droolicious : wood toys

Introducing the Eco Town by Plan Toys

elizabeth leach — Tue, 19 May 2009 17:00:00 GMT

Eco Town by Plan Toys includes an eco home, eco train station, eco charging station for electric cars, eco street accessories and a play mat. Plan your city any way you want as long as it's eco! With solar panel roofs and electric cars, this eco town is made from solid wood and is completely non-toxic.

Eco Town by Plan Toys is available at Oompa for $149.99.

Get a Block Set with Just the Letters You Really Need

SunnyChanel — Sat, 16 May 2009 20:00:00 GMT

You can get plan old ordinary block, the whole alphabet or you can get a custom personalized set with just the letters you really need from the Hudson Block Company. These blocks are made of hardwood maple that has been sanded smooth with rounded edge. Each block has been branded using traditional old school methods. You can get a set of six letters here for $24 (and other amounts of blocks are available as well). And each set comes in it's own cotton drawstring bag.

Total Up Groceries With A Wooden Cash Register

Lisa Estall — Mon, 04 May 2009 22:11:00 GMT

This modern Wooden Cash Register is way different from the one I had as a child. The calculator really works, there’s a handheld scanner and the drawer pops open when the cash button is pressed.

This if for children ages 3 and up and is priced around $28.

Is it too plain to play with though? Find it at Ethical Babe.

Little Kings And Queens Will Enjoy This Castle

Lisa Estall — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 14:41:00 GMT

I know my son would love this! This Gwen's Castle would fire up his imagination with all the little doorways and windows. It's even big enough for a small child to sit in. There's a working drawbridge and 6 castle walls. Click to see what it looks like put together...

The descriptions says it's made of northern white pine and birch wood with a linseed oil finish.The cost for this will set you back $215.

Wooden Cow With Chime

Lisa Estall — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 14:30:00 GMT

I just adore this Mini Pull Along Cow. This brightly painted and polished wooden toy has textured ears for baby to feel and a little bell inside which activates...

when the cow is in motion.

It's made in Italy and sold at mysweetmuffin.com for under $20. Recommended for children aged one and up.

Rattle On Baby!

Lisa Estall — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 13:41:00 GMT

What I like about this wooden rattle is that it is looks different and is safe for babies to chew on.

Called Selecta Grasping Toy Tulpino, this rattle is made out of beech wood and polished with beeswax. It is also painted with non-toxic water-based paints.

The price is $14.95 which is high for a rattle but it is described as being made of high quality wood. Selecta toys are made in Germany.

Sold at Child Trek.

Peace Baby Blocks

Lisa Estall — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:27:00 GMT

I love the colors of these Peace Baby Blocks. Designed by Deb Pilutti, the 9 wooden blocks are painted with pale shades of pink, blue, green and cocoa.
Being eco-friendly, they are made of light maple wood which were cut right from the forests in Michigan!

Babies will be captivated by the designs of 9 baby faces, letters, dots, and stripes. Continue on reading to find out which celebs have them.

As part of the official Kid's Choice Awards swag bag, these blocks were given to Ben Stiller, Will Smith, Johnny Depp, and Chris Rock.

They are non-toxic too so safe for babies. So send the message of love and peace and get these blocks at Oliebollen. Price is $28.

Dessert Anyone? Cook Up Goodies With This Pastel Baking Set

Lisa Estall — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 18:56:00 GMT

Look out Mrs. Fields! This Pastel Baking Set is for little pastry chefs who want to serve up pretend chocolate chip cookies. The mixers lift in and out of the bowl and the rolling pin really rolls! Wooden cooking pan, cookies...

and measuring spoon also included. Created by Kidcraft, this 8-piece set is recommended for kids ages 3-8.

Price is $29.98 and sold at allchildrensfurniture.com.

I Just Called to Say “Ribbit”

Heather Kuldell — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 19:35:00 GMT

Kids dig adult accoutrements, hence the wide variety of faux cell phones, car keys and laptops available at toy stores. While I’m not adverse to tech toys, I find sweet, innocent versions refreshing, such as this Vilac Baby Frog Cell Phone. Made of hardwood with a nontoxic finish, the phone is basically a rattle with a bell in the earpiece and an antenna. Despite its simple appearance, it still supports calls or texts to moms, dads or anyone else on the imaginary network.

Available at Apricot & Ivy for $12.95, for ages 1 and up.

Etsy Alert: Retro Bricks Get a Wood Makeover

SunnyChanel — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 17:30:00 GMT

You know those cardboard building bricks we played with when we were kids that are still around today? Well, Etsy seller Suddenly It’s Real has taken these lightweight classics and made them out of solid wood. These retro recreations are 1.5” x 3.5” x 1.75” so they fit in the palm of your hand. They’re petite, hard and handsome.

Each brick is sold separately with a choice of red, purple, blue, orange and lime. $5 each here.

Play Cops and Robbers for a Steal – 50% Off

SunnyChanel — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:30:00 GMT

Who wants to go to jail? With this set, pert near everyone will. You can get a steal on this old school Police Station from Pottery Barn Kids is a solid wood structure that has it’s own jail cell, windows, a working front door, and some quaint painted details.

But will your kid be a cop or a robber (which are sold separately)? This 22 x 11 x 18 play set was originally $99 but it now on sale for half off at $49.99. Check out the police station here, don't worry there won't be mug shots or fingerprinting.

Pop Art Kitchen

elizabeth leach — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 16:00:00 GMT

This play oven by Nathan is very pop art looking. I love the bright orange color and the circles on the burners. It's almost like a child drew it with a bright orange crayon. The play oven is part of Nathan's modular kitchen set. There is also a fuchsia kitchen sink, green storage unit, and bright blue washing machine.

The Vitamin Play Kitchen isn't cheap (The oven is $275.99 and the others are around the same price.) but the quality is superb and your child will play with it for a long, long time. It's made from wood and lacquered to a nice glossy finish. Find the Vitamin Kitchen by Nathan at Oompa.

Unit Blocks with Zip

elizabeth leach — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 14:35:00 GMT

Did you know the first unit blocks were designed in 1837 for the first Kindergarten? Now, you can buy unit blocks everywhere and most are, to tell the truth, a little blah. Melissa and Doug's unit blocks are brightly colored, come in their own pull along wagon, and have a little more zip than the others I've seen on the market.

Buy these solid wood blocks at Modern Tots for $14.99. (36 in total)

Five Plastics-Free, Panda-Friendly Accessories for the Wooden Play Kitchen

Meredith Broussard — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 19:00:00 GMT

I was playing with a super-duper environmentally friendly wooden play kitchen the other day (okay, my kid was there too), and the accessories were extremely... wooden. I decided to look for some stylish accessories to jazz up my friend's organic playspace. First stop: Bambu Home, maker of organic/compostable/brightly colored kids' products made from bamboo, the most sustainable material ever. Here's my list of five bamboo must-haves for the wooden play kitchen:

1. Bamboo Kitchen Utensils

"Specifically designed for small hands and small mouths," according to the manufacturer, this bamboo set is a "natural and healthy alternative to plastic utensils." Made from organically grown bamboo, this 5 piece set includes a serving fork, flat spatula, mixing spatula, mixing spoon and serving spoon. Each piece measures approximately 9.5" long. $14.95 at Greenfeet.com.

2. Bamboo Bowls

Unlike ceramic bowls, bamboo bowls don't break when you throw them on the floor. And while bowls in the regular kitchen may not get tossed around often, bowls in the play kitchen are often used as Frisbees. These Mini-Me bowls, sized just right for kids' hands, come in a range of bright colors. Each piece is hand-coiled and "finished with a unique lacquering process that impregnates the bowl with 18 layers of natural food-safe lacquer." Just in case impregnation didn't get you in enough trouble already. $12 each at Greenliving.com.

3. Bamboo Plates

These are unbreakable, compostable, and adorned with a picture of a dinosaur. 'Nuff said. Bamdino bamboo plates, $9.95 for a pack of 8 disposable 9-inch plates at Greenfeet.com

4. Bamboo Tongs

I have at least a half dozen pairs of kitchen tongs. Partly because they're cool, and partly because my kid demands to use a pair in his kitchen every time I try to use mine in his kitchen. Then, he misplaces my extra tongs, so I have to go buy more. These bamboo toast tongs are probably useful for their intended purpose (pulling out toast from the toaster), but I see them more as a useful addition to the play kitchen. And at $2.95 a pair, they're easy to replace. Bamboo toast tongs, $2.95 for a 9" pair at The Natural Abode.

5. Bamboo Sporks

Aaron wrote about the kid-sized bamboo spork the other day, and I think that a small spork is an ideal addition to a play kitchen. I also think that the adult-sized bamboo spork makes a mighty fine serving spoon (serving spork?) for the tea party crowd. $9.50 for a pack of 24 compostable, disposable bamboo sporks at Greenfeet.com.

Little Drummer Boy (or Girl): Drum Kit for the Kiddies

SunnyChanel — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:53:00 GMT

Of course, I would prefer that my little one was drawn to a more subdued and tranquil musical instrument, like the recorder, acoustic guitar or pan flute. But the girl’s got rhythm and has a tendency to bang on objects as hard as humanly possible. Doing her interpretation of the Animal from the Muppet Show is much more up her alley than attempting to perform a sedate rendition of Ode to Joy on her Fisher-Price plastic piano. Enter this practical and aesthetically pleasing child’s drum kit, perfect for the little noisemakers in your life ($58.00). This kit may not save your eardrums, but it may save all your pots and pans.

The Babble Review: Natural Pod Wool Felt Vegetable Set

Gwynne Watkins — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 14:28:00 GMT

Growing up, I had one of those moms who sewed me clothes and encouraged me to make dolls out of felt and glitter. So I've always had a soft spot for "natural" toys – and now, thanks to this lead poisoning fiasco, the rest of the world is hopping on the natural-toy train. Welcome aboard, y'all – first stop, Natural Pod toys.

Natural Pod's well-organized website is divided into age groups, as well as categories like "imaginative play." Their toys range from the very simple (silk scarves, a toddler favorite, for $20) to the more specialized (wooden bikes handmade in Germany for $295). We got our hands on a sample of the wool felt vegetable set ($27), handmade in Nepal . The variety of this set is great; we've seen lots of toy carrots and tomatoes, but not so many green onions and eggplants. Our test-baby gravitated immediately toward the eggplant, but seemed disappointed that it didn't make noise when he shook it. Nonetheless, these are colorful, cleverly made, and suitable for pretty much any age under five. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go lust after this amazing treehouse ($179).

Bring It On With the CITO Crane by Guidecraft

chrisjordan — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 14:57:00 GMT

CITO by Guidecraft ($71.40) can handle all of your child's toughest building tasks. Made of non toxic birch plywood with black rubber wheels.

Non plastic, non toxic, lead free, but best of all the kind of toy that inspires hours of imaginative play.

Droolworthy: Rock, Rattle and Roll with the Naef Dolio

Mir — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 20:04:00 GMT

Designed for Naef by Peer Clahsen, this Dolio rattle is baby nirvana on a stick. Bright colors, natural hardwoods, lots of balls to pull and chew on and to make a satisfying racket when the rattle is, um, rattled. At $39 (from Kido) I might staple it to the kid's sleeve rather than risk it going missing at the supermarket, but whatever. Details.

Spit Up: Wooden Lacing Sneaker for the Shoeless

Mir — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 20:02:00 GMT

This pains me, truly, as I am a huge fan of Melissa & Doug wooden toys as a general rule. But it needs to be said: A lacing sneaker toy? It says the "sturdy wooden high-top sneaker is the perfect size toy for kids to learn how to lace and tie over and over again!" You could pay $9.97 for it at WonderBrains, or -- here's a crazy idea -- you could just hand your child one of his own damn shoes.