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+.

Buy at Wild Dill

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!

Alex Toys Rainbow Rollers

Hardwood raceway and 4 race cars – hypnotizing to watch.

I particularly like the wooden tea bag tags

A Melissa & Doug version of the classic stacker.

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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.

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Not an impulse purchase, but it’ll certainly make the neighbor in the Little Tikes hard top drool in envy.

Flamed roadster 1932 pedal car, via myretrobaby.com

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)

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.

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!)

Link: Thomas Making Tracks Game