05.16.2008
Knitted stripy zebra, from Groovy Mummy
These zebras are very eye-catching, and they have that home-made vibe about them, too. The chunky size and bright stripes should go down well with any child. Exclusive to Groovy Mummy in the UK, at £25, they'd make a super gift.
Posted by Myf
Category:
toys
Tags: knitted toys soft toys stuffed toys zebras
Email this
| Comments (0)
05.15.2008
The 'Sit and Walk' Puppy - more obedient than your real dog
Sometimes it feels like no-one's listening, doesn't it? Forget your child obeying you: even the dog doesn't come when it's called. That's the time to burrow through your child's toy box and reach for the Sit and Walk Puppy. A few minutes of gently tugging the string and asking this beauty to 'sit' and 'walk' - and seeing it respond - will do wonders for your self-esteem. And then you can wade back into the rigours of parenthood, refreshed.
Oh, and by the way, that same ability to sit, walk, and lie down, should keep your toddler enthralled too, which is, of course, what it was designed to do.
Posted by Myf
Category:
toys
Tags: dogs pull-along
Email this
| Comments (0)
05.14.2008
Corkels Animals and Vehicles
Check out these cool new wheely toys called Corkels. Clearly the design is clever. And since they are made out of wood chip cork, I think we can all dismiss any concerns about lead paint. I imagine they're quite soft as well, in comparison to most wooden and plastic toys. So if you're worried about one being hurled across the room into - oh, I don't know - the head of another toddler in your playgroup, these might be the toys for you.
It looks like Corkels are only available to retailers for now from Decor Craft Inc., though the DCI website does mention that a list of retailers will be available online soon.
Posted by Katie
Category:
toys
Tags: animals cork vehicles
Email this
| Comments (0)
05.13.2008
Cute and simple: wooden animal instruments
Our daughter is just recuperating from a bout of chickenpox, and with stay-at-home dad going stir-crazy after five days of quarantine, I popped into our local toyshop to see what I could take home to cheer them both up.
These wooden animal instruments caught my eye immediately. The bright colours, simple designs and appealing characters - plus the reasonable prices - made them an obvious choice. And when the spots started to itch, I noticed wryly that the name of the piece you see below is 'Scratchy Frog'.
Posted by Myf
Category:
toys
Tags: animals frogs instruments monkey music wooden
Email this
| Comments (2)
05. 6.2008
The Mustang Pedal Plane takes ride-ons to a new level
Are you comfortably off? Do you like historic planes? If the answer to both these questions is 'yes' then this may be the product for you. And your child.
I put the child as an afterthought because, let's face it, a kid will pretty much enjoy any old ride-on, without knowing that it's historically accurate. And if you want to spend up to £1,500 (approx US$ 3,000) on a kid's toy, fine. Just don't blame me when the inevitable scrapes to the paintwork occur.
From Ptolemy Toys.
Posted by Myf
Category:
toys
Tags: aeroplanes pricey ride-on
Email this
| Comments (0)
05. 5.2008
Cardboard Buildings by Our Children's Gorilla
These fully recyclable cardboard buildings by Our Children's Gorilla are really something else. A close look at each will reveal some nifty details, like the F.D.N.Y. emblem on the firehouse and the phone number of M&R Cleaners (also expert tailors, apparently) on the brownstone building.
Founded in 2003 in Stockholm, Our Children's Gorilla works with in-house and freelance designers to make environmentally friendly toys for children that "always encourage the use of imagination and creativity" but with a tongue-in-cheek attitude. They use quality materials to ensure that you are getting a piece that will last for the long haul. As the firehouse and brownstone are made of cardboard, however, they might not make it past my son and a few loose sippy cups. Maybe when he's older.
Available online for $61 a pop (and that includes shipping).
Posted by Katie
Category:
toys
Tags: building cardboard doll houses
Email this
| Comments (2)
05. 5.2008
Canvas Water Bucket
Now that Spring has sprung here in NYC, my son and I are finding ourselves in the park a whole lot more. Of course, it's not just us going to Central Park. It's our blanket, the sand toys, a ball and an array of other "necessities". Which is why I'm kind of loving this canvas water bucket. Almost a foot in diameter and just over one foot tall, this canvas water bucket makes a great catch all for all of this loot (wet or dry), whether you hang it over a stroller handle or place it near the door as a toy depository. Of course, you could also use it for (yup) water, say at the beach this summer. It collapses into a flat little pancake and is thus beach bag friendly.
Available at Design Within Reach, but you can also find it in different colors and sizes (and probably cheaper) at various camping and army/navy type stores. Via Swissmiss.
Posted by Katie
Category:
bath/health
| gear
| toys
Tags: buckets canvas storage
Email this
| Comments (0)
05. 2.2008
Schylling Multicolored Modern Tea Set
It's that time of year again - time for a quiet and refined garden tea party with the kids. Well, maybe not so quiet, and maybe not with hot tea, but at least refined. While I'm not the biggest fan of the pastel colors, I really like the sleek shape of the tea pot and cup handles.This 13-piece set from Schylling puts a modern spin on the typical kid's tea set, as if to say "Pinkies in the air, not required." Though who are we kidding? Putting your pinkies in the air is half the fun.
Posted by Katie
Category:
mealtime
| toys
Tags: parties tea set
Email this
| Comments (0)
05. 1.2008
Olizoid Puzzles by Oliblock
When architect Daniel Oakley wanted to "create a toy that would encourage children to think about building things in a new way" he started Oliblock. His first brain child was, not surprisingly, the Oli Blocks, made of interlocking and magnetic parts. It looks like the Olizoid Puzzle is quite similar but with the challenging twist of fitting it all together. If your tot is looking to get a little more creative with their time, these and other Oliblock products certainly won't disappoint.
Available at Tottini.
Posted by Katie
Category:
toys
Tags: blocks puzzle
Email this
| Comments (1)
04.29.2008
Egyptian hippo
When you want a gift with a difference, it always pays to scour the major museums' shops. The British Museum in London is the source for this Ancient Egyptian Hippo.
While displaying some of the qualities we look for in more mainstream toys - exquisite colour, attractive form, a tactile feel - it also has the added benefit of being officially educational. Bestow this on your favourite youngster, and you could be opening the door to a lifelong interest in history. Or hippos.
Posted by Myf
Category:
toys
Tags: educational hippos soft toys
Email this
| Comments (0)
