Green Toys Cookware Set – made in California of recycled milk jugs, with no phthalates, BPA or lead. Not only is it good and safe for your child but, it is good for the earth as well.
Set of 17 pieces including: stock pot with lid; skillet; 4 forks, spoons and forks; 4 plates; 4 bowls and 4 cups, Made of recycled milk jugs, Milk jugs recycled and cookware set made all in California, Safe plastic with no phthaltes, BPA and lead, Ages 3+.
Melissa & Doug Wooden Sushi set
I continue to come across friends kids (in addition to our own) who just find Sushi fun. It’s fun to look at, it’s fun to eat, it’s fun to try to pick it up with chopsticks.
And if it’s fun to eat, it’s certainly fun to make your own!
I particularly like the wooden tea bag tags 
Our 4-year-old has a hand-painted version of this KidKraft Step ‘N Store stool next to his bed. He (and we) love that it helps him get in and out of bed on his own, but even better he’s got a “secret” place to stash his favorite toy of the day, or other little pieces that he wants to keep out of reach of his 1-year old brother.
Not an impulse purchase, but it’ll certainly make the neighbor in the Little Tikes hard top drool in envy.
The Associated Press put out an article last week that’s right up my alley:
More parents pulling the plug on nurseries
Some modern parents are trying to lower the volume on tech toys and children’s environment, creating havens filled with sturdy push-pull toys and handmade dolls.
Amanda Heravi of Larchmont, N.Y., says her toddler, Jake, and his new sister, Lilia, should drive the play experience.
“Wooden puzzles, trains, blocks – whatever sounds Jake thinks should accompany the toy, I love to hear,” she says. “Then I can tell that he’s really using his imagination.”
When Atlanta couple Jim and Erica Lancaster had their first child 14 years ago, “our house began to fill with plastic and electronic toys which neither suited us nor the environment we wanted for our kids,” Jim Lancaster says.
Many of the designers and retailers responding to this trend are parents.
The article highlights Melissa & Doug, of course, and a site that was new to me but that I will definitely be checking out: myretrobaby.com.
Full article: More parents pulling the plug on nurseries
(Photo credit: Rennett Stowe)
Hi There! Welcome!
If you found your way to this site, I’m guessing that like me, you’ve discovered that things in your house are a bit to, well, loud. I know our house is often that way. The kids are playing, the TV is invariably on for one kid or another (or in those very rare occasions – for you), and then someone starts to play with a toy that is just too unnaturally loud, and it just sets everything over the top.
Why do all of today’s toys seem to be so loud? Why should stacking blocks need music? Does a toy train really need to sing to you? Aren’t driving toys and airplanes just as fun when you are providing the sound effects?
I started this site because after living with two boys for the past six years, I’ve come across plenty of alternatives to loud toys, and frankly many “noisy” toys that aren’t that bad. I wanted a way to share what I’ve found, to pass on tips and tricks, and importantly to see what advice you, my good readers, might have to share back with the community.
So please have a look around, subscribe via those RSS links on the top right, and most of all leave your comments, recommendations, and suggestions. You can leave them right in a comment to a particular review or post, or drop me a note with your own favorite (or most reviled) products at adam@toys-without-noise.com.
Like anything else with a picture of a train on it, N, our little Thomas the Tank Engine groupie, went nuts when he opened this gift (one that we had on his wish list, I think)
Thomas Making Tracks Game actually a pretty clever board game, although to truly play it according to its rules, I’m guessing you really need to be at 6 or so. It’s recommended for 4 or up, so even by those standards N would have another year.
The game play is divided into two parts. In the first part, you spin a spinner to see what kind of track (curve or straight combined with one of three colors) you get to place on your section of the board. Then, once you’ve built track that connects the starting line to the finish line, each spin determines how far to move your game piece. (Candyland style).
The game is very well constructed; the tiles are thick, solid plastic and have a little button (more like a square nipple, actually – not quite sure what to call it) on top that fits into a hole on the game board, so that the tiles actually stay where you place them. Other than the spinner pointer coming out of the box broken (which I’m going to guess is a fluke), this seems to be very solidly put together.
Right now, N is simply happy to place the tiles on the board, and after a day or two playing with it, he’s starting to make patterns with the tracks (big brother J is helping, too). We’ll have to see if he progresses to the point where he can make a long enough connected path of tracks to follow the game rules, but in the mean time, he’s enjoying placing the tiles and driving the character pieces along it (although humorously, he keeps taking them out of their plastic ‘feet’ and instead drives them in the slots formed between the rows of tiles.)
Overall, I’d recommend this for your older Thomas fans – at least 5 or 6 years old – unless they’ve shown they can sit through games like Candyland and you can picture them doing that and more.
(But, of course, it has no noise – always a plus!)
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