Resources and Recommendations

I love natural materials for babies especially when they are not just touching, but mouthing things as they learn about the world. Wood, metal, cotton . . . I also like to hunt for toys in unusual places like restaurant supply stores, farmers markets, or the forest. Your own kitchen is bound to have some great things for baby like a wooden spoon or metal bowls for instance. Lastly, homemade toys are the best!

I want to give children toys that don’t do everything for them. “Passive toys, active baby,” as we say in RIE. We say that if an adult can think of 3 uses for a toy then a child can think of even more, ha! I like open-ended toys that can become different things with the child’s imagination. I also prefer toys where adults don’t feel they have to teach the child how to use them. For the tiniest baby, the only gift they need is the gift of time – time to discover their hands which will become their first plaything! After that a simple cotton napkin is easy to pick up and fun to look at if placed beside the baby.

I'm often asked about which gifts to give and my favorite gift for the toddler and up is a beautiful basket of fruit. My nephew once received a basket of fruit for his second birthday and he just lit up and said, “Can I eat one now!” He just couldn’t wait! My other favorite gift for any age is a tree to plant and care for. Like a tangerine tree.

The best present ever is giving children the time and space to play freely!