Posted Dec. 9, 2023

As a professional toy-maker, I have dozens of books on all kinds of toys, classic, educational, antique and more. Most toy ideas I reject. They may be beautiful, but I evaluate toys on their longevity in the mind of a child. If I am going to spend an hour or two making a toy, I want it to be a toy a child keeps coming back to.

It should be a toy that inspires imagination, a toy he wants to share with his friends. It should be a toy that will engage for hours, and inspire in a different way each time they pick it up. That is a really tall requirement list.

I asked my daughter what was her favorite toy growing up? A puppet. I was stunned. Why? He was my buddy, someone to discuss my day with, my best friend, someone to snuggle with at night. So I started researching how to make puppets. Cindy and I finally settled on a design we call “Scraggles”. Each is unique, very well made and appropriate for any age. They can listen to a child, read a book, put on a performance and sleep with them. They also don’t eat much and don’t require a litter box, daily walks or batteries.

Below is our inventory. You can come to Earth Song Farm to pick them up, or we can ship it to you for $8. It also comes with a unique booklet called “How to Train your Puppet”.

We also have 2 favorites, a catapult that comes with 3 wine corks (not ours), and a classic wooden train. The catapult fires a cork at forts and raging dinosaurs. It also is a hit with your pets as it fires treats across the kitchen floor. Our customers tell us this is a toy that keeps getting pulled out. Cost is $25 and shipping is $10 (or pick it up at the farm).

For the younger kids we have a wooden train set that needs no track and is kid powered. In addition to the engine, we have numerous cars to hook on. this is a train that will take the rough play and last for the next generation too. This is definitely an item you need to pick up at the farm because of the wide selection of add on cars. The engine is $45 and the cars vary in price between $20 and $30. All our toys are made of beautiful hardwoods with a Danish oil finish that stands up to abuse and brings out the beauty of the wood.

Our last pick is for the musical family. I have created a beautiful hardwood kazoo that can become a child’s first instrument. Its simplicity is its beauty. Just hum. Pick any song, hum with any tune, make up your own tune and just HUM. Not only can it be enjoyed as a song instrument, but it also can be used for sound effects like sirens or growling dinosaurs. I also like the idea of learning to harmonize with a kazoo. The cost is $15 and comes with instructions and a link to an incredible player who will inspire you. Again, pick it up at the farm, or it can be shipped for $5.00.

We have many other beautiful toys in our general store. Stop by if you are looking for something that is heirloom quality and built to engage the imagination.

I know there will be many toys bought this season, even if they aren’t ours. Just consider the longevity and imagination it may create. If you got it as a kid, how long would you treasure it?

That’s what good play is all about.

No directions, nobody telling you that
“you can’t do it that way”.

It’s pure discovery!