Waldorf Inspired Toys-Affordable?

[doulahoola]

I was wondering if anyone has any good resources, ideas about Waldorf inspired toys, they are so expensive! How can I get them cheaper? Are the dolls hard to make myself? At home, what do you guys have that you consider essential waldorf toys for your kids?

[sarasprings]

Good question. One thing we are doing is cutting up branches from trees we had cut down to make building blocks. We really want a doll for our son, but can't afford it right now.

[lauraess]

Have you looked at Magic cabin dolls ? The kits for dollls are there and I understand they are not difficult to make.
also check out www.waldorfmarket.com
What age grp do you have?-- i have some things weve outgrown and might be able to give you a deal.
Laura

[octobersweethearts]

There are some good Waldorf toy websites with prices lower than what you may be finding. You can usually find cheaper prices from small, family based businesses as opposed to the larger companies like Nova or Magic Cabin.

Part of the reason that Waldorf toys are more expensive, other than the fact that organic cotton and other natural materials are more expensive than plastic, is because the majority of them are imported from Europe. With the low value of the dollar and the shipping costs, it can get really expensive to carry "real" Waldorf toys.

The other thing to consider if you are interested in having a Waldorf-inspired environment is that you don't need a ton of toys. A few simple things can be played with in all different ways.
I'm not sure of the age of your child, but some basic Waldorf essentials would be:

• Playstands w/Canopies - can turned into a fort, store, ship, house, etc.
• Playsilks - these can be capes, robes, blankets, rivers, etc. You can also make them yourself. Buy the silk squares and dye them yourself.
• A Simple Doll - you can buy one or if you can sew, you can try to make one
• Wood Blocks - these are usually in different shapes (not plain square blocks) and can be used to build unique structures.

Hope this helps some!
Dana

[doulahoola]

Dana- thank you so much for all of your helpful info! My dd is three, but the list you gave sounds just right! I will use that to help my modification of dd's "junk toys." I will look into those links you gave as well. Thank you again! Andria

[justmama]

I've made my daughter 2 waldorf-style dolls using a great book I bought from Magic Cabin. The book is called, "Kinder Dolls" by Maricristin Sealey. All the patterns for the dolls and their clothing are in there. There's dollhouse dolls, button-jointed dolls, traditional limbed dolls, "pouch" style dolls, etc. I've made several(I'm a terrible terrible sewer and attempted the dolls as a first sewing project so if I can do it, ANYONE can!!!) different dolls for my daughter and in fact, these are the only ones she has. I couldn't afford the organic wool and cotton and such but shopped all the sale racks for fabric and used old clothing of hers that she has outgrown. I even stuffed two of her dolls with the stuffing from a pillow of ours that needed replacing. Anything I find around the house is fair game for doll-making. I use hair ribbons, old diapers, my clothing, her clothing, bits of lace from old costumes or clothing, etc. This book shows you how to do it all! I love mine. It was only $25 which is pretty cheap for over 100 pages of different patterns and instructions. Best of luck!
Meg

[justmama]

Ooooooh, I forgot but I do want to add in that while this isn't "waldorf" per se, it's helpful. Try TJMaxx or Target for things like wooden blocks, wooden puzzles, and sometimes other great wooden toys. My daughter has tons of wooden puzzles and a great set of wooden blocks from TJMaxx that has provided hours of imagination and fun for her. These stores are obviously WAY WAY WAY cheaper than places like Magic Cabin and Nova and Rosie Hippo's, though I do love them anyway! Try them because you can find some surprising finds there.
Meg

[Katie Bugs Mama]

TJ Maxx and Marshalls are the two best places to buy wooden toys IMO. It's hit or miss, but some of my "hits" have included a wooden pizza making set ($11 on clearance), a wooden food set with knife and cutting board ($15), wooden upper- and lower- case letter magnets ($5), and wooden lacing cards in various animal shaps ($8.)

I've also seen a wooden kitchen (a compact unit with sink, oven, and stove), a wooden foldable cooktop, a wooden microwave, really nice sets of scaled-down metal pots, pans, and cooking utensils, a wooden dollhouse with furniture and doll family ($99), wooden train sets with tracks, wooden a garage with wooden cars, and lots of wooden baby-doll furniture. They're also a great source for really nice, European-made puzzles, especially the big floor-sized ones.

Ikea is also a great source for kid-sized cooking implements, ironing boards, drying racks, etc. Ikea also has a nice selection of wooden toys for babies and little kids.

[lauren]

There's a little company called "melissa and doug" that makes very affordable wooden toys. TJ Maxx often carries them, but you could do an online search to find others that sell them as well. They have been sturdy and held up to years of play at our house (puzzles, block sets, stamp pad sets, etc.)

[Katie Bugs Mama]

Almost all of Kate's wooden toys are by Mellissa and Doug, if they aren't from Ikea. Another brand that I like is called Alex. That's the company that made the dollhouse, garage, and kitchens that I mentioned in my first post.

[doulahoola]

Milkies are for babies. I'm a baby. I NEEEEED my milkies!" -- Kate at 2.5 yo when I suggested she wait till naptime to nurse.

Katie Bug's Mama- I love that you put your dd's quote up, it is so awesome and so true! I mam still nursing my three year old and they def. know what they want and when! Thank you so much for all of the wonderful suggestions! I never even would of thought of TJ Mass, but will check it out soon!

[doulahoola]

Arrgh, sorry for all of the spelling errors, I am tired and typing in the dark!

[Katie Bugs Mama]

Originally posted by doulahoola
I mam still nursing my three year old and they def. know what they want and when!

T Ain't that the truth! Last weekend DH and DD spent Saturday night at his mom's house. It was the first time that 3 yo Kate was ever away from me overnight. She did really well and had a great time. Still, when she got home one of the very first things that she did was to start tugging at my shirt, saying "where are my milkies? I want my milk." :

[doulahoola]

I know, my dd has spent at least one to two nights a week with her dad on the weekends over the last year and she has done great, but the minute she walks in the door "I want booby!" and tugging up the shirt, etc...It is so funny! Blessings to you and your family!