Toys For Big and Small

I have a confession. When I was a youngen and Christmas rolled around I had a tradition (for a few years at least) of gifting my little brother with very advanced Lego kits. The motive was not to encourage his fine motor skills, nor was it to boost his cognitive abilities via construction directions. No, it was just so that I, his big sister could satisfy my desire to play with and build large, sprawling Lego infrastructure (cities, airports, etc...). I let him help (sometimes) but really it was a selfish act. I'm telling you this because I saw this block set, and it is getting close to Christmas, and I do have a daughter. Therefore I now have a legitimate excuse to purchase a toy, that in actuality she will enjoy quite a bit, but alas so will I.






Check them out at
http://www.shhhop.com/product/playshapes-74-wooden-blocks

Kokeshi Reborn

If you like wood-crafted Japanese toys and lowbrow art, scamper on over to the Japanese American National Museum in LA by October 4, 2009. Artists offer some great contemporary takes on the simple Japanese classic toy: the Kokeshi doll, originally created during the Edo Period (1600–1868). What is so appropriate about the blending of these two genres is that they both posses adult-themed content encapsulated in child-like packaging. Legend has it that Kokeshi dolls reference the practice of killing unwanted babies just after birth. The characters for this toy are: 子消し, translated as “extinguish the child.” (Yeah, spooooky.)

David Horvath and Sun-Min Kim


Amy Sol


Tara McPherson


Samuel Ribeyron


Camilla d'Errico

The show exhibits a collection of traditional and custom dolls, also offering some Kokeshi for sale by over 100 well-known international contemporary artists.

Design your own digital Kokeshi here.

Oh, just one more. . .

I must mention just one more dollhouse: The Detacho Playhouse for separated or divorced families. In a time of multi-ethnic dolls, designer Ben Forman figured it was high time the modern family was depicted in all its challenged glory. This one’s not just for imaginative play, it’s also a learning tool in which the circumstances of families split into separate homes can be accurately explained—the play house can divide into several smaller units.


That’s not all, the child can also role play conflict using the dual-faced characters’ ability to be either happy or sad. When the members are sad a cleverly-placed magnet prevents them from kissing on the lips. Instead, they opt for cordial kisses on the cheek. Wow!


I think the look on this kid's face says it all!

Daydream Homes

So, I’m shopping for my niece and look what I come across in the way of dollhouses:

The Lundy Stockholm

Plan Toy’s Green Home (it's wind powered!)

A few more from Plan Toys. . .

Woody Click

And, I had to include this Woody Click number—it's hilarious—for the kid that likes to imagine accidents and emergency room drama.

Matter's got this A-frame dollhouse, based on architect Andrew Geller's design.

Hasse Weiss’s Expandable Home

And, last but not least superstar designer/illustrator Janine Rewell's version.

These start at $100 and can go as high as several hundred, though I don't think Janine's is for sale. If anyone’s got one of these, can I come over and play?