When I was complaining that my son didn’t like having his heart listened to at the doctors office, (which is funny as the doctor doesn’t like listening to me, poor thing), a friend suggested that I buy him a play stethoscope so that we could “practice” and it wouldn’t be so unusual when assaulted by the cold real thing.

I got my eldest this beautiful little doctor playset, which he adores. He now asks to listen to everyone’s heartbeat – even the “patient’ pups – and wants to give us all “shots” and take our temperature.  (As long as he doesn’t take CME credits sponsored by Merck, I’m happy.)

This is a great unisex gift idea (at less than $40), a wonderfully portable toy (very light and compact) and an effective de-sensitiser to all the “scary” bits at the doctors office. (I only recommend that you get rid of the play “pills” as a) pills should only be fun when your name is Judy Garland and b) they are a choking hazard to any younger sibs.)

Note: This set is not covered by insurance.

20 days and counting….

I have just discovered a darling little company called Cheekeyes that makes a whole gaggle of wooden animal toy sets – perfect for the youngest or grow-up children. Of course, they are from “Da Nederlands”. As all cool wooden toy makers seem to be. (I think they must have elves up there.)

From Arctic animals to forest…

farm animals to reef…

and even dinos…

Cheekeyes has TWELVE different animal sets to delight, inspire and educate any child. They even have an Andes set!

Available locally in Chicago at Green Genes, these beautifully made to last toys (unless you have a Shih Tzu. Ahem.), are from safely and responsibly grown non-treated wood, as well as non-toxic paints.

Oh, I really am Santa’s little helper.

This is my new fave toy. Launched last year, Playshapes is the most gorgeous wooden toy I have seen yet. The damn things are British – so I will update this post if I can find a US retailer.

Basically, 74 non-toxic wooden shapes can be used to create an infinite number of interesting fellows, creatures or magical places.

This bag of Playshapes should be able to keep junior busy well into the next administration.

The “blocks” (which is a rather shoddy term for these brilliant pieces), are spendy at 74 pounds - but perhaps you have a nice, rich aunt in England that may buy them for you?

Cheerio!

If you have a friend, who is a PhD in Classical Studies, and author of a book on The Elgin Marbles, this  is the gift for her. 

And for her new Jack Russell?

Anything from Harry Barker  where you can find a barking good selection of green puppy gifts.

Furbabies are babies too. Just with, er…fur.

We already have two sets of non-tox blocks for our son, that are very Victorian looking (as I have mentioned before, I am a raging traditionalist who still doesn’t trust the menacing hum of microwave ovens).  However, always on the lookout for products that are somehow different from what you may find on other Green Mama blogs, I thought that these may be worth a mention.

Available from the MoMA, these Alexander Girard inspired blocks are made of sustainable bass wood and printed with non-toxic inks.  Methinks that any of your graphic design friends would swoon over them, as would any “cool” parents.

The Girard blocks are $120, unless you are museum member, and then they are $108.

Not hippy prices, to be sure.

Though I would toss the foam balls it comes with, and substitute my Under The Nile balls, this happy “bowling” set was made in Germany, which has very stringent laws regarding toxins in toys, as does the entire EU.  As so many of the organic toy sites have the same product mix, I am constantly scouring for toys that are unique and delightful, but still non-toxic – these smiling cans fit the bill.

Sassy Mia also has a non-toxic car that has several interchangeable fronts, to change it from a car, to an excavator to having a doll seat. It’s brilliant for both sexes, or siblings.

And if you find the simple wood too plain, a bit of non-toxic paint can always turn a humble wooden toy into a personalized, unique one.

Of course, buy both – and you’ll not need any balls. It will take a child about 3 seconds to invent the “drive through the cans” game. Fun.

I’ll admit it, I was slightly shocked when  I found out that I was having a boy.  Mary was less shocked that I was.  Though there was always a 50% chance, it had honestly never occurred to me that I would have anything but a ballet dancing,  poetry writing,  play creating, horse riding daughter in a pink tutu. What in Vishnus name, I wondered, would I do with a boy?  What do they play with (that I would actually have in my house)?  What stories do they like? I have spent the last 15 years collecting biographies and histories of amazing women – now what?

Well, lucky for me, I have just discovered a store in my sisters old Tribeca neighborhood called “Playing Mantis“.  They not only have beautiful Waldorf dolls, hand made puzzles and other fantastic toys, but they have these stunning wooden story sets that are just the thing to introduce a young boy to the Greeks, with “Troy”, any Norse, Angle or Saxon saga…

…spin salty maritime stories of Sir Walter Raleigh, or that Dastardly Drake….

or astound with Homeric adventures that take as long as the Arabian Nights to tell….

Needless to say, these exquisite toys are hand carved and non-toxic. They are also expensive – but a great “let’s go in together” present for your history loving sister or best friend. 

These toys are as classic as the stories they can help you tell.

The End.