Q: What’s your favorite thing to learn about in school?
A: Animals, and their life cycles.
Q: If you could be any animal in the world what would you choose? Why?
A: A baby lion, because they are really big and their cubs are really cute
Q: Your favorite after-school snack?
A: Crackers and hummus, or a peanut butter bar.
Q: What do you like most about yourself right now?
A: I really like to make stuff and create! I made a clay turtle for my Mom on Mother’s Day.
Q: How do you like to spend your time?
A: I like reading, and drawing, and painting.
Q: If you could eat one food forever, what would it be?
A: Popsicles!!
Q: Do you have any pets? Tell me about them.
A: I have a really, really, really cute puppy. His name is Winston. He’s an Australian Sheppard mixed with a poodle. An AussieDoodle! And I have another dog named Harley. He’s kind of a little grumpy sometimes.
Q: What advice would you give your parents?
A: Don’t be so bossy!!
Q: Why do you like being a kid?
A: Because I don’t have to pay bills or work. I get to play!
Many thanks to Gwendolyn for answering our interview questions and letting us get to know her. Try interviewing your kids one day, write down their answers so you can come back to them later and reminisce. It's a great way to store memories that you might not think seem special, but you will be so thankful to have once they've grown older.
Olli Ella Dinkum Doll - "Tiny"
Tiny is a special doll created from the coziest and softest cotton for a lifetime of snuggles. With their simple and sweet embroidered faces and other details, including a rainbow over their hearts, these unisex dolls stimulate empathetic connections and encourage hours of open-ended play. Gwendolyn loves the dinkum dolls because their arms and legs can move and stay where you put them, and they can stand up! Not to mention, all of their cute clothes and accessories!
This sweet mouse princess is wearing a stunning blue and gold sparkle dress with lace trim and a lace crown. She comes in a keepsake castle box that slides open and closed to reveal her piles of mattresses in a variety of Maileg fabrics. This famous story reimagined will encourage hours of imaginative play and royal stories!
Grimm's Wooden Rainbow Tunnels
Lovingly made in Europe by Grimm's Spiel & Holz, this stunning set can be used not only as a puzzle and stacking set, but also to create countless scenes in open-ended play. Gwendolyn says she loves making all sorts of things with the rainbows, from tunnels, houses, bridges, and making abstract sculptures by stacking them in new ways.
Bed & Biscuit Labradoodle Stuffed Animal Play Set
This fuzzy Labradoodle comes snuggled inside a beautifully illustrated doghouse wearing a cheerful red bandana and sitting on a polka dot dog bed blanket. The puppy is the star of its own small story, which is tucked inside a hidden pocket on the bottom of the dog house. This plush pet will encourage lots of learning opportunities like motor development, imaginative thinking, language development, and social learning skills. "The puppy stuffed animal is super fluffly, just like my puppy!" says Gwendolyn.
Make No Mistake Erasable Markers Set of 12
These markers fix mistakes in an instant by flipping the marker over to erase. You can even create unique designs and textures by using the eraser end to add detail to your coloring projects. The chiseled marker tips allow artists to choose broad or narrow strokes. With twelve bright colors included, get ready for fun and relaxing coloring experiences for everyone!
This beginner origami kit introduces kids, recommended aged 3 and older, to the magic of origami paper folding. The kit includes 36 eco-friendly printed papers and complete instructions so you'll be ready to begin the moment you open it.
This handmade wooden toy provides endless open-ended play opportunities. Nest the pieces from smallest to largest to create an adorable wooden house, or add a little imagination and the individual pieces can be used as bridges, tunnels, fences, furniture, caves and more! "I love these because I use them as houses for fairies and nins, AND I use them to be caves or dens for lots of animals. We've even made a ball run with all the pieces! It was super cool."
The unique and cleverly designed woven basket bag, features adaptable straps and hooks to work with every size explorer. It can perform all kinds of roles like bike basket, back pack, treasure bag, or purse for a special day out on the town. This basket can adapt to any way your child imagines and will continue to grow with them.
Q: What is your favorite thing to learn about in school?
A: Clouds because I like that they have shapes in them.
Q: If you could be any animal in the world, what would you choose and why?
A: A peregrine falcon because I could fly super-fast and hunt for fish and lasagna.
Q: What do you like most about yourself right now?
A: I'm the best power-kicker on my soccer team. I got a medal.
Q: Why do you like being a kid?
A: Because I get to play instead of work, and I don't have to cook all the food.
Q: If you ruled your school, what rules would you make?
A: That's easy! Your dog or cat can come to school with you. You get ice cream for lunch everyday. We play outside, even when it rains.
Q: Should children set their own bedtimes?
A: Yes, but I wouldn’t even set a bedtime. I’d stay up until the afternoon every day.
Q: Tell me one thing everyone should know about you.
A: I like to play with my dog and reading books.
Thanks so much to Alexander for answering our questions and letting us learn a little bit about you! Interviewing kids is a fun and fascinating activity, you often learn things you might not have known before! Now, let’s share Alexander’s top toy picks from Oompa Toys. He has made some excellent choices.
Ooly Yummy Yummy Scented Markers Set of 12
Make drawing time a delicious sensory experience with these bright and cheerful markers. They are chunky in size, perfect for little hands, and are double ended for both fine and broad stoke drawing.
Wooden Parking Garage and Service Station
Your car enthusiast will enjoy fixing up all the things that come with this Wooden Parking Garage and Service Station. The set comes with three cars and one helicopter, with plenty of room for additional vehicles – a true one-stop-shop for an engineer, mechanic, or lover of wheels.
Wooden Rainbow Bracelet Beading Kit
This kit contains enough beautiful, wooden beads to make up to ten bracelets. The metal capped elastics make threading the cheerful rainbows, flowers, and geometric wooden beads easy peasy.
In this fun balancing game, help a house cat collect and carry as many balls of yarn as you can balance! The many sizes of round skeins provide a fun challenge as each player can take a turn adding one to the top of this very relaxed cat.
Children will marvel at this beautiful backdrop of shimmering black and purple swirls of play dough dotted with glittery stars and meteorites. Underneath this stellar display, layers of color await. Use the included scoop to investigate and mix the colors of the universe.
Let your child beat to their own drum with this delightful wooden bongo. This musical instrument can be a key part of your family band, and will allow kids to practice and gain rhythm and patterning sense.
With a melty ice cream on top and a bright pink striped base, this wooden truck has everything you want in an ice cream truck, except the jingle. Perfect for car collections, ready to go adventures, and any kind of transportation play set ups.
Large Wooden Stepped Pyramid Math Blocks
This set of 100 colorful wooden blocks serve your children both educationally and in a multitude of imaginative ways. Older children can be introduced to mathematical concepts like addition, subtraction, and multiplication, among many others. But the blocks can also be used to build cities, create landscapes and be used for building anything your child can imagine.
At Oompa Toys, our mission has always been to provide high-quality toys that encourage meaningful play and last for generations. These basic tenets are core to who we are as a brand and align perfectly with one of our favorite brands, Rose & Rex. In their own words:
"Childhood is a time of wonder. Young children radiate curiosity that's waiting to be nurtured."
We are excited to partner with their talented team to bring new, thoughtfully curated toys and their playful parenting resources to Oompa. Some of our favorite courses and online guides are featured below.
The Rose & Rex Guide to Block Play makes block play meaningful as well as educational. Blocks are such an integral part of child development and are essential to building skills like mathematical thinking, literacy and resilience through play. The guide provides so much at home learning through joy and meaningful play.
Rose & Rex likes to say "Play is All We Need" and we could not agree more! Especially in the time of Pandemic parenting, they have created these on demand classes to help parents and caregivers with every aspect of their child's development--all through the power of play. These classes provide meaningful learning experiences that enrich the bond you have with you baby while still checking every developmental box.
When faced with a challenging day, shared play experiences can shift the energy to be more positive and connected. Play offers a way to surf the highs and lows, and a gives parents and their children a tool for reconnection after a hectic day spent apart. Lauren offers her bestselling Guide to Positive Language Strategies, an on-demand class to fit in with any parents busy schedule and full of meaningful play experiences for the whole family.
The Calm Mind Kit is the perfect little bundle to promote growing children's social and emotional development. These vital tools support connected and authentic well-being through breathing exercises, movement, meditation and wellness. Each kit contains three mindful toys and a deck of Calm Mind Activity Cards. Created by childhood development experts and filled with loving care.
We are excited to continue partnering with Rose + Rex as we bring you new content, exciting giveaways and more. We hope you'll enjoy their awesome parenting resources and wonderfully curated toys they've contributed to our selection at Oompa. Be sure to follow us on Instagram for more exciting play and adventure!
]]>Everything in this collection is packed full of fun + whimsy. Bright colors meet tule and sequins, and plenty of animal ears to go around. We love how playful and comfy these costumes are. They are as beautiful as they are durable and sure to find their way into the dress up bin for plenty of play for the rest of the year!
This recycled bird feeder craft is a wonderful way for children to learn how to nurture animals in their own backyard. Once it's hung, enjoy keeping notes of what feathered friends flock for a bite to eat!
Check your back yard or local park, recycling bin, and art cabinet for these supplies.
Step 1: Cut two windows into the milk carton, about 2 inches from the bottom. Wash the inside and let air dry.
Step 2: Paint the outside of your carton. Once dry add contrasting decorations.
Step 3: Use the utility knife to cut an X on the top and bottom of the carton. Repeat on the opposite side.
Step 4: Push the stick through the X on the bottom section of the carton and through to the other side. Stick should stick out about 2 inches on each side for a perch.
Step 5: Push your string through each of the openings at the top. Fill with birdseed and hang from a tree or on a patio.
Watch from your window to see what types of birds visit your recycled milk carton birdfeeder!
]]>This simple craft is a wonderful way to engage your children in creativity while discussing our world with them.
Join us in helping raise the next generation of environmentalists today and every day.
Combine 1 part flour with 1 part water. Thoroughly mix until there are no lumps. 1/4 cup of each should be enough to complete two globes, but add more water if your paste is too thick.
Rip one piece of your base color into thick strips, roughly 3-4 inches wide. Blow up your balloon to the size you want. Use a mug to hold your globe in place while you work.
Use your chunky paintbrush to coat the back of your tissue paper strips. Apply a light layer to avoid from overloading or ripping your tissue paper.
Place your paper, glue side down, onto your balloon. Allow the form to fold and create a natural texture.
Repeat this step, covering your whole globe in your base color.
Rip the remaining paper into 1-inch strips and use them to create a second and third layer of crinkled paper. We let our globe dry overnight after this step to ensure our base was sturdy enough, but you may skip this and continue to the next step.
Rip your contrasting color into thin strips and scrunch them up. Apply the paste directly to your base and stick these strips onto the globe to create the water.
Use paste along the edges to make sure they are firmly adhered and leave to dry.
When fully dry, pull the small piece of the balloon out and cut a hole into it. Allow the balloon to deflate and carefully pull it out of the opening. Cut two small holes near the opening at the top of your globe.
Use string to hang your globes around the house or out in the garden for your Earth Day celebration!
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Have your children gather old artwork, mail, or schoolwork. The colors you choose will affect your final product, so keep that in mind when choosing. Let them rip the paper into small squares and submerge them in a bowl of hot water. Soak the paper scraps in hot water for 20-30 minutes.
Place your paper scraps into an old blender and cover with water. Use the pulse function to turn your mixture into a pulp. While that runs, place your strainer into the mixing bowl and place your cloth into the bowl.
Here's the fun part! Create your seed bombs by rolling your paper into balls or pinching them into little hearts. You can create any shape you'd like and even use silicone molds to get an intricate design. Once you've shaped your pulp into seed bombs, allow them to dry for at least 48 hours, depending on your climate.
The idea of tossing seeds around our cities and watching them explode with wildflowers in the spring is a fantastic one. Unfortunately, a lot of places aren't well suited for wildflower growth. To ensure you have the most positive impact on our pollinators, be mindful of where you plant your seeds. Your backyard or patio is a great option, especially if you live in a developed area where nectar might be hard to come by. Pop the seed bombs into a pot or flower bed and wait!
Another way we like to use our wildflower seed bombs is out in nature. We grab a handful before we leave for the park or head out on a nature hike. Tossing them into a natural area that doesn't get too much foot traffic is ideal. Avoid places mowed by your cities landscapers or areas that are too developed to provide a conducive environment for growth.
Something we love to do is create gentle suggestions for children to ward off play ennui. We are introducing something new at Oompa Toys--play prompts! Play prompts are guides for encouraging play in your home. Below is our full list of Play Prompts for January! We also will be posting a new prompt every Monday, Wednesday and Friday on our Instagram.
Build a tall tower (and measure it!)
Make a snowflake inspired mandala
Ice or snow painting
Use pebbles in your play
Take inspiration from the color blue
Make a silly hat
Winter inspired shelfie or toy rotation
Explore symmetry through play
Add yarn to your play
Make a play scene inspired by the day's weather
Add branches to a flat lay
Hot cocoa invitation to play!
Dear Friend of Oompa Toys,
We have some big news! We are excited to share the news that Oompa, along with our sister company Bella Luna Toys, is now part of the HABA FAMILYGROUP, a family-owned business founded in Germany that has been manufacturing and distributing wooden toys and games worldwide for more than three generations.
When we were approached to become part of the HABA FAMILYGROUP, we were thrilled! Oompa has proudly carried many of the beautiful and educational products made by HABA of Germany since our beginning. HABA’s line of high-quality wooden toys and games, along with their mission to nurture children and their families, have always been closely aligned with Oompa’s mission.
We couldn’t be happier about this partnership and hope you will be, too!
In early January, our warehouse will relocate from Rockland, Maine to HABA USA’s facilities in Skaneateles, New York, doubling our warehouse size while maintaining our competitive shipping rates and improving our fulfillment time.
Our warehouse will be closed from January 4 until approximately January 28, but our website is always open! Orders placed during this time will begin shipping on or around January 17, in the order in which they were received.
To thank you for your patience, orders placed during the warehouse closure will earn DOUBLE Play Points rewards for discounts on future purchases. For more information on our Play Points program, click here.
Don’t worry. While our physical location may be changing, who we are will not. Our team and I will still be here for you. We will continue to be the same heart-centered, child-focused brand that we have always been, but now with additional resources to meet the needs of more families and to improve our services.
With gratitude for all your support,
Sarah
and all of us at Oompa Toys
The Whirligig Wooden Baby Rattle will keep babies entertained for hours as they grasp, clutch and maneuver this jingly toy, no batteries required.
The Whirligig Wooden Baby Rattle is recommended for newborns through 18 months. As children pound the bars of the Oval Xylophone, they'll learn about sound, harmony and rhythm as they improve on their fine motor skills.
The Oval Xylophone is recommended for children 12 months and up.
The Wagon with Classic Wooden Blocks is a modern version of a classic wooden toy. Pushing the wagon gets children up and moving and makes for easy cleanup.
Children ages 2 and up will enjoy pushing the wagon around and stacking the blocks as high as they can.
The Pink Wooden Rainbow is a gorgeous wooden toy with a sunset theme. Ocamora rainbows are easy to assemble into structures and the arches stack in either direction.
Ocamora Wooden Rainbows are an open-ended delight for children of all ages.The Elephant Washcloth Hand Puppet is the perfect gift for a new mother or bath time skeptic. Tell stories, sing songs and act out silly scenes for children as you help them get clean.
Safe and fun for newborns and older.
Looking for a new companion for your child? The Organic Puppy Plush is a perfect choice for snugglers of all sizes who need a lovie or tea-party guest. The Organic Puppy Plush is a companion for all ages.
Doll play develops socio-emotional skills in all children regardless of their gender. This organic doll, named Kye, is adorable and perfect for dramatic play.
Baby Kye and friends are perfect pals for children from birth.Eco Finger Paint is a blast for art projects or even bath play. Encourage creativity around the home with natural pigments for your children to explore.
Introduce your child to the art of paper folding with the Paper Magic Origami. Make a cute puppy, penguin, fish and more.
Children as young as 3 can make simple shapes with this kit. Children aged 6+ can fold the paper into animals
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If you're a parent you're probably wondering why wooden toys have continued to gain popularity over the last decade. Quite simply, wooden toys are safe for your baby, offer endless options for open-ended play, and will last for years of play.
Here at Oompa we vet every single toy company to ensure that all wooden toys we carry are also sustainable. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions we get about bringing wooden toys into the home.
1) Are wooden toys safer for my baby?
Yes! Wooden toys can most definitely be safer for your baby. You may have heard of BPA and PVC, two chemicals both commonly found in plastics. BPA is an abbreviation for bisphenol A, a chemical that has gained much attention since 2010 when the Food And Drug Administration reported that it could be hazardous to both fetuses and children. PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is another chemical found in plastics that has enormous environmental repercussions from production to disposal.
The dangers for little ones appear when pthalates are added to soften PVC. These toxic chemicals have been linked to several harmful effects including changes in hormone levels. There is no BPA, PVC, or pthalates in wooden toys making them a great choice for parents looking to avoid chemicals.
2) Are wooden toys eco-friendly? Aren’t you destroying forests?
Wooden toys can be very eco-friendly! All of our wooden toys are made from rubberwood, wood from FSC-certified forests, or bamboo (technically, bamboo is a grass with a woody stem, but we’ll include it here anyway).
Rubberwood trees produce latex for about 25 years. When they no longer produce latex, the forests of rubberwood are typically burnt down and replanted. Making wooden toys out of the non-producing trees is a great way to make use of materials that would otherwise be discarded. If eco-friendly rubberwood toys sound awesome to you, be sure to check out our collection of Plan Toys.
Many of our other toys are made from wood that hails from FSC-certified forests. The Forest Stewardship Council is an independent organization that certifies forests that meet their management standards which, according to FSC, “expand protection of water quality, prohibit harvest of rare old-growth forest, prevent loss of natural forest cover and prohibit highly hazardous chemicals, which are all unique aspects of the system.” Many HABA toys are made with FSC-certified wood.
Finally, bamboo toys are a great choice for eco-friendly families. This fast-growing grass is as durable as it is safe for babies and toddlers. If you want to see beautiful bamboo wooden toys, don’t miss our collection by Hape Toys.
3) Wooden toys seem to be more expensive. Are they worth the money?
Yes! Wooden toys are durable and can handle a lot of use over the course of many years. Many wooden toys can even be passed along from child to child and even generation to generation. When first purchasing a wooden toy, it may appear to be more expensive, but in the long run, high-quality toys always pay off.
4) Will my child be entertained with a toy that has no flashy lights?
Yes! Our wooden toys are designed to stimulate imagination through open-ended play. As one Oompa customer said, “never doubt the value of simplicity with children.”
5) My baby has been chewing on their wooden toy. It’s time to give it a wash… but how?
You can and should clean your wooden toys, especially teethers and rattles. The first thing to remember is that because these toys are made of wood, you definitely cannot soak them in water.
The best way to clean your clutching toy after your baby has had a quality gnawing session is to spot clean with a cloth and mild soap. You can then “rinse” it by using the cloth to dab the toy with fresh water. Make sure to let it dry thoroughly before giving it back to your little one.
If you’re new to the world of wooden toys, check out some of our favorites wooden toy categories for children of all ages.
A little bit silly (and a little bit salty), this can of sardines can be customized with your own brand of fish. We love the metallic heads peeking out!
Photo and craft source: Oh Happy Day!
A fun way for siblings to dress up as a pair, this cardboard box turned cage can house any circus animal. Transporting it on a wagon makes trick-or-treating more fun too.
Photo and craft source: Parents Magazine
Everyone loves a food truck! Leave it up to your child to decide what kind of cuisine they'll be selling.
Photo and craft source: The Merry Thought
This big bird is simply im-peck-able, dressed up in colorful wings and a brightly painted face. Use this template to recreate as a chicken, seagull or your little one's favorite avian friend.
Photo and craft source: Mer Mag
Cardboard really takes flight with these oversized wings. Simply attach to ribbon or even an existing backpack to make wearing these over clothes a cinch.
Photo and craft source: Mer Mag
Don these dino heads for a costume that will guarantee a roaring good time. We love seeing the child underneath through giant cardboard chompers too!
Photo and craft source: Zygote Brown Designs
A fun throwback to pre Instagram days, this cardboard photo strip requires access to a printer and a willing subject.
Photo and craft: Oh Happy Day!
All you need are clothes from their closet in this fun twist on a Halloween skeleton.
Photo and craft source: Rachel Burgess
Up, up and away in this cardboard marvel! Simply add straps to turn it into a wearable, soaring piece of the sky.
Photo and craft source: Hello Wonderful
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This easy tutorial is fun for all ages and includes materials every household has on hand.
1. Trim your egg carton. Remove the top and any tabs off of the base. If you're using a large carton cut in half so there are 6 compartments on each boat.
2. Cut a small hole in one of the points and push your stick in through the bottom. If the stick doesn't stay on it's own secure it with non-toxic glue and let dry.
3. Find some twine or leftover string to reuse. Punch a hole in the center of one side of the carton to thread your string through. Tie it here and at the top of the stick.
4. Decorate your boat! Cut colorful tissue paper or newspaper into the sail and flags by folding the paper in half and cutting triangles along the fold. Customize your boat with paint or markers.
5. Secure your sails and flags around the stick and string with a paper washi tape or non-toxic glue.
6. Add peg dolls or figures and let your imagination run wild!
They are also a great homemade gift idea for Mother's day.
Step 1: Flatten your cardboard tube and cut into slices. These will make your flower petals and leaves and you will need 7-8 for each flower pencil. If you want to create a more intricate design cut extra pieces.
Cascarones are a time-honored Mexican tradition enjoyed at fiestas and Easter celebrations across North America. The vibrant eggs are cracked over a child’s head, showering them with confetti or sometimes a surprise toy.
Today, many of these eggs contain glitter, mylar or other plastic components that are unsafe for wildlife and contribute to plastic pollution.
Here is an eco-friendly way to keep this beautiful tradition alive while cutting down on your impact!
Use a spoon to gently tap the smaller end of the egg until it cracks. Use a skewer or the handle end of the spoon to open up the cracked area, carefully removing the small shell parts.
Over a glass bowl, gently shake the egg until the egg white and yolk come out. Repeat these steps until all of your shells are empty. Remove any stray shell pieces and save the eggs for cooking.
Wash your eggs shells thoroughly. Color your eggs using whichever non-toxic method you prefer. We used watercolors but dying with natural materials also produces great results.
Grab your handheld hole punch, a handful of leaves, and settle down with a good show or audiobook. This step takes a while! Use the hole punch to create star, heart or circle shapes from your leaves.
In the end, they'll look like this! We had some handmade wildflower seed paper leftover from another project and added a fun plantable element to our confetti. You can also include other natural elements like dried flower petals or birdseed.
Continue until you have enough to put a tablespoon into each egg. Set aside a handful of larger leaves for later. Remove your eggs from the dye and let them dry completely.
Once your eggshells are dry, place a tablespoon of your natural confetti into each one. Set aside while you prepare the leaves for closing the eggs.
You can either use an entire leaf to cover the opening or cut out circles from your leaves. Using the large leaf created a beautiful finished product required a bit more patience. You'll need to hold the leaf in place until the glue gets tacky enough to stick on its own.
These circle closures were easier to apply. Apply glue all along the edges of the hole in the shell. Place an appropriately sized leaf circle on top and then gently flip it over and set it leaf side down to dry.
Now you're ready for an eco-friendly confetti egg bonanza!
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We asked Emily Newton, Ph.D., to select her favorite toys that enrich early learning. Emily is a child development researcher specializing in infant/toddler care, early childhood education, and kindergarten readiness. Emily also leans on her expertise as a parent of two young children. The toys Emily selected for this post all offer engaging opportunities for your child to learn through play! Now, let’s dive into her picks.
Beehives
The Plan Toys Beehives is a great way to practice color matching. As your child discovers that each bee has a matching hive, they are also learning to recognize each color. As you name the colors with them as they play, they connect the words to those colors! If your child uses the tweezers to put the bees into the hives, they exercise and strengthen the same muscles they use to draw, paint, and write. Though fun to play with independently, the Plan Toys Beehive can also work with multiple players. Early games like this one are rich with opportunities to practice essential social and emotional skills, like taking turns, waiting, and learning how to succeed and fail with grace. All of these require practicing self-regulation, or the ability to control your reactions and behavior. Preschoolers are just learning these skills, so it’s great to practice them before encountering kindergarten’s social and emotional expectations.
Eco Dough All Natural Play Dough (3+)
Eco Dough provides an excellent opportunity to explore the concept of representation (the idea that one thing can represent another thing), which is a big part of learning to read. When your child plays with Eco Dough, they can practice making something that represents another object—like making a dough butterfly representing a real butterfly. Understanding representation can help children understand that symbols, like letters and numbers, represent concepts, like sounds and quantities.
This Eco Dough is also helpful for color learning. As your child hears you name these colors, they’ll start to associate the color names with the dough colors. As they continue to explore, they may notice that blending specific colors makes new colors. Red and blue make purple! Yellow and blue make green! Playing with Eco Dough can also help your child understand the concept of “conservation of mass”— the fact that the quantity or volume of something doesn’t change even if you change what it looks like. If you make a ball of dough and then squish it, it is still the same amount of dough. It may look bigger when flattened, but it is still the same! This concept takes years to learn, as your child’s maturing brain processes experiences with materials like Eco Dough.
Haba Shakin’ Eggs
These Haba Shakin’ Eggs aren’t your everyday egg shakers. Each egg makes a unique sound, and one even twists! When young children grasp and shake them, they strengthen both their fine motor skills (little hand and finger muscle movements like grasping) and gross motor skills (large muscle movements like swinging their arms). They are also learning a crucial science concept—cause and effect. They observe that their actions can cause reactions by shaking the egg and hearing the sound it produces. Likewise, different motions and speeds can yield differing results. Rolling the egg may create a softer, slower sound. Finally, the same actions can cause different reactions with different objects, like how each egg makes its own sound when moved in the same way.
Though it might not be obvious, experience with music can also help your child practice their early math skills. Practicing a steady beat with a rhythm instrument like these eggs can help children internalize counting, that each number or beat is one more. And making different rhythms along to a song can help them recognize and learn to make patterns, a foundation for many future math concepts!
Animal Alphabet Flash Cards
Emily isn’t always a big fan of flashcards because they are often used to quiz children, and quizzing young children isn’t how they learn. But these beautiful alphabet cards from Wee Gallery offer so many more opportunities for learning beyond quizzing. First, these cards are perfect for newborns. Newborns see high contrast images the best. A few of these black and white drawings propped near an infant or spread out on the tummy time mat will hold their attention and help strengthen their visual system.
As your child gets older, you can name the animal images on the cards they point to or pick up, helping grow their vocabulary. If you have animal toys that match the cards, you can play a fun matching game with them to help them learn animal names in an engaging way. As your child enters the preschool years, they can associate the words for each animal with the beginning sounds and link those sounds to the letters. These cards have both upper and lower case letters so that your child can start to associate them together—a big task in preschool and early elementary school. These cards offer continuous opportunities for learning from infancy through school-age!
Organic Girl/Boy Waldorf Dress-Up Dolls (3+)
Getting a doll dressed and undressed can be challenging for little hands. These Organic Waldorf Dress-Up Dolls have flexible arms and legs, helping children bend them through the clothes’ holes. While they are doing this, they strengthen the hand and arm muscles that they will later use when writing with a pencil! They are also practicing a life skill that is important for everyday experiences—getting themselves dressed and undressed.
Of course, these beautiful dolls also provide pretend-play opportunities that strengthen imagination and encourage the development of problem-solving skills. As children act out the things they’ve experienced with their doll, like going to the doctor or playing with a friend, they are practicing what they can expect to happen in those situations (known as “scripts” or “schemas”) and working through their feelings about them. This practice will help them to feel safer and more secure in those situations. It can also help them build the cognitive, social, and emotional skills they’ll need to problem-solve.
Studies show that children's play quality is greatly improved when there are fewer toys at their disposal. It may seem counterproductive, but putting away half of the toy collection could be what sparks the most meaningful and creative play. Here are some of our top tips on incorporating a toy rotation in your home.
Where did all of these toys come from? It's a question most parents ask ourselves as we navigate a floor littered with more toys than we can count. Each developmental stage and new interest comes with an influx of playthings. Birthdays and other holiday gifts add up, and before we know it, our toyboxes are overflowing, and playtime feels more chaotic than productive.
Don't worry; there’s a solution! Studies show that children's play quality is greatly improved when there are fewer toys at their disposal. It may seem counterproductive, but putting away half of the toy collection could be what sparks the most meaningful and creative play. Here are some of our top tips on incorporating a toy rotation in your home.
When you begin a toy rotation, your primary goal is to reduce clutter and the overwhelming number of choices available to your child. Consider your space and where you will store the toys that aren't in the rotation. A spare closet or totes under the bed are great places to tuck your extra toys away.
Remember the saying: out of sight, out of mind. When you're doing a toy rotation, you should place your selection on an open shelf. Doing so allows the children to see everything available and creates an invitation for their imaginations to take off. Since there are fewer options, it's not overwhelming and even easier to keep tidy. If children of varying ages share your play space, keep the youngest child’s toys on the lower, most accessible level.
There are no rules to a toy rotation. After a few months of this method, you'll begin to see which items hold your child's attention the longest, what combinations encourage creative play and which toys never get old. Keep your tried and true favorites in play. If their dump truck is their go-to, don't rotate it out just for the sake of starting fresh. Instead, see how they incorporate it into play with the other materials you've chosen!
While it may seem like a lot of effort, the payoff is well worth it. Better, more engaged independent play will flourish under the right conditions. Toys that used to sit, ignored at the bottom of a bin, will be exciting again when they show up in a new toy rotation. It will also simplify the cleanup process. Everyone in the family can help keep your play space tidy by putting each item back in its designated spot on the shelf. Win, win!
We reached out to our friend Leslie Long to ask what traditions her family incorporated for a more eco-friendly Christmas experience. Here's what she shared with us:
"While we have been leaning into fabric gift wrapping in recent years, using upcycled brown paper wrap has been something our family has enjoyed for many years. We set aside the brown paper grocery bags and packing papers that arrived in the post, and sit down together in December with paint and stampers to turn it into special gift wrap. It turns out different each year and the kids love creating it. We always use the stamped wrap when we are putting together gifts for our family and friends and it has become something they recognize and look forward to each year as well."
We were so inspired by Leslie's bespoke recycled wrapping, we had to try our hand at it as well. Here's how we added it to our eco-friendly Christmas practices, and 10 more ideas to reduce, reuse, and recyle this holiday season.
1. Cloth gift wrapping is the easiest way to reduce holiday waste! Grab a few play silks or recycled garments and tie them snuggly around your gifts.
2. Natural beeswax candles add to the cozy mood and make great options for menorah and kinara candles. Make your own to decrease your carbon footprint even more.
3. Gift with intention. We love the idea of "Something you want, something you need, something to wear, and something to read." Sustainable heirloom quality toys and clothing that last through multiple children are impactful ways to reduce waste and encourage thoughtful gifting.
4. Reuse cardboard from your holiday deliveries to create custom name tags for your gifts, decorative garlands, and gift boxes. These tags were fun to make an add a whimsical touch to the gifts.
5. Skip the wrapping all together! Set up large gifts as a fun invitation to play and explore on Christmas morning.
6. Don't shy away from gifting second-hand items. Children can gift a toy that they no longer play with or coat that they've outgrown to a younger sibling, and thrifted or mended items can be given a second life and gifted to friends and family.
7. Look for Natural and biodegradable decorations to DIY. Dried orange slices and cranberries strung on twine make a beautiful garland. Bundles of cinnamon sticks, salt dough, and pinecones also add to the holiday cheer without adding to the trash pile.
8. Fill the house with holiday scents without leaning on synthetic air fresheners. Simmer a combination of oranges, cranberries, pine needles, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, or whatever seasonal scents you love, in a pot of water on the stove.
9. Skip the wrapping all together! Set up large gifts as a fun invitation to play and explore on Christmas morning. Their excitement won't be diminished by the lack of paper wrapping and you'll save time and resources.
10. Instead of buying plastic bows tie small gifts like wooden animals or small books as gift toppers.
The tree is decked and your holiday shopping is done! Now you can relax and enjoy this exciting holiday scavenger hunt while you wait for Santa to arrive. To win, find all of the festive objects around the house, or while you're out around your neighborhood. Work as a team or race with your friend, sibling, or parent!
You can choose to do the full hunt or the mini edition with pictures for little ones who want to join in on the fun. Download your holiday scavenger hunt list here!
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Chris loves our Tegu Magnetic Blocks, and everything else Tegu makes! These wooden blocks hold your builds together with embedded magnets, until it's time to clean up.
Sarah's favorite is the Wooden Letters Name Train. With the individual letter train cars, one can spell a child's name or a special message, like LOVE or PEACE. It makes a unique gift that will be kept always. The Basic Wooden Train Track Set is the perfect companion.
Hannah Honeybee & Count Your Chickens are some of our favorite cooperative games! Work together in these critter themed games and make family night even more fun.
Living on the Coast of Maine, these Organic Sailboat Baby Blankets are Erica's go-to baby gift. Made of softest snuggly cotton fleece and jersey knit - I wish I could wear one!
Organic Wooly Teddy Bear is Laura’s pick for best snuggle buddy. Its natural wool stuffing makes this German-made bear warm and cozy.
We all care about sustainable and earth-friendly play. Eco-Finger Paint uses all-natural plant, vegetable, and fruit extracts to make these vibrant paints that little artists will love exploring.
These classic Grimm’s Natural Wooden Toy Cars are a must have for Susan. Grimm's hand craft these cars in Germany from lime wood and finish them with non-toxic linseed oil that allows the natural beauty of the wood grain to show through.
Try as she might, Charly hasn’t yet mastered French. That doesn’t keep her from loving our language blocks that are available in French, Hebrew, German, Arabic, and Italian.
Bzzz. Christine's son want's to be a "bug scientist" someday so this set of wooden Beehives is near to their hearts. Take turns matching a bee to it's beehive and fine tune your motor skills while using the pinchers to fly them home.
Children’s toys are important tools for play and learning that they interact with each day. These toys are sometimes chewed on by infants and toddlers, snuggled with at bedtime, and even worn on their bodies as they dress up or put on a play. That’s why the materials they’re made of matter.
Organic has become a buzzword in recent years. Grocery stores are full of organic produce and trendy apparel brands pride themselves on their organic cotton range. But what does it really mean to produce organic products, and most specifically, organic toys? Organic toys are usually made of natural materials like wood or organically grown fibers like cotton and wool.
In order to be labeled organic, toymakers are required to meet USDA organic standards regarding how the fiber was grown. This doesn’t account for the processes used in manufacturing, so we recommend always doing your research or looking for additional certifications by groups like the Forest Stewardship Council or Oeko-Tex.
Petroleum-based plastics can contain dangerous toxins and have a larger ecological impact than organic toys made with natural materials. Here are some things to look for when selecting safe organic toys:
There are seemingly endless amounts of information about the best materials and practices for safe toy manufacturing. It can be overwhelming to wade through the articles and scour the internet for answers. That’s why every brand we carry at Oompa Toys has been researched and vetted. We ensure the toys you choose for your children are made of safe organic materials using the best practices possible. Organic is more than a buzzword to us, it’s our ethos.
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A developing baby grasps objects and brings them to their mouth to explore texture. Once sitting up, they knock over the tower of blocks you’ve built, or roll the ball away to explore cause and effect. Will they bring the ball back or build a new tower? They’re studying and learning every moment!
It’s important to choose toys that are developmentally appropriate and safe for children under 12 months old. With so many options available how do you know what to look for?
First, make sure you’re checking the manufacturers age recommendation. Children’s products are subject to a set of safety rules, and the Consumer Protection Safety Commission determines the minimum safety standards a product must meet and how it can be marketed. You’ll want to avoid toys that are rated above 1 year old because they may not pass the safety test for infants.
When choosing which toys to add to your infants collection keep the following things in mind:
Now that we have a solid list of hazards to watch out for, what are the things you do want to look for when shopping for infant toys? At Oompa we care about selecting the best toys, made from organic materials that are eco-friendly and safe for everyone. Here are some of our favorite toys for your baby, and why we love them:
These toys are great options for the early months when your baby is working on picking up and holding objects, exploring how they move, taste, and feel! Select options that have natural, water based paints or organic fabrics.
Soft organic materials are perfect for baby’s first cuddly friend. Your baby is likely to give their stuffed animals a taste now and then, so consider options that have embroidered features instead of plastic parts that could come loose. We love these small, lightweight options to start out.
No one said having a baby was going to be quiet! Noise making toys help boost cognitive skills and sensory development. From rattles to squeakers, these are sure to delight baby’s desire to make a bit of noise! Make sure there are no loose parts before allowing baby to explore a noise making toy.
Blocks are a classic early childhood toy for a reason. They aid in development in a myriad of ways including fine motor and spatial skills. Babies under 1 aren’t quite ready to build impressive structures, but they will enjoy banging two blocks together, manipulating them in their hands, and knocking over small towers a grown up or sibling has built for them.
Another classic category, vehicles and rolling toys are great ways to boost your baby’s motor skills. These grow with your little one as well and become great tools for imaginary play. Ensure the wheels are secure when giving your baby a rolling toy, and avoid toys with wheels that would be small enough to be a choking hazard.
We get a lot of questions from parents about knowing the right age to introduce classic and key developmental toys.
“When should I buy my baby a doll?” or “What’s the right age for a wooden truck?” are some of the most frequently asked questions we receive. With an endless number of toys to choose from, it’s easy to feel overloaded with options and information.
Here are our general guidelines, but keep in mind that every child has different needs and may be ready sooner or later than their peers. Always pay attention to age recommendations though, as some small parts might not be suitable for children under 3.
Shape sorters, nesting cups, and ring stackers are classic baby toys that most parents are familiar with. They’re great for improving hand-eye coordination, problem-solving, and cause-and-effect for toddlers between ages 1 and 2 years old.
Blocks are a toy that will grow with your child’s skill level throughout childhood. As young as 6 months old they may grasp a wooden block and explore it with their mouth. At 1, the joy of noise-making is fully realized when they bang their blocks together or topple over your block creations. Closer to two the stacking begins and things really get fun! Here are some favorite blocks for these stages.
Wooden vehicles are a staple for curious toddlers. From rolling and racing to more involved imaginary play, an investment in high-quality wooden cars and trucks always pays off. For younger toddlers, a vehicle they can grasp and easily push is a great option. From 2 to 4 they’ll be excited to have larger options that challenge their gross motor skills.
Puzzles are great because they work fine motor skills and flex our brains at the same time. For young toddlers, starting close to 2, puzzles help develop basic skills such as shape recognition and concentration. Around 3 they learn the concept of a 'whole' and that each piece is a fraction of the bigger picture, laying the groundwork for early math concepts.
Imagination takes flight around 2 and 3 years old, when most children start to engage in dramatic play. They begin to act as if their doll can see and interact with them and mimic real-life through their play as they feed, bathe, and dress their dolls. The social-emotional value of dolls comes into play when they begin to explore feelings and behaviors, offering them a perfect opportunity to practice handling their fear and anger, or even navigating social behaviors. A special doll can also be a comfort object for transitions like moving into a big kid bed or going to preschool.
A play kitchen is another opportunity for children to play real life. A little chef can practice everything from gross and fine motor skills to imaginative play. While young toddlers might enjoy opening and closing the doors or mixing play food in a bowl, older children (3+) will be able to fully engage in the play kitchen and get lost in pretend play for long periods of time.
Keep in mind, parents know their child best! Some children may be more interested in imaginary play with dolls while others are engineering towers of blocks. Following the child’s lead is best.
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For this tutorial head to your recycling bin and pull out some cardboard. You'll also need cellophane, which is compostable and can break down in 3 months’ time when placed in the earth.
Here's how to create this eco-friendly fall craft project that breaks down just like the leaves!
-Recycled cardboard
-Cellophane sheets in various primary colors
-Scissors or Xacto knife
-Non-toxic glue
-Yarn or twine
Color mixing with cellophane
First, trace a series of various leaf shapes onto your cardboard to create frames for your cellophane. Depending on your child’s age you can cut these out in advance or let them help with scissors. We used an Xacto knife to easily cut the window into each leaf.
Cut your primary colored cellophane into small pieces to cover the “windows” you’ve made in your leaves. Cellophane is a cellulose film made from wood, cotton, hemp, or other organic sources, and its see-through nature makes it an exciting sensory experience for little one’s of all ages.
Cellophane is a fun way to explore primary and secondary colors and how they mix together. Try using red and yellow, layering them together to create orange.
Let your glue dry then use your new fall colored leaves to explore the autumn colors.
Hold your leaves in front of a flashlight or window, use them as funny spectacles as you look around the playroom. Color sort your other toys to match each leaf.
Afterwards you can use yarn to hang leaves in the window for a colorful suncatcher effect.
The possibilities are endless with these simple eco-friendly materials!
Laura Fenton lives in a 690-square-foot apartment with her husband and son in Jackson Heights, Queens. She's the author of The Little Book of Living Small and understands that when it comes to bringing toys into tight quarters, it's all about being mindful.
Here are her tips on making it playful in even the smallest spaces.
In my book, I encourage small-space families to seek out playthings that harmonize with their decor because they will be on frequent, if not constant display. This is especially important for the larger toys or playthings: For example, in our apartment, we opted for a bentwood child’s table and chairs blend into a living room’s decor more readily than a brightly-colored plastic set.
The Grimm’s Stepped Pyramid Math Blocks (or really any of Grimm’s beautiful toys!) are a great example of a beautiful, display-worthy toy. I also love that these can be used for early math lessons. Our son’s pre-K teacher used cubes for math lessons, and now that we’ll be doing the majority of our learning at home, I think these would be a great tool in our at-home learning kit.
I also encourage parents to think long and hard about large toys. Play kitchens, dollhouses, and toy race tracks all take up a lot of space in a small home. Before buying one of these behemoths, consider if your child can enjoy this kind of play elsewhere, like at school or Sunday school. There might also be a smaller version that will bring as much joy. For example, the Assorted Fruits & Vegetables Set might scratch the play kitchen itch without taking up a ton of floorspace. We had a similar set of vegetables you could slice and our son loved “cutting” the food.
We had a set of these Haba Discovery Blocks when my son was just beginning to play with toys and they were the perfect on-the-go distraction. I would put them in a cloth pouch in our diaper bag or airplane carry-on and they took up very little space at all.
These magnetic wooden blocks are a delight! Tegu blocks are definitely an investment piece, but your kids will play with them for years to come, which for me is a small-space win because I know the toy deserves the space on our shelves.
Real bunk beds are such a fun and practical space saver for kids’ rooms (my next book is going to be all about bunk beds!). So, of course, I am drawn to this wooden doll bunk bed. Also, all kids, my son included, love bunks!
One of the secrets of living small is to get outside of your small space—often! A toy like the Natural Hopscotch Chalk is a simple, inexpensive way to get kids excited about being outside. This spring New York City has closed some streets to traffic so kids have room to play and there’s been a serious chalk art revival going on.
We’ve heard from parents all over the country that this school year will be different.
Whether you’re teaching a child full-time at home, trying to juggle a full-time job and homeschool or using a hybrid model, here are some tips on getting through it.
Stick to a Schedule
You don’t need to follow your child’s usual schooling hours, but making sure you begin each morning at the same time (when breakfast and free play is finished) you’ll quickly develop a school routine.
But Be OK With Veering From It
There might be mornings when a parent will have an unexpected work call or a lesson takes longer than expected. Just keep moving forward and try to get back on track the next day.
Set up a Space
Designate a schooling space in your home where lessons are given. Children will know that when they’re in that area, it’s learning time!
Offer Lots of Mini Breaks
It can be hard on both parents and children to get through lessons coupled with real-life at home. Set a timer and take a 15 minute break after every lesson to keep bellies full and motivation high!
Take Time to Play
There is no such thing as too much play! The beauty of school at home means recess can take place 4 times a day! The more free play your child has, the better they’ll be able to focus on school tasks when they’re back at their desk.
Enjoy the Outdoors
On a beautiful day, feel free to move a lesson outside. There’s nothing wrong with some math in the sunshine.
Pursue New Interests
Use this time to find ways to incorporate your child’s interests into school lessons, whether it’s new art projects or extracurricular activities that support their hobbies.
Start a Parenting Group
Make sure you’re supported too! Start an email chain or weekly Zoom call with other parents to see how everyone is hanging in.
Expect the Unexpected
A pet will get sick. The power might go out. When a day gets completely derailed, focus on getting back on track the next day.
Be Forgiving
You may lose your cool. Your child may get frustrated. These are unprecedented times and forgive yourself when things go awry. Every day is a fresh start.
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Happy Earth Day! Here at Oompa Toys, our mission is simple. We offer toys that have a positive impact on your children and the planet.
But we also try and make changes every day that will help reduce waste and save our planet and the natural world around us.
Here are 10 easy things to try with your children today!
1. Get little ones excited about recycling. Keep your home's recycling station accessible to children can get involved in sorting.
2. Upcycle for creative projects. Save egg cartons, toilet paper and paper towel rolls and jars from the recycling bin to use for craft projects throughout the year.
3. Buy in bulk. Try and limit household waste by buying items like beans, granola and other snacks in bulk rather than in pre-packaged boxes.
4. Take advantage of your local library. Not only are libraries great for discovering new books, but many offer toys to check out so that you can bring new games home without buying.
5. Play outside. Nothing encourages children to love nature more than experiencing it on a daily basis.
6. Switch off the lights. Enjoy candlelit dinners or bedtime stories by flashlight for an hour each evening.
7. Create a nature table. Designate a spot in the house where children can bring treasures from the outdoors in. A magnifying glass or microscope on the table allows them to explore their finds in-depth.
8. Feed the birds. Create a pinecone bird feeder, a recycled milk jug feeder or simply hang a traditional feeder. Start a bird watching journal and write down all the feathered friends that flock to your yard.
9. Join a Clean Up day. Many local towns have their own clean-up days where residents help pick up trash around their neighborhood. Don't have one in your area? Take a garbage bag on a walk and help clean up litter on your own.
10. Start a Garden. Whether you can create a raised bed in your yard or only have space for seedlings on your windowsill, children will be in awe as they watch their seeds grow.
What are your favorite ways to teach children to preserve the planet? Please share ideas in the comments below!
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Homemade Finger Paints
What You'll Need
3 tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup cornstarch
2 cups water
Directions
Combine all ingredients in a small sauce pan. Warm over low heat until mixture thickens. Cool and pour into small jars and add food coloring in each (a few drops at a time until you reach your desired color).
Homemade Play Dough
What You'll Need
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup salt
4 teaspoons of cream of tartar
2 cups lukewarm water
2 tablespoon of vegetable or coconut oil
Quart-sized bags
Food coloring (optional)
Directions
Stir together the flour, salt and cream of tartar in a large pot. Next add the water and oil.
If you’re only making one color, add in the the color now as well.
Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly.
Continue stirring until the dough has thickened and begins to form into a ball. Remove from heat and then place inside a gallon sized bag or onto wax paper. Allow to cool slightly and then knead until smooth.
If you’re adding colors after, divide the dough into balls (for how many colors you want) and then add the dough into the quart-sized bags.
Start with about 5 drops of color and add more to brighten it.
Knead the dough, while inside the bag so it doesn’t stain your hands.
Once it’s all mixed together you’re ready to play!
Sensory Station
What You'll Need
Large plastic storage container
Sensory materials (rice, popcorn kernels, dry beans, pom poms - whatever you have on hand!)
Directions
If you don't have a child-size table, set the bin on top of a tablecloth or blanket on the floor (this will make cleanup easier in case something spills). Combine all materials into the bin and set out spoons, measuring cups and some small toys inside the bin. Children will love digging their fingers into the bin and practicing scooping and pouring the materials.
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