2021 Toys and Recommendations
Are you ready for the holidays, or looking for some ideas? And here are some of the some of the pieces that were new to our family, or that the kids were particularly drawn to this year
Toys + Blocks
Bauspiel Giant Rainbow–How Does It Play?
At first glance, the Bauspiel Giant Rainbow looks familiar and perhaps similar to other sets, but on closer inspection, the size and proportions reveal that really it plays more like a remarkable set of blocks than the typical rainbow stacker.
Earth Day — How do you Teach your Kids?
Each year as earth day rolls around the kids and I talk about changes we can make to live more responsibly. Sometimes it means using less of things, sometimes using different things, sometimes it means looking for ways to use things longer, and other times it means making new choices next time you shop. Here are a few of our favorites.
Choosing a Wooden Rainbow Stacker – Part 2
Isn’t it funny–you may start out with a single Rainbow Stacker–but they just seem to multiply! Since first writing the first post about picking a rainbow stacker, a few more have joined our ranks!
Domino Rally: What Sets Should You Look For?
There’s nothing quite like a domino run–and one made with wood blocks comes with a particularly fine sound–but which blocks are best, and flexible in other builds?
Math Tools — Learning at Home
Virtual school has been really hard for everyone this year–teachers have it tough, parents are working double-time, and the kids are hanging in there, doing better than we ever could have asked of them–but it’s still tough. The younger and more hands-on the kid is, the harder it is to catch on to new information in this digital school world. We’ve been putting a lot of energy into making math more tactile.
Christmas Hits 2020
Do you find you’re normally able to predict which gifts will be the biggest hits, and which may take a while to catch on? Some years I feel like I’ve got it all planned–and the kids like the boxes best. This year, they were given boxes and baskets, some more classic toys, and some books. Can you guess the favorites?
Toy Storage
You now have all these beautiful, open-ended and loose-parts toys. But thats it exactly–they’re on the loose. How do you contain them while keeping them accessible? We keep ours visible and available for easy play access.
Adults Need to Play too
Socks, sweaters, books and picture frames are all very well when you’re planning gifts for adults, but wouldn’t you rather open a package and find a beautifully made toy? Imagine bringing that glee to your friends and parents! Open-ended toys are magic here–most of the toys children love are magic for adults too.
Grimm’s and Bauspiel Comparison: Color Mats and Building Tiles
Grimms and Bauspiel both make sets of thin flat wooden tile blocks. The Bauspiel set is their “Building Tiles” and, the Grimm’s is the “Color Mats”–both are beautiful sets and while similar in essence, this comparison shows how these two sets are different.