April Newsletter: New Toys in Bloom!

Thank you City Pages for naming us 2013 Best Toy Store in the Twin Cities! April is almost over (and hopefully snow showers, too!). We can't wait to see spring daffodils, play at the playground, and even put our umbrellas to use! In anticipation of playground play, we've recently added the popular sand toys from Spielstabil to our website. Made in Germany, these toys are extremely durable and will survive hundreds of trip to the park or the beach. Many of them also make great bath toys or snow toys, too! (For, you know, in about 6 months...) We've also got new toys from Green Toys, including a Tractor, a Toddler Shape Sorter, and a set of Baby Teething Keys. As with all Green Toys, these are made in California from recycled milk bottles. We're excited for the return of classic wooden toys from Grimm's Spiel und Holz. Made in Germany, these toys were a signature part of our store for many years but were not available to us for the past several years. We've always loved the bright colors and organic simple designs of Grimm's toys. Welcome back! Last but not least, we love these new wooden mustache & beard and fox teethers, which are made in Minneapolis by Oak Tree Arts. They combine whimsy with wonderful play value, combining a wooden teether with a crinkly cuddly lovey. Be sure to read more about them on our blog. bumGenius Sale! bumGenius 4.0 pocket diapers are Buy 5, get 1 free! Solid colors only; snaps or hook & loop. End date TBD.

The Tale of the Beard and the Fox

We're not sure if it's because we own a toy store that we love toys, or because we love toys that we own a toy store. But, every once in a while, we fall in love with a toy and want to share it with the world. This week, it's two toys--both made in Minneapolis by Kate at Oak Tree Arts.

Wooden Mustache and Crinkle Beard Teethers

First, we saw Kate's wooden mustache and crinkle beard teether and thought it was amazing. We've sold her wooden mustaches on a stick for a few years, but these teethers take the idea to a whole new level! Made from maple, walnut or cherry and finished in locally-sourced beeswax, this toy is really two toys in one. The crinkly beard detaches and can be played with separately like baby paper, with little taggies to further pique a baby's curiosity.

So, we were pretty much thinking these were just about the cutest toys we'd ever seen until we saw...

Wooden Fox and Crinkle Tail Teether, Made in Minneapolis

Kate's fox teether! This little fox toy has panache and verve comparable to Sophie herself (gasp!). The fox is made from cherry wood and has a detachable crinkly fabric tail with a cuddle push white tip. Like the beard teethers, she's really two toys in one. Absolutely charming.

We're not sure now which toy we like better, but they both bring us joy to have them in the store. We think you'll love them, too!

Yea mustaches!

New in Store: Ziplines and Slacklines. Two Great New Resaons to go Play Outside!

Anyone who visits our back yard will immediately notice two toys that we've had for years: a zip line and a slack line. We mow around them, we duck under them or climb over them on our way to the tomato patch. We love them because each of our kids has spent hours and hours playing with them.

The zip line in particular is a family favorite. This will be it's 14th summer running between two old silver maple trees outside our back door. It isn't very long, but our kids have invented countless ways to play with it: zipping through a sprinkler, jumping off into a wading pool, going fast, going slow, all with a refrain of "Watch this!".

A Zipline kit is one of the most exciting items that you can put in your backyard for hours and hours of enjoyment. The ziplines help improve strength, athletic skills, and balance all while riding a just a few feet off the ground.

We're impressed with the quality of the new zipline kit from Brand 44, a Colorado Company dedicated to getting kids to play outside. Ours comes with sturdy metal hardware and a seat for easier zipping. 

New in store: Slackline and Zipline

A few years ago, we also installed a slackline across another part of the yard. A slackline is a wider version of a tightrope that runs low to the ground and has more slack in it so that it's a bit bouncy. It's great for learning balance. We've seen lots of kids (tho not our own--but they still might!) get really good at slackline and perform amazing tricks.

Our slackline kit is also by Brand 44 and, like their zip line, is also very well built with quality hardware that'll last for years. Whether you're just starting out, looking to build more core strength and balance, or just looking for a fun new backyard adventure, this slackline kit is all you need to start enjoying this popular new sport.

So, our recommendation for this coming summer is to add a bit of adventure to your backyard and see what your kids will do! We think you'll be amazed at how much fun they'll have.  

February Newsletter: Fresh Ideas to Cure Cabin Fever

Inevitably, each new (almost daily) coat of snow in February just doesn't bring the kids running with snowpants and mittens like they did in December. Even as native Minnesotans, we're not too proud to say that we're ready for spring! If cabin fever has a grip on your house, too, here's some ideas for breaking the boredom and enjoying the day with your kids. . Take a day trip! We recently spent a lovely afternoon at the Minnesota Zoo. Nothing beats the blues better than a visit with penguins, bears and tropical fish (our son Duncan's favorite). Other great local destinations include the Como Conservatory, the Minnesota Children's Museum, and the Jackson Street Roundhouse. All are worth visiting again in late winter! Make some homemade play dough. It's easy! Just follow our free recipe. There's just something compelling about playing with warm homemade play dough. Tap a maple tree. February is the month to make maple syrup! If you have a maple tree in your yard, check out our friends at Egg|Plant Urban Farm Supply for everything you need. It's an easy, fun and fascinating project. Get out the art supplies! Clear off the kitchen table and grab some paper, markers, scissors, or finger paints. Make something interesting. One of our favorite projects is our Nature Kaleidoscope kit, with which you can create and decorate your own kaleidoscope and experiment with putting different objects in the viewer. Or, make an earth-friendly robot on wobbly wheels. Play a game! We have a great selection of both competitive and cooperative games, which make playing with friends or siblings a lot less stressful. Congratulations! Congrats to Minnesota's own Okee Dokee Brothers for winning the Grammy for Best Children's Album of 2012! We totally agree. In fact, their album Can You Canoe is probably one of the best musical cures for cabin fever we've ever heard! New Arrivals As always, here's a selection of some of our newest toys and baby goods. Keep an eye on Pinterest and Facebook for more information on new items as they arrive. Wooden Scoot Around Scooter by Hape Spring 2013 Robeez Collection Croc Pile by Areaware Treetop Busy Bead Tree Wooden Toddler Toy by Skip Hop Milkmakers Lactation Cookies Handmade Wooden Clocks

Toys in a Basket

Here's a great idea for 6-9 month olds who can sit up. Put several baby toys in a box or basket for her to tip over and explore. Sorting through and choosing toys makes them infinitely more interesting, even if they're all very familiar.

Thanks for the idea, Ellie!

Peapods Favorite #23: The KaZAM Balance Bike

Peapods Favorites is our continuing series about our all-time favorite toys. Keep and an eye on Facebook and Pinterest for more favorites through the holiday season!

A simple insight made its way to us from Europe almost ten years ago: the way we teach kids to ride a bike in this country is kind of backwards. The way we do it here, we use training wheels to teach peddling and steering first and balance later.

In Europe, kids are taught with "kick bikes", which start with balance and steering. Only after balance is mastered do kids graduate to bikes with peddles. With a kick bike, kids propel themselves with their feet, building confidence and coordination. Balance is learned slowly as kids learn that the faster they go, the easier it is to lift their feet and coast. With a balance bike, the scary part of balancing is learned first and kids won't need to fear the day when the training wheels come off.

Unique among this style of training bike is the KaZAM bike, an all-metal bike that features a step-through design that's easy to climb onto with a footrest that encourages kids to lift their feet up and balance. The KaZAM is adjustable to fit kids ages three to six.

We've sold maybe eight different brands of training bikes over the years, which has included everything from assembling them to fixing them if something goes wrong. By far, the best feedback we've gotten from customers and the fewest problems have been with KaZAM bikes. From the tires to the handlebars, KaZAM bikes are made with quality parts just like a real bicycle. And, although we think wooden training bikes look great, you can't beat the KaZAM for long term durability. Which is why the KaZAM is a Peapods Favorite.

Peapods Favorite #22:The Rody Horse Ride On Toy

Peapods Favorites is our continuing series about our all-time favorite toys. Keep and an eye on Facebook and Pinterest for more favorites through the holiday season!

We love toys that offer the opportunity for gross motor indoor play that won't destroy the furniture. Rody Horses fit that description better than just about any other toy!

Made in Italy, Rody is easy for young kids to hold on to and is an open invitation to endless energy-burning bouncing. We like Rody especially because of its enduring play value--six year olds love them just as much as three year olds. (For younger kids, use less air in Rody so it's more stable. Add air for older kids so it's bouncier. Rody can literally grow with your child!)

We also offer the Rody rocking horse base so that Rody can easily convert into a rocking horse.

Our kids have bounced their Rody all around the living room, the yard, and even on a trampoline (which was extremely crazy and not at all recommended!) Rody is light enough that kids can bring it wherever they want to play. It's great for channeling a fidgety kid who needs an outlet for excess energy during quieter activities. Rody's also been useful in therapy for kids with special needs because of it softness and easy rideability.

No matter what kind of kid you have, we think she'll find a friend in Rody or Rody's friend Gyffy the Giraffe. So stop sitting and start bouncing!