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mama2many
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| Posted: July 07 2011 at 12:04pm | IP Logged
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I am looking for more natural toys, not so many little plastic things that are easily forgotten...
Anyone have any websites they LOVE to get handmade or more imaginative play toys from??
Like wooden toys, playsilks, no bells, no whistles.. ya know?
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kristinannie
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| Posted: July 07 2011 at 12:07pm | IP Logged
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I am right there with you! I was talking to someone the other day about how I had far fewer toys as a child, but that they were high quality. I am definitely going to check back in on this thread!
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mama2many
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| Posted: July 07 2011 at 12:09pm | IP Logged
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I love this site, but I'd like MORE options,
http://www.atoygarden.com/index.cfm
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Krystin
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: July 07 2011 at 12:12pm | IP Logged
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I've gotten wood infant toys from Little Ants I think I've only gotten Haba ones.. they've been really nice!
But as far as imaginative toys.. you can find them just about anywhere.. you just have to look past all the bells and whistles type of toys. Baby dolls, stuffed animals, cars (hotwheels) all come to life here. Wood blocks, lincoln logs etc can be found in many general stores..
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knowloveserve
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A note on wooden blocks. Buy the Unit Blocks kind... so the pieces all fit and the set can be added to etc. I bought three sets of the Melissa and Dough unit blocks on Amazon.com a few years ago and they are solid maple and still going strong...
There are excellent sites out there that have exactly what you are looking for... most are too expensive for my budget but I can still drool.
I love
www.palumba.com
www.novanatural.com
www.magiccabin.com
www.rosiehippo.com
And don't overlook www.etsy.com to support small timers!
But I do agree that you just have to know the basics of the long lasting toys.
In our home, we have almost no junk toys... they trickle in at Christmas and birthdays from well-meaning relatives, but they inevitably break or lose the children's interest. We only actually BUY toys that I know have staying power. Favorites here are:
Building blocks
Legos
Hot Wheels
Stuffed Animals/Puppets
Play foods (hand sewn or fabric ones from IKEA) and play kitchen things
Nice rubber animals (I love Schleich types!)
Nice quality baby doll or two.
A bin of dress up clothes (old halloween costumes, odd finds from the thrift store etc.)
And ample bikes, balls, bats, gloves, a water table... outdoor toys!
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MichiganMom
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| Posted: July 08 2011 at 8:26am | IP Logged
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The For Small Hands Montessori store has some great natural toys. Some of the things seem silly to me--expensive versions of everyday things--but some of the things are unique. http://www.forsmallhands.com/store/index.php?main_page=colle ction&collection=GU10 In the past we have gotten Christmas items from Hazelnut Kids and Magic Cabin.
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Erin
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Wooden blocks,
K'nex
Lego
Dress Ups (pull together 'outfits' from opshops)
Farm animals
Cars
These are the constants over the years.
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JennGM
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| Posted: July 09 2011 at 6:23pm | IP Logged
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Erin wrote:
Wooden blocks,
K'nex
Lego
Dress Ups (pull together 'outfits' from opshops)
Farm animals
Cars
These are the constants over the years. |
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I'll add to that list Tinkertoys and Lincoln Logs. We added City Blocks this Christmas and loving those, too. Play here crosses over in every direction -- so Lego and Playmobil play together, Tinkertoys, blocks, City Blocks are all structures for Lego and Playmobil and cars, and used as weapons during dress-up.
Oompa is a great site for ideas. I'd love a wooden marble run...but they are so expensive. We just have a plastic one, but it's used a lot.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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Erin
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| Posted: July 09 2011 at 6:43pm | IP Logged
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Do you know for years I've heard Lincoln logs and Tinkertoys mentioned. I've just done a search to see what these are. Nope we don't have them here in Australia, at least I've never seen them in my country town.
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JennGM
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| Posted: July 09 2011 at 6:46pm | IP Logged
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You are missing out! Your boys would love especially the Tinkertoys. I think they are the most played toy in our house. For any occasion the boys put together a sword, a light saber, a rifle, a walking stick, and so on. We have the throw back wooden ones.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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juststartn
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I like Etsy for small children's playthings. Hearthsong is another option I've found.
HTH!
Rachel
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CrunchyMom
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| Posted: July 14 2011 at 7:24pm | IP Logged
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In addition to things already mentioned, I'll add wooden train sets.
I do love wood over plastic so much, but if I had to only own two categories of toy, they would both be plastic  (Lego and Playmobile).
They are both so open ended.
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Grateful in VA
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| Posted: July 18 2011 at 12:28pm | IP Logged
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You could try Craftsbury Kids.
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jawgee
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| Posted: July 18 2011 at 1:02pm | IP Logged
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CrunchyMom wrote:
| I do love wood over plastic so much, but if I had to only own two categories of toy, they would both be plastic (Lego and Playmobile). |
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I agree. I do love wooden toys, but my oldest loves Legos, my second child loves his GeoTrax train set (and so do I) and my girls absolutely love their Little People people and houses. All of those items (Legos, train sets, Little People) also encourage imaginative play.
For wooden toys, I like to check Plan Toys items on Amazon. They have such a nice selection.
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: Toys??
