Areaware Alphabet Blocks
This set of 26 Alphabet Blocks from Areaware is a spectacular gift idea. The blocks, designed by Pat Kim, are approximately 2″ x 2″ x 2″ and made from Mahogany and Pine.
They retail for about $72.
Block Puzzles
They’re blocks, they’re puzzles and they’re super cute.
1- Crowded Teeth Animal Wooden Blocks- Artist Collective Animal Puzzle – $24.95
2- Wee You-Things Blocks from Wee Society- $65
3- Zoo Animals Block Puzzle from Hape
4- Aoi Huber Kono: Wooden Animal Puzzle by Naef Toys- $125
5- Briarpatch SAMi Block Puzzle
Some affiliate links included.
Wild Dolls Collection from Sleepy King
Sleepy King recently debuted their Wild Doll Collection.
It features Bella Bunny ($58) and Forrest the Fox ($68). For more Sleepy King cuteness, visit their etsy shop.
Top 10 Animal Puzzles
As far as toys go, you really can’t go wrong with wooden puzzles, and you can never have too many. Here are my top 10 picks for animal puzzles. Pick your favorite or get them all.
1- Melissa & Doug Deluxe Wooden Safari Chunky Puzzle
2- ABC Animal Puzzle
3- Animal Puzzle- $23
4- Wild Animals Peg Puzzle
5- DwellStudio Woodland Puzzle- $14
6- Fox Wildlife Party Puzzle – $19.95 (two other cute designs!)
7- Deep into the Forest- $37 (Fun for older kids!)
8- Skip Hop Alphabet Zoo Match and Play Puzzle
9- Safari Babies from Petit Collage- $13
10- Charley Harper Classic Wooden Peg Puzzle
Some affiliate links included.
rich or reasonable: giraffe nursery decor stuffed toys
by Esther
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Rich or Reasonable: Giant Stuffed Giraffes
If your nursery or playroom requires a giant stuffed giraffe– and you may be surprised how often this is the case– I’ve got a couple options for you. Unless you’re a serious Stieff collector and aficionado (I’m just a casual collector and fan), this one is a no-brainer though.
You don’t have to take my word for it. Even celebrity nurseries are sporting Melissa & Doug’s Giant Stuffed Giraffe.
You can find it in Tori Spelling’s home…
(photo credit: Michael Simon/ Startraks)
Martha Stewart’s daughter Alexis’s home….
And Rachel Zoe’s home…
(Bravo via)
So you can either be the trailblazer with the $1175 Giraffe from Steiff (43.31″ tall), or snag the Melissa and Doug one (57″ tall) on Amazon for less than $100. (at the time of posting, the price is $72.09!!)
Some affiliate links included.
Dream Car by Huzi
Every so often there’s a Kickstarter project that I can’t ignore. You are going to want these modern toy cars from Huzi, so go ahead and support them now! These gorgeous wooden cars feature a magnetic connecting system and chalkboard paint finish so you can assemble them and decorate them how you like.
As of today with 31 days to go, the Dream Car is more than a third of the way to its Kickstarter goal. Think of these as heirloom toys since you need to pledge $260 to get a full set of 4. But if you have to have them, get them now because the projected retail price is $440. At the minimum, I recommend choosing one set for $65 (will retail for $100-120).
These are going to be very hard for me to resist. A girl can dream, right? Thanks to Puj for the info.
Wooden Animal Puzzles (high, medium and low)
You can never have too many puzzles. The modern wooden animal puzzles I’m sharing today double as animal figurines as well. From the reasonable to the collectible, this is just the type of classic toy that has loads of play value. They’re also easy to admire for their artistic and sculptural qualities. Be sure to add one to your (I mean your little one’s) wishlist.
The first puzzle is Petit Collage’s brand new Safari Jumble wood puzzle. For $32 you get nine wooden animals hand-cut from FSC-certified beech wood with a wooden storage tray.
From Woodroid, we have this set of 7 organic wooden animals for $58. The Organic Wooden Animal Puzzle is made in the Ukraine out of maple and fits into a maple/oak tray.
Finally, Enzo Mari’s 16 Animali Wooden Puzzle is a design classic. The puzzle, currently produced using oak, is a limited numbered edition (only 300 made per year) with a price tag to match. The set with the box is $820. This often imitated design will never go out of style and is really art you can play with.
Check ebay for these if you’re interested in collecting one, but be sure to do a little research to make sure your purchase is authentic.
The Bobbin from Three Pears
When someone asks me what I think is missing in the modern baby world, one of the first things I think of is an exersaucer, jumparoo, activity center type thing. These are those hideous plastic monstrosities that toddlers of a certain age really love. Parents love them because they’re a safe place to put a baby (who can hold their head up and support their weight on their legs) and watch them play somewhat independently.
I KNEW it was possible to make a modern version of these– one that I wouldn’t be embarrassed to have in the house. I’ve finally found the perfect design (and as you can imagine, there’s a price tag to match). The Bobbin Triple Play Centre from Three Pears is just what I’ve been dreaming of.
With solid maple legs, Greeguard certified finishes and formaldehyde free MDF surfaces, this play center is as safe and eco-friendly as is it spectacular. It comes in five different modern color combinations. Shown above is “Petal Pusher” and below you can see “Sea Legs” with the addition of the Bobble Toy accessories. These can all be attached to the table surface with detachable suction cups. Babies can reach all the way around the table because the seat rotates 360 degrees on an aluminum turn table mechanism.
Once your toddler is a bit bigger, you can lower the colored platform to make room for their longer legs.
Finally, when the life of the play center has run its course (and you’d be getting ready to donate the giant plastic play center), you remove the Bobbin top, flip it all over and you have a modern kids table. Add a couple Milking Stools and you can continue to use the Bobbin for several more years!
I am so excited about The Bobbin and the entire line of products from Three Pears. As I have warned you, the price is steep. The Play Centre is $850, the toys range from $35 to $70, and the stools are $70. Shipping to the US is an additional expense.
Update 3/6/2013: The price for the Bobbin (via comments below!) is now down to $550. Much easier to swallow. Hooray!
Some affiliate links included
Top 10 Basic Shape Sorters
I’m all about providing your kids with the best of the basic toys. On our Modern Toys Guide I list the top vehicles, blocks, stuffed toys, teethers, rattles, dollhouses, and rocking and riding toys. Shape Sorters are another important basic and will be joining the guide soon. For this top 10 list, I only included toys with basic shapes. There are some fun ones with animal shapes etc… and we may round those up for you in the future. This top 10 is listed in no particular order:
1- Plan Toys Preschool Shape and Sort it Out Activity Toy
2- KidKraft Shape Sorting Cube
3- Melissa & Doug Shape Sorting Cube
4- Ikea Mula Shape Sorter- $5
5- Hape Shake and Match Shape Sorter
6- Natural Shape Sorter by Wonderworld
7- Sorting House from Kid-o
8- Janod Shape Sorting House
9- My First Greet Toys Shape Sorter- (coming soon)
10- P’kolino Geared Shape Sorter – Robot
Which would you get? Did I miss your favorite?
Some affiliate links included
New From Green Toys for 2013
Coming this spring, Green Toys has five terrific additions to their product lines. Two baby toys and three more vehicles. As always, Green Toys are made in the USA from 100% recycled plastic milk jugs.
1- Shape Sorter 2- First Keys 3- Tractor 4- Rocket 5- Ferry Boat
