Imaginative Play

Think back to your childhood. What are some of your fondest memories? What kind of things do you remember playing? What were your favorite toys?

For me it really was all about imaginary play. I spent hours playing by my myself or with friends making up stories in my own fantasy world. I played with a wooden play kitchen, Hot Wheels Cars, Dolls or action figures, or even just a cardboard box.

Looking back it was never really about the toys. I asked for and received the latest and greatest toys put out by the large toy manufacturers of the time, but that isn't what made the playtime fun. It was really my imagination or ideas my sister or friends came up with. The toys were simply a tool to bring out situations to let my imagination run wild.

A stroll through the toy section at a big box store is shocking. If you look at toys as a tool to unlocking your child's imagination for creative play, the big box store is not the place to shop. Most mass produced toys have a predetermined plan for how your child should play with it. They usually have buttons to push to make the lights and noise begin. Many toys available want you to do something and watch the show, then do it again. They don't open new doors for your child's creativity to be expanded. No wonder kids always want to play in the box it comes in, this allows them to use their imagination.

Even dolls aren't dolls anymore! My two little girls love their baby dolls and are always putting them to bed or taking them to the store, or park, or to the pool or something. The dolls I've seen advertised lately talk to you, pee when you feed them water, or even swim when you put them in water. So instead of your child making up a situation on their own they are taught to play off of what the doll says to them or the doll is made of such a hard plastic to make it swim. You can't hug or snuggle with a hard plastic doll. It is much harder to truly fall in love with a hard plastic doll than a soft snugly doll you can sleep with.

I believe that we are who we are thanks to the experiences we have had. I think that childhood play is a big part of the adult we grow into. That is why my girls are getting a very soft handmade Waldorf doll, an awesome Bazoongi Kids play structure, and silk dress up items. These are all play items that encourage imagination and they are very fun to play with. I encourage you to consider play structures, wood kitchens, organic cotton dolls, and play silks to make this holiday one to remember.

Organic Cotton Baby Items

I feel it is important to purchase items for my family that I can feel good about. I try to purchase organic cotton toys, clothing, and household goods whenever possible. Organic cotton is so much softer than traditionally farmed cotton. It uses less water and eliminates the use of pesticides which keeps our soil and ground water safe and clean. I blogged about the benefits of Organic Cotton a couple of months ago, check it out here.

One company who specializes in Organic Cotton toys and children's clothing is Under the Nile. All of the Cotton used at Under the Nile is 100% Organic Cotton from Egypt. Under the Nile's mission statement is "Concern for the environment, humanity, and ethical business practices working harmoniously as one".

The company takes part in the 13 Villages Project which provides healthier living conditions for impoverished people living in Egypt. Your purchase of these organic baby clothes actually helps people live better lives. The money doesn't end up in the coffers of some huge corporation but in the hands of villagers in Egypt.

You can truly feel good about dressing your child in the 100% Egyptian Cotton Clothes or to soothe your child with an organic cotton teething toy. Not only does it soothe your baby or keep them soft and warm, but it improves the lives of others.

Make the conscious choice to do something positive in the world today. You can find a wide array of organic cotton items from Under the Nile available at Hip Mountain Mama.

Not too late!

If you have been waiting to buy Christmas Presents for the Children in your life, relax, it isn't too late to get them natural toys delivered before Christmas. Hip Mountain Mama ships most items USPS Priority Mail so orders made by Friday December 19th should arrive before X-mas. This does not include the wooden play kitchens and furniture or the Bazoongi Kids Play Structures.

Check out our Organic Cotton Dolls, Play silks, waldorf wooden play clips, and Sarah's Silks Dress Up items. You'll be very happy to give your children toys that you can feel good about them playing with.

Toxic Toys

We all learned from the well publicized recalls of 2007 that many dangerous toys have been finding their way to store shelves in America. I have blogged before about the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. This Act is a major step forward for keeping our children safe, but many of its protections don't take effect until 2009. That means this shopping season unsafe toys with small parts, tiny magnets, or lead paint are still on the shelves.

Last week the Consumer Product Safety Commission told companies that they could keep selling toys with toxic phthalate chemicals until they ran out of them, even though the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act clearly prohibits selling them after Feb. 10.

I personally am outraged that these toy companies have a product that we know is unsafe and we are allowing them to sell them all now and just expect them to build better toys next year. Are the loss in profits for these major corporations more important than the safety of our children? Can we put our children's health at risk simply so these companies can sell all of their products, even when we know they are dangerous to our kids?

It is no longer safe enough to just stay up to date on the toy recalls. The CSPC is now allowing the sale of toys that they know are dangerous to children. We can no longer trust Manufacturers, Retailers, or even our own Government Agencies. Please get educated and know how to keep your children safe. I suggest natural toys this Christmas. There are many options available for wood toys, silks, organic cotton dolls, and other natural toys. Please be aware of what your children receive this holiday season and keep them safe.

That Time of Year

The Christmas shopping season has begun. It is such a fun time of year for shopping for children and looking for the perfect present. If you are looking for something slightly different be sure to check out Hip Mountain Mama. We are so proud to be offering Bazoongi Kids, Sarah's Silks, Under the Nile, Wood Toys, Waldorf Wood Play Clips, and American Made Wood Play Kitchens and Children's Furniture. Everything we sell is high quality with a focus on sustainable materials and natural toys.

If you are planning on buying something large for your little ones, like a Bazoongi Kids Play Structure or Bed Tent, or a American Made Wood Play Kitchen please place your order soon to assure it will arrive on time. We just love everything we sell and are so excited make these great products available to you.

Hip Mountain Mama always offers free shipping on all orders over $100. So don't go to the stores and fight the crowds and wait in line. Take your time, place your order, and we'll ship it right to you. If you have any questions about any of the items we sell please feel free to drop us an email at suzy@hipmountainmama.com.

Toy Safety

Thanksgiving is here and the mad rush of holiday shopping has begun. 2007 was a busy year for toy recalls with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issuing a record 138 toy recalls. But that's all behind us now, right. Think again. The number of toy recalls so far in 2008 is down 46 percent, to 74 recalls, according to a CPSC report released in mid-November.

The main cause of toy recalls is for elevated lead levels, mostly in paint. Lead is harmful to a child's developing brain. The effects of lead exposure to children include reduced IQ, shorter attention span and learning disabilities.

In response to last year's wake-up call, regulators, manufacturers and retailers have all introduced new toy safety standards unfortunately these new safety standards take effect after this year's holiday season. Isn't this saying, 'Hey we know this stuff is bad but lets just sell the inventory we have then we'll make better stuff next year.' I don't know about you but that is unacceptable for my children.

Last year's recalls got a lot of attention, but what really was the risk involved in those toys? Well, in 2007 the CPSC recorded 18 toy-related deaths of U.S. children under 15 and estimates 170,100 injuries required emergency-room treatment.

The important thing is to be careful and watch what kind of toys you purchase for your children. You can check some of the current recalls Here. Please get informed and watch out for toxic toys.

Toys are the Tool to Unlock Your Child's Imagination

Think back to your childhood. What are some of your fondest memories? What kind of things do you remember playing? What were your favorite toys?

For me it really was all about imaginary play. I spent hours playing by my myself or with friends making up stories in my own fantasy world. I played with a wooden play kitchen, Hot Wheels Cars, Dolls or action figures, or even just a cardboard box.

Looking back it was never really about the toys. I asked for and received the latest and greatest toys put out by the large toy manufacturers of the time, but that isn't what made the playtime fun. It was really my imagination or ideas my sister or friends came up with. The toys were simply a tool to bring out situations to let my imagination run wild.



A stroll through the toy section at a big box store is shocking. If you look at toys as a tool to unlocking your child's imagination for creative play, the big box store is not the place to shop. Most mass produced toys have a predetermined plan for how your child should play with it. They usually have buttons to push to make the lights and noise begin. Many toys available want you to do something and watch the show, then do it again. They don't open new doors for your child's creativity to be expanded. No wonder kids always want to play in the box it comes in, this allows them to use their imagination.

Even dolls aren't dolls anymore! My two little girls love their baby dolls and are always putting them to bed or taking them to the store, or park, or to the pool or something. The dolls I've seen advertised lately talk to you, pee when you feed them water, or even swim when you put them in water. So instead of your child making up a situation on their own they are taught to play off of what the doll says to them or the doll is made of such a hard plastic to make it swim. You can't hug or snuggle with a hard plastic doll. It is much harder to truly fall in love with a hard plastic doll than a soft snugly doll you can sleep with.

I believe that we are who we are thanks to the experiences we have had. I think that childhood play is a big part of the adult we grow into. That is why my girls are getting a very soft handmade Waldorf doll, an awesome Bazoongi Kids play structure, and silk dress up items. These are all play items that encourage imagination and they are very fun to play with. I encourage you to consider play structures, wood kitchens, organic cotton dolls, and play silks to make this holiday one to remember.

Keep it simple

I stumbled upon a list of 'The Hottest Toys for Kids" according to some commercialized and highly advertiser dependant web site. I didn't have the heart to spend much time looking through it. I looked at the age 3-5 category and saw flashing lights, cheap plastic, and tiny little pieces. I thought, "Not for my kids"

Then out of curiosity I clicked on the new born section. Surely we are still keeping it simple for our babies. No. It is mostly lights, whistles, and batteries.

No wonder our children are growing up with ADD, obesity, and other problems. Right out of the womb we bombard them with bright lights and sounds. What ever happened to letting a baby discover a simple toy like a rattle. Baby and Children toys should be about discovery and imagination, not which button do I hit next.

Are we simply prepping our children to be button pushers who work in the cubicle labyrinth and don't ask any questions? Would America be falling behind in the global market place if we raised thinkers instead of direction followers?

When I look at my children I see the future. You can bet I am giving them the tools they need now to discover the world around them and allow them to be the creative force of the future.

Please join me in telling (with use of your dollars) the major toy manufacturers that we aren't interested in their toxic (if not chemically then mentally) toys. Please consider purchasing wood rattles, wood trucks, play silks, or dress up items for the children on your shopping list. You may think they need or want the fancy plastic toys, but you'll be surprised by the hours of fun and laughter your child will get out of a play silk.

Market Toys to Parents, Not Children

I try not to allow my children to watch TV very often but there are those moments from time to time that we all just need a break. It is amazing how the commercials are targeted to children and sure enough my daughter sees a commercial and says, "I want that".

It really doesn't seem fair for the toy manufacturers and retailers to target their marketing campaigns to children who then beg their parents for these toys that are plastic and break easily and are often times made of toxic chemicals. This advertising often sets up unrealistic expectations for children.

In these tough economic times wouldn't it be nice if they marketed to parents who could then make logical decisions on the products they chose to purchase for their kids. Well here is your chance. Here is a website that is starting a Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood. You now have an opportunity to have your voice heard by these manufacturers and retailers.

American Made Play Kitchens and Furniture

As a child, my sister and I played with many different toys. But the toys that I still remember and that are still in good enough shape to be passed to future generations is the wooden kitchen hand built by our grandfather. In this day and age the big box stores are filled with plastic kitchens that make noise and talk to you and all sorts of stuff. However, nothing compares to fine crafted wood toys built in America.

Hip Mountain Mama is very excited to have found a company based right here in Colorado that is building these adorable toys and furniture for kids. These are built in America by Americans where they use American made paints totally free of lead. The wood toys available at Hip Mountain Mama are built with care and attention to detail. Your child will spend hours playing in their own kitchen using their imagination.

My family is trying to have a simple Christmas this year where the kids get one or two nice toys instead of 30 cheap toys. If you are looking to do the same, a handmade wood kitchen would make a wonderful gift for your child. It is a large item that will put smiles on their faces and keep them busy for hours.

We are just so excited to make these available. We have been searching for American made products that we can be proud to sell. Check them out!