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Author: Noemi | Malih nog naokrog

TOY GUIDE: PUSH AND PULL TOYS

practical advice for choosing the perfect toy. With such a vast selection available, it’s easy to get lost, but fear not! We’ve compiled our (and our customers’!) favourite toys in this category, along with some extra tips and advice.

Why Pull-Along Toys Are Irresistible to Toddlers?

Between 1 and 2 years old, while other toys may take a backseat, pull-along toys shine as the rockstars of the playroom! Though they may seem a little old-fashioned, there’s a good reason why they have endured through generations. Read our latest blog post to learn about the numerous benefits they offer for toddlers’ development.

Montessori Minutes: Maximum Effort

Maximum effort, a phrase coined by Montessori, may be something you haven’t heard of before. But we’re pretty sure that you have witnessed it in action! Maximum effort is at play when your toddler rearranges heavy furniture around the house or insists on carrying that disproportionately large shopping bag on your walk back from the supermarket. But why is it important in toddler’s development? And how can we support this important need? Join our Montessori Moment series as we look behind the idea!

Play Dictionary: Open-ended Play and Toys

Open-ended play seems to be all the rage right now! But what does it exactly mean? What are open-ended toys and what are their benefits? And if they are so amazing, shall we just chuck out all close-ended toys? Let’s crack our Play Dictionary open and find the answers together!

Love Letter To Birds: Celebrating Gregorjevo

When it comes to celebrating nature and the seasons, there is no sweeter and more Slovene holiday than Gregorjevo. Learn about its origins, traditions – and have a sneak peek what surprise we have prepared for you with our favourite local toymaker for this occasion! We also collected a few ideas to make your very own traditions with children for this special day!

Grapat: Build Your Happy Place!

Build your Happy Place, and turn cities into happy places for children where they can play freely and explore safely once again! Discover the new Grapat sets, and read our favourite toymaker’s bold manifesto accompanying their new collection. Let’s shouting from the rooftops with them: “Kids, take the city!”

Meet the Maker: Casiana, the Soul of Grapat

Grapat designs and creates toys with an incredibly deep understanding of children: their toys and their concept of play are truly unique in today’s world. But it’s not just the toys, that make Grapat one of a kind, but also the people behind. Grab a cup of tea or coffee, and meet Casiana, the soul of Grapat, to learn about their inspiring story from her directly!

Is There Such a Thing as a Montessori Toy?

Is there such a thing as Montessori toy at all? Or it’s just a catchphrase? What makes certain toys or materials more Montessori-friendly than others? In our latest blog post we’ve tried to collect all the characteristics.

6 Playful Gift Ideas for Babies and Older Kids

Whether it is a new arrival to your friends’ family or something to take with you on a birthday party, we know it is not easy to pick something for others! To make it easier, I will share my to-go gift ideas with you in this post – you will find 6 ideas for babies, toddlers and even older kids!

Why Pretend Play is the Best Kind of Play?

A child’s pretend play is often considered fun and imaginative, but somehow we adults tend to think it has limited educational value. After all puzzles, number or spelling games are surely more useful, no? Well, not necessarily! In fact, recent research has been showing that free, child-led imaginative play, including role play has many benefits and it is one of the best way children can learn and build essential skills the early years. We will show you why!

Magic and Meaning: Simple Ideas for Beautiful Birthday Celebrations

It is always small things that leave the biggest imprint. In this spirit we’ve collected a few birthday celebration ideas, rooted in Waldorf traditions, that we believe will make the most meaningful and magical memories – not just for children, but for the whole family.

Play Like the Romans Did: Terni Lapilli

Looking for a game idea? Play like the ancient Romans did! Try Terni Lapilli, using our free printable board and some colourful Grapat mandalas from your toy basket!

5 Play Ideas with Grapat Insects

Grapat means a “handful” in Catalan – and these insects are a handful of cuteness, indeed! Just like any other Grapat toys, they come without instructions how to play. It is up to the imagination of the child: just like with stones, sticks or pinecones, she will find hundreds of ways incorporating them into her magical world of play! And while they are beautiful open-ended materials, we still collected a couple of simple play ideas for you! No, not as a manual, rather to give you a glimpse how versatile these toys can be even beyond imaginative play. And who knows, maybe to inspire you to come up with your own ideas?

Understanding Your Child’s Play: The Sensorial Explorer (4-10 months)

UNDERSTANDING YOUR CHILD’S PLAY: THE SENSORIAL EXPLORER (4-10 MONTHS)

Children have a natural instinct to play and discover the world around them, quite simply because this is their original way of learning. The good news is that this drive to play is so strong, so engraved in them by nature, that no matter what we actually do, we simply cannot stop it. Children in the first years have their very own curriculum, and they are set out to complete it with a force of an earthquake. read more

Celebrating Michaelmas, Welcoming Autumn

CELEBRATING MICHAELMAS, WELCOMING AUTUMN

In Waldorf, one of the things that gave me the most, is its deep connection with nature and the wheel of the year. The seasons and the natural changes are strongly reflected both in everyday adventures and special occasions. Learning a bit about the Waldorf way during our first year of kindergarden, the greatest gift was that it encouraged us to observe, to connect and to find magic in the natural world around us again.

The celebrations placed at the turning point of the seasons were also something really special, and whether our children attend a Waldorf institution or not, I believe getting to know them a bit, can inspire all of us and help to weave little colourful traditions into our own family lives. read more