Note from Mom and Dad on Christmas…

I know this is a little late coming... but given the very recent requests for gift suggestions (it seems like everyone !is a bit behind this year!) .. I thought I'd just throw it out there....

Note from Mom and Dad on Christmas…
This is for those of you who have asked what kind of things [we and] KB would like for Christmas:

We hope to raise KB to know what the holidays are all about. Help us to balance the wants with the needs and present them with what will help her to grow in the way we want her to go. Let's bring in toys that are responsible – even in this small way our monies will shape their future, both in where the money goes and what it brings home to them.

When it comes to gifts, please keep in mind "less is more". A few quality items that will last are a much nicer way to go. Also, the more simple the toy, the more the imagination is used – and the more use the toy will get! Here are some ideas:

Things we love:

• Things made of natural materials (wood, cotton, silk, wool).
  
• Toys that use the imagination rather than toys that use batteries.
• Waldorf or Montessori style toys – toys that are real things (musical instruments, gardening tools, art supplies) or that encourage creative play (play food/dishes, cloth baby doll, wooden blocks and cars), push/pull toys
• Books!! (esp ones with real pictures!)
  
• Magazines like “Ladybug”, “Wild Animal Baby” or “Little Kids National Geographic”
• Things we can do as a family like: Annual passes to State Parks, Jungle Gardens, the Children's Garden, etc
• Hand-made things (if you aren't crafty, www.Etsy.com is a wonderful place to purchase everything for adults and kids.
• Clothing, sizes 12M & up (please note, we only wear dresses & skirts - so no shorts or pant sets please!)
  

Things we love to avoid as much as possible:

• Toys made of synthetic materials such as plastic - and *especially* battery-operated ones!
• Items depicting cartoons/companies (ie - toys/clothes/books with cartoon/TV characters such as... Sesame Street, Dora, the Wiggles, Backyardigans, Carebears, Barbie, Bratz, etc.)
• Any edible items which contain dairy or sugar!

Some great places to shop:

• KB's Amazon Wishlist!

• www. rosiehippo.com, www.oompa.com, www.threesisterstoys.com, www.babyworks.com, www.novanatural.com, www.willowtreetoys.com,
• http://www.babymoonflower.com (local Sarasota mom… love the blocks &Toddler Zoom Cars, she sells!)
• Locally: Toy Lab, Funtoysia, [Baby & Kids at] Bennetts, and Learning Express all carry these types of toys.
• "Melissa & Doug" is a good toy brand that I've also seen locally - at bookstores and even Home Goods
• Don't forget, buying USED saves money & prevents waste! www.Ebay.com, www.Craigslist.com, www.Amazon.com, & 2nd hand stores (locally, Pitter Patter & Snappy Turtle Consignment stores are awesome!) hold many treasures...

We thank you for your understanding!
~KB's mommy & daddy <3