This fantastically fun xylophone is brand new from P’kolino. Made with sustainable rubberwood and metal with a bright, yet non-toxic water based finish, this playful and fun melody-maker helps your child develop an early interest in music and teaches shape & color. This unique xylophone breaks down into individual pieces that can be rearranged to create new sequences. Plus, when not playing tunes, your child can stack them high to build a tower. Clean up is easy as well, since these clever blocks nest into each other for a tidy playroom. Suitable for children ages 1 year and older.

+ Playful Rubberwood Xylophone $29.99

+ P’kolino

In news that will surprise no one, researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center recently figured out that teaching moms and dads how to be better parents could possibly help combat the alarmingly issue of overweight and obese children in America. So, it’s not shocking to hear that better parenting skills may lead to healthier kids. What was a little more surprising in this study is that even when the parenting skills taught did not include education surrounding exercise and nutrition, kids still benefited. During the study, researchers followed a large group of 4-year-old kids from low-income, minority families in New York City over several years. Some of the kids parents were involved in intervention, or parenting classes. Kids of parents who were taught good parenting skills were more likely to be healthier, while kids of parents who did not take the parenting classes were more likely to become obese by second grade. It’s very interesting that these parenting classes didn’t focus on food, weight, or exercise, but instead the classes taught parents how to be more responsive and nurturing towards their kids.

No time to make your own Valentines? We found some ready to buy options that are eco-friendly and adorable. Etsy designer Cindy Slater prints her Valentine offerings on FSC-certified cardstock. Choose from several different designs complete with clever and slightly corny (in a fun way!) sayings like owls that say “You whoo,” or monkeys that say, “I’m bananas for you!” These eco-friendly Valentines will trump the drugstore boxed cards any day!

+ Valentine Cards $9.50 for 12

+ Letter C Design

A while back, LittleFruits Feltery blew us away with their amazingly creative, adorable and fun play felt tree. We never thought we’d see something as cute again, and yet… Now LittleFruits Feltery has added some tropical delight to their shop – the bright and colorful Banana Felt Tree. This cuter than cute tree will have your child playing treasure island in no time flat. A creative Velcro design allows kids to pick bananas right off the tree and then put them back on. Branches are bendable and the tree is made by hand with 100% eco-fi felt. Sorry folks, that mischievous little monkey doesn’t come with the tree, but we do love the idea! We can’t wait to see what LittleFruits Feltery comes up with next.

+ Banana Felt Tree

+ LittleFruits Feltery

Motherload posed an interesting question recently, “Should we regulate sugar to protect public health?” The question itself stems from a recent issue of the journal Nature, where public health experts report that plain old sugar is as toxic and just as dangerous for society as substances like alcohol and tobacco. The researchers, working out of University of California at San Francisco, aren’t wrong. Past research has compared junk food addiction to heroin addiction and some research shows that only regulating some sugar won’t work – you need whole community regulation to make a difference. And whole community regulation is exactly what these researchers think should happen. The Wall Street Journal reports that the study authors suggest taxing sugar, limiting sugar in schools, reducing sugary advertising, zoning ordinances for sugar and even placing age limits on the types of sugar-laden products kids can buy. But, is regulation the answer? Can’t parents limit their own child’s sugar intake? It is a very good question. So good in fact, that I asked our readers via the Inhabitots Facebook page, the very same question to see what they’d say.

If you’ve got a little one who is overly enchanted with fairies, then how perfect is this sweet hat idea! Little ones will adore these charming flower blossom hats, and you have to admit, they’d look super adorable on a baby. Great for birthday parties, a photo opp (just add wings or some fairy-minded clothing) or use them for costume play. Each soft hat is wool felted in the USA. Available in fairy-perfect colors of yellow, orange, pink or periwinkle with a medium green stem. Comes in sizes for infants up to three years and for children ages three to ten years.

+ Wee Blossoms Felted Flower Hats $36.00

+ Palumba