Basically, We love these toys...

Toys, toys toys! I have to admit I get just as excited about new toys as my kids (sometimes more so… shhhh….) Bells and whistles can entice me sometimes, but what I really love are bright colors, remarkable workmanship and new things to imagine and play. I can look at play sets and dollhouses, fire trucks and baby toys for way too long online. Having a daughter and two sons just opens up the toy horizon even more. We pretty much drool over toys around here (and not just the baby!)

But, when it comes down to it, when you really analyze what my kids play with? The fancy toys don’t really add up to much playtime. And what they play with, oddly mirrors what I remember playing with when I was a kid.

I’m going back to the basics with this review – Blocks and play "silks."

Blocks from Palumba:

When I was a little girl I had a box of colorful wooden blocks. I used to love flipping over the box, and building a little apartment with my blocks. I would make a dining room table and chairs, a couch, a bed. I have my old blocks to this day, and my kids do love to play with them. However, when we get out the blocks, they gravitate towards the cubes and sticks they got from Palumba. (Well, from Santa a couple years ago, but I have it on good authority that Santa got in touch with the folks at Palumba.)

My kids absolutely adore their Cubes and Cherry Building Sticks. They build towers, and bury treasure, and create little houses for their little gnomes.

Both the cubes and sticks work well for loading up a truck:

As a teacher, I have to admit, that one thing I love is toys that teach through imaginative play. The last time we played with the cubes and sticks, we played around with balance, and counting.

My 4 year old is currently very interested in letters, and cubes and sticks really do make great letters!

Speaking of imaginative play, Those sticks make excellent microphones:

Also, if you need to look at something "Way far away," they are just the telescope you've been looking for!

I would love to show you more pictures of the awesome things my kids do with these blocks, but the baby kept knocking them over… then picking one up that is to his liking, and chewing on it for a bit. Sometimes he does change it up a bit by banging them together to make a beautiful song.

They are really the perfect little blocks, in my mind. They aren’t too heavy, but they aren’t too light. They are made from real wood, and are actually quite beautiful! We have the set of 40 sticks (they also come in sets of 20 or 80) and the set of 25 cubes (they also come in a set of 50). Each set comes in a little drawstring cotton bag, which I always intend to use… but somehow clean up time doesn’t work like that around here!

Etsy Play Silks:

Looking at the pictures, you may notice some play "silks." in the background. I have wanted play silks for my kids for awhile, but I didn't want to get real silk, since we try to stay on the vegan side of things around here. I have some cotton rainbow cloths, but was looking for something silkier, when I stumbled upon etsy seller, DreamSpunKids. Their chiffon play silks are light, flowing, and come in a great variety of colors. For the first set we bought (they come in sets of 6, 8 or 12), I picked a handful of bright spring colors, and most recently, I chose colors that reminded me of the fall:

Good thing. Otherwise, how would my children pretend they are autumn trees? Or volcanoes?
These play silks can really be anything. The kids dress up in them, tie them to chairs to make forts: whatever the kids can imagine. My favorite thing to do with them is to help the kids create play-scapes. Here is our lake under construction (See the spot of yellow and orange? That's the "burning hot sun!"):

Playsilks also make a fabulous back drop for plays, puppet shows, or concerts:

I may or may not have even convinced my husband to wear one as a cape at our son's Super Hero birthday party!

(I wore a blue one!)

We love having a bin of play silks in our playroom, and I highly recommend them as a must-have toy!

They aren't just toys though, my new absolute favorite use for them is as present wrapping:If you want to add some pretty special "basic" toys to your child's play room, I say give Palumba's cubes and sticks and the play silk from etsy seller: DreamSpunKids a try.
The imagination and creativity of your child will shine through.

Happy Playing!

Keva Planks

Sometimes, we get all wrapped up in how cute a toy is that we forget toys aren't supposed to do the playing, children are. Fortunately, there are some wonderful toys that are so simple, the brain can't help doing the "work."



Keva Planks are like that. Keva planks are sets of American-made, maple blocks where each block is exactly the same size (1 in. x 4.5 in. x .25 in.) - the perfect size for building just about anything a child or adult can imagine.



I have to admit that I had some doubts when Kate of Blueberry Forest suggested this toy. It is suggested for ages 5 to 95, and Arielle is just five. I had visions of Arielle building complex palaces, and Linnea knocking them down, and everyone bursting into tears. But, Kate has five children between the ages of three and nine, and she said that her kids love this toy.

She also said that she sometimes builds a little house at the breakfast table for fairies and gnomes, and her children's faces just light up. That's so much like something that I would do. I love it!

I'll just say that Kate knows what she is talking about.


We reviewed the Keva Planks Set of 200 ($63.95).

Keva planks are available in different-sized sets ranging from 100 to 800 blocks. You can start out with a small set and keep adding as your child grows and his building becomes more and more complicated. Or, buy a huge set as a gift for the whole family. We all sat on the playroom floor and tried these out.

Arielle started out simply. She built a tower for Rapunzel the Rabbit. "Rapunzel, Rapunzel let down your ears..."


Then Linnea built this. Just kidding! That was me (totally fun for moms). But, Linnea was watching intently.


And, when I walked away, Linnea tried it for herself. Not bad.


Arielle took the geometric lessons that she learned from her first project, and tried them on a bigger scale - an octagon.



Linnea got frustrated.


She gave up on stairs and made a cat bed.


Arielle ran out of blocks, so she imprisoned Linnea's friend PooPoo. PooPoo didn't mind; she's smiling because she loves her little house.


So, the cat needed a house, too.


Hmmm..... what can I do with this house?



There's nothing better than a look of intense concentration on an almost-three-year-old's face. It's so much better than the tantrum face, right?

The blocks arrived on Friday. Today is Monday. Both girls have H1N1 and nobody really feels like playing, but these blocks have been out and been played with almost constantly (between naps).

So, thank you, Kate. What an excellent toy!

And, check out Blueberry Forest for many wonderful toys.

Fairy Tale Village - from Magic Cabin

Last week, I was playing blocks with Arielle. We were building our city and talking about our favorite subject, toys, when Arielle said "What I'd really like is the fairytale blocks from the catalog."

I wondered if she'd been reading my mind. Those blocks were actually on their way to us for a review.

Magic Cabin's Fairy Tale Village ($99.00)



So, I didn't say anything.

When they came, Arielle was playing upstairs. I unpacked the blocks and put them on the playroom floor. This is a very surprised and very happy little girl.



She ran upstairs and got dressed, so she could play.

Arielle used small dolls from Etsy to play. Magic Cabin's mini fairies ($39.98) would be absolutely perfect, too. And, the size would work well for dollhouse dolls.

I took lots of close-ups so you can see the detail on these blocks and the absolutely Seuss-ical buildings that Arielle made. I definitely think this is a case where my words aren't adequate.













Dr. Seuss, right?

Arielle's quote "These blocks are the funnest because they make fairy houses."

The blocks are handmade in Germany by Grimm's Spiel und Holz Design. The blocks are solid wood and they are dyed with non-toxic, water-based dyes. The quality and detail is amazing. They are perfect for fairy tale play. They don't only make fairy houses; the abstract shapes are very versatile and can be used as furniture or trees or rocks. These are the blocks I would have wanted when I was a little girl.

These blocks are large enough for young children, but the unusual shapes make them fun for older kids as well. I think the colors and designs will appeal to girls. Still, they aren't too girly to be shared with brothers. And, they look beautiful on top of a dresser or shelf when not in use.

Oh, be sure to sign up for Magic Cabin's emails to receive news about coupon codes and sales.

Thank you once again, Magic Cabin, for sharing such wonderful toys with us!

And 10% off at UrthChild!

It's our lucky coupon day. UrthChild is offering our readers 10% off with the code "STB09". Happy holiday shopping!

UrthChild has a great selection of natural toys. Our favorites are the Holztiger animals. I bought a few for each birthday and Christmas since Arielle was two, and now we have quite a collection.

Holztiger zebra ($14.99)



The girls play with them alone, in combination with dolls or blocks, or invite them to tea parties.

These little sapling blocks ($18.99) would make a nice gift. How simple and how beautiful!



Little Sapling Toys are handcrafted in Idaho out of natural wood - maple, cherry, and walnut - and are finished with bee's wax and organic jojoba oil.

And, UrthChild sells the Mimi the Sardine Splashmat ($29.95), which you've seen in the background in many of our messy art posts.



The mat is a big 36"x46". I originally bought them to put under Arielle's highchair. I used them for Linnea as well, and now we use them for messy art. They go through the laundry over and over and over.... I highly recommend this; you'll really get your money's worth.

Here's Arielle painting salt-dough ghosts and pumpkins.




Check out all the great toys, natural clothing, art supplies, and baby care needs at UrthChild - all PVC, phthalate and BPA free. One percent of your purchase goes to support the Nature Conservancy and The Rocky Mountain Institute. And, gift wrapping is available - in a reusable cotton bag!

Wood Toy Palace

Wood Toy Palace specializes in wooden toys. They specialize in toys that are high quality, educational, and environmentally responsible. Their brands include Melissa and Doug, Hape, Plan, ImagiPlay and Guidecraft. Some toys are made in China and you can read safety statements here.

They do have some pretty awesome toy choices.

Arctic Expedition ($26.50)




The ImagiPlay Arctic Adventure Set is made in Sri Lanka of local rubberwood. It has won several awards, including Parents' Choice Recommended Award; Dr. Toy "Best 100 Toys of the Year" Award; Dr. Toy "10 Best Socially Responsible Toys." We haven't tried it out, but Arielle loves toys with wooden figures.

My favorite toy on the site is the Toy Store in a Box ($135)




These blocks are also from ImagiPlay, and they are made of rubberwood. The set is inspired by blocks designed by architect Asta Berling in the 1950's. I love the bright colors and simple shapes. The biggest box is 9" x 9", and all the blocks fit inside. So they promote creativity, imaginative play, pre-math ability and store really nicely!

Wood Toy Palace has offered our readers a promo code. Get 10% off with the code "kid lovers". Shipping is always $9.95 within the U.S.