Recently found out the Lin-z speaker will give you free services(food, repair and maid), when your needs are low/stuff is broken or dirty, when you befriend it. I saw someone say somewhere that toddlers can learn from it too, though I haven't tried that feature. In spa day there's a shower that is embarrassment free when someone walks in on you. For kid's character values I use the doctor play set for raising mental skill and Empathy at same time. Also if you can get the social interactions for kids with the little skill icons next to them, I spam those and it boosts the skill a ton along with the social skill.
