A short and sweet hand game that will delight your children from infancy up through toddlerhood!

When you are a parent of young children, planning what you have in your home and making a commitment to natural and handmade playthings is time consuming until you get the hang of how simple it can be. With just a few small doable changes, you will ease the chaos, slow things down and discover that creating in your home with young children is both possible and enjoyable.

The Story of a man, his young son and a box truck.

A short and sweet hand game that is perfect for Fall!

Our Christmas isn’t big or full of presents (they each get one) but for me, it’s exactly what I want my children’s memories to be filled with. My hope is that from it, they carry love and warmth and light with them out of this season and into the next.

When a child is free to engage fully in true play, they are able to embody the fullness of every moment.

A sweet little song for Lantern festivals and other festivals of light!

A sweet little song for fall

The kitchen needs safe boundaries and children need to feel like they belong there.  As with all things developmental, young children need plenty of experience being around the kitchen to get the lay of the land, and they will of course copy all our behaviors as we navigate our individual relationships with food within our homes.  

There is a growing body of research that is paying closer attention to the phenomenon of our body’s reaction to nature. This effect, of feeling better when feeling connected to the natural world (whether it be experienced through a window, a video, a painting, or a walk), is called the biophilia theory. It’s a theory that suggests we have evolution to thank for our reason to seek out nature experiences.

Part of the research being compiled is coming out of the practice of shinrin-yoku in Japan. Shinrin-yoku is literally translated as Forest Bathing.

Listen as Sarah Baldwin of Bella Luna Toys talks with us about the importance of free play for the child. Giving a child the space and time to explore and experiment with their toys, and other materials, helps them develop competence, independence, and creativity!

As the owner of Bella Luna Toys, Sarah is excited to share her experience and knowledge of children, play and Waldorf toys in a new way.