Giving a group gift can be the best option when holidays are a family affair. Instead of individual presents (and the attendant out of control budgets and clutter), here are a few of our favorites for the whole family to enjoy together. More

Name: "Peep" (2)
Location: Indiana

Remember Peep's Goodnight Moon party from last year? Well for her second birthday, we had another book-themed party - Cars and Trucks and Things That Go, by Richard Scarry. More

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We asked and you answered: what are the best gifts for preschoolers? Many reader suggestions for this age group were similar to gifts for toddlers including books, blocks, play kitchens and accessories, cars and trucks, trains, dolls and costumes. One of the major themes is gifts that encourage imaginative and pretend play.

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We are super excited about Pantone's choice of emerald green as color of the year for 2013. It's so fresh and vibrant, and can even make for a great accent color if you're not going to go whole hog. We gathered together a few of our favorite pops of green in recent kids' rooms featured on Apartment Therapy Family, many emerald and many close to emerald. More

Name: Gabe (3)
Location: Broomfield, Colorado

Gabe's room evolved into a "big boy room" by making a few small changes to the room we had created for him while he was still in the womb. The wall color, rug, curtains, and most of the accessories remained the same, but the bed and dresser received a more "mature" look, and all for under $10. More

Little builders are eager to experiment with new materials to create playscapes and structures. Architecturally inclined kids will love these toys that emphasize construction and open-ended play. More

Baby Penguins Everywhere
• $10.36
• Barnes and Noble

A lonely penguin becomes quite the opposite when she spots a top hat floating in the water holding a surprise...and then another and another. Guion's sparse pencil and watercolor illustrations are as charming as the sweet text with a message of parents finding balance in the midst of family clamor.

Name: Taylor (5)
Location: San Mateo, California

My daughter Taylor had been talking about having a fairy party for her 5th Birthday. I was a bit hesitant because I knew we'd be adding little boys to the mix, and some boys (not all) aren't as willing to participate in the more "girly" activities. My husband and I settled on throwing a woodland themed party, which would include the fairies, woodland animals and gnomes. More

After unwrapping all the presents, when everything gets a little chaotic, it's reassuring to see our over-stimulated kids run outside to work out that anxious energy. When it's time to upgrade our winter outdoor toys, the Holidays are a great opportunity to bring in these new additions.

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