I'm often asked where I buy toys for my son. Since our collection of toys is not exactly mainstream, most cannot be found at Target, Wal-Mart or Toys R Us. Which generally means I shop at teacher supply stores, independent toy stores and online.
Thank goodness for online..or maybe not..we'd probably have fewer toys if I did not have internet access. Though I, more and more shop, online by "Googling" whatever I'm seeking, these are a few of my favorite stores for non-licensed, not made-in-China, open-ended toys.
My Favorite, Not Quite Crunchy shopping sites
Willow Tree Toys
Farm Goods For Kids
Hearthsong
Playmobil
Magic Cabin
Blueberry Forest
Lego
Sensational Beginnings
E-Bay
Craigslist
Nova Naturals
Rosie Hippo
Where do you shop?
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Wednesday, February 06, 2008
My Favorite Not-Quite-Crunchy Shopping Sites
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17 comments:
I really like thewoodenwagon.com as it has some toys that are for older children. I am finding that it gets harder to find appropriate toy/game/entertainment as the children get older.
This is a great post! Thanks for sharing!
I appreciate this list and have one to add www.fatbraintoys.com/ I prefer toys low on the "battery factor" and high on imagination. I have gotten several toys here that have been a hit! This site has toys that work for my youngest (3) and my oldest (15)
We buy Johnny West toys on Ebay. I was not aware of these other site. I'll go take a looksee.
I completely forgot about the shopping theme this week. My WFMW is 16 uses for vinegar
http://heartofwisdom.com/heartathome
I need a WFMW tip on keeping up themes. :)
Blessings,
Robin
Thanks for the list! I'm bookmarking this page so I'm not flying blind the next time I head out shopping for toys on the internet.
great toys and sites!
We also shop on ebay and Hearthsong, but since my boys favorite toys are K'Nex and Legos, we get them anywhere they are on sale. They also love those little plastic soldiers, which we get at the dollar store.
Another thing we do is make up our own games. We buy games at garage sales and thrift stores and toss the rules, making up our own. We are currently in the process of building our own Clue-type game as a multi-story hotel complete with an elevator.
I just have to say that I enjoy getting your posts. I subscribed and can hardly delete any of them as I want to save the info.
I have linked you on my blog today!
Debbie aka The Real World Martha(S)
http://realworldmartha.worpress.com
great new sites for me- thanks everyone!
And thanks, Real World Martha - my little blog has become a resource for me too since it keeps all of the places I research together
Thanks for the list! I knew of several of them, but I'm glad to be able to bookmark them all in one place. I linked your post to my blog today, too. http://holesinmyshinyveneer.blogspot.com
Thanks for the links! It's difficult to find not-made-in-China toys.
Peggy
My grandbabies just got blocks for their third birthdays from Community Playthings (http://www.communityplaythings.com/).
Free shipping directly to each of their homes, two states apart. Lifetime toys for Frank Lloyd Wrights in the making. Age appropriate from 1 to 81. Made right and safe.
Their blocks meet AuntB and Grandmama's standards for passive toy/active child! They'll also send you an amazing free CD with videos on block play.
We saved up for 'em and plan to add to the sets as the years go by.
Welllll...shameless plug coming here, but I shop in my own store for not-quite-crunchy toys: www.LivingPlaying.com. I sell creative play toys & games.
I have another grandchild on the way and I just might start over this time.... shop online and never set a foot in Toys R Us. I did promise myself that after my children grew up, but I forgot till I ventured back just how nauseating that store can be.
Thanks for the great list.
Nana Connie
www.playwitmenana.blogspot.com
What a great post! Here in little old New Zealand its really hard to find crunchy toys - I despair every time I go into a mall. Thank god for online. Would you mind if I copied your idea and did a list of New Zealand crunchy toy sites?
Domestically Blissed -
please do - spread the word that there are alternatives
Thanks - I have put a 'New Zealand' version here http://domesticallyblissed.wordpress.com/2008/02/12/wfmw-where-to-buy-real-toys-in-new-zealand/
Cheers
Gypsy
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