Old School Toys

With all three of my children, I'm not only conscious of the food choices I make for them, but I'm also conscious of other choices.  I used cloth diapers with them.  I used glass bottles.  Their sheets are 100% cotton.  

This consciousness also carried over to the toys I felt were safe and fun for them to play with.  I was okay with a few electronic toys, but didn't want them to take over the house.  I didn't want a pile of colored plastic toys in the corner of my living room.  I wanted thoughtful toys.  I suppose I wanted a certain old-fashioned feeling for the toys for my children.  And while I was okay with a moderate amount of plastic, I wanted natural materials for the toys (i.e., wood, rubber, etc.).  

The market for such toys is getting better. One of my favorite toy companies is Melissa and Doug.  Almost all their toys and art supplies are wood-based.  My kids love them!  But honestly, beyond them, you have to either seek out European manufacturers (such as Haba) or seek out retailers who specialize in old-fashioned toys.  Here, I provide a list of favorite sites, toys, and manufacturers.

1.  I love the classic toys offer on Retro Planet.  From marbles and jacks, to the Etch-A-Sketch and Fisher Price Record Player, this site will bring you back.

2.  For great wood toys that, to me, seem like "modern" classic toys, you have to visit Oompa.   I especially love that they have wooden baby teething and clutch toys.  My Grandma always used to tell me the story of how she took old wooden thread spools to make into toys for her babies.  These modern versions mimic that simplistic approach.

3.  Another great clutch toy that I love for babies is Sophie the giraffe.  She's BPA free and made from natural rubber.  Although not traditionally in the classic toy realm, her simple design fits the characteristics of what a classic toy is.

4.  Melissa and Doug.  I mentioned them at the beginning of this article.  They primarily make wood toys and art supplies.  Their take on classic toys is not based on characters or trends; they are just authentic toys that kids love to play with.  As a bonus, there's a great deal below for readers:

 

5.  Wood Blocks. What better classic toys is out there than wood blocks?  There are lots of choices out there and they are readily available.  The creativity is endless with this classic toy.

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