[rainbowfairymomma]

Hi <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/wave.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="wave">s<br>
My son will be 2 next month and im slowly getting rid of most of his 'plastic' toys. I'm getting up the courage to tell people that we perfer natural/wood toys could anyone recommend a website or store where we could perchase them? I know most family will be annoyed but i don't care <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"> but i would like to head them in a direction to find these things. Why is it so hard to find great toys?!<br>
I am also getting rid of alot of books, we read alot of Dr Seuse what are some of your favorite books?<br>
Thanks for you time! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">

 

[octobersweethearts]

Hi, I think it is a good idea to give your family a catalog or website to go to. Sometimes they need to SEE the toys to start to "get it".<br><br>
I know that has been the case for me...my dad had all sorts of plastic toys with music and flashing lights at his house..I had to direct him to some articles to learn why I didn't want that stuff.<br><br>
Anyway, there are lots of good sites out there <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/hide.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="hide">:<br><br>
For books, The Story of the Root Children is very popular. I know a lot of "natural" mamas like books by Elsa Beskow.<br><br>
Good Luck!

 

[rainbowfairymomma]

i know what you mean about 'seeing' the things, articles would be awesome to! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"><br>
Im looking at your site now (is it your site in your sig?) looks really neat, exactly what im looking for! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"><br>
Thanx again

 

[pilesoflaundry]

We are doing the same thing, after giving away or yard saling way too many talking character toys and beeping crap I need to tell the family and we ourselves are cutting way back on buying stuff like that.<br><br>
As for good recommendations we were in World Market the other day and saw 2 really cute 'cut up' the food play sets where it's wooden food and a wooden knife and you use the knife to cut the velcro apart and the kids have been having a lot of fun with the fruit set, I now wish I also bought the veggie set since the store is an hour away and it will be awhile before we get back there. It wasn't that expensive either I think it was $12.99 which is pretty good for a wooden toy set. They had other wooden toys like blocks and small cars if you family is near a store like that.<br><br>
If they are more mainstream type people some toys r us stores have an 'imaginarium' section with wooden puzzles and toys for them too look at and maybe you can get them to buy some of those.<br><br>
Also wooden toys typed into google will give you a ton of choices!

 

[mosky22]

This is one of my favorites. They carry a lot of European wooden toys and puzzles. Not too expensive either. <a href="http://www.playstore.com/" target="_blank">http://www.playstore.com/</a>

 

[Free Thinker]

I have a small house, so I'm planning to just tell them the things we need, so that we won't have so much stuff sitting around. I'm also getting rid of stuff as soon as this baby is born, or maybe even some at a yardsale next month.

 

[friskeymama]

Sign them all up to get a Magic Cabin catalog! (I did! hehe!)<br><br><a href="http://www.magiccabin.com" target="_blank">www.magiccabin.com</a><br><br>
I have found TONS of nice wooden toys on Ebay. Under the toys section on Ebay look for the Preschool and then the wooden/handcrafted toys.<br><br>
My son who is 2.5 just got a very nice set of wooden unit blocks from Community Playthings. I searched long and hard before I bought and these are the best. They feel just like velvet. They were expensive but my grandkids will be playing with them!<br><br>
Some of my favorite items are usually referenced under Montessori materials as well.<br><br>
Good luck!

 

[redhookmom]

I really like the Melissa and Doug toys. I know you can find their stuff at Marshall's and maybe even Toys R Us.

 

[redhookmom]

Go to chinaberry.com and sign yourself and anyone who buys stuff for your ds up for a catalog. GREAT selection of children's books.

 

[kerc]

yeah my family doesn't quite get why I don't dig noisy toys...I've found it helpful to lie a bit and say "we were at the doctor's office the other day and they had these great toys that erin LOVED." and then go on to describe whatever it is that we think she needs.<br><br>
on my list right now<br>
kitchen stuff<br>
brio train starter set<br>
blocks<br>
puppets<br><br>
it is helpful if your child has one thing they are into that doesn't bug you -- erin's into animals right now. Her first 75 words were probably associated with them (noises, names, etc.). So I tell people what erin's really into.<br><br>
Lastly I think it depends upon yourself and your family, but sometimes I think people give off bad vibes (ungrateful vibes that is) when they are doing the asking. We play a little dumb -- ask for stuff she's played with at the doctors, talk about what kinds of books she'd like, and then finally say things like "darn it i can never remember to buy batteries". My family would not take it well if I said I don't want x, y, z.<br><br>
Oh one more idea. Say someone gets you something that you both enjoy -- last year for her bday erin got a wooden puzzle (of animals <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/eyesroll.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="roll"> ). We took pics and video of her playing with it several times and mailed them back home. They brought comments like "wow, she really looks like she's having a good time playing with that" and "gee i didn't think that __(insert item)___ could keep her busy for so long". They don't need to know that my kid can play with a toilet paper tube for about 2 hours <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/love.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="love">