Connectagons at Magic Cabin

Connectagons Treetops ($24.98)



Our playroom window looks out on a huge maple tree. Every day we look out and talk about the changes we see. "What color are the leaves?" "What kind of bird is that?" "Uh oh, where did the leaves go?"

I chose the Connectagons Treetops building toy for Arielle because its a fun way for her play to reflect the things she is learning about AND because the 242 pieces include 3 types of birds - cardinals, blue jays and goldfinches. This is still not enough birds for Arielle who says "the good thing about trees is that birds can live in them." And, of course, the set also includes tree bases, branches (Arielle thinks the half-rounds look like nests), and leaves in five different colors.

According to Arielle this tree is good for "playing birds, and that is it!" I think it is a little more versatile than that. She had a lot of fun building and changing her tree. And, while it is fun to play with, the tree also makes a fun and interactive addition to a nature or season's table.






The pieces are made of wood and painted with non-toxic paints. Yes, like many Magic Cabin exclusives, they are made in China. All products sold by Magic Cabin must undergo safety testing by their Product Safety and Quality Compliance team. You can read more about safety here.

Connectagons are recommended for ages four and up. Linnea (almost 3) found them frustrating and difficult to manipulate, but Arielle (5) could build her trees quite easily. The Connectagons Collection is exclusive to Magic Cabin and HearthSong and includes several styles of Connectagons that can be used separately or combined.

Magic Cabin and HearthSong are participating in the Campaign to Reforest America. For every tree used for catalogs, two seedlings are planted, and when you make a purchase, they will send a seedling to your choice of three state reforestation program. So, playing trees helps trees.

Nature Bag

I am so excited to tell you about Nature Bag ($39.95 CAD/ ~$37.00 U.S.), an eco-friendly, treasure trove of outdoor activities designed to help children learn about nature.



Nature Bag is the creation of Silvie and Katharine, two Vancouver moms who between them have 4 children, 10 years of teaching experience, a Masters in Environmental Education and an International Business degree. They suggest you take Nature Bag whenever you venture outdoors. We keep it hanging on the front door knob.

The sturdy organic cotton, fair-trade bag contains a rubberwood magnifying glass (Linnea loved this!), soy-based crayons, a recycled pencil, a recycled notebook, an organic cotton blindfold, two leaf viewers, 8 color cards, hemp twine and a booklet containing activities appropriate for every season. All the paper products are made from 100% post-consumer waste, and the pencil used to be blue jeans!



Why am I so excited? As a scientist, I think that getting kids out in nature, observing and appreciating, is the best way to build an early interest in learning about the world we live in. That is what science is all about -- getting interested, making observations and trying to explain them. I think it is especially important now, because kids that care about nature will grow up to care about protecting it. The Nature Bag is awesome because everything is included - even the ideas. Parents who have no idea where to start can easily lead their kids on these early adventures.

With Nature Bag, kids can learn about nature without causing harm. The activities are appropriate for children between the ages of 3 and 12 and can be used in the city, or in the country, or anywhere in between. They can be used over and over and will change with the seasons and as the child gets older and can understand more.

We've had the summer of bad weather, so on one of our rare sunny days, we took the Nature Bag outside. Nature Bag can be used in many types of weather, but my camera doesn't do as well.

But first, Linnea checked out the magnifying glass.



When we got outside, we used the leaf viewer to look at maple leaves up close. Then we compared them with linden tree leaves and apple leaves. The shapes and sizes and even the greens are different, but so are the patterns of the veins.

Here's Arielle holding her leaf up to the light.



Linnea tries.



Then we blindfolded Arielle and took her to a tree. "Is it fat or thin? Rough or smooth? Are the leaves high or low? Can you find moss? How does it smell? Which tree do you think it is?"



"Hmmm.... maple tree?" Good guess, most of our trees are maple. "Which one?"



Then Linnea tried. We fooled her by visiting a tree that had fallen during a winter storm.





Arielle drew a maple leaf that she found on the ground.





The absolute favorite activity was the color cards. The girls gathered objects that remind them of summer and made a nature collage. This obviously will change with the seasons.



Our beautiful results!



And, there are so many more activities to try. Nature Bag is a nice addition to a family camping trip, a picnic, or to a home school curriculum. While it would also make a great gift for the kid that wants to be a scientist or explorer in the future, it might also be nice for the child that is a little reluctant about the outdoors.

Fairy houses

Have you read Fairy Houses by Tracy Kane ($15.95)? The beautifully illustrated book is about a girl named Kristen who vacations in Maine. Her parents show her a village of little houses that people have made for the fairies. Kristen makes her own house and every day she checks it for fairies. At the last minute, magic happens.

The end of the book has a section about making your own fairy houses using only natural materials. Today was a gorgeous day and Ari went outside to build her own fairy house.

She gathered up sticks and bark and other natural treasure,


and with Linnea's help, she carefully arroanged them under the tree.

A broken eggshell makes a perfect vase on a dandelion carpet.


And a tulip that the rain knocked over decorates the roof. Only dandelions were picked.


Flowers and leaves make nice, soft beds.


And here is the final product. Will a fairy move in?



There is also a video ($19.95). Are there fairies in your backyard?

Changing seasons at A Toy Garden

Hooray for fall!



The leaves have changed and the air is chilly. A Toy Garden has wonderful ideas to help celebrate fall and the coming of winter.

Who would have thought that a handful of acorn caps would be a great treasure? But, when I saw these Acorn Caps ($1.00), I remembered how much I miss oak trees. Our maples are breathtakingly gorgeous, but oak trees are fun. Even if you live somewhere without oak trees, your children shouldn't miss out of acorns.

I put some acorn caps and a magnifying glass on the table and let the girls find them. When the novelty wears off, we will use them in art projects.





"Whoa! What's that? Acorns! Cool. Check out the bumps! Lets be squirrels."
Here is Squirielle gathering her acorns for the winter.



For squirrel play, I suggest Wooden Acorns (5 for $3.50) as the real acorns are smaller and more delicate. Squirielle is using a Bolga Basket for her acorns ($15.95). This basket has been used in so many ways since the Easter Bunny brought it last spring.

You can continue the acorn theme with one of our favorite stories In a Nutshell ($7.95). It is a beautifully illustrated book that tells about the life of an oak tree and how it continues to grow and give life even after it has rotted.



And to go with the acorn theme, A Toy Garden has this most lovely handmade in the U.S.A. felted-wool Acorn Doll ($49.95). She is perfect for a nature table or even as a centerpiece for Thanksgiving dinner.



Although the doll is not really meant for play, Linnea felt she needed a hug.



Another cool, who-would-have-thought idea, Ladybugs in a Pot ($9.95). As soon as this arrived, it became a treasured item. I'm going to buy a few extra because they are so useful and they make great little gifts or stocking stuffers.



Linnea (well-supervised) carefully lines them up and then sorts "mommies" and "babies". Then the mommies and babies kiss. And when one is almost two, it's fun to carry around small things in pots. Look at how absorbed she is.





Arielle plays ladybug family and then does some ladybug math. If three ladybugs are home and two ladybugs come to visit.....



You could also roll some dice and have the ladybugs race along the kitchen tiles or play ladybugs invade the dollhouse.

Ladybugs have invaded our house. Last week, I was making lunch when I heard the happiest squeals coming from the playroom. It was a new friend.



A ladybug! Linnea got down on the floor to kiss it.

They appear every year when the weather gets cold. This year they are especially large,



and have even attacked Linnea. I wonder what the Farmer's Almanac has to say about this!



The Ladybug Hat ($12.95)is made in Poland. It makes a great addition to a dress-up box (Giant Ladybugs from space)or even a last minute Halloween costume.

The warm merino-wool undershirts ($19.95) are also from A Toy Garden. These are soft and warm and machine washable, but still delicate and girly enough for a fairy princess to wear. Even Arielle ,who isn't normally a big fan of wool, loved the shirt. Good thing, we had snow today! Winter will be her soon.

Until then, Happy Fall!