Positive toys for kids?

[bkatzman]

Hey all Moms, Pops, and anything in between,

I am looking to buy something for my five year-old niece, who is really into animals, A.R., art and also typical kid stuff, like Curious George, etc. Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Bryce

[dropscone]

I got something like this (http://www.mastermindtoys.com/store/product.asp?product_code=57890&cat=15&brand=0&subcat=104&agecat=0&showcat=0) for my young cousins and apparently they were big hits. I think the ones I got were foot pumped though.

I know that doesn't really fit your description of her likes, but that's the present I've had most positive feedback on :)

[grog]

old threads in the breeders forum might be of use

[Dandelion]

I know that doesn't really fit your description of her likes, but that's the present I've had most positive feedback on :)

i think he meant "positive" as in animal positive not "positive feedback" teehee.

[herbi]

I think Rockets are Positive! (Well, OK, I think Rockets are Cool... how about that?)

I don't have a specific product in mind, but a field guide written specifically for children might be good, so she can walk around learning the difference between maple and oak trees, and looking for squirrel or rabbit footprints, etc?

[Miso Vegan]

I got my son books about vegetarians. he's nearing 7, and when he was 5 we had these books....
Victor the Vegetarian
Victor's Picnic
Herb the Vegetarian Dragon (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1902283368/sr=1-1/qid=1145926527/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-9780193-9281416?%5Fencoding=UTF8&s=books)
The Red Dragon (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0803714521/sr=1-9/qid=1145926248/ref=sr_1_9/103-9780193-9281416?%5Fencoding=UTF8&s=books)
And for Thanksgiving, 'Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0439669375/ref=pd_sim_b_5/103-9780193-9281416?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=283155), by Dav Pilkey (not to be confused with a dead-turkey version by the same name!)

Of them, we really dislike the Victor books (two of 'em), but my son likes Herb the Vegetarian Dragon, and his favorite is the Red Dragon. He (the dragon, not my son) starts off red (very carnivorous) and at the end turns green (and vegetarian). I like that it includes herbivores (sheep, horse, cow) and gives a very positive message about their diet, in a very simplified way. But what my son likes about it is that there are costumes to dress the dragon in (the pieces are stored within the book).
We both really like the Thanksgiving book.
We don't own the Herb... spin-offs (a cookbook, and another title).

I've heard good things about Cows Are Vegetarians (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0963089307/ref=cm_lm_fullview_prod_8/103-9780193-9281416?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=283155).

[Emiloid]

How about some paper and pens, crayons, or paints? (Either way, LOTS of paper!!!)

Books are always a good gift, in my opinion. :) In addition to books about animals, nature, or the environment, you could get her books about different people. Maybe one about kids around the world, or different kinds families, or about people with diabilities? In other words, feed her compassion and understanding for all living things.

[MissLovely]

Cost Plus has some really neat lizard flashlights that my kids love.

[bkatzman]

Thanks for the good ideas yinz guys. I will be buying them all!

[gur]

i didn't know where else to ask this - is there another toy thread somewheres?

anyhoo, i have some kids to buy presents for and i reeeeeeally don't want to contribute to the plastic vortex (http://www.veganrepresent.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9852) etc. and wastefulness of the overabundance of toys they get all the time. the kids are two girls, ages 5 and 3ish. but really, i need ideas for all ages because they're gonna keep growing. :p

i've thought of getting sciency type stuff, or wooden toys or books....

what do you people buy for kids? :)

eta: yes i've read the thread, i just want more ideas! more damnit! :p
eata: the kids are not veg, nor are the parents pro veg or anything like that.

[grog]

potatos!

put them in dirt, and they'll grow like magic!

[gur]

oooOOOOooooo!!

[grog]

i get stuff from the "learning" stores for kids. its not all plasticy.

[petaske'kwe']

I've given kids art supplies and they seem to enjoy them. Colored pencils and some coloring books with ponies or dolphins, etc.

I have nieces that age and they love to bake stuff, because their parents don't do it that often. Maybe make up a jar of cookie dough mix or cake mix with simple instructions? Or Easy-Bake oven kits? You don't need the Easy-Bake oven, you can just use a regular oven, and some of the mixes are actually vegan and pretty tasty, in my opinion. The packaging is very kid-appealing too. Maybe some cookie cutters or a kid-sized rolling pin?

Knock-knock joke books are usually a hit around that age, too. Kites, snow-fort-making toys, beading kits, other simple craft kits (this company (http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/sr=1-4/qid=1163712557/ref=sr_1_4/602-9660858-4275839?ie=UTF8&asin=B00001P4XU) has some pretty nice kits)...

I think there is another toy thread around here somewhere. grog, didn't you start one?

[grog]

there's this one (http://www.veganrepresent.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7546), but its not that useful.

i searched for toys, btw, and came up with the sex toy thread, that made me giggle.

[Kat]

dinosaurs!

[gur]

keep it comin, keep it comin! :silly:

[Kat]

My neice is turning 3 and for her birthday I bought a toy dinner set. It's from Japan and has little plastic plates, tea cups, a tea pot, cubes of tofu, sushi rolls, gyozas, chopsticks, etc. It's super cute. :)

[matriarco]

I just taught 2- to 5-year-olds for a few years. The amount of plastic most kids have is ridiculous. Especially the amount of talking plastic.

I would recommend maybe something they can build with, like big or small (depending on the space they have) wooden blocks. The kids also really liked these small wooden treehouses we had, though those are probably expensive if they're not made by someone you know.

What about a white board and dry erase markers? It's plastic but saves some paper and kids like to use it.

A construction set (http://www.liveandlearn.com/woodconstructionset.html) of some sort.

A weaving kit.

This site (http://www.gogreen.cellande.co.uk/directory/children-toys.htm) links to companies that have more environmentally friendly toys.

[Miso Vegan]

Well, for that age I really support art supplies - and in particular, getting them their own (differently-colored) matching set of "office" supplies - stapler, tape, scissors, etc. And a big pile o' paper. You can also find art kits that close like a suitcase and have handles, so they can take them to restaurants, etc.

Girls generally love dress-up. You can go to thrift stores and buy a huge box of fancy clothes (like cocktail dresses, evening ware, shiny purses, gloves and scarves, etc) for them. Last year I got adult women's fancy clothes in small sizes for a friends' daughter and to this day I see her wear some element of them to school (over jeans, you know).

At websites, you can usually search by sex and age:

www.MagicCabin.com - They provide Waldorf-style playthings, which means almost no plastic. Similar but with more plastic is www.HearthSong.com

There's also www.BackToBasicToys.com, for "classic" toys.

MidWare.com is "brainy" toys but plenty o' plastic.

[nauthiz]

LEGO LEGO LEGO LEGO!

And not the weird pirates and Star Wars and all that. An honest to goodness set of blocks. It's about imagination, not following directions.

Yeah, it's plastic, but I still have Lego blocks I was given when I was 5. I still use 'em, and just as soon as I get me some nieces or nephews or something I'll have someone to pass them on to 'cuz they don't get dated like the talking varieties of plastic.

[gur]

thank you guys soooo much for the links and suggestions!

i'm leaning towards the art supplies (maybe i'm biased because i'm an artist :p), but i'm definitely going to check out the links in more detail. :thumbsup:

nauthiz, i gave them lego last year. maybe i could add to it. good idea.

[gravity_defiant]

And for Thanksgiving, 'Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0439669375/ref=pd_sim_b_5/103-9780193-9281416?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=283155), by Dav Pilkey (not to be confused with a dead-turkey version by the same name!)

I read that to the kindergarteners today and the LOVED it! But now I'm wondering if I'll get in trouble because someone's refusing to eat their dinner. :p It's kind of hard to decide what to root for there...

When I buy presents for kids I usually get them really good, quality books. (Not necessarily expensive fancy hardcover editions, just good literature.) But I also like anything creative. Art stuff, of course--although keep it basic; Crayola is coming out with lots of ridiculous plastic crap that doesn't really qualify as "art" anymore, but also building toys. A good set of wooden blocks is one of the best toys a kid can have. The downside is they can get expensive. There are also lots of plastic-but-good building sets out there, like Legos and Tinker Toys (yup, they're plastic now) and K'Nex. I've also given a batch of homemade play dough, along with the recipe (let me know if you want it) and a bunch of little rolling pins and cookie cutters and things that make cool textures, etc. You can find great play-dough toys in a kitchen store: Garlic presses make hair, and potato mashers make patterns, and those little spreading knives are great for kids + play dough, etc.

[Kat]

LEGO LEGO LEGO LEGO!

And not the weird pirates and Star Wars and all that.

Hey, when I was a kid, my space legos and my pirate legos were some of my favourite things :)

[grog]

knight legos

[Kat]

knight legos

a toy castle!

[grog]

a toy castle!
:yes:

[nauthiz]

Hey, when I was a kid, my space legos and my pirate legos were some of my favourite things :)

Yeah, the old ones were great. But the new specialty sets are basically just one huge "block" that is really just another single-use plastic toy and then about 5 or 6 real Lego blocks as a token gesture.

[holidayatsea]

brothers and sisters.

get busy, people. ;)

[gr8flgrl]

rubber stamps and colorful ink pads

eta: washable of course!

[dropscone]

Count another vote for playdough from me. Also, I remember playing for ages with big wooden beads - putting them on string, taking them off again, putting them back on... the possibilities seemed endless back then :D

[bird]

Ecological toys for kids (http://www.katescaringgifts.com/pages/product/kids/kids.html)

ETA: Use coupon code 'BITER' and get 20% off.

[grog]

Count another vote for playdough from me. Also, I remember playing for ages with big wooden beads - putting them on string, taking them off again, putting them back on... the possibilities seemed endless back then :D

and now you make necklaces! see how that works out parents?

[moonflower]

i can't recommend any positive toys but i will register my disgust with alot of the mainstream stuff that is marketed at young girls : plastic make-up toy sets, toy vacuum cleaners, cookies covered in chocolate that are shaped like mobile phones etc. once in a while they do something like bring out a tool set, but then it's usually in pink. foul. thanks alot

[grog]

mak me cupcake in ur ez bak ovun?

[neverfeltbetter]

felt boards. i made some for my oldest when she was 2 with shapes and we still have it 8 years later for our 2 year old. i have seen cool travel ones for the car or restaurant or whatever. the 2-6 year old set love them.

also chalk boards or magnet sets are amazing too. as a kid i had an easel with one side of each and i was lost in kiddie lala land for days, and so are my kids too with either one of those. i found a magnet set that came in a slim tin, kind of like a book and it opens up to a scene with all the animals and people and we have had that for years and it has never lost its appeal.

[bird]

no idea if they make it anymore, but for years and years and years i :heart:ed my texas instruments speak 'n' spell. and i have impeccable spelling as an adult. :sunny:

[MissLovely]

Harmonicas are pretty cool.
I bought my son a mortar and pestal.
He's almost four, and really digs it.
You can make homemde play-dough. Or buy real clay. It's fun stuff.
I give my kids real canvas, and paints, and real oil pastels.
A set of real drawing pencils would be cool if the kid's old enough for pencils.
Magnetic rocks are totally cool.
My kids have their own houseplants.
Blocks are good for the fundamentals of math.
I bought my friend's son, a water pump/bath toy.
That's all I've got for now. :D

[gur]

thanks y'all, these are some excellent ideas!

[JasperKat]

My neice is turning 3 and for her birthday I bought a toy dinner set. It's from Japan and has little plastic plates, tea cups, a tea pot, cubes of tofu, sushi rolls, gyozas, chopsticks, etc. It's super cute. :)


This is teh coolest! Where did you get it?

-JK

[Vegtink]

Broken glass and rusted nails. My kids love them!

[atouria]

no idea if they make it anymore, but for years and years and years i :heart:ed my texas instruments speak 'n' spell. and i have impeccable spelling as an adult. :sunny:


OMG, bird! I've been trying to think of the name of that thing for weeks!! Since the baby is on the way, we keep talking about old skool toys that were educational and not just about slapping the latest cartoon character on them. I've described this thing over and over and could never remember the name! I kept calling it a see n'say or something and that wasn't it. The speak n spell was my Favorite toy! Mine was yellow. Omg, thanks so much! :D

[atouria]

I found an emulator! It doesn't do all the functions, but I was so glad to hear the ultra robotic sounds. :)

http://homepage.mac.com/jakesmith/speaknspell/speaknspell.html

[bird]

Aw, you're welcome. You should have asked here, that's what I always do when I have a question. :blush:

I didn't know they came in different colors. Mine was red. I don't know who originally gave it to me, but I still played with it well into my later childhood years, when I had definitely overgrown the level of difficulty of the tasks, just because I enjoyed it so much. I really wish they made an adult version, with hard words for grown-ups. Sigh. There really aren't games made for the word geeks among us, especially spelling geeks. Scrabble does not count. I dislike Scrabble because I hate playing a complex/smart word and then getting fewer points for it than someone who plays a short/simple word, just because of where we respectively had to place our words on the board. To me Scrabble has always been more about strategy and the luck of getting high-value letters (at the right time, no less) than it is about appreciating words as a whole and for their own sake.

[bird]

I found an emulator! It doesn't do all the functions, but I was so glad to hear the ultra robotic sounds. :)

http://homepage.mac.com/jakesmith/speaknspell/speaknspell.htmlAieeeeeeeeee!!!!!! Holy crap!! I love you, atouria!! :kiss: :love:

[Miso Vegan]

no idea if they make it anymore, but for years and years and years i :heart:ed my texas instruments speak 'n' spell. and i have impeccable spelling as an adult. :sunny:
Meeeee, tooooooo!!!!

I loved my Speak'n'Spell. Strange that my mom never updated it with a new cartridge (at least, I think that was an option) because she was so big into spelling. But I did love that little machine.


eta: mine was red, too. Maybe we had earlier incarnations? That link from atouria really brought back warm feelings. How funny! Anyway, now I'm tOtally getting one for Miso Lite.

[bird]

I am searching, too, but from the Wiki entry I don't think they are made anymore. :bawling:

Mine eventually died. I think I was last able to play with it when I was around 13. The screen started breaking down (not showing letters completely) and some of the buttons stopped responding. But it really was a durable toy, especially considering the shelf-life of other electronic toys. It lasted through years of heavy play!

[atouria]

OK, I figured out why mine was yellow. I had the Speak & Read! There's also a Speak & Math. No wonder I thought the emulator was missing some functions. See? (http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Speak-Spell-Speak-Math-Speak-Read-80s_W0QQitemZ280050818238QQihZ018QQcategoryZ11736Q QrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting)

[bird]

Yeah, the three versions are described in the Wiki entry. I wonder which was the best-selling. It seems that they made versions in Italian, French, and German as well.

So sad they didn't keep making and improving this toy. :(

[atouria]

Ohhh, I'd love a french version!

[gladcow]

Scrabble does not count. I dislike Scrabble because I hate playing a complex/smart word and then getting fewer points for it than someone who plays a short/simple word, just because of where we respectively had to place our words on the board. To me Scrabble has always been more about strategy and the luck of getting high-value letters (at the right time, no less) than it is about appreciating words as a whole and for their own sake.
yes, Scrabble is about strategy and high value letters and luck and all that. But there is a deep deep satsifaction that comes from playing a complex/smart word AND playing it strategically to get a high score. That's why I play :)

[gladcow]

Gladcalf 1 had some number and letter pressing toys (they said the number or letter when pressed) but also had an alternate music function. Gladcalf 2 plays with them now and loves them. In fact, I had to get one from ebay when the alphabet one broke. Not nearly as cool as the Speak and Etcs you are showing.

[bird]

yes, Scrabble is about strategy and high value letters and luck and all that. But there is a deep deep satsifaction that comes from playing a complex/smart word AND playing it strategically to get a high score. That's why I play :)Yes, I have that same sense of satisfaction when all those factors serendipitously align, as well. But since it happens so infrequently (for me, anyway, which probably just means I'm not a very good player) relative to all the times I get frustrated by "Oh, I could make 'x' if only I had 'y'!" or "...'if only there was more space on the board!" my overall feeling about the game is one of annoyance. The fact that you hear about some high-scoring players bragging that they've memorized all the outlandish two-letter words and 'q' words further emphasizes to me that it is more about trickery than I would like in a game. I think you should be able to play games based on words in the lingua franca, and not have to be reaching for 'qu' or whatever the hell people use.

This is not to dis people who love Scrabble, of course. I own it and do play it from time to time, and occasionally enjoy it. It's just not my favorite game, and I often get frustrated by the assumption, when I describe how I enjoy spelling and word games, people make that that means I must be crazy about Scrabble. It has this reputation of being 'the word-lover's game', and I don't think it deserves it. But that's just the opinion of one word-lover, not intended to cause offense.

[gladcow]

This is not to dis people who love Scrabble, of course. I own it and do play it from time to time, and occasionally enjoy it. It's just not my favorite game, and I often get frustrated by the assumption, when I describe how I enjoy spelling and word games, people make that that means I must be crazy about Scrabble. It has this reputation of being 'the word-lover's game', and I don't think it deserves it. But that's just the opinion of one word-lover, not intended to cause offense.
yep, it's not the word-lover's game. that annoys me a bit, too. (maybe NYT crossword puzzle instead?)

not everyone HAS to like Scrabble as much as I do :D