Natural toys that are not expensive?

[lissadell]

I would like my 10 month old to play with more natural and safer toys as opposed to plastic ones. What are some suggestions for toys that aren't too expensive that I could get for her or make. I've got wooden blocks and material that she plays with, but what about manipulatives for her hands. She's already started imatative play. She's been putting things up to her ear and talking really loudly and she's been putting my purse on over and over!!!
Anyway, please let me know what you have used. Thanks for any suggestions. P.S I've just discovered Waldorf and am in the process of TRYING to make her a doll!

[melamama]

Some easy things to add to what you've mentioned--wooden bowls, wooden spoons, tin cups, tin plates, bakeware--these are things that are not necessarily "children's toys" so you can get them in natural materials reasonably cheaply.
Imitative play is great because you have most of what they want. Cooking, baking, folding, washing are all great things that they want to be part of.

You mentioned fabric, I have to add that a great deal is the silk hankerchiefs (11"square) at Dharma trading for $6something. I ordered a few last time I was ordering larger ones for dyeing and we love them as much as the big squares.

I'm not sure what kind of manipulatives you might want, but I'm thinking maybe some big wooden beads secured on a dowel or beads knotted on thick yarn, or one of those larger wooden bead on wire twisty kind of things.

a pretty good website is http://threesisterstoys.com/
they have some nice articles and suggestions for different toys at different ages.

Less is more.

[lissadell]

Thanks so much Melamama!! These are some great ideas! I love the big beads!! She really loves hold things and turning them around and investigating!! I think she'll get a kick out of that.
I wish there was some kind of a book for natural moms so we could have ideas for each step of the way. All the plastic toys all have ages so theres a somewhat idea for what the children will be playing with next. None of the mom's my daughter plays with are into natural toys so I don't have any reference point. They have these mass quantilites of plastic toys which the children get overwhelmed with!!
Anyway, I'm rambling, thanks for your suggestions!

[E.V. Lowi]

I am always puzzled by these kinds of requests for "cheap" natural toys. IMO, like anything else-you get what you pay for, but you don't always know what that really is! When a person becomes aware of the process- the time and energy that goes into making a wool doll or wood toy, you are much more able to appreciate what a bargin these items truly are.
First of all, plastic toys from Walmart and other multinational toy corporations have an enormous the impact on the environment and the societies that must live with the pollution, slave wages and working conditions and the conflict over the sources of fossil fuels necessary to make these kind of toys. On the other hand, the impact of providing the natural material used WHAM made and small cottage business for the most part, is very small in comparison to the process it takes to get your average plastic slave made toy to the market. The full price and hidden cost of plastic goods and this kind of multinational marketing and manufacturing or the global economics of fossil fuel is just not taken into consideration by the uninformed, when shopping for these kinds of goods. Nor is the cost benefit to our own society taken into account, when you buy a toy made by a WHAM who is then able to stay home and care for her children, which adds a great deal of hidden value.
As far as the extra developmental, educational and sheer entertainment or play value that natural toys have to offer, my own experience with my kids was the proof and all I needed to be convinced; that especially when it comes to toy products, natural materials, even if not homemade or WHAM made, are the way to go. The care and consideration that my children show for themselves and the environment is directly linked to the natural toys that they enjoyed as young children.

You might be interested to read further on the importance of natural and simple toys over plastics and electronics, for young children and the impact that they have on early childhood development. Rudolf Steiner has some very important observations on the topic. The books "Children at Play" and "You Are Your Child's First Teacher" offer some wonderful insights. (I'm sorry but I can't remember the names of the authors of these two fine books. Can someone help me out?)

[lissadell]

Yes, I totally agree with you and I really should not have used that title. Just coming back from the cloth store and having spent over 20 dollars on odds and ends, I realise that I worded that incorrectly. Actually, it did not fit the context!! Anyway, looking online at the Waldorf dolls and seeing the prices, and then finding out how much time it takes to make one, and make one that is well made, I commend them! Sorry for the bad wording. Just trying to find good toys for my little one!

[E.V. Lowi]

Check out E-Bay for some bargains. There is a dedicated group of toy makers that put up auctions on natural WAHP made goods, and bargains on gently used, as well. Both wood and fiber. There are also bargains on toys from large companies such as Kathe Kruse, but these are sweat shop made where the workers live in dormatories, away from family. Even Haba and Melissa and Doug have moved their production overseas to China and other offshore sites where cheap child and slave labor is plentiful and easy to get.

[lissadell]

Where do you get the info. about the child labor and sweat shops?

[lissadell]

Melamama,
I went on the three sisters website and found some great things. I especially liked their parenting resource center. Some good articles! Thanks

[lissadell]

Its so hard in this society to get over the fact of "less is more!" I mean, these days people are even more consumed with buying. I grew up in Europe and as a child my parents would never ever "not" fixed something because to buy it would be cheape.They still have the couch that they bought in 1970. Its been re-applostered a bunch of times! These days people just throw away a toaster because they can go to the store and buy one for $9.99. Its really crazy how much stuff people think they need in order to live "a happy life." I guess then this trickles down into buying kids loads of toys!! This way the parents feel better because their children have lots of stuff as well!! And they think that their children will become smarter because of the quantity of toys! Ahhh, its so scary!

[E.V. Lowi]

Originally Posted by lissadell

Where do you get the info. about the child labor and sweat shops?

I am not sure where the general public could get information on th working conditions in the places where goods are made. Big Companies like to keep consumers in the dark about the truth of the matter. I have been a toy designer for 30 years and I have an insider's view into the toy industry but I wish I knew of a watchdog group that I could refer you to. Most companies start out small, Like "Melissa and Doug" did, in their garage with a wholesome vision, but success and greed takes over and the original motivation is lost to the profit motive and the bottom line. There is an intersting book called 'Toy Wars' that came out about ten years back. It documented the downward spiral of the toy industry into the mess that it is today. Believe it or not, Hasbro, Inc. used to care about children, refused to make toy guns and didn't always have the bottom line as the first consideration. The book documents exactly when this all changed and I am old enough to remember the events that precipitated it, myself. Cartoons and other media programing for children wasn't always hard core porn as advertising for product like it is, today. Children need protection from an out of control, toxic industry.

[lissadell]

Cartoons and other media programing for children wasn't always hard core porn as advertising for product like it is, today. Children need protection from an out of control, toxic industry.[/QUOTE]

Your right about that!!

I would love to find out more about the companies, especially the multinational corps. Let me know if you come across anything! Best.

[melamama]

Originally Posted by lissadell

Where do you get the info. about the child labor and sweat shops?

You might want to look over on the Activism board. I have see threads on this.

One thing I wanted to add about the wooden toys is that some of the best wooden toys are ones we either picked up locally from fairs or by wahm/d who have small family run businesses. When you blindly go for wooden toys, often these are like Melissa and Doug who not only have questionable business practices, but are also of not great quality.

One of the books that E.V. mentions You Are Your Childs First Teacher is by Rahima Baldwin who also has a website: http://www.waldorfinthehome.org/

As far as knowing what ages toys are good for, pick up a copy (even at your library maybe) of Toymaking with Children by Freya Jaffke. It is a wonderful book in general because it has instructions for making lovely toys but she also has chapters on why Play is important and what toys are good for birth to 3, 3-5, and 5-7.

Nearly always you get what you pay for with good quality children's toys. Your babe is so young, you can choose now to only bring great things into the home, and they will last through many children.

[rainbowmoon]

Originally Posted by E.V. Lowi

Check out E-Bay for some bargains. There is a dedicated group of toy makers that put up auctions on natural WAHP made goods, and bargains on gently used, as well. Both wood and fiber. There are also bargains on toys from large companies such as Kathe Kruse, but these are sweat shop made where the workers live in dormatories, away from family. Even Haba and Melissa and Doug have moved their production overseas to China and other offshore sites where cheap child and slave labor is plentiful and easy to get.

I thought Plan toys (who I think owns Haba) advertised as not using child labor? : I had no idea about Kathe Kruse stuff being made in sweatshops either!

[Grania]

My son is now 5, but when he was about a year old, his favorite toys were the simple wooden puzzles with a peg in each piece, sorting blocks, and a sewing block ( I found undoing this last one kind of time consuming, but he loved it). Peg boards and wooden cars are good too. There is usually at least one maker of wooden toys at every arts and craft show. By buying the toys straight from the craftsperson, you know where the toy came from and that you are supporting local people.

Resale shops will sometimes have good toys but it takes a lot of looking (the sewing block was used).

If you have time and tools, most public libraries will have a section with how to make wooden toys and soft sewn toys.

[jillybeans]

to add to a previously stated playsilk comment:

dharmatrading.com and thaisilks.com have cheap habatoi china silk scarves that you can dye w/ koolaid! My dd is 10 months also, and loves hers! The 35" scarves are like 3 bucks, and there is a thread here on mdc on how to dye them. Another thing we have done is sanding down chunks of log and coating w/ beeswax to make cheap blocks. Felt boards are great for when she gets older. good luck!

[E.V. Lowi]

I love silk scarves for playtime, but I have a concern with them. Anything given to an unsupevised young child can become a hazard! In the case of scarves, they can be a problem as a hanging hazard,because of the length- 9" long MAX is the guideline for toy testing agencies. never leave an infant alone with a toy or put them in a crib (for those of you that use one).

[isaberg]

I like cheap! Rant rant rant....

I'm all for cheap toys! What's wrong with cheap? Cheap is good! As if you hate your child or are a bad person if you don't want to spend $25 dollars for each little Waldorf wooden knicknack that's going to get shoved under the couch anyway. _Cheap_ is not the problem. It's labor practices and environmental practices that go along with _some_ inexpensive things that are the problem. But I'm all for cheap. Little kids do not care about what anything cost. Cheap cheap cheap. Don't let people tell you you have to spend large quantities of money simply to be a good person. It's such a bizarre permutation of the consumerist ideal: "I must find my own value in spending and consuming. To be a really moral, I have to consume and spend more! Because I'm spending so much more on nice things, I am clearly more moral than others!"

That said, to jump off the bandwagon, you're going to have to make a lot yourself. But don't worry, it's pretty easy. :-)

-Boxes. Someone said this already. So much fun for so many things. Rattles made of boxes. Houses made of boxes. Toy kitchens made of boxes. Firetrucks made of boxes. Trains made of...

Ooof. Fingers getting tired.

-This was suggested already too, but Toymaking with Children is a fabulous resource. It's easy-to-make, simple, friendly, and cheap cheap cheap. We have so much fun with this book.

-Tightwad Gazette books. Many libraries have these. Fun ideas for playthings, costumes, etc. interspersed with advice on how to be (isaberg's favorite word here) cheap cheap cheap.

-There are tons of books from pre-1980 or so that have fun things to make & do with and for kids that involve household & recycled things. Exercise a little caution - I once found plans for making dollhouse furniture out of lead flashing from a 1920's book! (Hmmm...) But this seems to be a genre that has disappeared entirely - every new book seems to expect you to go out and buy buy buy, even craft books. I guess that's the root of that rant I ranted - mothers made do for so many years with what they had; why should someone who wants her child to have natural things be expected to go out and buy it all new and expensive, sweat-shop or not?

[E.V. Lowi]

Originally Posted by isaberg

I'm all for cheap toys! What's wrong with cheap? Cheap is good! As if you hate your child or are a bad person if you don't want to spend $25 dollars for each little Waldorf wooden knicknack that's going to get shoved under the couch anyway. _Cheap_ is not the problem. It's labor practices and environmental practices that go along with _some_ inexpensive things that are the problem. But I'm all for cheap. Little kids do not care about what anything cost. Cheap cheap cheap. Don't let people tell you you have to spend large quantities of money simply to be a good person. It's such a bizarre permutation of the consumerist ideal: "I must find my own value in spending and consuming. To be a really moral, I have to consume and spend more! Because I'm spending so much more on nice things, I am clearly more moral than others!"

That said, to jump off the bandwagon, you're going to have to make a lot yourself. But don't worry, it's pretty easy. :-)

-Boxes. Someone said this already. So much fun for so many things. Rattles made of boxes. Houses made of boxes. Toy kitchens made of boxes. Firetrucks made of boxes. Trains made of...

Ooof. Fingers getting tired.

-This was suggested already too, but Toymaking with Children is a fabulous resource. It's easy-to-make, simple, friendly, and cheap cheap cheap. We have so much fun with this book.

-Tightwad Gazette books. Many libraries have these. Fun ideas for playthings, costumes, etc. interspersed with advice on how to be (isaberg's favorite word here) cheap cheap cheap.

-There are tons of books from pre-1980 or so that have fun things to make & do with and for kids that involve household & recycled things. Exercise a little caution - I once found plans for making dollhouse furniture out of lead flashing from a 1920's book! (Hmmm...) But this seems to be a genre that has disappeared entirely - every new book seems to expect you to go out and buy buy buy, even craft books. I guess that's the root of that rant I ranted - mothers made do for so many years with what they had; why should someone who wants her child to have natural things be expected to go out and buy it all new and expensive, sweat-shop or not?

You are preaching to the choir, here, about making things for your kids, yourself. I am just adding my 2cents about what cheap really means when it comes to the real cost of product.

[kimberlychapman]

Originally Posted by isaberg

As if you hate your child or are a bad person if you don't want to spend $25 dollars for each little Waldorf wooden knicknack that's going to get shoved under the couch anyway. _Cheap_ is not the problem. It's labor practices and environmental practices that go along with _some_ inexpensive things that are the problem.

YEAH!

I'm all for getting nice toys and spending money on good quality stuff that supports healthy economic practises like fair trade and organic and all of that, but just because something is expensive doesn't mean it's good or healthy or sensible.

I'm happy to go on an anti-Walmart rant in terms of what going for price alone does to workers and the economy, but asking for inexpensive natural toys is a totally fair question that didn't need to be jumped on. The truth is, as posts here have shown, there are plenty of inexpensive non-plastic toys.

It drives me bonkers when someone asks a question and gets a tangential lecture. I have my philosophies, but you don't see me flooding the dishcloth knitting thread with my anti-Walmart rhetoric just because people keep talking about buying cotton yarn there. It's not appropriate in terms of answering the question. That kind of response is what keeps me and I'm sure others from asking honest questions in the first place.

As for further answer to the actual question, I've recently seen some interesting-looking wooden toys show up in Target (ie a giant pack of blocks for about 10 bucks). I have no idea about their quality or whether or not the wood/paint/etc. is non-toxic (some wooden toys are painted with chemicals not suitable to be chewed on by babies), but they were very well priced. You might want to look at those and research to see if they're suitable for your needs.

Also, a super-good source of nice wooden toys is IKEA. The selection isn't huge, but they have trains and tracks, stackers, bead runners, etc. You can get very nice, all-natural, healthy versions of expensive toys for much less money, usually because the cost is saved in less packaging (which is also good in and of itself) and the possibility of assembly required. For instance, we bought our daughter the bead chase toy from IKEA and it was about US$7 in 2005. It's not quite as intricate as some other huge ones, but we've seen equivalents from other manufacturers for over $30. I had to put it together, but that took all of 15 minutes and I got to select the bead order, which made it fun for me.

Oh, we also got her a little real china tea set and a real metal kiddie pots and pans set for when she's older, each less than $10.

So if you live near an IKEA, go check it out!

And another idea...try Costco for random but great deals on toys, especially at this time of year. Our local one has giant barrels of wooden TinkerToys for dirt cheap. We got one last year and put it away for when it's age-appropriate.

Hope this helps.

[E.V. Lowi]

Originally Posted by kimberlychapman

YEAH!

I'm happy to go on an anti-Walmart rant in terms of what going for price alone does to workers and the economy, but asking for inexpensive natural toys is a totally fair question that didn't need to be jumped on. The truth is, as posts here have shown, there are plenty of inexpensive non-plastic toys.

It drives me bonkers when someone asks a question and gets a tangential lecture. I have my philosophies, but you don't see me flooding the dishcloth knitting thread with my anti-Walmart rhetoric just because people keep talking about buying cotton yarn there. It's not appropriate in terms of answering the question. That kind of response is what keeps me and I'm sure others from asking honest questions in the first place.

As for further answer to the actual question, I've recently seen some interesting-looking wooden toys show up in Target (ie a giant pack of blocks for about 10 bucks). I have no idea about their quality or whether or not the wood/paint/etc. is non-toxic (some wooden toys are painted with chemicals not suitable to be chewed on by babies), but they were very well priced. You might want to look at those and research to see if they're suitable for your needs.

Also, a super-good source of nice wooden toys is IKEA. The selection isn't huge, but they have trains and tracks, stackers, bead runners, etc. You can get very nice, all-natural, healthy versions of expensive toys for much less money, usually because the cost is saved in less packaging (which is also good in and of itself) and the possibility of assembly required. For instance, we bought our daughter the bead chase toy from IKEA and it was about US$7 in 2005. It's not quite as intricate as some other huge ones, but we've seen equivalents from other manufacturers for over $30. I had to put it together, but that took all of 15 minutes and I got to select the bead order, which made it fun for me.

Oh, we also got her a little real china tea set and a real metal kiddie pots and pans set for when she's older, each less than $10.

So if you live near an IKEA, go check it out!

And another idea...try Costco for random but great deals on toys, especially at this time of year. Our local one has giant barrels of wooden TinkerToys for dirt cheap. We got one last year and put it away for when it's age-appropriate.

Hope this helps.

Check out where Tinker Toys are made! I don't consider my post a rant or a lecture. I am just providing the information that I have, if anyone is interested. No one is pushing you to spend money. I think lots of mamas want to know when their dollars go when they buy something, especially for their children. Some people don't want their purchases going into a land fill, shortly after. The way you spend (or not) is a type of voting system that is even more important now that your other vote isn't counted. My best advice for anyone who wants it, if you don't--don't take it and feel free not to read my posts. Use the ignore function, if you wish.

My best advice to anyone that is considering natural toys for their children--Make your own. Don't buy anything.

I thought that was what this toy board on the ARTS AND CRAFTS forum was all about. Walmart is not the only company thet has poor labor practices