Lisa Mahar's Favorite Things
Check out what our featured Mother of Invention has taken home from her own New York City children's shop, Kid O.
By Jane Margolies
- Modular messenger bag, $40
Mahar's son Emmett always wanted to bring along a large toy fire truck when they went out. "I would tell him, 'That's too big for me to carry—you'll have to carry it,' which of course, he couldn't," she says. "So I designed this bag so he could." Now that Emmett carries the load, he throws lighter Matchbox trucks in the bag instead.
- Caran D'Ache crayons, $16
Soft and intensely colored, these are far superior to the run-of-the-mill wax crayons. "You can smudge the colors—just make a line and then add water and rub," Mahar says.
- Ergo carrier, $115
Invented by a Hawaiian hiker, this model has shoulder straps and waist-belt design can handle kids up to 40 pounds. "With most carriers, your back starts to really hurt as your child gets heavier," Mahar says. "With this one, you spend more time holding your kid, because it's much more comfortable."
- Safety Scissors, $6
"Have you ever tried to cut paper with a pair of kids' scissors? They don't work—they bend the paper instead of cutting it," says Mahar. "Children need tools that really work. I bought 15 pairs of scissors, tried them all. Then I found these from Germany, which work so beautifully."
