Toys

Here’s a great item for the budding artist in your family.  We all know that crayons are nontoxic these days, but these crayons from Stockmar are the ultimate in all-natural art supplies.  Made in Germany from beeswax, and certified nontoxic by the Art and Craft Materials Institute, they are exactly the kind of thing you want to give your child–creativity inspiring and safe.

Best of all, the beeswax creates a smooth and even color, so unlike some of the cheaper crayons on the market, these will produce even and vibrant colors as your child writes.  The oversized shape is ideal for young hands.  This set includes eight crayons and a scraper, beautifully packed and perfect for gift-giving.  I just ordered the set for my younger daughter and I know she will have a blast with them.

You can buy the set for $11.49 at oompa.com.

At the Shop the Frontier web site, it states, “All of our profit supports business training and micro-lending programs for women and small business and, as we grow, we’ll fund local youth technology and area business start-ups.  In these ways, we serve rural women and their communities by being a catalyst for entrepreneurial success.”

Featured at Shop the Frontier, these funny and adorable Rag Doll Kittens are handmade by artist Linda Harvey at her home-based enterprise, Harvey’s Humbles,  located on the banks of the beautiful Methow River in the Washington North Cascades.

All Harvey’s Humbles critters are original designs, created not just to satisfy their designer’s sense of whimsy, but also using material and production methods defined with safety in mind. They are made from synthetic acrylic yarns and polyester fiberfill to minimize any possiblity of allergic reaction. Acrylic eyes and noses are on shanks inserted through the fabric and secured with lock washers. No glue is used.

Choose from Pale Grey, Seal-Point Siamese, Black Puss-in-Boots, or Watercolor characters. You can purchase one of these adorable cats for $15.50 at ShopTheFrontier.com.

This is one of the toys my younger daughter received for her first birthday.  We have really gotten a  lot of use out of it.  In fact, my older daughter has always enjoyed it too.  The toy is brightly-colored, so it instantly draws a young child’s attention.

Unlike most other jack-in-the-box toys, it is covered in cushioned fabric, so it is soft to the touch.  Kids don’t need to have highly-developed fine motor skills to work this toy either.  There is no need for winding.  You simply push the doll down into the toy, close the lid, and when you open it back up, he pops out with a friendly squeak.

My only complaint is that the fabric came off of our lid.  It was a relatively easy fix, though.  This toy is recommended for children from 9 months of age.  You can purchase one for $27.95 at geniusbabies.com.

If you’ve visited the beaches this summer, you know that you are more than likely to see signs of human impact on the environment: disposable diapers, plastics, aluminum cans, etc. scattered along the beach or washed up in the waves. You have to drive well out of your way to find a “clean” beach for your children to play on. It can be discouraging but one thing we can do, and teach our children to do, is to use products that are trying to not be part of the problem.

This Recycled Plastic Sand Play set by Green Toys is made from 100% recycled plastics, and is phthalate free and BPA free. The bucket and shovels are not fancy or brightly colored, they don’t sparkle or make musical sounds - but on a sandy beach, all your child needs and wants are the tools to let his imagination build.

The Sand Play Set includes:
1 Bucket
1 Sand castle mold
1 Shovel
1 Rake

You can buy a set for $16.98 at KangarooBoo.com

Moncalin’s line of super-soft toys and blankets has earned them a celebrity following that includes fans such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Christian Bale, and Brooke Shields.  One look at this cute little pig explains what all of the fuss is about.  I love the bright green and orange colors that make this toy stand out.

He is handcrafted in the USA, and completely machine washable.  He comes packaged in a gift box and would make a gift that will be cherished for a long time to come.  You can purchase one for $65 at moncalin.com.

This sweet little doll by Corolle is suddenly the doll among celebrity babies with Shiloh Jolie-Pitt and Suri Cruise carrying them around.  It is easy to see the attraction.  The doll is quite life-like, and is the size of a real newborn (20 in), which allows him/her to wear real baby clothes.

I think most children, both boys and girls would have a lot of fun with this sweet little doll.  You can purchase one for $79.95 at shopatron.com.  It would make a very nice gift as well.

My three children are all close in age but they each differ in their motor skills. You’ll notice from the photo above that this is a pedal-less, chainless push bike that moves by foot power.

The LikeABike Mountain Bike is totally adaptable to your child’s stage of confidence and balance.  It is built for kids ages 2-5 years, and comes in Pink and Green.

You can buy one for $279.00 at BabyBazaar.com.

It goes without saying that you want anything that touches your baby to be as soft as possible. How about a Cashmere Monkey? Just looking at this cuddle toy you know that those long arms and legs are going to get mooshed. I know it’s a monkey, but it’s an elegant monkey! Can’t wait to squish it - I mean, for my baby to have fun with it!

The Anne-Claire Petit Luxe Cashmere Monkey is available in two colors: pink or chocolate. You can buy one for $80.00 at PetitLuxe.com.

Here is a very sweet little toy tea set that is sure to inspire hours of imaginative play.  This sturdy set is made out of wood, so you don’t have to worry about accidentally dropping or cracking the pieces.  The Fairy Tea Set includes a wooden tray, a gingham tea cloth, a teapot, a sugar bowl and spoon, a milk jug, and two cups and saucers.

It even includes a birthday cake and candles for a true celebration at tea time.  I know that my girls would love this set.  The color scheme will blend in well with a lot of the wooden play kitchens on the market.  You can purchase the set for $70 store.wellappointedhouse.com.  It would make a wonderful gift.

This wooden rocking boat looks like it would provide hours of fun for an adventurous toddler.  Children will enjoy turning the steering wheel, rocking the boat, pretending to fish, and all kinds of make believe play.  Best of all, this natural wood toy will blend in well to your living space. You can purchase one for $219.95 at sensoryedge.com.  Shipping is free.

There are lots of activity mats on the market to entertain your baby from birth, but the Shangrila mat from Kushies has got to be one of the most luxurious ones out there.  I cannot emphasize enough how soft this mat is.  The orange fabric is unbelievably plush and silky to the touch.

This mat has lots of other great features too, designed to stimulate all of your baby’s senses.  There are sweet little toys that will grab your little one’s attention and help him to learn to grasp and hold objects; a set of three toy clips allows you to customize the activity mat with your baby’s own favorites; a flip and see sound pod stimulates your child’s hearing, and a gel mat filled with bubbles and fishies provides “water” play without the mess of filling a water bag (an annoying task I came to dread while using another play mat we own).  The mat can also be reversed to a black and white pattern that will stimulate your infant with its high-contrast designs.

One thing I love about this mat is that the portico arch that comes with it is super-easy to put together.  We have had a number of different play arches, and none of them were at all easy to put together (I have put up tents that were less hassle).  All you need to assemble the Shangrila’s arch is unfold the frame and secure it in velcro holders–no bending, stretching, or attaching tiny loops of fabric.  When play is done, the mat wraps easily around the arch and everything stores neatly in a plastic storage tube.  These features alone make it well worth the price.

The Shangrila Activity Mat retails for $120.  You can purchase one at kushiesonline.com.  Use the discount code haup8 to receive a 10% discount on your order from the site.

Something of a puzzle, which I know appeals to my son, the triangle patterned “Trix” toy by Haba is a mind stimulator. I like that it’s brightly colored, made from natural products (hardwood), and something mom or dad can play along with as well (without getting too bored.)

It’s simple, which some parents appreciate, choosing natural and less stimulating toys for their little ones, and it’s not overly pricey. At $5.95, you can’t really lose.

I found it at BekahKates.com and think it’s a toy worth adding to the play room.

The Patchwork Bear makes a number of cute patchwork toys that are great as gifts or family heirlooms.  Jessica Alba and Cate Blanchett both have these bears for their little ones.  The Minky Bear, which was recently featured in an OK Magazine spread detailing Alba’s nursery, is handmade from chenille and the soft microfiber “Minky” fabric that is popping up everywhere these days in high end children’s products.

The bears are cut, stuffed and stitched by hand, so each one is special.  They are available in pink, blue, yellow, vanilla or mocha.  You can purchase one for $45 at thepatchworkbear.com.  For an extra $10, you can have the bear personalized.

This was the toy that started our Haba collection.  I came across it online while searching for presents for my younger daughter’s first birthday, and knew we had to have it.  From there, my addiction to the company’s toys just grew and grew, and within a few months, we had a whole playroom full.  I was drawn to the toy initially by its bright and cheerful colors and soft fabrics.  When I received it, I was delighted with its high quality construction.  It was also an immediate hit with my daughter.

A great thing about the Haba Dream Journey is its versatility.  It can be a pull toy or a push toy, and can be used with or without its wheels.  The many options (boat, car, etc) are sure to inspire even an older child’s imagination (indeed, my nine year old has been known to play with this from time to time).  All of the adorable little goblins make a different noise to please even the youngest baby.

This toy definitely grows with your child, and it is the kind of toy you will want to pack away and save for grandchildren one day.  You can purchase one for $30 at Duckduckgooseboutique.com.

I had to smile when I saw this toy stroller because it looks so much like one of our real strollers.  Unfortunately, we already have so many strollers (toy and real), that I don’t think I can buy any more of any variety for a while.

What I love about the Pottery Barn Toy Pram, apart from its resemblance to my Peg Culla , is that it looks very sturdy.  The way my daughter runs around with her toy strollers, I’m always afraid that she will flip over.  With its wide wheel base, I don’t think this one is likely to tip.  I also think it would make a great place to store dolls when they aren’t in use. Kids are sure to be drawn to this toy because it looks so much like a real one.

The stroller is designed to hold dolls up to 19 inches, and the handle adjusts to grow with your child.  It would make a wonderful gift.  You can buy one for $69 at Potterybarnkids.com.