Remember kindergarten? I do. The toys I remember loving the most were the ones I could play pretend with. Kitchen toys, play clothes, blocks. A couple of months ago, Babalu Inc. sent me a FeltTales felt board play set for my son to try out. I wasn’t too sure he’d like it. My kid has electronic toys and lots of cars and basically a lot of crap that beeps and annoys me. I was genuinely surprised to see that he immediately started playing with the felt farm set.
He played with it for about half an hour. Then he played with it again the next day.
And the day after that.
And the next week.
In fact, two months later, he still gets it out every few days to carefully place all the little felt pieces on the board. He even puts the pieces away in the little plastic carrying case that comes with it.
This mama is absolutely sold on the concept of felt toys. Not only is it blissfully silent, it’s totally portable. Great for car trips and plane rides. Depending on your child’s personality, the felt toys might be the foundation for imaginative play, or a soothing way to arrange things.
The other day I chatted with a friend about licensed toys and her decision to purchase independent non-licensed toys whenever possible for her daughters. While her babies are still too young for this toy, I heartily recommend it. Babalu FeltTales boards come in a huge variety of themes and are appropriate for ages three and up.
At under $20, this makes a wonderful gift that won’t have the recipient’s parents out for your blood because of buzzers and beeps and repetitive sounds. I usually have a few “cons” to list, but honestly this toy was just adorable and perfect for us. Right now you can get it for just under $18 at our affiliate, Amazon.com. They have pretty much the entire line of felt boards.
Free Stuff Alert
One lucky reader will win a Felt Tales felt play set. Perfect for your child or holiday gift giving. To enter to win you MUST:
- Visit Babalu and tell us which Felt Tales play set looks most appealing.
For extra, optional entries you can:
- Follow Your Mama Reviews on Twitter. Comment to let us know you did or already do.
- Blog, Tweet or Facebook about this giveaway. Comment to let us know.
- Tell us what your favorite independent toy is. (As in, no Dora or Elmo.)
Contest ends 12/14/2009. Winner must be a resident the United States. You must leave a valid email address to enter. Your entries must follow the rules as stated above or your post will be deleted. Winner will be chosen via Random.org.
About the author: Maria is surrounded by boys. She gets all aflutter when she finds good deals, new episodes of Gossip Girl, and big bold bottles of red wine. Read more from this author.
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My favorite felt set is Busy day At The Zoo.
I love Sigikid’s Sweety collection.
A Day at the Aquarium would be a huge hit around here. I love these things. Even if looking at all those small pieces gives me a bit of a panic attack. ;)
I follow you guys on Twitter (@dashoff).
One of our favorite independent toys is a set of foam blocks. Sturdy enough to build big towers, but soft enough the baby can throw them at your head with little consequence.
My son would love Heroes to the Rescue!!
I really like the FeltTales – Busy Day on the Farm
I follow on twitter
@SliverStorm
I like the Busy Day on the Farm felt set. Anything with farm animals has to be great. :-) The Noah’s Ark is really cute too.
Twitter follower (as SnowflakeDay)
Tweeted (as SnowflakeDay): http://twitter.com/SnowflakeDay/status/6446488346
My favorite independent toys for my daughter are the BlaBla Dolls.
I love the noah’s ark set!
I like the Day at the aquarium felt set.
i am a twitter follower. @ marybethrabon
I like the toys I sew for my daughter.
I like the celebrate the jewish holidays
I like the haba play food
i love the busy day at the zoo and Noah’s Ark!
For my boy, it’d have to be Heroes to the Rescue.
I like our easel… we play school, do art, etc.
I like the Day at the Zoo kit
member(dot)thao(at)gmail.com
I follow in twitter.
http://twitter.com/twinpowells
member(dot)thao(at)gmail.com
http://twitter.com/twinpowells/status/6463930014
member(dot)thao(at)gmail.com
FeltTales – Pups in the Park
twitter follow @phxbne
tweet http://twitter.com/phxbne/status/6472278035
favorite independent toy is old fashioned wooden blocks
These all look like fun! I particularly love Dog Park and Riding School! So cute!
mightynole1997@yahoo.com
I like the Busy Day at the Farm set. Cute!
Busy Day on the Farm felt set looks like fun for a little one – it seems to have the most “open” backdrop for stories
Ahhh!! Want one for my boys! My 3 year old would love the farm set – that’s my favorite one for sure.
OK, off to follow YMR on Twitter and then tweet the review myself. Increasing my odds. :)
my 4 year old would sell his little brother for dinosaur days.
I like the Heroes to the Rescue set!
and i’m following yourmamareviews on twitter (@ziggymama703)
I love all of the felt play boards, but I’d get the Noah’s Ark because my maiden name is Ark :)
I’m following @yourmamareviews!
Just tweeted about it (I’m @mommakiss)
My favorite independent toy is actually stackable cups. My boys have played with them from a very young age – and still do at 4.5.
Oh, Ben would love the day at the aquarium. Because that’s the kind of kid he is :).
As my extra entry our favorite non-licensed toys are Little People for Katie. Ben is a huge fan of his Duplo Blocks.
Love the Jungle 123.
My favorite independent toy is wooden blocks. There is a place just down the street from us called Barclay Blocks. He makes them by order, and we can just go right in a pick them up!
I already follow on twitter, @erincharp
I really like Busy Day at the Zoo. Too cute.
My favorite independent toys are art supplies. Paints, paper, crayons, the possibilities are endless.
I like a day at the Aquarium!
I won this awesome balance board on a blog and my ENTIRE family loves it!
I have been wanting a felt board for my daughter for quite some time. She would LOVE the Noah’s Ark set.
Independent toys are pretty much all we have around here! I hate character licensed stuff. My daughter’s favorite independent toy is a set of wooden animal matching cards (mommies and babies); she plays with it forever!
Just started following you on Twitter!
The Busy Day on the Farm kit is adorable and would be enjoyed. Thanks!
I love the “day on the farm” kit! So cute!
I follow on Twitter
My favorite independent toy (at least I think it qualifies as independent) are Plan toys. My kids have the Plan water blocks, and they love playing with them. They are fun to build with, but even more fun to look through and see the world in a different color.
I like the busy day at the zoo. My son would love it
I like the busy day on the farm set
zachsgran1 at yahoo dot com
my favorite independent company is oompa
zachsgran1 at yahoo dot com
follow on twitter
zachsgran1 at yahoo dot com
tweeted
http://twitter.com/zachsgran1/status/6594372332
zachsgran1 at yahoo dot com
My son would like the day at the aquarium tale. Thanks for the chance.
My grandos would love the day at the zoo one
I love the busy day on the farm set. I don’t know any children that don’t love playing with animals fo any kind, especially familiar ones like farm animals.
I like the Happy Tails set.
weird chick online at gmail dot com
I like the Riding School.
I would choose the Busy Day at the Zoo. Thank You
Busy Day at the Zoo
I like the day at the Zoo set. Thanks for the chance.
mogrill@comcast.net
I like the Busy Day on the Farm because my family owns a farm!
I follow you on Twitter and tweeted. http://twitter.com/curlyq776/status/6621818238
I love Plan Toys! They are so cute and made out of natural products so they are safe for children.
abc would be my child mverno@roadrunner.com
I like the playset.
I like the FeltTales – Riding School.
I like the day at the aquarium
twitter @kaiasmommy
I think the FeltTales – A Day at the Aquarium set would be awesome. I love the level of detail on the sea creatures!
I like the Day at the Zoo kit!
follow on twitter as Missybeez80
Busy Day at the Zoo looks fun!
mamaknj at msn com
My daughter would love the Busy Day on the Farm kit .
My favorite the the Busy Day on the Farm.
I like the noahs ark set
tmc480 at yahoo dot com
follow on twitter as tmc480
tmc480 at yahoo dot com
tweeted
http://twitter.com/tmc480/status/6643802729
tmc480 at yahoo dot com
FeltTales – Pups in the Park
My daughter would like the FeltTales – Busy Day on the Farm!
Thanks for the chance!
I follow you on twitter! mom2anutball
I tweeted!
http://twitter.com/mom2anutball/status/6650048386
I like busy day on the farm
rjs682(at) yahoo (dot) com
I like the Forest Fairies set.
I follow on Twitter! (@psychotichouse)
My daughter would love the FeltTales – Pretty Princess
My daughter’s favorite right now is the fun felt food.
I like the Noah’s Ark
I’m following you on Twitter. (My Twitter name is @ThriftyJinxy)
FeltTales – Heroes to the Rescue :)
I don’t like to post what the person above me has, but I like Felt Tales, Heroes to the Rescue too because my toddler has a thing for fire trucks right now, so I know it is the one he would enjoy the most.
i like busy day on the farm
i follow in twitter
@FAMILY_TIES
I like the Busy Day on the Farm one. Thanks!
New follower on twitter @Macmomof3
i love the FeltTales – Busy Day on the Farm
following on twitter klp1965
http://twitter.com/klp1965/status/6665762680
Myfavorite independent toy is from Kaplan. They are just plain building blocks, but my son has lots of fun with them.
Tweet http://twitter.com/MACMOMof3/status/6665800442
I love the babalu basics – Animal Friends set!
I like the FeltTales – Busy Day on the Farm
I follow on twitter
I love the play food from Melissa and Doug!
I think my son would really enjoy the FeltTales – Riding School
I love Busy Day on the Farm and would love it for our little girl because she loves to gather eggs with her Opa!~
I follow on Twitter!~dresdenrian.
Tweet!~http://twitter.com/dresdenrain/status/6668801415
I blogged here:http://forums.online-sweepstakes.com/blog.php?b=1852
I love the counting numbers set.
My favorite independent toy would be any My Little Pony toy-vintage or not! We gave our little girl all of our vintage ones and she LOVES them!