Store Review: Three Sisters Toys

When Dana, the creator of Three Sisters Toys, started her store, her plan was to not just sell Natural or Waldorf-inspired toys, but also to let people know the "why" behind her choice of toys. Her mission is to provide information on the reasons why these types of open-ended toys are important for children, how natural toys help to develop a child's creativity and imagination, and how these toys differ from toys where the child is a passive participant and the toy does the playing for them. As she hoped, her store is not just a place to find quality toys, but also a resource for parents (especially those who want to explain to family members why they prefer these types of toys for their children!). She has several pages of information on natural play and Waldorf toys.

The name Three Sisters Toys comes from the Waldorf education philosophy of child development. In the first seven years, the child seeks to see that the world is a place of GOODNESS, and will learn primarily by imitation and through activity. In the next developmental phase (leading up to puberty) the child most naturally learns through BEAUTY. And then, entering into the third developmental stage, a teenager naturally begins a quest for TRUTH. These three values: GOODNESS, BEAUTY and TRUTH for children are the called the Three Sisters. Dana says"That's what my store is named after....I hope that all of my products will uphold these 3 values for children."

I like that. I like the toys at Three Sisters Toys as well.

She has all the traditional Waldorf toys: play silks, play stands, blocks,wooden figures, dress-up clothes, nesting toys, dolls, musical instruments, games, puzzles and art supplies.

GOODNESS - toys for role play and make believe

They have a multicultural assortment of Waldorf dolls made by Evi Dolls. Many of these are very affordable. I've been admiring the pocket gnomes ($4.90) for a long time.



Who doesn't need a gnome in her pocket?

There is a nice selection of stacking and nesting toys. Arielle would love this.
Can you imagine how much fun the finger puppets would have in these nesting houses ($24.95)? It could be a finger puppet village. Christmas??

Several moms have asked me recently about wooden shopping carts and cash registers. Three Sisters Toys has everything for playing store.

A shopping cart ($82.95)

A cash register ($36.50)

Very European play money ($4.25)

And a nice selection of play foods.

BEAUTY - toys and tools for creating and appreciating beauty

Three Sisters Toys offers a selection of non-toxic, very high quality Stockmar art supplies, and other hand work necessities, as well as a selection of carefully chosen musical instruments, books and music.


TRUTH - That can't be sold, only sought. I think a child that is raised to be creative and open-minded and to appreciate nature, art and others, is well on her way to finding truth.

Good, beautiful toys - truthfully! Use STB01 to receive Free Shipping on any order over $25 through 12/31/07

Melissa and Doug Toys

First of all, congratulations to Melissa and Doug who are expecting their 5th child.

I just spoke to Rob from Melissa and Doug Toys regarding safety concerns. He assures me that Melissa and Doug is very concerned about safety. They manufacture toys in China, Vietnam, Thailand and the United States. They have had their safety testing system in place for twelve years. At each manufacturing facility, they have an on-site Melissa and Doug employee who inspects the safety of everything - not just paint. Every batch is tested both at the manufacturing site and when it arrives in the United States. They meet or exceed all U.S. safety standards. The testing is done by a third party testing facility. Rob tells me that Melissa and Doug manufactures over 800 products, so if you get one with a loose screw or chipping paint call their customer service at 1-800-284-3948 (the number is on the back of the package).

I do own some Melissa and Doug products. They are for many of us an easy to find alternative to plastic, and I do like the puzzles.

Linnea enjoys these big simple puzzles because she can almost do them by herself. I bought them for Arielle and they are hard to find now. I sometimes see them at T.J. Maxx.

Arielle still has fun with the Farm and Construction chunky puzzles ($9.99) because she can take the pieces out and play with them individually, although the puzzles are pretty easy for a three year old.


While I'm very happy with my Melissa and Doug Puzzles, my feelings about other Melissa and Doug toys have been mixed. The pizza, toaster and dish set are a lot of fun and get played with often, but the paint has not held up well, and the pizza tray leaves green streaks on the play table. Rob's response was that paint will show wear, but I can be assured it is non-toxic. Hmmm....
So, my thought is that Melissa and Doug toys are readily available, probably safe, affordable and not plastic. But, they are sometimes made in China and the quality varies. I will very likely buy more puzzles for my own children, and I'm really debating the Learn-To-Play Piano. Linnea really enjoyed playing with it at her cousin's house.

And I've heard really good things about the Wooden Chomp and Clack Alligator Push Toy.

My take home message is that the quality of Melissa and Doug toys varies from toy to toy. The company assures me that the toys are safe. However, there are other alternatives (such as Plan Toys) in the same price range. Melissa and Doug makes excellent puzzles, but I would not consider Melissa and Doug for toys that will be mouthed because of the chipping paint issue. You decide for yourself.

Plan Toys

I am so glad that Plan Toys wrote back, because I've been really wanting to review them. I first found Plan Toys when Arielle was a baby. She showed a lot of interest in counting, and I wanted to encourage that interest with an abacus. It was so hard to find something appropriate for a one year old. Fortunately I found the Plan Toys First Abacus ($14.20).




Arielle learned to count on this abacus. It is absolutely baby safe and Linnea (who really doesn't care about counting) loves to push the buttons around. We are now using it for pre-school math. If you have three blue dots and 2 green dots......

I like the abacus so much, that my next Plan Toys purchase was the Plan Toys Oval Xylophone ($16.99).

It is just right for toddlers, like Linnea, who get a kick out of hitting things. It's all wood and has a pleasant sound, but it's not exactly what I'd call music. Plan makes a variety of toy musical instruments, and I will be reviewing rhythm instruments for toddlers and preschoolers in the next few days, so I'll say more then.

We also own some Plan dollhouse dolls and dollhouse furniture. Since Arielle is going through potty training, I'm often finding the finger puppets sitting on the toilet from the bathroom set ($14.99).
My wishlist includes the microwave ($39.99)



toaster ($19.99)




and tableware set ($19.99)


The prices are comparable to Melissa and Doug toys, but the quality is much better and they are not made in China. I love the bright colors and clean modern lines.

Isn't this rocking horse ($49.99) beautiful?


Plan toys are available at Oompa (use our discount code) and at Non-Toxic Tots (a mom-owned website,get 5% off any order with the code "SARAROCKS" good until 11/30/07 ).

Non-Toxic Tots is doing a grand-opening giveaway of a Plan Toy, click here to enter.

A letter from the president of Plan Toys

Dear Valued Customers;

In response to the latest concern regarding the use of lead paint in the manufacture of toys, PlanToys would like to reassure all retailers and consumers that PlanToys are manufactured with the highest safety and environmental standards in mind. We build 100% of our products within our own factory, so we control the entire process from wood selection, to manufacturer, to shipping.

PlanToys is manufactured from recycled rubberwood. PlanToys uses a natural kiln dry process, in place of chemical treatment, to preserve and stabilize the wood, thus makes all PlanToys products preservative-free. PlanToys uses natural, water-based dies in place of any type of paint to add accent colors.

PlanToys has won the following awards for safety, environmental sensitivity and innovative design:

ISO 9001
ISO 14000
OHSAS/TIS 18001
SA8000
ASTM & EN71
Parents’ Choice
Oppenheim Toy Portfolio

PlanToys takes tremendous pride in providing safe toys that are manufactured with sensitivity toward our environment. For more information about PlanToys, please request a copy of the PlanToys Leaflet (item #84340), or contact our office at (866) 517-7526.

Sincerely,

Nittaya Zeugfang

President


PlanToys, Inc.

Toy Review- Large Rainbow Arches

We ordered these Extra Large Arches from A Toy Garden and they are fabulous. Why? First of all, they are open-ended toys. So far in my house they have been: horses, boats, garages, towers, ramps, roads, locks, hula hoops, houses, teeter totters, catapults, and art. Hard to believe but adults are often fighting their children for the arches! OK, I admit it, I am usually fighting the kids for them. "Pleeeeese Jack? Can I just finish my art before the monster truck smashes it? Can I pleeeeeese balance these blocks on the ends before you use it for a ramp?" Sometimes he lets me, sometimes I give in and let him play with his toy. Oh, and as the picture shows, they make your baby move super fast.

I bought them as a toy that both Alli, my nearly year old, and Jackson, my four year old, could play with. Not together mind you, that ends in scratching and tears, but separately and each in their own way. Jackson has really put the miles on these suckers. When asked what he thought about the arches he said, "Double thumbs up! They're sweet!" That really is the ultimate compliment.

For now, Alli mostly carries them around chewing on the ends. She is not the best toy reviewer though as small pieces of paper, beetles, and dirt are still her favorite playthings. It can not be overstated how awesome it feels to know that they are safe for my little pony. The arches are dyed with plant based dyes, the hues are beautiful, so there is no need to live in lead-based paint fear. The edges are sanded so nothing sharp or terribly pointy. Of course, they are wooden, and like any hard object they hurt when landed upon. Not their fault really, and they apologize every time. So polite!

The down and dirty? We love them. Maybe a little too "old" for a one year old, but completely worth it as a toy that can be used for many years by many hands. We have the extra large set and it is a little pricey at $59.95 but it has been worth every cent. Selling all of our plastic junk allowed us to buy better things for our babies. More on that later...

We give the arches from A Toy Garden: Double Thumbs Up

Safe Toys for Little Babies

Babies love to explore. They want to see, hear and especially taste everything, so babies need toys that can be chewed on safely. After writing the previous post about embedded lead in toys, I'm feeling a little paranoid about what Linnea puts in her mouth. So, I decided to feature baby toys that are all natural and made of organic materials. Although teething is no fun (I know, Linnea has been teething for months), mom and dad can at relax at least a little knowing that little one is chewing on something safe.

Maple Teether $10.99


This all-wood teether is made in the USA and finished with bee's wax. The lumpy-bumpy shape feels good on sore gums.

Or try this cherry wood rattle($14.99).

Here's another cherry rattle ($18.50).

It's nice and smooth and very simple, with a handle for easy grasping. A Toy Garden has a very simple soothing rattle which looks lovely for $19.95.

Men in a tub ($9.99)

Doesn't this look like fun for chewing and pushing and taking pegs out of? It is about 4 1/2 inches long. All the wood toys shown are made in the USA.

The Wooden Bunny Rattle ($12.95) is made in Germany.

Organic bunnies love their organic veggies such as this Carrot rattle ($19.95).



Under the Nile also makes organic veggies and other cute baby toys.

Under the Nile products are made of organic cotton in Egypt. They are comparatively inexpensive and include both produce such as Mushrooms($5.85), Grapes($5.85), and Broccoli ($6.00) and dolls such as their Knomes which come in either a Veggies Print ($9.35) or a tropical print and a sweet Monkey Toy.

Zmooz toys ($8.99-$15.49) are also made of organic cotton,


Zmooz toys come in a variety of styles for clutching and teething. Linnea has a small Zmoos. I can't say it is her favorite, but it is cute and just the right size for baby hands. I think she would have preferred brighter colors.

Perhaps the Kathe Kruse organic Gnome Doll ($23.99) would have been more pleasing to Linnea. Kathe Kruse also makes this girly organic Gugguli cloth doll ($21.99)


Lana organics stuffed animals ($24.99-$54.99)
These stuffed animals are made in Lithuania out of 100% organic cotton. However, as cute as this stuffed anteater is, $54.99 seems an awful l0t for a stuffed animal. Although stuffed animals do seem to spontaneously reproduce.... hmmm... I guess that's a topic for another day.

Lead in Toys

We all try to do what is best for our children. We take our prenatal vitamins, we breastfeed them, we make them eat their veggies, read them carefully chosen books, take them to the zoo to broaden their experiences -- all in the hope of giving them the best possible start in life. How unfair it is then that an irresponsible toy company can take this all away?!?

The risk from lead occurs when a child put a toy in his mouth. This is of greatest danger to children under two because they naturally explore the world with their mouths, and also have fast growing brains. Low levels of lead affect brain development and can cause developmental delays in young children. Lead has also been shown to effect adult brains, is toxic the kidneys and blood and is a powerful carcinogen. There are no symptoms for lead poisoning, so all children should be tested for lead exposure.

There are two types of lead contamination in toys. Surface (or coated) lead and embedded (or substrate) lead.

Most of the recent recalls are due to surface lead. The Consumer Product Safety Commission regulates surface coated lead and has set the standard at no more than 600 ppm (parts per million). There are no regulations for non-toy products.

Embedded or substrate lead is often used as an additive in such materials as vinyl or plastic, which is why Christmas tree lights now come with a lead warning label. Toys or children’s products with embedded lead meet all federal safety standards. Why? Because there are no safety standards.

Yet, health experts warn that even embedded lead has no place in products for children as even low level exposure poses a health risk. The CPSC reports that a four-year old boy died from lead poisoning after ingesting a jewelry charm with embedded lead. Wal-Mart and Toys R Us voluntarily recalled bibs this year due to concerns regarding embedded lead.

Things to know about lead in toys

I stole this, (and much of the info presented here) with some editing, from The Oppenheim Toy Portfolio website.

• Toys Made in the USA are not guaranteed to be lead-free. A toy can be labeled "Made in the USA", but if it has component parts that are imported, there can be a lead problem.
• The federal government permits surface painted lead up to 600 parts per million and has no restrictions on lead that is embedded in a toy. Only the State of Illinois regulates embedded lead.
• Embedded lead is a problem. The CPSC reports that a 4-year old child died from lead poisoning after swallowing a charm on a bracelet that was reputed to have embedded lead. Health experts warn that even low-level lead exposure can be harmful.
• Buying from a large reputable store does not guarantee safety. Even though big retailers often require companies to verify safety, most of the recalled products to date have been sold at large chain stores.
• Buying from a big toy company does not guarantee safety. Companies involved this year in recalls include such giants as Mattel, RC2 and Spinmaster.
• Buying from a small mom and pop store does not guarantee safety. Unfortunately smaller toy stores do not have the resources to require companies to do lead testing before accepting products for sale.
• Buying from small manufacturers does not guarantee safety. There have been many recalls this season from smaller manufacturers.
• Lead is not only a problem with metal toys. Lead can be painted on wood, fabric and plastic as well as injected into plastic and vinyl.
• Plush Toys are NOT guaranteed to be safe. While most fabric toys do not have lead, you do need to watch out for fabric that has been painted. The recalls of fabric blocks and a plush Curious George doll underscores the possibility of lead contamination in fabric toys.
• Lead in Toys is a Fixable Problem. With stricter government regulation, mandatory batch testing, and a total ban on all types of lead, consumers can feel confident again about toy safety.

What can we do?

We as parents can make a difference by not buying from companies that have had recalls. The only way to force the toy companies to become responsible, is to stop buying their products until they do. Sara's Toy Box will continue to list safer toy alternatives.

You can also write to your to your senator or congress person to request tougher standards

Check your child's play room (at home, school, daycare, friends houses) for recalled toys. A complete (and constantly growing) list is at cpsc.gov. Please check this list frequently.

Remove any recalled toys immediately. Check the CPSC.gov website for the procedure for refunds/exchanges.

If you are at all concerned that your child has been exposed to lead, have your child tested. Low-level lead poisoning has no symptoms. Your pediatrician can do a simple blood test.

According to the experts, at home lead testing kits are not reliable.

Let's keep our children safe and healthy.

A Toy Garden - Update

Well, I got an email from Sonya. A Toy Garden has gotten tons of orders using our code, so they got suspicious and Googled it. It seems that the code has been spread all over the Mothering.com website and chat groups. People think it is a "secret" coupon so they are quickly and "secretly"sharing it with all their friends. We both think it's pretty funny. It's not a secret, but I'd rather you refer people to my blog to get it. Refer lots of people. Lots of traffic means I can ask for more discount codes in the future, right?

Unfortunately, all this traffic means that A Toy Garden has sold out of the Beginner's Rainbow Puzzle and they won't get more until Spring. And they are running low on a few other toys - especially the hand made ones, like the Peapod Doll (I'm glad I got mine). SO, if you see something you love, BUY EARLY.

And if your friends and relatives and internet acquaintances want codes, send them here. I've got a lot of good stuff for them and more every day. --Sara

HABA safety letter

I was concerned because I love Haba, and own so many Haba toys, but the cloth toys are made in China. So, I wrote to Haba about my concerns. Since several parents have asked my thoughts, I am posting Haba' reply.

I also wrote to Melissa and Doug about safety concerns, and did not receive a response. It has been a week.

Thank you for your faith and trust in Haba-you will not be disappointed!
In regards to our items not made in Germany:

1. All factories used in China MUST have ITCI certification.
2. Any wooden component in our soft goods-for instance the wooden head in Casalino or the Big Voyage wheels-is made in Germany and shipped to China for assembly.
3. Haba has a German based employee that audits any factory used by Haba-several times a year-to ensure who is making our toys, what is going into them and the quality coming out.

But as a mother of two-what speaks the most to me is the following: I had the EXTREME pleasure of meeting two of Mr Habermaass's children. Wonderful. family and environmentally based people. I KNOW that their children play with Haba, and the have the inside track! :))If you would like something official for your blog, please let me know and I can get you an official PR statement! But to me as a parent-Mr Habermaass's grandchildren and what they play with says it all!

Again thank you for your faith and trust!
Janet
HabaUSA

Store Review: Palumba

This week, there was another round of recalls of plastic toys -- and the moms who buy these toys are scared and outraged. Not only do these toys pose potential danger to our children, but when we buy plastic, we ,in some not so small way, exchange the future of our Earth for our child's fleeting enjoyment of the toy. Wouldn't it be better if toys were non-toxic, Earth-friendly, and made to last?

I was thinking of this last week when I did a search on organic toys, and found the website of Palumba. Palumba offers organic, green-built, handmade children's items created from ALL-NATURAL materials. Eighty-percent of their products are made in the USA, and the rest are crafted in Fair Trade Cooperatives. ALL of their toys are made without any toxins or unsafe parts, all are of heirloom quality and crafted with "green" technology. Many of their wooden items are made of dead or fallen trees and are protected with a beeswax finish. Smaller item are made of scraps (called fall-off) produced from their larger items. They do not like to waste ANYTHING - it is their "leave no footprint" philosophy which is reflected throughout their site. They even save sawdust to create their own own cherry-walnut glue.

Pictures of the Camden Rose (American) workshops where many Palumba products are made.

What I like best about the beautiful Palumba site is that it reminds me of my own childhood on a farm in Kentucky. I would play with my dolls on the banks of a small waterfall. I had sticks, stones, leaves, grass, water and clay -- what more did I need? I could use my imagination to transform these raw materials into castles or space ships or gourmet meals, and I learned an appreciation of nature that later led to my career in science.

I now live near a busy highway, and our village is not a safe place for my children to run free and play outdoors like I did. Lucky for us, Palumba offers simple, natural toys that bring nature indoors and mix well with a bit of imagination. For instance - Sticks! A muslin bag full of cherry wood sticks (6” long, and 3/4” wide and 3/4” thick) that are very smooth with rounded edges, and finished with beeswax. I ordered two sets of 20 ($12.99). One was for my home and one for a sweet little boy who is turning three this month. Well... they arrived today, and I have to order another set. I left them on the table and Merlin (almost 18 years old!) got into the first set. Arielle came along to play with him and build a house out of sticks for her pig puppet. Then Linnea crawled over and looked at the sticks enviously - where were the baby sticks? Sticks are non-toxic and perfectly fine for little ones, so I opened the second bag for her. Obviously, 20 wasn't enough!



I also ordered A Simple Strainer, the Good Honey Pot and Dipper (Army Bear loved this), and Cute Cherries. And, I have my eye on quite a few other items (I'll let you know about everything, of course).

In addition to their beautiful selection of hand-crafted toys, Palumba offers clothing items, bowls and spoons, watercolor supplies, carefully chosen books, handmade lyres and child-sized cleaning tools. Palumba has asked that I feature the following products.

Baby & Toddler Woolen Slippers ($29.99-$39.99 depending on size)

These colorful slippers are made of New Zealand wool and hand-crafted in Canada. The slippers come in a kaleidoscope of lovely and vibrant colors and are sure to stay on even energetic toddler feet. They even have adult sizes. It's an icy cold morning here, and I'm thinking I may need a pair to warm my own icy toes.

Skittles ($24.99 unfinished, $29.99 finished with bee's wax)

Skittles are made of all solid hardwood pieces. The game is similar to bowling, as the goal is to knock pins down with balls. There are nine plain pins, one striped headpin and two balls in a cloth bag and a link to instructions for many different games from ancient to modern. The hardwood bowling balls are choking-safe (if little ones are around) and have no finish, but you can shine them up with bee's wax polish. The game is just right for playing in a long hallway on an icy cold day when you can't go outdoors.

Treasure Chest ($29.99 or $32.99 with a set of jewels and wood coins)

We could have used a treasure chest like this one a few days ago when we were pirates sailing the living room floor in search of hidden treasure. It is constructed from solid cherry wood with formaldehyde-free leather and rivet detail and measures 8.5 W x 7H x 6D. They also offer a treasure map for serious treasure seekers.

Enter "sarastoybox" in the coupon code section of our checkout page for 5% off your purchase at Palumba. The code is valid until 12/10/07. Remember that the coupon name is all one word and does not contain an apostrophe.