When my husband was a boy, he had a wooden rocking horse on which he happily rode off into the proverbial sunset. Well…not exactly, but I believe that horse had something to do with his signature sign-off, “Happy trails.” Today, we have that same treasured horse in our own home, so our girls can rock to their hearts’ content. Among all their other toys, it stands out as a treasured childhood favorite and is in sharp contrast to the high-tech gadgets and brightly colored plastic playthings of today. If you’re a fan of the toys of yesteryear, you can step back in time with a classic favorite that returns to the modern world. Woody Rocking Horse is a simple, but elegantly designed rocker just begging [&hellip
The Playful Walnut Archive
My 1st grader is so excited for her upcoming class trip to the aquarium, she can hardly contain herself. A recent trip to the local fish hatchery was enough to whet her appetite…now she’s ready for the big time! (Why do I foresee a follow-up trip to the zoo in the near future?)…It’s only natural that kids love animals. Think about it: they do what they please, eat without the use of napkins or utensils and spend their time either playing or sleeping. Did I mention that they can do what they please? When watching my girls play with their stuffed animals, they act out the silliest scenarios, so it only makes sense that they are drawn to playthings that mimic the very behavior they [&hellip
As a mother of two girls, it’s not always easy to find something my kids can play together. Either a craft or board game is too complex for my 3-year-old, or her older sister is bored to tears because “it’s too boring.” Sometimes, you just can’t please everyone! Luckily, we have found common ground for both girls in the amazing world of Calico Critters. If you’re not yet familiar with these adorable pint-sized animals and their various habitats, it’s not too late to immerse yourselves in this imaginative culture. From the common mice family, to the atypical hedgehogs, there are a variety of species that play together and co-habitat, be it in a cozy cottage, monstrous treehouse or any magic-believe locale young minds can dream [&hellip
My 7-year-old has her own tape measure; I kid you not. Maybe it’s because she expressed an early interest in home improvement, thanks to her handy father, and wanted to covet her own tool. When she’s not assisting her dad around the house, this tape measure has become a useful tool for her math homework when she can’t seem to locate her MIA ruler. This ingenuity got me to thinking about inventive ways to make math fun, and so I stumbled upon Inching Along. This clever board game makes the chore of using a ruler repeatedly a little less tedious. Set against a camping-themed backdrop (just in time for summer), Inching Around has its players move around the board as they draw cards and solve [&hellip
Outside our kitchen window, a new family of sparrows have created a home for themselves. While my husband installed a birdhouse on top of a high post, it was the mother bird who did the real work of feathering her nest. Each day, she diligently flew back and forth, returning to the house with a beak full of grass and small leaves. My daughters marveled at her dedication and tirelessness…and I was reminded how my own job as a parent isn’t too different from the mother bird’s. Whether clothing our kids or feeding them a nourishing meal, I am trying to be more mindful of taking pleasure in the simple things in life: a warm bath, a good book and a snuggly pair of PJs [&hellip
One of my all-time favorite things to do with my daughters? Read. After a long day that starts with getting to the bus stop on time, and ends with a fresh bath (most days!) and a clean pair of PJs, the idea of sitting down with a good story is an experience I relish and one that I find both engaging and calming. (It’s a great way for me to wind down before bedtime, too!). I began reading to my girls shortly after they were born and home from the hospital; we have tattered copies of “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” and “Goodnight Moon” as proof. When my fussy, younger daughter wouldn’t stop crying, I would take a book in my shaking hand, clear my throat [&hellip
It never hurts to have another friend and when you’re a kid, you’ve got an entire lifetime to make new ones, wherever you go. A friend doesn’t have to be a person, but even a cool plaything that you can tote with you. Shoulder Buddies may just be the next best portable pal. Bearing somewhat of a resemblance to those Trolls dolls that we grew up with in the 1980s, these pint-sized creatures have spiky up-dos that kids will love to brush or simply flick with their fingers. And, like any good friend, Shoulder Buddies have a magnetic personality…almost literally. These figures are embedded with a magnet and come with a Magic Coin that kids can place on their shoulder, hat or backpack. Then they [&hellip
Tomorrow is my daughter’s 3rd birthday, and I can hardly believe it. Actually, I take that back. Some days, she tells me what to do so often, I feel like we’ve already skipped ahead to the teenage years! Seriously, though, I know that by the time we get to her next birthday, she’ll come home from preschool donning a homemade birthday crown. (My older daughter has a collection of them from over the years.) While I appreciate my girls’ teachers’ efforts in fashioning these hats from paper, the paper construction never quite holds up to the wear and tear of make-believe play. What a wonderful idea to have a smartly designed birthday crown that can be used again and again! Organic Birthday Cotton Crowns are [&hellip
When you’re a new mom, you become the relentless target for products that “grow with your baby.” From the crib that converts to a big-kid bed, to a potty seat that becomes a step-stool, there’s an onslaught of baby gear destined to save you time and money for that precious college fund. I don’t know about you, but by the time my kid reaches the next stage of development, I’ve forgotten that the product she’s using has a life beyond its intended purpose! Well, newbie moms, don’t be like me and try not to miss the boat on this one: everyone’s favorite product for the ready-to-play baby has plenty of room to grow. The ExerSaucer Triple Fun Activity Learning Center is a playmat/stationary center/activity table [&hellip
When my almost 7-year-old was in preschool, she brought home a plastic jar filled with pom poms and declared that she needed to count each and every one of them. “Huh?,” I thought. “I’m not exactly sure that’s what your teachers had in mind,” I gently replied. We all remember the “guess how many jellybeans are in the jar, and win a prize!”-type contests. For some it was pure delight–can I count to one gazillion?–and for other kids, a source of frustration. “How can I know for sure if I don’t count them one by one?,” rationalized my daughter, teetering on the brink of a fit. Taking an educated guess is a great life-long skill that can be refined over time, so it certainly helps [&hellip