Lately I have been spying some cool toys. The kind that you feel all smug about buying, because they’re wooden or handmade or sustainable or so educational it’s scary. None of these toys even shoots lead out at you, so there’s a bonus right there.
Here are my finds, and really, I just want to play dress up and run around outside through the trees.
A catalog I sent away for: Palumba. I’m loving their style. In fact, I love pretty much everything in the catalog, but here are a few picks:
set of 6 hand-dyed play silks
32 maple blocks in a cherry and walnut storage case
natural suede tool belt pouch
I think all boys would love this, but Fen would have LOVED it as well. Kids are all about carrying around weird little things with them when they pretend they are magical wise creatures from outer space and the future.
fabric crayon pouch- design for Stockmar crayons
Elsewhere….
Waldorf wooden balance board
This looks so fun I think I might die. It’s from Bella Luna Toys, and you can click on the photo to take you right to the page.
organic and natural finger paints
From the Bella Luna site: Handmade with fruit, plant and vegetable extracts from annatto seed, beets, carrots, curcumin, purple sweet potato, red cabbage and spinach, flour, cornstarch, wheat paste and earth clay. Colors look pale in the jars, but become vibrant when mixed with water!
wooden 'etch-a-sketch' type board
From Smallable.com This is so much cooler than the plastic ones.
wooden trike
Also from Smallable
knit grasshopper doll by bla bla
I love Bla Bla dolls, but this one is especially cute. There’s a really good selection at Maukilo.com as well as…..
personified foods!
****Also! Thanks to everyone who entered my Copy-Kids DVD giveaway. The winner is…. Krista from This Mumma’s Life who will no doubt have fun watching children eat fruits and vegetables.
Smug about buying – funny!
We have some of those silks and they are like blocks: kids not so psyched to get but end up playing with constantly.
Love the soft and happy fruit – very cute!
Congrats Krista!!!
Author
I wonder if the boy would like the scarves. Fen used to play with them when she was wee, but I have a feeling girls are more drawn to them?
We had finger paints. They are single use only in a house of boys because 1) all the paint is gone and 2) like hell I'm going to let them do THAT again?
good ideas..i like this posting. practical and items I haven't seen. Thank you!
So… when do your kids and I get to set up a play date?
Author
I think finger paints are pretty much an outdoor naked activity.
Author
But of course! There are tons of great toys- it was hard to decide what to include.
Author
We can set up a play date any time you want to travel here. I'll serve snacks and we can have story time, too. The fun never ends around here.
I don't know any boys who don't love tool belts! That looks like a nice one!
gah!!!! I want a wee one just for all this wonderment!
Oooh, I love the fruit and the grocery bag! I'm a sucker for faces on non-facey things.