I love flashcards. I love them like I love ice cream. Or beer. I can devour them. And so can my daughter. The only difference is I chew first. We'll spend an entire morning flipping through a stack of Eric Carle animal cards, drooling on A for Alligators and nibbling on M for Monkeys. While I'm sure there's a way to play with flashcards that doesn't require a roll of Tums afterward, the point is we're doing something together. Without TV. And without the electric gizmos and doodads used so often to "entertain" children nowadays. (Yes, you can smack me now. Or go back to your Baby Einstein DVD. You pick.)

So a special thanks to AJ at Thingamababy for pointing out the advantages of Brain Quest cards, which are designed for toddlers but can easily be consumed by younger children as well. In a thorough review of the cards, AJ discovers there's more substance than "fluff" to them. Each flashcard offers a building block to conversation, allowing your toddler to not only build a strong vocabulary but also learn to take in the world around her.

The best part? "A 2-year-old would be hard pressed to play with these cards alone," AJ writes. While that's not ordinarily a recipe for success after a long day with a 2-year-old, a great set of flashcards can provide solid bonding -- and also, as AJ says, provide a needed break from all the toy's that isolate children during playtime. "Parents must be involved with this game, period" Just make sure you buy Tums first.