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
Shopping Guide
Where to Shop?
We could all use a little help shopping sometimes. Here are links to some of my favorite shops, brands, makers, and things. If I’ve missed something, please me know at buildingwithrainbows@gmail.com and I’ll try to help.
Shops and Makers
Brands
Ideas by Age
The lists below, targeted each at a specific age range, are picked for their longevity. Items typically can span 2-3+ of the age categories. I value picking a gift that lasts, so I’ve tried to curate suggestions thta do the same. Don’t hesitate to look at the previous ages for more ideas as you ponder. With a few exceptions, I’ve tried to suggest things beyond or that compliment the most common choices, but also things that will be good for any child, even one who may be unfamiliar with openended toys.
If you’re new to wooden or open ended toys and would like to know more about what to look for, this article can help. This page lists some shops with new customer discounts, and this page is good for help visually identifying brands.
Reader Favorites
Favorites from Readers! I’d love to include your top picks as well! Instructions are here to submit your Reader Favorites
Some of the links in this page are affiliate links. That means when you purchase through them, Building with Rainbows receives a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for your support.
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.
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.