If you grew up playing with Fisher Price toys like I did, you’ll be happy (or maybe a bit stunned) to know that most of our favorties have been reissued as “classic vintage” toys for today’s kids. I suppose it’s pretty cool that we can purchase new versions of our old, beloved playthings that hold so many memories. For me, it was the Chatterbox Phone (rotary, of course. How old fashioned!) For my husband it was Retro Two Tune Television (with an actual dial on the set) which he nearly had a stroke over when he saw at Target and promtly bought it for our son…although it was him that played with it once we got home.

Wow, they really do make you feel old….(and I grew up in the 80’s!) Rotary phones and box TV sets (with dials) are just two of the many familiar things to us “old folks” that our kids will never be familiar with- unless they see them in antique shops. Sheesh. So I suppose I’m on the fence about these new classics. Or at least it will take me a while to warm up to the idea.

School is out for the summer and the kidlets are free to roam….and wear on your last nerve as they quickly become bored with their new-found freedom. So if you’re looking for cool projects to keep your kids occupied, here’s a great one. The Sunprint kit was designed by professors at UC-Berkeley and is a great way to generate your kidlet’s interest in science. Easy to use and offered at a price that won’t break the bank (just $7.50!)…now that’s my kind of project! Check it out at Kid O.

Fair Trade Friday…

Pastel Toys are “special toys made by special people” in Kishorit, a kibbutz-like, non-denominational, non-profit community location in Western Galilee. 120 developmentally disabled adults live and work in a friendly and supportive village here, growing organic vegetables and creating these high quality collectible toys.

They’re created from all natural materials that meet the quality and safety standards of the Israeli Standard Institute. The pastel colors are made with lead-free, water-based paints “create a calm and relaxed mood where a child’s imagination can flourish”. Converted from blocks of wood by hand, all of them have moving wheels. All kids love that, no matter where in the world they play with them.

The Gap recently started selling these toys too, which I thought was very interesting. However, the resale prices at Wild Dill are lower for us as consumers- they start at $24.00.

These pull toys are all made with sustainably harvested wood, vegetable dyes, and non-toxic coating, making them completely safe playthings. What a stark contrast to the majority of toys out there made for our kids!
Handmade by fair-trade artisans in India, they are beautiful, eco-friendly, and sure to provide years of enjoyment. Sounds like a win-win-win to me!

Forget the plastic and electronic musical toys, and introduce your kids to a creative way of making their own music.
These Thai Folk Art hand-carved frogs are unique musical instruments. Just slide the stick across the frog’s back and it sounds like a realistic “ribbit”! Fun and educational, it’s a great tool to spark musical interest in little ones.

This larger cricket is another great percussion instrument. Hand-carved from Monkey Pod wood which is a renewable resource in Thailand, he comes packaged in a handmade paper gift box ready for giving.

$12.00 - $19.00 each at FairWorldGallery