1. The BabbaBox: The monthly themed box arrives at your door with everything you need to keep kids entertained with crafts, digital apps, children’s books and exploring the outdoors. It’s like the instant answer to “I’m bored” without having to make a trip to the craft store. Target age: 3 – 7.

2. Stomping Ground: This company has reinvented the school picture. You know those lame school pictures that you never order? Well, Stomping Ground comes into a school and takes photos in a whole different way. The photos are cool. They capture your child’s personality. You order them. Happily. (Full disclosure: We are friends with the photographer which doesn’t make him any less talented.)

3. Huggies Little Movers Slip-On Diapers: These diapers rock. They go on like a pull-up and come off like a diaper. So if you have a baby or toddler that thrashes around, you can actually get these diapers on. Such a simple concept but yet, so brilliant. (Affiliate link included above.)

4. The Jimmies: My kids love music and this by far, is one of my favorite kids CD’s. The music if fun, creative and doesn’t make adults crazy at all. Trust me. This band is awesome.

5. This post from Momastery: My friend Rachel sent me this post and I just loved it. It’s called “Don’t Carpe Diem” and as a mother, I really identified with it. But who cares what I have to say. Go read it.

I’ve never quite known what to make of the Berenstain Bears with their fashion challenged wardrobes and quirky habit of calling each other “brother” and “sister” instead of by their actual names.

Wait – do they even have real names?! I have no idea.

But it doesn’t matter because my daughters love these wholesome bears.  We read the books, watch the TV show and they were thrilled to see the The Berenstain Bears Live (a musical) at the Manhattan Movement and Arts Center on the Upper West Side. (The tickets were complimentary.)

This is a very sweet show that tackles issues like junk food, being a team player and talking to strangers. The theater is small so it’s pretty easy for kids to see. And right on the edge of the stage, they even have a carpeted area called the grassy knoll where children (who have VIB tickets) can sit.  Yes, VIB stands for Very Important Bear.

The show is about an hour and afterward, kids can get a bear nose painted on their face and have their program signed by the actors.

Performances until September 4th. Buy tickets here. Put in the discount code BLOGGER for 20% off VIB tickets.

By Contributing Mama Jordana Bales

I live in Manhattan where Pinkberry frozen yogurt rules the streets. But the Soft Serve Fruit Company is hoping to lure those Pinkberry loyalists into its 3rd Avenue shop on the Upper East side.

Soft Serve Fruit Company touts itself as an alternative to frozen yogurt and ice cream and uses only fruit, water and organic cane sugar in its frozen treats. It’s dairy and gluten free too.

I was invited to a tasting with my daughter Ava who helped herself to THREE desserts. But they were so light and healthy that I convinced myself she was actually eating fruit.

I thought the pear and mango flavors were delicious but the strawberry was the best. I had a strawberry soft serve on a pretzel cone – the combination of salty and sweet was perfect.

But the coolest part of the whole experience was the scratch and sniff wall paper! There were bananas on the walls that you could smell. Thankfully, I did refrain from licking the wall.

For you all on the Upper East side, this place even delivers.  And soon it will be shipping nationwide.

I was recently watching a preview for the new kids’ movie, “Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer.” This is a movie my girls would love and thankfully it’s not called “Justin Bieber: Never Say Never.”

Don’t get the wrong idea. Our house is still completely Bieberfied. But one can not exist on JB alone. Enter Judy Moody. The movie is about a feisty and fearless 3rd grader who has a thrilling summer with her brother Stink and Aunt Opal.

Heather Graham has been cast as the fun loving Aunt Opal. The last time I saw Graham on the big screen, she was playing a Las Vegas stripper in the very hilarious, very adult movie “The Hangover.” Clearly, she’s not one to be typecast since I highly doubt Aunt Opal turns out to be an exotic dancer in this PG rated, family friendly movie.

“Judy Moody” is directed by John Schultz and is based on the popular book series by Megan McDonald.

It opens on June 10th and looks adorable. Hopefully, a perfect way to kick off a not bummer summer for all of us.

The first time I went to review the New York City kids’ show “ImaginOcean” (a one-of-a-kind black-light puppet show), I was two hours late.

Well, it could happen to anyone. Anyone with four kids. But no matter, I rescheduled.

The second time, I came down with strep throat. Sigh. Me and the puppets were apparently not meant to be.

So I sent my husband Rick and our two girls (age 6 and 4) who absolutely loved it. Here is his review…

If you’re a fan of day-glow fish who swim in unison and sing in three part harmony, then “ImaginOcean” is the show for you. This very well done production is from the mind of John Tartaglia, one of the creators and stars of “Avenue Q.”  Except this time, instead of foul mouthed, promiscuous puppets, he presents wholesome underwater creatures who learn that your imagination can be your most valuable asset and that your friends are the best treasures you’ll ever discover.

And with a running time of only 50 minutes, you can get in, get your lesson and get out before the kids melt down and the parking bill rises above 25 bucks. Now that’s entertainment!”

ImaginOcean is currently playing at New World Stages on 50th street.