toy questions

[MommytoTwo]

I am clearing things out - my children have a lot of stuff- and most of it is crap IMO. I really want to redo their play space and toys with all open-ended things... I find that the few things like that that we do have (play silks, etc) they play with ALL the time...so my questions are:

Where did you order your play stands from? I have seen a few but are they all pretty much the same? What do your kids do with them/do they get bored of them? I am always afraid of buying really big stuff that they will get tired of.

Is there a good site or anything I can look at to get ideas for more open ended toys? I dont really know where to start...


TIA

[autumnbloom]

we dont have a play stand so i'm not sure i can be much help there... but how about doing a search on here for waldorf toys or doing a google search for waldorf toys. that will give you a lot of really great ideas for open ended toys.

[autumnbloom]

http://www.playstoretoys.com/about-t...store-i-5.html

http://www.threesisterstoys.com/

http://www.islandtreasuretoys.com/

http://www.waldorf-toys.com/

http://www.willowtreetoys.com/

http://www.bellalunatoys.com/

http://earthchildonline.com/

and here's another whole directory of great toy shoppes
http://www.eartheasy.com/give_edutoys_games.htm

[Miss Information]

I would also check out the thread of make at home toys too.

www.novanatural.com
www.gummylump.com (has all kinds of toys, from M&D, Haba, Voila, and others).
www.oompa.com
www.magiccabin.com

are also other good websites too. Some of the stuff is pricey, but, someone had the great idea of sending catalogs to the grandparents, so that they might be inclined to order something from the catalog for the kids, rather than just buy plastic.

[rabbithorns]

My husband made one for my daughter for $35 worth of pine and a wooden dowel. She used it for years and she doesn't stick to anything (sanguine temperament).

She did puppet shows, played house, hung homemade doll swings on it, lots of things.

We did order one once but we moved from that state and gave it away. When we wanted to have another, we just couldn't imagine spending $100 on something made of 3 pieces of wood.

[MommytoTwo]

Cool - thanks everyone! I am still debating onthe playstands but I did order a few items for CHristmas presents for my kiddos.