Play therapy may be the buzzword of the day, but here’s a new twist: modeling clay that soothes and calms your kids with its scents.

Available for the first time in Canada, Mama K’s Aromatic Play Clay comes in scents like Lemongrass to inspire, Lavender to sooth, and Pink Geranium to balance.

And the scent will come in handy when you find it under the couch six months from now.

$25.99 for 5 tubs at www.naturalpod.com

If an apple of day keeps the doctor away, we've got an MD in Triple Jim's Crispy Organic Apple Chips.

Grown and manufactured in B.C., these tasty apple chips  are completely natural—and addictive. They make a perfect afternoon snack or post-dinner sweet treat.

Apples for dessert? Aren't you clever now.

Triple Jim's Crispy Organic Apple Chips, $3.99 (or 2 bags/$5 on sale now) at Whole Foods, www.wholefoods.com

When little Saxon unearths his Dad’s old turntables (and Metallica collection) and Vivienne becomes a backstage baby, make sure they don’t become the next It’s All Gone Pete Tong by protecting their hearing with these cool muffs.

Called Peltor Hearing Protectors (let’s keep that between us), the adjustable hot pink and bright blue earphones shield little ears from harmful noises while letting in ambient sound at hockey games, concerts, and parades.

Rock on, mom.

Age 1 and up. $39.95 at www.dandelionkids.ca

In your mind you spend Saturday afternoon happily baking oatmeal cookies with your kids. In your reality, you barely have time for lunch.

Sweetpea Baby Food’s new kids’ cookies are made the way you’d do them if you could: with whole grains like spelt and no dairy, eggs, or additives.

Healthful flavours like banana-pear and pumpkin spice mean there’s no guilt in doling them out by the handful. 

One for baby, three for mummy….

Sweetpea Organic Cookies ($5.99) at IGA, Planet Organic, Pusateri’s and other Canadian retailers at www.sweetpeababyfood.com

We all want to foster creativity in our kids, just not on our white upholstery.

Now you can relax and let your kids be kids at the new Vancouver art studio Collage Collage.

Canisters of fun art supplies (day-glo pompoms!), modern books and gifts surround a huge custom-made communal table that serves as a craft centre. Kids get one-on-one instruction, sometimes inspired by a famous graphic designer like Italy's Bruno Munari.

Now that's something to hang on the fridge.

Drop-in classes, $10. Birthday parties available. 621 Kingsway (at 15th and Fraser), Vancouver, 604-569-1929, www.collagecollage.ca

So you’re not quite as swift with the Singer as your mom once was.

Thank goodness there’s another mother who’ll whip up a gorgeous handmade dress for your budding fashionista. With au courant details like 1920s drop waists and Liberty of London fabrics, the modern frocks by Vancouver line Mette will have her standing apart from the crowd.

And not because she’s wearing a bright orange polyester shift—that was you at age 4.

Dresses from $40, www.mette.ca

You've been know to make an origami crane from a paper napkin or turn a newspaper into an "art project." Anything to entertain the kids on these drizzly days of winter.

That's why we loved these temporary tattoo hand puppets ($12.50/8).

Wonder if they'll go to bed sooner if it's a purple polka dot monster telling them to do it?

www.thirddrawerdown.com

This year we resolve to make our children’s rooms and wardrobes bastions of creativity, colour, and coolness, starting with new Canadian e-store, www.babybot.com.

Filter stock by colour to match the nursery (who knew black could look so modern?) or by child’s age (205 perfect gifts for a first birthday!) on this smart site. Just think of the beautiful Eames elephants and contemporary toy boxes you can buy now that you’ve rid the house of triplicate Dr. Seuss books, Santa bibs and Dora dolls.

Well, at least you tried.

www.babybot.com

While we still can't convince the wee ones that an RESP contribution constitutes a gift, we're always in search of presents that will foster their future.

Tired of plastic gizmos that get abandoned before Boxing Day, we turned to Canadian site www.babynaturopathics.com. With adorable modern banjos by Plan Toys (pictured, $29.50), pint-sized natural wood pianos from Germany ($159), and even a skyscraper set for the future city planner ($57), there's plenty of old-fashioned  fun to be had.

And if she grows up to be a doctor,  ($33.50) well, that RESP will sure come in handy. 

www.babynaturopathics.com

Want your little one to always carry a story in their heart?

An Awesome Book by Dallas Clayton is an online children’s book with whimsical illustrations and a dreamy message. Whether they’re playing with your iPhone or poking at your laptop, this tech-friendly tome has an imaginative message.

It’s story time 2.0.

An Awesome Book, read for free or order (US$15) at www.veryawesomeworld.com