Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in Oakland, CA

Once upon a time, I worked for LeapFrog, the toy company in Emeryville.  There I met a very nice man, Jerry Perez, an executive and father of three girls. He was a very supportive boss (to my boss) and the fact that one day I chased him out to his car like a crazy person, crying over a certain photograph in a catalog he had assigned me to work on, did not impact his attitude toward me. (Turned out I was four weeks pregnant which explains the irrational tears).

Now he has founded a new toy brand, Caring Corners, and their first product, the Mrs. Goodbee Dollhouse is on the market for this holiday season. 

Jerry gave me one of these dollhouses and my kids and their friends totally love it.  As I told the other bloggers I asked to respond to this dollhouse, if pink plastic is not your thing, I totally get it.  But you know what? Mrs. Goodbee is so much fun for my son, I really don't care what she looks like. If you are a Girl Mom (I'm still growing into that role, having earned it three years later than the Boy Mom role) you're probably used to the pink and purple, rose-covered look.

Mrs. Goodbee speaks. She provides audio prompts to give children encouragement to behave nicely: share, take care of others, and take care of themselves. When they flush the toilet in the house (the best noise ever!) the child is praised for flushing and reminded not to flush again (don't waste water!)  When a crying baby is heard, Mrs. Goodbee tells the child to look in the fridge for milk, and when the fridge is opened, she praises again.

Also, through a promotion with Goodwill Industries, a flier inside the box tells the family to use the box to collect gently used items that are ready for donation.  Encouraging me, the mom, to have positive behaviors, too, is pretty awesome, Mrs. Goodbee!

Find it at Target, Toys R Us, Amazon or WalMart.