle together is beneficial for your child’s growing body and mind in so many ways. Determining which shapes and colors match and joining them together to create a coherent whole enhances the following skills for young kids: Hand-eye coordination Fine motor skills Gross motor ... Read More »

One of the things that I love about Melissa & Doug toys for young children is that many items come with a list of “Extension Activities” that work educational content into playtime, helping kids to pick up crucial skills organically. For instance, for the longtime favorite Melissa & Doug Grocery Store / Lemonade Stand, they suggest the following: Have the ... Read More »

With summer vacation coming up, your kid is bound to want to have slumber parties with all of their friends. But what are some fun activities to keep them occupied aside from movies and computer games? Arts and crafts! It is like they get to make their own goodies to bring home after having a super fun night full of ... Read More »

By age four, there’s one very easy shortcut to finding the perfect gift for your kid: just ask her! At this age, kids are pretty clear on what they like, whether it’s princesses, dinosaurs, superheroes, or baseball. Granted, your child may ask for something you’re not quite willing to give them (say, a pony or an iPad), but you can ... Read More »

It takes about 8 hours to fly from Boston to San Diego. This doesn’t include showing up to the terminal at 5am with all your stuff in tow, getting through security, waiting patiently through the twenty minute delay to board the plane, and sitting through the layover in Newark or Houston. That’s a long time, and it’s trying on even the most ... Read More »

Every year since our fifth anniversary in 2009, we’ve been celebrating another year of Magic Beans with an entire month of giveaways.  And we’re not talking about little prizes, either:  this is some primo gear! Strollers, toys, cribs, nursing chairs, car seats, skin care items, bike helmets, scooters – everything you’ve been craving for your kiddos will be on the ... Read More »

Hey everyone – it’s Kelsey again, with the scoop from Magic Beans Fun Size, in NYC! As you may remember from my other blogs, our store is located in the lobby at Kidville in the Upper East Side, and we sell a handpicked selection of the best-of-the-best toys for ages 0-5. As with any other Magic Beans store, along with our amazing selection, ... Read More »

Update 5/3/2017: Best Birthday Gifts of 2017: Happy Third Birthday! Your little guy may not be as verbally gifted as this tiny lawyer or as skilled at dancing as this little charmer, but he’s delightful for many of the same reasons. He can be a handful sometimes, but everything that comes out of his mouth is hilarious. He’s graduated from babyhood ... Read More »

For a three-year-old child, the ultimate in fun is creating pretend-play scenarios: is she a princess building her castle out of blocks? A doctor taking her doll’s temperature? A mommy teaching her baby doll how to use the potty? A chef creating culinary masterpieces and serving them up for her friends? The best toys for three-year-old children provide a launching ... Read More »