Category: for 4-year-olds

  • Chrome Music Lab

    Chrome Music Lab is a collection of 13 free online musical ‘toys’ that let kids (and adults) play with music and in the process, learn something about pitch, rhythm, and structure. They require no instruments or musical knowledge. The site relies on JavaScript, which is supported on all browsers on all devices. Each ‘toy’ (or […]

  • The Everything in the Whole Wide World Museum

    [amazon_link asins=’0394827074′ template=’ProductAd’ store=’matchstickkidboo’ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’e4e1ab2b-1e33-11e8-b132-3d6e470300c3′] This is another classic book from when I was a kid. I’m not sure whether it is still in print but it’s one to look for at used book stores. Unlike some of the other Sesame Street books from that era (the 70s), this one is better for kids […]

  • Magformers

    [amazon_link asins=’B002NGOH1W’ template=’ProductAd’ store=’matchstickkidboo’ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’4abc6a27-1d6e-11e8-a40d-c5c0ca798c19′] These things have been standard fare at childrens’ museums and science museums since they were developed in 2008. I had seen them many times but didn’t know what they were called. Unlike some other magnetic toys, these are perfectly safe for infants to gnaw on. From the website: “Each […]

  • Peppa Pig

    [amazon_link asins=’054584231X’ template=’ProductAd’ store=’matchstickkidboo’ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’d8fa9132-1cb8-11e8-adde-cdf44a72e31c’] Peppa Pig is a British animated show for younger kids. The owners of the trademark have been liberal with licensing the image and there are Peppa Pig playsets, dishes, even bicycles, as well as books and DVDs. Based on the licensed products, it seems the show is aimed exclusively […]

  • Planet Plates

    [amazon_link asins=’B00HWGP9W4′ template=’ProductAd’ store=’matchstickkidboo’ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’c6e910fb-180b-11e8-8e82-d5d01465bbc8′] The kids got these as a gift one year. I think we, as well as the giver thought of it as just a novelty that might not get much use, but the plates have become an essential part of our kitchen and we have used them just about every […]

  • Geronimo Stilton

    [amazon_link asins=’0307206912,0307206394,0307245217′ template=’ProductGrid’ store=’matchstickkidboo’ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’39a4c3ca-3fd6-11e7-89d3-bb94155392fa’] I had never heard of Geronimo Stilton before having kids, and just randomly stumbled across these CDs at the library when planning a road trip. These were a big hit and we started playing them in the evening at bedtime. The concept is that Geronimo Stilton is a mouse […]

  • Andrew & Polly

    [amazon_link asins=’B013WUASNI’ template=’ProductAd’ store=’matchstickkidboo’ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’13c7f284-10f6-11e8-a064-690d995f6afc’] This duo came out with one of the catchiest songs of the year in 2015. Years later, one of us (parents) spontaneously starts singing this song. Their music is catchy and funny and everyone loves it. From their website: Andrew & Polly compose and produce songs and score for […]

  • Lucy Kalantari

    [amazon_link asins=’B00K6RNP5O’ template=’ProductAd’ store=’matchstickkidboo’ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’3e16db52-10f4-11e8-9682-d9a0e4e8d142′] Whether with TV shows, music, movies, videogames, or books, a challenge is finding stuff that the kids like that we parents can also enjoy, or at least tolerate, even when it’s just the noise we hear on a device from across the room. This is especially true with music […]

  • Steam Powered Giraffe

    [amazon_link asins=’B0086JZPNO’ template=’ProductAd’ store=’matchstickkidboo’ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’2bb5338a-10e9-11e8-b7e0-d3656075f555′] It has been fascinating to watch this band evolve over the past ten years. From busking at Balboa park in San Diego to a huge theatrical production on a constant nationwide tour. From their website: Steam Powered Giraffe is a musical project from San Diego, California. It was formed […]

  • Japanese Eraser Animals

    [amazon_link asins=’B00WJ6NPNC’ template=’ProductAd’ store=’matchstickkidboo’ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’da76d1a4-09e9-11e8-9f4f-fd1d1cc4fd51′] I don’t know whether this is the Next Big Thing, but my kids love these little things. They come in animal shapes, vehicles, pastries, etc. They are made of eraser rubber (but don’t actually fit on a pencil) and are each composed of multiple pieces, so each creature is […]