Comments (1) We love this book about Elmer the patchwork elephant. In addition to an uplifting message about celebrating our differences, the illustrations are so cute!
Other Elmer books are available, including some baby board books.
This makes a great gift along with the adorable Elmer stuffed toy pictured at right (for more details, see my Elmer the Patchwork Elephant stuffed toy post).
We had a family game night tonight with a card game (by Cranium) that my 7 year-old daughter got last Christmas from a friend. It is a game that we had not really focused on before.
Zigity
is such a cool card game! It is supposed to be for ages 8 to adult, but my 5 year-old, 7 year-old and two adults played happily together without problem (the 5 year-old enjoyed it, but needed some assistance though).
The play is a bit like Crazy 8′s or Uno, but instead of just matching cards, players must complete certain puzzles at each turn. Puzzles involve either matching images, completing a visual puzzle, forming words, or adding numbers.
It is really quite educational and fun (and challenging) for adults too! Always a HUGE plus in my book. The cards are made of a transparent plastic which adds to the “wow factor.”
This is a game that is very unpredictable. It involves just the right proportions of skill, strategy and luck to make it interesting and fun for all ages. A player with one card left really has just as much chance of winning (ie. getting rid of all their cards) as one with 6 cards left!
If kids can’t spell simple words yet or do addition, then they will need some help. But we had no problem playing with my kindergarten-aged son. I just looked at his cards and helped him when he needed it. And once, he actually beat us all!
I highly recommend this card game. It would even make a great stocking stuffer, which is always nice.
A couple more Unplugged Toy Stores I have found:
Kid Bean (Organic and vegan toys, clothing and products) - TOYS: Wooden toys, cooperative games, organic cotton stuffed toys and dolls, and arts and crafts supplies.
The Silly Wagon (Boutiquey-type stuff: clothing, toys, decor, accessories, etc.) - TOYS: Wooden toys, arts and crafts, plush and handcrafted. (Exudes a bit of a trendy boutique air, but I thought some of the prices weren’t too bad compared to similar items at other stores, and there were some toys and clothes that I would buy).
Palumba (Natural and Waldorf toys) - TOYS: Large assortment of wood toys, playsilks, dolls, pretend play, arts and crafts, etc.
Gosh, there are really a lot of stores out there, but some of them are just too style-conscious or too expensive for me. If I can’t find a toy that I would buy at the price they are asking, then it doesn’t make my cut. If I feel that it is all more about “trendy baby/mama” then it doesn’t make it either.
Be sure to check for coupon codes here before considering any purchase!
This is one that I don’t have yet, but that I am planning on buying for my almost 2 year-old for Christmas.
I like these wooden cube puzzles and we have had several of them, but usually the pictures are simply paper that is glued on to the block (including one that was a Melissa & Doug, I was very disappointed). Trust me, that never lasts long. Selecta doesn’t glue the image on, they use some sort of a transfer that doesn’t seem like it will ever come off (we have a few Selecta games with images on wooden tiles so I know how they do it and that it lasts).
Do the math, and you will find that these four cubes can make six different cute pictures. If you want to see them all, then click on the Amazon link.
Plus…Selecta toys are made in Germany. Need I say more?
None of my children has ever had a favorite lovey until my youngest. She has “Doudou” (baby French for “lovey”). This cute little green bunny in the photo. Other colors and animals are available, but I chose to feature my daughter’s special “Doudou.”
Santa brought Doudou for Christmas last year when she was nearly one. Pretty much from the start, she has loved him.
Now she is 22 months and takes every nap with Doudou, and of course sleeps with him at night. In the morning I ask her if she slept well. If I forget to ask her how “Doudou” slept, she will say to me “Doudou? Doudou?” Until I ask. (He always seems to have slept well thank you.)
He is very soft and comes in a lovely little round box that you will certainly want to keep (he is sitting on it in the photo). He is made in France (not China) by French company Kaloo.
I can tell you that my daughter’s Doudou has met with all manner of natural biological calamities and has been machine washed and tumbled dry numerous times. He always comes out of his bathing experience soft and intact.
My daughter and I cannot recommend him highly enough!
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