I’m always on the look out for clever toys. When I say clever toys, here are some of the things I look for:
- Toys that don’t require batteries
- Toys that stimulate imaginative play
- Toys made from quality materials
- Toys made from natural materials
- Toys made with an environmentally friendly focus
I find these sorts of toys last, occupy my children for logner and I hate changing batteries. HA!
Let me introduce you to Finlee & Me, a shop that sells many toys that tick many of the points above. I loved many of the products and have pulled out my three favourite to review in this post.
Dancing Silk Ribbon Ring
The Dancing Silk Ribbon Ring is made from beautiful materials, and that is what I love most about it. The wooden ring is polished with beeswax and the silk ribbons are soft to the touch. The rings jingle when moved thanks to a few bells. The Silk Ribbon Ring is perfect for dancing, or course, and we used it in different ways too.
1. Movement
Dance, jump, sing, wave, skip, run.
2. Mobile/Hanging Decoration
I made this stunning pressed bouganvillea flower mobile to brighten up my daughter’s room. The wood, silk and flower combination made me happy.
To use the dancing ring into a mobile, simply use laminated pressed flowers (as I have), or cut out any cardboard shapes you like. Then punch a hole in the top of each shape and tie on to a ribbon, at different lengths, allowing the remainder of the ribbon to hang behind. This way, you can easily turn it back into a dancing ring if you like.
3. Outdoor Cubby
On a fine day, hang the dancing ring on a branch in a tree to help create a magical play space outside.
Peek-A-Boo Bags
Peek-A-Boo Bags are fantastic for the pram, long drives shopping trips and at home. It’s like having a treasure hunt inside a mini bean bag! The Peek-A-Boo bags each have a snap tag with all the items you can find through the vinyl window. The bags also feel good to hold and squelch. They come in three different types: Rough N Tough (pictured below), Sugar N Spice and Everything A to Z.
Balloon Cover
These Balloons are so clever! Simply blow up a balloon inside the cover to turn it into a ball. This both protects the balloon so it lasts longer (and you can use it on grass), plus it’s safer for toddlers and washable. Not only is the balloon cover wonderful for home use, it’s great for travel too: pop a balloon cover and a few balloons in your bag and you’ll always have something up your sleeve for the kids to play with.
Perfect for travel:
Put a few balloons and the balloon cover in a zip lock bag and throw it in your handbag so you always have something up your sleeve for the kids to play with when you travel.
Cute designs
Giveaway
I’m happy to be able to giveaway 1 x Balloon Cover, 1 xPeek-A-Boo Bag and 1 x Dancing Ring on the blog today thanks to Finlee & Me. There will be three winners, one for each product. The winner will be able to choose whatever colour/design of the product they like.
To enter, all you need to do is like Finlee & Me on facebook (like button below) and leave a comment the space below this post about what you look for when you buy toys for your child/ren.
Finlee & Me Facebook Page
Terms: 1. Australian residents only 2. Winner will be notified by email. 3. If the winner does not respond to the email within 48 hours, the winner will be drawn. 4. Winner will be drawn via random number. 5. Giveaway will close 4 February 2012. 6. Read my disclosure policy.
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I always look for toys that are tough, easy to play with and easy to store at home, hoping they won’t end up in the middle of the floor for me to trip over!
I look for something that is not plastic, doesn’t require odd battery sizes, will last longer than 2 minutes and can create imagination that will stimulate and occupy the shortest attention span child!
Finlee and Me have created superb toys! Thank you for introducing such a wonderful company/products!
My eldest is turning 10 this year
. The lesson I have learned is that toys need to be played with a least three ways. I used to buy my son some whiz bang bargain toys that looked awesome but all you did was press a button! No matter how fantastic it would soon get boring.
I really like that Seana: played with 3 ways.
All of the things you said, but also educational toys & toys that encourage socialization
I look for toys which are durable, value for money and encourage sharing and socializing.
I love versatility, interactive and freedom for imagination/choice in toys — these look awesome — love the peekaboo bag!
I look for toys that encourage monkeymoo’s development, imagination and bring joy and squeals of delight to him. Also, i love toys that take me back just a little and have stood the test of time generationally (like the red and blue Tupperware shape sorter! )
Durable toys that will go the distance and that are also a bunch of fun to play with!
I love the idea of a balloon cover Kell! That’s so simple and so brilliant. My boys are real balloon kids so I always tend to have a balloon in the bag for those ‘particular’ moments that require them (you know the moments I mean
).
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As for looking for toys for the kids, my boys aren’t really ‘toy kids’ as such, they’re much more into being outside and running around. In saying that though, our eldest boy has just got into things like Lego and other building things that require fine-motor skills and LOTS of concentration. Because he’s such an active kid and up to this point has rarely taken a moment to stop, we’re pretty keen to harness this new enjoyment for him. So at the moment we tend to look for something that develops his fine motor skills (great for improvement of pencil grip), concentration and commitment to a task. Phew that was a long comment – sorry about that
The major thing I look for when choosing a toy is that it can be played with by all three of my daughters. This isn’t as simple as it sounds as they range in age from 7 to 2. But there are some things (quoits, bouncy balls, pretend kitchen etc) that have all managed to keep all three kids happy and entertained. I look for good quality too.
When buying for my kids I try to get things that are ‘open ended’ – something with no specific purpose but able to be explored and embraced in many ways!
My son will play with anything! So when looking for toys I don’t need to worry “will he like playing with it”, instead I ask “will I like playing with it??” Choosing toys that I will also enjoy means we spend more time playing together, exploring the toy, and enjoying each other’s company. For my son, it’s not about the toy, it’s about spending time with mummy and daddy. So I choose beautiful, functional, well made toys, and that way we both love playing with them
We look for fabulous innovative toys that encourage the imagination!
THANK YOU KELLY!!
I cannot even explain how happy I am to have found someone who stocks the balloon cover. This is SO retro! When I was about 7yrs old I had one, and every night before bed my dad (who was a single dad) and I would play indoor netball one on one in our hallway using the balloon ball and two tall washing baskets as the nets! I have been looking for one ever since my kids were born (2yo and 7month old) – in fact last month while on summer holidays I scoured the beach shops for one that had every other wahoo thing except the ballon cover ( LOl, I am pretty sure my old one was called a Ball Sac. VERY unfortunate name for a kids toy and Dad & I still laugh about it!!!)
I rarely buy kids toys – they get lots as presents ect from family and they prefer to play with other things instead (today Mr 2 spent 40 mins polishing the coins in the money box instead of playing with his awesome toys!!) But when I do I make sure they have all the qualities you described… I don’t like them to be purposely made obsolete (ie. next model cancels this out like a playstation or a DS) and of course most of all if I EVER had or wanted it as a child – then they get!!
P.S Your blog totally rocks and I read it just about only every day – I think we are soul sisters…. just quietly!
Shannon, this comment touched my heart! What a gorgeous story! Thank you sister x
I always look for price and make sure they’re educational
I look for toys that don’t do everything for him. There are lots of toys out there that all they have to do is push a few buttons… and that’s it! DS gets bored with them so quickly. If there are multiple uses to the toys, then he gets a lot more out of it. He actually plays with my kitchen utensils more than his toys, as he doesn’t have too many
A big thing for me is looking for toys that are adaptive – can be used in many ways and promote imaginative play.
I love toys that can last the ages those timeless ones, my son’s favourite at the moment are homemade blocks my dad made me about 20 years ago. I also like non gender specific toys my three year old son still loves pushing his baby and pram around which makes me very proud!
I love toys that are multiple use and that will promote imaginative play, but most of the toys we have are not used in any traditional way, a railway plastic mat is pretend wrapping paper. I love toys that Miss 3 thinks are special and gets a thrill out of playing with!
I always look for a toy that has 3 things:
Price- They always play with the cheapest ones!
Cleanability – As long as it can go in the machine or in a bucket of soapy water I’m happy.
Awesomeness – If I don’t want to play with it, why would they?
I only have boys so I look for tough toys that go the distance. Love that balloon cover idea!!!!! I want one soooooooo much :0)
Oh my gosh, I love, love that balloon cover! What a brilliant idea.
For me, I look for toys that don’t have too many parts. I hate having to scram around finding all the parts to something before I put it away. Or even worse, not being able to use something because we’ve lost half the pieces.
I love toys that provide a more open ended play opportunity, that will hopefully last a few years. Plus no batteries are a huge benefit.
I love all of your suggestions, I found your blog by searching for anything for my little man who turns 2 next week. I loathe plastic and fake electronic sounds (most require batteries which are not a joy to constantly replace) . My ideal present is some nice wooden musical instruments, the soothing sounds of a cactus rainstick or bells. Anything handmade is both creative and far more thoughtful than mass produced.
I love the balloon ball and the silk scarves and ring also.
love the peed-a-boo bags and ballon covers, and the dancing ring. think that’s a great idea. when i buy toys for my 2 babies (6month old boy + 2yr old girl) i always look for toys that supports and enhances my babies learning development, and imagination, and all time fun. must have all 3 of them. Oh and must be able to be played with by boys and girls, mustn’t be a specific gender.
We try and find a balance, have discovered that as much as I dislike ‘plastic fantastic’ toys my boy just loves the lights, sounds and cause and effect! As a result I continue to expose him to a variety of both plastic and natural timber toys, we’ll continue this and can’t wait till he’s older to respect and appreciate all sorts of toys and the ways different ways his imagination can use them!
I always look for toys that are going to last and are educational. There is nothing worse than getting a toy home that they get bored with after 5 minutes and then breaks!!
I try to buy toys that are durable, does not require batteries , make kids happy in many ways and child can play with the same toy during his different stages.
I look for affordability as times can get tight, but at the same time i’d rather pay a little more for something quality that will last and if possible doesn’t have on going costs like batteries. Anything out doors gets a tick. And decent stimulating toys for indoors.
i love toys that are made from non-plastic materials, and that encourage imaginative play. as an ex-early years teacher, i don’t necessarily subscribe to the ‘educational toy’ idea as i think children learn best from open ended play and engaged adult interaction. in saying all that, mr 3 always like the dodgy cheap plastic dinosaurs or empty cardboard boxes the best – LOL!!!
quality and safety is first priority. Fun, laughter and enjoyment for hours on end . gotta love that ?
Lovely post full of great toy ideas Kell. As others have mentioned, I like toys that can be played with in a few different ways. Toys also have to be durable and ‘unbreakable’.
Yep, toys have to be open ended – I avoid the branded merchandise where possible and choose toys that can be played with in many different ways across many different ages (love the balloon cover – such a clever idea for what is already a staple in my nappy bag).
Being a teacher and mum to nearly three little people (I’m due in three weeks!!), I’d love to say that I always buy toys that promote IMAGINATION, INTERACTION as well as a range of ways they can actually be played with! Sadly, this isn’t always the case – I have the shelves to prove it. BUT in an ideal world, that’s what I would look for. Letting the kids get CREATIVE is just so important. I don’t care if they express their ideas through costumes, doll play, outdoor games or blocks. It is ALL important and special to their skills acquisition, fine & gross motor learning and being them. What more could you want? Ps: I’m loving the balloon cover!
I’m not fussed if toys are plastic – after all, Lego has been a big hit and my kids play with my husbands old duplo and lego which is over 30 years old so it’s certainly durable and open ended.
Similarly, Thomas trains have been used multiple times a day for the past past three years and I imagine will be popular here for a few more.
The ones I do avoid (after experience) are the push button-lights flash-music plays-over and over-now i’m bored type toys. The batteries never die here – because they never get played with!
I look for toys that can be used across many age groups- good value for money. Of course I also look for safe toys too.
Toys that are beautiful and made of natural materials and will hopefully stimulate their imaginations. Oh, and quiet toys!
Toys that are safe and build imagination and children can have great fun playing with them
I look for unique, durable and reasonably priced toys.
Criteria that I look for when I buy toys for my 5 month old daughter is non-plastic, made from renewable sources, non-toxic paint and stimulates her development and imagination. Finlee and Me rocks! =)
I look for toys that are durable and that the girls (2 & 4) won’t grow out of too quickly.
Oh, and none of that ‘flashing lights, irritating songs’ stuff – though they have been given their fair share of that over time!
I look for toys that are educational and will last longer than 5 minutes
All of the above . I look for toys that encourage imaginative play, creativity and prefer wooden to plastic.
I have a 7 and 2 year old. I’m always looking for toys that are non-toxic, easy to take on trips, unlikely to break and stimulate imaginative play. Not that I’m hard to please or anything
I also hate batteries. I find kids usually like the toys they’re able to make there own noises for. Or that are a natural noise. We love toys that can be used for many ages. We also like non brand name toys.
Thanks for the opportunity to enter
I love to research toys and the size of the toy and how easily it can be packed away is important for me lately given I have 3 kids. I love travel puzzles or games that come in cute little suitcases or tins and not boxes that fall apart.
Toys that encourage creative play and interaction with nature. We also look for natural fibers and toys that can be two things (ie: animals that are also blocks)
I have a definite thing for woodentoys. I love the look and the feel of them, that they are natural and they teach children about beautiful things and respecting their toys.
I look for open-ended toys, because the possibilities for play and imagaination are limitless. I also love to support small business, work at home mums and local businesses, so many of my toy purchases come from those types of places.
I look pretty much for all the things mentioned here too! I also try to look for timeless toys – that my kids can all interact and play with in different ways depending in their ages, and toys where there is no limit to their imagination as to what can be done with it!
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