For Small Hands

Anyone with children knows that they love to help and do the same things we do. Children learn by watching their parents and adults and emulating their actions. That is why I cook and clean with my daughter. I learned from Montessori teachings that those seemingly simple actions are actually teaching a child about measurement, actions, and even practice for writing by simply holding a sponge. Amazing! Montessori Services was founded in 1976 to provide Montessori teachers with the tools they need to bring child-sized items to the classroom. For Small Hands was created in 2004 as their family resource catalog at the request of Montessori teachers.

For Small Hands gives parents access to many of the same child-size items children use at school, enabling children to participate in the home environment with the same ease and success they enjoy in the classroom.

We are a huge fan of the For Small Hands catalog and online shop. I find the most amazing items that my daughter can use in everyday life. The new favorites are the Glass Pitcher with Lid and the Durable Juice Glasses. They are scaled to a child's size, so your little one can get their own water, juice or milk. The feeling of independence is so special for children. For weeks before we got the set, my daughter kept arguing that she was old enough to use the family glasses. I was wary, but this set made it possible for her to feel grown-up and learn the skills you need to hold and be careful with a glass. With the holidays coming up, I cannot wait to stock up on more items that allow her to participate in family activities with ease.

Crunchy Granola Baby Giveaway!

I had just had my child when i first entered Crunchy Granola Baby in Salem, MA. I was instantly at ease as I realized the products I was ordering online were actually available in store for me to touch and try out. Owner, Jennie Cudmore came up with Crunchy Granola Baby while she was pregnant, and was forced to buy all "green" products for her child online. She did something about it and started a shop that not only sells the "green" products you are looking for, but gives you the opportunity to try them. It makes a major difference to be able to touch and feel items you plan on using with your child. Jennie did not stop there, she made her shop a place where moms and dads feel comfortable. Crunchy Granola Baby runs classes on breastfeeding to babywearing. There are baby and toddler groups, and always fun activities for everyone.

From the first time I met this mommy-entrepreneur she assured me I could breastfeed in her shop at any time. That is how comfortable she makes you feel. When I was always justifying why my child slept with us, Jennie handed me Our Babies, Ourselves, and I realized I was doing what was right for me.

I have since moved, but I know that I can get the products I love on the Crunchy Granola Baby online shop. Rest assured, each item is hand picked for a reason, and each one is wonderful.
Crunchy Granola Baby is offering one lucky Product Mommy follower a chance to win a set of Imagiplay Safari Stacking Blocks. Each block is proportional and is designed to look like a colorful animal. The 10 piece block set can be used like traditional blocks for stacking, or as a playset for imaginative play and story-telling. Blocks store neatly inside supplied wooden tray.
Ages 2+
Giveaway Rules:
You must be a follower of the Product Mommy Blog.This contest is only open to US readers. All entries must be received by 11:59pm on January 12, 2010 . Please include your email address in each entry. A winner will be chosen at random. I will notify the winner on January 13, 2010 via email (please respond within 48 hours) and the Imagiplay Safari Stacking Blocks will be shipped directly from Crunchy Granola Baby. If you do not respond within 48 Hours, I will pick another winner.

How to Enter: Must be a Product Mommy blog follower to enter. Click on "Comments" and be sure to leave your email address.

Extra Entries:
You must do the "How to Enter" first and be sure you leave a "comment" for each extra entry and tell me which one you did. Don't forget your email address too.
1. Got to Crunchy Granola Baby online and tell me two other products you would love to own.
2. Become a fan of Crunchy Granola Baby on Facebook
3. Become a fan of Product Mommy on Facebook
4. Become a fan of Product Mommy on Twitter
5. Subscribe to Product Mommy by email (top left of blog page)
6. Twitter about this contest (and leave a link to the Tweet)
7. Post this giveaway on Facebook (and leave a link)

The Wooden Wagon

I wrote about The Wooden Wagon when I first started this blog. The Wooden Wagon is one of my favorite online shops. They have a selection of the most unique imported toys I have ever seen. One wonderful line they carry is so beautiful and lovingly handcrafted in Switzerland.
Atelier Fischer is a family business in Switzerland. They offer employment to mentally and physically handicapped so that they can learn a trade and live a happy and productive life. The wooden toys created by Atelier Fischer are difficult to find in the US, but of course The Wooden Wagon has a wonderful selection in stock. We got the Fairy Tale Picture Cube Puzzle which has a different scene painted on each side from Snow White and Seven Dwarfs to Little Red Riding Hood. It comes in a wonderful wooden box, and is a great tool for hand-eye coordination and for storytelling. The puzzle is handcrafted from Maple plywood.

The other Atelier Fischer item we got was the Farm Life Wooden Picture Book which is charming images of Farm Life printed on each page. It is made from polished birch plywood. Because this book is so unique, we make up the story together as we read it.

I love that I can give my child the toys I cherished from travels in Europe...and that I figured I would never be able to get again. The Wooden Wagon also has a large selection of items for adults too, including the Christmas Candelabra and Wendt and Kuehn hand painted figurines. Their selection of Folk Art is really impressive. I secretly want every single Wendt and Kuehn figure for myself! Happy shopping! With choices like these from baby to adult, you can make your holiday shopping that much easier.

Rosie Hippo

Rosie Hippo is the kind of website you go to and literally want every single item you see. The shop is choc full of wonderful wooden and handmade items. They are the kind of toys that your children’s children’s children (well you get the point) will be playing with. Each toy is selected for its unique qualities and abilities to help children learn and imagine. It is a family-owned business with a wonderful mission: “To Make a positive impact on children and the planet.”

We received two wonderful items. The Gnome Home is absolutely the most beautiful toy in our home. Each Gnome Home is unique and handcrafted from a single piece of wood (it is truly amazing). They are made of either fir or cedar and finished with Beeswax. They are made in the USA in Mt. Shasta. From the minute I took the Gnome Home out of the box my daughter was clamoring to play. It fit her little Evi gnome dolls in perfectly. This is an item that your child will not only have forever, but one that you find yourself wanting to play with too (is that so wrong?). I loved watching my little one imagining that gnome babies were going home and sleeping. She actually makes sure they are in there laying down before she goes to bed every night, and it is part of the new routine. It is a simply beautiful handmade gift you will cherish.


The other item we got was a Kathe Kruse Wooden Flower Puzzle . Kathe Kruse is known for German made handmade quality dolls and children’s items. This gorgeous Puzzle is made of linden wood and colored with a watercolor glaze. The Flower puzzle has seven chunky wooden pieces in soft pastels with hand-painted detailing. It comes in its own tray to make it into either a flower, or take the pieces out and your child can stack, sort, count or even make each piece into another object their imagination inspires. It is beautifully made, and very colorful. This puzzle provides my child with hours of enjoyment and is currently being used in conjunction with the Gnome Home to provide furniture for her little friends. Rosie Hippo also carries the Wooden Fish, Bird and Flower Blossom puzzles by Kathe Kruse.

Rosie Hippo is really a one-stop shop for everything you could need for your child, from toys to arts and crafts and even furniture! Shopping is made easy, fun, and most importantly…safe and earth-friendly.

Walking Stick Toys

I love finding a one-stop shop for wonderful toys and goodies for my child and other children I have to buy for. Walking Stick Toys has a wonderful selection of environmentally friendly toys that your child will love.

We got the Starlight Child, which was featured in Mothering Magazines Best Natural Toys of 2009! Each doll is designed with whatever hair colors, etc. you choose, and made from upcycled wool sweaters and organic cotton and stuffed with new wool from a local mill. Mohair hair peeks out from beneath the elfin cap. I have been looking for a doll that my daughter would get really attached to, and turns out, this is the one. I hardly had her out of the box and my daughter was grabbing it. She sleeps with her "Starfish" every night and always comes out in the morning holding her Starlight Child. It has simple Waldorf features, and is beautifully handcrafted.
We also got a felt crown for dress-up (a beloved activity in my home) and the wool crown is easy to get on and off, and you can even customize colors.

After the Starlight Child, I was sure it could not get any better, then we opened the Lyra Wax-O-Glass. It is a set of 10 crayons your child (and you)can use to decorate windows, and they wipe off very easily. My artist decorated by walls as well, and it came off easier than regular washable crayon. I will be stopping at Walking Stick Toys often to stock up on goodies I want my child to be around.

A Toy Garden Review and Giveaway

I love finding wonderful sites that are a one stop shop for safe and fun items for my child. A Toy Garden is a family run web store offering an extensive range of toys and goods for families. You will find a large selection of fair-trade, made in USA Montessori and Waldorf based items. We got the Haba Doctor's Kit. It is full of all the items your little Doctor will need.

















My daughter has been bandaging us and herself since she got it. She loves pretending to take care of her dolls, and I really see her imagination in work as she plays. It even comes with a little Prescription Pad. As a child grows some of them develop a fear of Doctors, and I think this is just the tool to help them feel more comfortable.

We also got a set of 8 Stockmar Crayons. Stockmar quality wax crayons are made with pure beeswax and provide pure and brilliant colors. They are wonderful for children of all ages. They are non-toxic and environmentally friendly. I can tell you the colors are so rich and vibrant, and we love them. I also like that they come in a nice tin rather than a flimsy cardboard box.

A Toy Garden is offering one lucky Product Mommy reader a chance to win a set of Stockmark Crayons (8 count). Set of 8 Stick Crayons includes: 01 carmine red, 02 vermillion, 03 orange, 04 gold yellow, 05 lemon yellow, 07 green, 10 ultramarine, 12 red violet.

Giveaway Rules:
This contest is only open to US readers. All entries must be received by 11:59pm on November 19th . Please include your email address in each entry. A winner will be chosen at random. I will notify the winner on November 23, 2009 via email (please respond within 48 hours) and the Stockmar Crayons will be shipped directly from A Toy Garden. If you do not respond within 48 Hours, I will pick another winner.

How to Enter: Go to atoygarden.com and tell me two items you would like to have. Click on "Comments" and be sure to leave your email address.

Extra Entries:
You must do the "How to Enter" first and be sure you leave a "comment" for each extra entry and tell me which one you did. Don't forget your email address too.
1. Become a follower of Product Mommy
2. Become a fan of Product Mommy on Facebook
3. Become a fan of Product Mommy on Twitter
4. Subscribe to Product Mommy by email (top left of blog page)
5. Twitter about this contest (and leave a link to the Tweet)
6. Post this giveaway on Facebook (and leave a link)

The Wooden Wagon

I love imported toys. As a child we often traveled and some of my favorites were the little wooden villages and animals we picked up in Switzerland. That is why I was so excited to find The Wooden Wagon. This delightful online store sells amazing toys, arts and crafts and delightful folk art toys. Also check out their holiday candle pyramids and wooden angels. They ship very quickly as well. A great alternative to the plastic toys crowding the shelves.