Cash poor—you know the expression all too well.

But you can teach your children to be aspiring homeowners (the fingerpaint decorating possibilities!) with these Canadian-made recycled cardboard playhouses for the yard.

And now you can even get them to mow the lawn. Their lawn.

Paperpod Playhouses are $75 at www.naturalpod.com

The mommy-and-me matching dresses were a 1960s staple.

And now your little man can look as cool as your big man with the big-and-little Roar dress shirts ($50/$145) from Los Angeles that are flying out of Yaletown’s Eden.

No more complaining that there are no cool dress clothes for boys, now.

Four styles available from newborn to 4T plus men’s sizes. Eden, 1042 Hamilton St., 604-685-1737, http://www.edenfashionboutique.com/

View kids shirts here.

Your baby’s growing like a weed, so dressing him in bamboo just goes without saying.

The new bamboo swaddling blankets, hats and kimono pajamas by Canada’s BebaBean (inventors of the Pee-pee Teepee) are super-soft, antimicrobial and wick moisture away to keep kids warm in winter and cool in summer. Plus the natural UV protection means you can finally stop stressing about sun.

To see the line (and the cutest baby in the world besides yours) visit www.bebabean.com

Available at:

Nestings Kids, 2835 W Fourth Ave., Vancouver, 604-734-5437.

Kol Kid, 670 Queen St. W, Toronto 416-681-0368.

Bebe Plus 6235 St-Hubert, Montreal 514-271-5200.

Sure, it’s six weeks till the bunny comes, but you’re already thinking about Easter outfits now aren’t you?

The brand new local site Purl Mama has the most gorgeous selection of girls’ spring dresses with butterflies, flowers and bunnies.

We fell for the Hiding Bunny floor cushion and springtime outfits from the super-fresh Egg brand.

And skip over to the Mama side of the site and you’ll find sexy lace nursing bras lined in bamboo.

Now put that in your basket and hide it!

www.purlmama.com

Give those kids a good scrub with the all-natural Lemonaid bath product range from Salt Spring Island’s Hairykids.

The ultra-fresh citrus-scented shampoo, conditioner, bubblebath and body oil contain no artificial or chemical ingredients, and perform so well you might just find yourself reaching for them too.

Remember to share now….

View products and retailers across Canada at www.hairykids.ca

If Alexander McQueen is the Enfant Terrible of the fashion world and Quentin Tarantino the Enfant Terrible of film, your tot can be the Enfant Terrible of the playground with super-chic toys and clothes from Canadian website www.enfantterribleshop.com.

From Tokyo trendy to Bolivian boho, here are our top 5 picks:

An super-sleek felted wool baby swing ($196)

Soft knitted alphabet blocks ($158)

Father and Son slippers ($75/$49)

Cashmere cable knit grampa cardigans ($117)

A soft baby globe knitted in Bolivia ($134)

Now that’s one baaaad baby!
www.enfantterribleshop.com

If one more trip to Science World would make your hair stand on end permanently, switch up the indoor activities with this pair of children’s storytelling sessions (ages 3 and up) at the Museum of Anthropology.

As part of a special exhibit, the books are all on the topic of mud, glorious mud, so don your wellies and sink right in.

Sunday January 13 and Sunday January 27, 11 a.m., children under 6 are free.

For details, click here www.moa.ubc.ca/programs/index.php

Ever see kids’ message tees and think: ‘I’m funnier than that?’

iPood? Come on.

The new Canadian website www.simplycolors.ca lets you put your money where your brain is and create customized kids clothes in a flash.

With lots of options under $25, you can order a walking birth announcement with an “I’m a new big sister” tee, state the obvious “Jackson,” or what the heck, why not “The Real Kid Rock”?

View samples and place orders here http://www.simplycolors.ca/bedrukking.php

With holiday photo-ops fast approaching, time to get the tots ready for their Kodak Moments.

And that means ditching the faded dresses, the soup-stained tops and those darn floods (calling them cropped just doesn’t cut it). Especially for boys.

We loved the not-too-formal wear from Canadian designer www.kikikidswear.com that’s dressy without being stuffy. To complement the European styling, all the girls’ pieces are named for supermodels (Gemma, Naomi,) and we especially loved the Twiggy pale rose wool coat and the Claudia girls cardigan.

Boys get glammed up in rock-and-roll long-sleeve Tees that can be worn with an Oxford shirt underneath.

Say cheese!

View styles and shop at www.kikikidswear.com

Available this weekend at the Circle Craft Christmas Market, Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre, www.circlecraft.net