In my six-plus years as a parent, I've acquired and discarded a large number of toys. Some toys broke, some were made of possibly toxic materials, others were too annoying for the adults or overstimulating for the kids, and many quickly lost their appeal and were soon ignored. So I now have some well-defined preferences when it comes to owning toys.
Eco-novice's Toy Preferences
- Quality over quantity
- Natural, sustainable, and completely non-toxic materials
- Aesthetically-pleasing
- Open-ended to facilitate creativity and imaginative play
- Durable
- Appealing to a wide age-span (including adults)
- Created by a business I can enthusiastically support
- Worth saving for the grandkids
If I had it all to do again, I would own only these types of toys. In every way, our Grimm's toys fit perfectly with this philosophy.
 |
| Grimm's Boat Stacking Tower |
Grimm's Wooden Blocks Are:
- Handmade in Germany
- Made of sustainably harvested woods (including alder, lime, maple and cherry woods)
- Made with non-toxic water-based stains in rich, gorgeous colors
- Have no finish, varnish, lacquer or paint. Unlike paint, the color cannot chip off.
- Have the texture of unfinished wood (not slippery like painted wood) which makes them easier to build with; stain rather than paint also means you can still see the beautiful grain of the wood
- Inspired by the philosophy of Waldorf education
- Encourage open-ended imaginative play as well as effortless, playful learning
- Encourage building, creativity and a sense of design
- A colorful complement to any unfinished wood set of blocks you may already own
 |
| Grimm's Stacking Houses |
One of my youngest child's most cherished toys is Grimm's Stacking Houses. These five colorful house shapes make a fun little nesting puzzle for little ones, and my 2yo seems to get a type of thrill from stacking these houses together that she doesn't get from completing two-dimensional puzzles. This stacking toy is also wonderful for inspiring imaginative play by all my kids (ages 2, 4, and 6). I think they would make a fabulous gift for a child aged 9 months up and above.
 |
| Grimm's Stacking Houses |
They make lovely little dwellings for dollhouse dolls, peg people, little animals, the three little pigs, beloved vehicles, and so on. My children tend to make cities and towns whenever they get out the blocks, and these houses make a fun addition to the child-designed buildings. The largest house measures 5.3" wide by 5.1" tall x 2.75" thick/deep.
Grimm's Giant "Boat on the Water" Stacking Tower is not a toy I think I would have picked out myself (I was sent the toy for review), but it has become a real favorite at my house. This stacker makes a relatively challenging puzzle if you want to use the pieces to make the floating boat. But kids will soon discover that the pieces are wonderful to stack in any order and rotate any which way, creating endless lovely abstractions.
 |
| Grimm's Boat Stacking Tower |
 |
| Grimm's Boat Stacking Tower |
I also love having a set of blocks that are not flat, which offers greater variety and challenge when combined with traditional block sets.
 |
| Blocks pictured include those from Grimm's Boat Stacking Tower, Stacking Houses, and 100 Large Stepped Counting Blocks (vehicles, animals and robots not included). |
Grimm's recommends the Boat Stacking Tower for ages 1+. I would put the ideal age range around 18 months and above. The large pieces are pretty heavy, and completely assembled it weighs quite a bit, although my 2yo manages to lug it around when she wants to. We keep our Stacking Houses and Boat Stacking Tower displayed on a shelf in the family room when not being used. They make too lovely a decoration to store them inside a bin or cabinet.
Other Grimm's Toys We Know and Love
We also own and play regularly with: |
| Grimm's Color Charts Rally Building Blocks Set |
 |
| Grimm's Set of 100 Large Stepped Counting Blocks in Storage Tray (4x4 Size) |
 |
| Grimm's Stacking & Nesting Bowls |
You can find my full review of these other three Grimm's toys here.
Are you interested in Going Green Gradually? Sign up for my free email subscription to get each of my posts delivered to your inbox (I usually post two or three times a week). You can also follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, or with your favorite RSS Reader. I hope to see you again soon!
What wonderful baby toys! Is the paint safe? My daughter sucks the paint off toys (part of her sensory issues), so we avoid a certain other wood toy brand that she loves.
ReplyDeleteI also specifically wanted colorful wood blocks where the color was completely safe. This is not paint that can chip off/ come off like other wood toys -- the wood is actually stained. My daughter has sucked/ bitten them and I've never seen the color bleed or come off on hands/ mouth. I don't think it's possible. I think it would be worth trying at least one toy. Although "non-toxic" is not always a guarantee, these toys are manufactured and sold in Europe where the standards are higher and better enforced. If you are still concerned I would contact Grimms.
Delete