Handmade Toys: How to Craft Safe and Fun Toys for Children


Book Description

"Handmade Toys: How to Craft Safe and Fun Toys for Children" is a comprehensive guide that delves into the enchanting world of creating homemade toys. This book is an invaluable resource for parents, educators, and craft enthusiasts passionate about making children playful, safe, and imaginative toys. The book's first section covers the basics of toy-making, introducing readers to various materials that can be used, from classic wood to soft fabrics and eco-friendly options. It emphasizes the importance of selecting non-toxic and child-safe materials, providing practical tips on identifying and sourcing these materials. This foundation sets the stage for crafting toys that are fun and safe for children to play with. Building on these basics, the book then delves into detailed step-by-step instructions for crafting a wide range of toys. These include traditional wooden blocks, cuddly plush animals, educational puzzles, and interactive games. Each project is accompanied by clear, easy-to-follow instructions and illustrations, making the process accessible to beginners and offering new ideas for experienced crafters. The projects are designed to spark creativity and encourage customization, allowing readers to add personal touches to create unique toys that children will cherish. Beyond the practical aspects of toy-making, the book also explores the more profound significance of handmade toys. It discusses the benefits of engaging children with toys that stimulate their imagination and development, contrasting these with the passive experience often provided by electronic gadgets and mass-produced toys. The book encourages readers to view toy-making not just as a hobby but as a meaningful way to contribute to a child's growth and learning, fostering a deeper connection between the adult creator and the child recipient. "Handmade Toys: How to Craft Safe and Fun Toys for Children" is more than a crafting guide; it's a journey into creating lasting memories and fostering imaginative play. It's a celebration of the timeless joy that handmade toys bring, providing the tools and inspiration needed to make these treasures. Whether you're a seasoned crafter or a novice looking to start a rewarding new hobby, this book is the perfect companion for anyone interested in bringing the magic of handmade toys into the lives of children.




Bartholomew and the Oobleck


Book Description

Join Bartholomew Cubbins in Dr. Seuss’s Caldecott Honor–winning picture book about a king’s magical mishap! Bored with rain, sunshine, fog, and snow, King Derwin of Didd summons his royal magicians to create something new and exciting to fall from the sky. What he gets is a storm of sticky green goo called Oobleck—which soon wreaks havock all over his kingdom! But with the assistance of the wise page boy Bartholomew, the king (along with young readers) learns that the simplest words can sometimes solve the stickiest problems.




Young House Love


Book Description

This New York Times bestselling book is filled with hundreds of fun, deceptively simple, budget-friendly ideas for sprucing up your home. With two home renovations under their (tool) belts and millions of hits per month on their blog YoungHouseLove.com, Sherry and John Petersik are home-improvement enthusiasts primed to pass on a slew of projects, tricks, and techniques to do-it-yourselfers of all levels. Packed with 243 tips and ideas—both classic and unexpected—and more than 400 photographs and illustrations, this is a book that readers will return to again and again for the creative projects and easy-to-follow instructions in the relatable voice the Petersiks are known for. Learn to trick out a thrift-store mirror, spice up plain old roller shades, "hack" your Ikea table to create three distinct looks, and so much more.




The Artful Parent


Book Description

Bring out your child’s creativity and imagination with more than 60 artful activities in this completely revised and updated edition Art making is a wonderful way for young children to tap into their imagination, deepen their creativity, and explore new materials, all while strengthening their fine motor skills and developing self-confidence. The Artful Parent has all the tools and information you need to encourage creative activities for ages one to eight. From setting up a studio space in your home to finding the best art materials for children, this book gives you all the information you need to get started. You’ll learn how to: * Pick the best materials for your child’s age and learn to make your very own * Prepare art activities to ease children through transitions, engage the most energetic of kids, entertain small groups, and more * Encourage artful living through everyday activities * Foster a love of creativity in your family




Little House Living


Book Description

The immensely popular blogger behind Little House Living provides a timeless and “heartwarming guide to modern homesteading” (BookPage) that will inspire you to live your life simply and frugally—perfect for fans of The Pioneer Woman and The Hands-On Home. Shortly after getting married, Merissa Alink and her husband found themselves with nothing in their pantry but a package of spaghetti and some breadcrumbs. Their life had seemingly hit rock bottom, and it was only after a touching act of charity that they were able to get back on their feet again. Inspired by this gesture of kindness as well as the beloved Little House on the Prairie books, Merissa was determined to live an entirely made-from-scratch life, and as a result, she rescued her household budget—saving thousands of dollars a year. Now, she reveals the powerful and moving lessons she’s learned after years of homesteading, homemaking, and cooking from scratch. Filled with charm, practical advice, and gorgeous full-color photographs, Merissa shares everything from tips on budgeting to natural, easy-to-make recipes for taco seasoning mix, sunscreen, lemon poppy hand scrub, furniture polish, and much more. Inviting and charming, Little House Living is the epitome of heartland warmth and prairie inspiration.




Natural Wooden Toys


Book Description

Featuring over 75 patterns for wooden toys with safe, natural finishes, this book makes it easy to get away from the plastic and mass-produced and give a child playthings that encourage creativity and imagination




Teach Me to Do It Myself


Book Description

When quality time is in short supply, this practical parenting book will help you give your child the best possible start in achieving essential skills and developing greater understanding of the world around them. From brushing teeth to growing a sunflower, simple activities with illustrated instructions will help you guide your child in developing and exploring their senses, co-ordination, language skills, numeracy and science interests.




Turned Toys


Book Description

If you have woodturning experience, now you can create something truly special for family and friends. These beautiful hand-crafted toys are as enjoyable to make as they are to play with. Clear step-by-step instructions, detailed photographs, and easy-to-follow diagrams start with simple toys and increase in complexity. Projects are a mixture of pure turned toys and also basic constructions, whereby turned items may be cut apart and re-sectioned to create something different.




Make Amazing Toy and Game Gadgets


Book Description

Illustrated, step-by-step instructions show children how to make five toys and games.




150+ Screen-Free Activities for Kids


Book Description

Bring back playtime, all the time with these 150+ screen-free activities kids will love! Dive into a Bubbling Swamp World. Drum on an Outdoor Sound Wall. Explore the gooeyness of Glowing Slime. With the one-of-a-kind projects in 150+ Screen-Free Activities for Kids, your family will rediscover the spirit of imaginative play! These fun activities help develop your child's creativity and skills--all without a screen in sight. Featuring step-by-step instructions and beautiful photographs, each budget-friendly project will keep your child entertained, engaged, and learning all day long. Best of all, no one will complain about turning off the TV or computer with such entertaining activities as: –Natural Dye Fingerpaints –Taste-Safe, Gluten-Free Playdough –Erupting Volcano Dinosaur World –Fizzy Rainbow Slush –Taste-Safe Glow Water Complete with dozens of exercises for babies, toddlers, and school-aged children, 150+ Screen-Free Activities for Kids will help your family step away from your devices and step into endless afternoons of playtime fun!