How to bring Waldorf into your home on a budget - Part 1 Toys

You can simplify Waldorf toys into three categories,

Toys for Emulation, Creation, and Imagination.

There are things that will cross over between the

three categories which helps in keeping things simple.

Waldorf toys can help keep you in a minimalist mindset,

because of how open ended and versatile they are.

They also are typically made with high quality and

natural materials so they tend to last longer and hold

their value. With being simple in design and unique,

Waldorf toys provide an opportunity to allow handmade

details and make DIY toys much easier.

Three unique aspect to look for in Waldorf toys.

Emulation - Waldorf encourages children to emulate the adults in their life at all ages. So when you think of emulation you are taking toys that can aid in the emulation play of the child while still allowing the children to use their imagination. Some common emulation is chores, fixing, carrying for a baby or home, doing work (ie. farmer, mechanic, etc.), reading, sewing, writing, shopping, any basic adult occupation activity. Some common aids are small brooms, wood tools, cloth dolls, silk cloth/scarves (playsilks), baskets, items from nature (acorns, shells, stones, small wood log blocks, sea glass, sticks, *Please keep in mind choking hazards and age of child when adding any kind of toy.), and wood furniture (wood kitchen sets, wood bassinets, shelves, wood play stands, two by fours, etc.).

Creation- As humans we are always creating whether it is for art, function, or to solve a problem. Children also need to have opportunities to create, fail, and recreate. Open ended construction is the most helpful, and is usually found in the form of blocks. There are many options for blocks, and many sizes. Don’t feel stuck with just wood square blocks. You can taken a fallen tree branch and cut it into different sizes and sand them. You can find large block or logs for outside building. There are so many options don’t feel limited to just one. Having responsible access to art supplies is also a great thing to include in your toy chest. That can be in all kinds of forms too so please don’t feel limited and find what interest you and your child. Chalk is a favorite in our house, so is modeling beeswax. Sand, clay, or mud can also provide a great creative space as well as providing needed sensory input for children.

Imagition- Waldorf teaches parents that young children are very close to a light realm, and therefore fairy tales and fantasy is a part of the growing child. Regardless if this is something you believe or not child do have a fantastic imagination that will help them in adulthood to be innovators. So allowing them the open opportunity to let them run wild with imagination is great and can help the boredom of any child. I usually do a few things for this. One is play-silks as they are a very open ended way for children to dress up, from dragons to superheroes my children use them the most. Two I also let them bring nature into the house, stones, pine cones, acorns, leaves, flowers, sticks, shells, feathers, if you can find it outside it is likely to be inside. My only rule for this is critters they have to stay in their own habitat not ours. Three we read aloud and tell stories often.

"With being simple in design and unique,

Waldorf toys provide an opportunity to allow

handmade details and make DIY toys much easier."

Where you can find Waldorf toys without breaking the bank.

The simple answer would be everywhere. No, you don’t have to find a specific name brand, or shop at little out of the way places. Can you find Waldorf toys there too of course, but there is no need to make things costly or difficult. The greatest thing about Waldorf toys is the simplicity and quality of them. You can often find amazing used toys in good condition. You can often re-purpose items you find a thrift stores, or at yard sales. You can easily create toys yourself with little to no cost, and you don’t have to be super crafty or handy to do it. There are wonderful ideas online like Pinterest for creating hand made toys. You can also find amazing artist all over who handcraft beautiful toys (try Etsy.com). Your kids don’t need a lot of different things to provide them with a well rounded environment. It not about the hottest new fad it is about providing your children with possibilities.