As part of our new Meet the Toy Makers series, we turned our attention to the land of dolls...

Jodi Norgaard recently launched  Dream Big Toy Company (a great name!)...so we asked her about her journey... and how she came to create a fun line of dolls called Go! Go! Sports Dolls. Read the interview.

Ever dream of being a toy maker? Quit your day job and come up with concepts that delight and entertain children?  I'm often asked how to get into the toy business. Since my own route was so unplanned and unexpected...I thought it would be interesting to ask leading entrepreneurs and designers how they got where they are today.  Today's feature is on Jacobe Chrisman, the CEO of I Can Do That Games! 

Sleepovers are parent intensive events-so, if you are having a heavy work week- better to say we'll do it another time. If you are having it- you need to have a game plan. Kids come to these events with lots of energy. Part of your plan needs to involve using some of that energy.

As the holidays approach, most parents also want to teach their kids that giving to others is also part of the season. With some planning giving can be as much fun as receiving. You don't need to be a dedicated crafts person or have hours of free time to do this - many innovative kits come with all the materials and directions to walk you through.

For kids it often comes as a shock that learning to read does not come instantly; neither does writing or remembering your multiplication tables. It still takes a full year for your birthday to roll around, you can't make Christmas come until December 25th, and a new tooth doesn't come in until it's ready. Helping kids deal with delays and frustration are major life lessons that they will need in school, work and as members of a family.

So how can we give this powerful virtue to our kids?

Faced with a rainy day or a day off from school...and you start hearing the refrain..."We're bored!!"  No worries--we have some great ideas for entertaining the troops. Here are some of our favorites.

Whether you have a crawling baby or a video game addicted tween, it's important to carve out space where you get to play together!  As silly as it sounds, with everyone's busy schedules play time often gets taken off the "to do" list.   While we spend so much time making sure that everyone is doing all their "work"...the time we spend laughing with our kids  is just as important.

Looking for ideas for outdoor fun? Whether you are the "it" house in your neighborhood or if you're planning a family get together, we have some great games and equipment that can bring everyone together.

Learning the alphabet is one of those basic skills that children often learn by rote as they sing the classic Alphabet Song that ends with "Now I know my ABC's."  But knowing how to sing the letters does not mean they really do know their ABC's.

To watch the segment, click here.

You can also read her daily blog about the good, bad and ugly in toyland.

Have a question about what's age appropriate? Join the discussion! Click here to view her blog.