Sprout benefits from all the attention of his siblings. He's mellow, rolls with the punches, erm - more often shoves and crushing bear hugs, and is my earliest talker. He benefits from my relaxed attitude towards a whole host of things.
But come a giftgiving holiday and I am at a loss. Picking gifts for everyone else is easy. They love books, need clothing, have set ideas about toys they'd love. He gets all their hand me downs in every category and really at 14 months he doesn't express a need for anything except attention and bubbas and food. I was packing things to bring to Wakefield and saw the kids each had books and outfit and something from Santa will be coming of course. Then I looked at poor Sprout. His books are really the ones I'll read to the whole family because I felt I had to wrap something for him. His clothes are individually wrapped socks and second hand overalls. There wasn't a toy to be found and what on earth would Santa bring????
I'm REALLY picky about toys too.
Well I did research on PLAN toys and I am just in love with this company and their environmental and social practices (their toys are made from rubberwood trees slated for tearing out and burning. They take them on and keep them growing long enough for them to qualify as ORGANIC - 3 years no spraying etc, and offer their workers all sorts of amazing social programs). So Sprout is getting a little bag of sensory blocks that PLAN designed for autistic children. Part of the amount I spent on them goes to Austism Research. I couldn't feel better about a toy. AND they are super cool too. I can't wait to play with them myself!
Phew!
His Daddy-Oma is sending Chapter's giftcard money and I'll pick him another PLAN toy from their selection too. Nature Girl is hoping I'll get him (ahem) their slicing fruit and veggie set. He does like playing kitchen with us and is obsessed with knives. Theu're out of stock right now so that'll have to wait.
But really, check out PLAN toys...I'm usually suspicious of mass produced wooden toys but this company rocks...and they're inovative enought to come out with natural toys suitable for a 5th child!
7 comments:
It can be so hard sometimes to find something suitable.
It seems there's always one child who is hard to sort a present out for than others. Dd is so *easy*, she wanted some clothes for her doll and a puzzle (so I'm busy making toys and have found a nice puzzle for her, easy, job done really), but my youngest son is harder, at almost 3 he hasn't expressed any particular preference, we have loads of toys (too many IMO and we need to have a sort out) and really I can't see that there's much more that he needs or wants, save for the hobby horse I've been busily making him (he turns all sorts of things into a 'horse' to ride and everytime he sees a hobby horse he gets really excited, but further than that I'm at a loss!)
I'm pleased you found something for him :0)
Good to see you back. This Oma will be giving a little money to the oldest and youngest too.
We love Plan Toys! This year my son is getting their Chalet Dollhouse. We have their cars/city track/city stuff and I love how they feel in hand and the design. Cool company!
Oooh - I didn't know they had a dollhouse, Rebecca! We love Plan Toys, too. They have a cool vegetable/fruit set where the two halves of each velcro together and are separated by a wooden knife that also comes with the set!
i love the plan toys - does she want the slicy fruit ? i almost got it but wasnt sure.
Yup the slicy fruit is much covetted. Maia has had a set for years and she talks about it all the time.
Chapters online is sold out of it or I'd have picked it up. Instead Sprout is getting a solid drum and a xylophone, which his friend Anja has.
Excellent - I think I can get some on sale. Enjoy the drumming!
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