If you were to ask me to recommend my one favorite Waldorf toy, I would have to tell you the Rocker Boards!

You might be surprised, because rocker boards may not yet be thought of as classic Waldorf toys. They are, in fact, a relatively new addition, but I’m confident that in very little time rocker boards will become synonymous with “Waldorf toys”—just like Waldorf playstands, Waldorf dolls, and play silks.

My Introduction to the Wonder of Rocker Boards

I’d been teaching early childhood classes in a Waldorf school for many years, but had never seen nor heard of this toy until one of my colleagues brought two of them back from the East Coast Waldorf Early Childhood Conference in 2006.

When I first saw this unusual plaything–a piece of high quality, thick plywood, about three feet long and one foot wide, curved into a perfect quarter-circle arc–I wondered how interested the children would be and what could be done with them.

I knew how beneficial rocking is for a child’s development: it stimulates the vestibular (balance) system and aids a child’s sense of proprioception (the awareness of being in one’s physical body). It seemed like a good toy for allowing rocking indoors.

I knew how important balance is for a child’s brain development, and it seemed like a good and possibly therapeutic toy for certain children.

What I didn’t yet know was how much children love this toy!

Rocker Boards in the Classroom

We introduced the rocker boards in our classroom in February of that year, and the children wasted no time in finding them and putting them to use.

I was amazed at all the ways they found to play with them. My limited adult thinking assumed that this was a toy for children to stand on, with one foot on either end, on which they could rock back-and-forth.

I didn’t yet realize it could be so much more!

Right away, these boards became the most popular toys in our classroom. They were the first toys the children would go to as soon as snack time was over and play time began.

Yes, children would stand on them and rock, but they found so many other uses for them:

• The rocker board would become a slide, with one end propped up on a Waldorf playstand.

• Tipped over, it became a bridge. The children would act out stories, like the “Three Billy Goats Gruff” and trip-trap over the bridge.

• It became a sailboat, carrying fishermen off to sea as they cast their nets.

• It was a pirate ship sailing through mighty storms.

• It was a cradle for a mama (a 5-year-old) to rock her baby (a 3-year-old) to sleep in.

Read the rest of this entry »

I am delighted that six new items from Bella Luna Toys‘ collection of natural toys were chosen by the editors at Mothering magazine as among the Best Natural Toys of 2010 featured in the new November/December issue!

Which items, you ask? Well, here they are!

Waldorf Birthday Crowns

These gorgeous Waldorf birthday crowns are handmade in Maine by my friend and former classroom assistant, Jes Anthonis. Jes is a mama and crafter who is starting her own Waldorf childcare program at home. Available in petal pink or green, for ages 1 to 6. Aren’t they sweet?

Fairy Dress from Sarah’s Silks

New from Sarah’s Silks, a magical Fairy Dress with rainbow wings that attach to the wrists with elastic bands.

Wool Felt Crown Set

I adore this cheery, Wool Felt Crown Set set made of thick New Zealand wool with matching cuffs. It’s Fair Trade made in Nepal, and was one of my favorite finds this year!

Fairy Garland Set

This charming Fairy Garland Set features a garland of felted vines that ties around the head, with a 100% silk veil. Can be worn as a headpiece or cape. I just love the little hanging felted bumblebees, don’t you?

Big Drum from Plan Toys

I’ve been wanting to add more kids musical instruments at Bella Luna Toys. Here are the two newest additions, which will help to develop a child’s eye-hand coordination and sense of rhythm.

The Big Drum is our first addition from Plan Toys, a line of wonderful eco-friendly wooden toys, from which we’ll be adding many more new products in the coming weeks.

Tambourine from Plan Toys

…and the colorful Tambourine from Plan Toys. (Love the Bella Luna blue with moon and stars!)

Hope you’ll agree with the Mothering editors that these are among the best!

What are your favorite natural toys of 2010? Have you seen any wonderful wooden toys or Waldorf toys that you think should be added to Bella Luna’s collection of natural toys? Share your ideas here and win a $5 gift certificate to Bella Luna Toys if your suggestion is added!

As many of you know, I’ve been working all summer on the new and improved Bella Luna Toys website, and it’s very close to being ready to go live.

The new site is scheduled to be launched within a week, and I am so excited to share the results with you! Not only will you find a site that’s more user-friendly, but you’ll also find the addition of many new wooden toys and playthings throughout the fall, leading up to the holidays.

In the meantime, we have the complete line of children’s costumes from Sarah’s Silks in stock for Halloween, and I have an early bird offer for you. Receive free shipping on any Sarah’s Silks costume, ordered between now and September 30! Just enter the code COSTUMES at checkout to receive FREE SHIPPING within the continental U.S.

Princess, Knight, Mermaid, Dragon, Unicorn and Fairy Costumes from Sarah’s Silks are made from 100% silk, and are designed to nourish the senses and inspire the imagination. Great kids Halloween costumes that are also fun-year round for dress up play!

Use code COSTUMES at checkout. Offer expires 09/30/2010.

It’s August and I’ve decided that Moon Child needs to take a little vacation. As you may know, I’ve been hard at work on upgrading Bella Luna Toys‘ website, which is turning out to be a much bigger job than I had ever imagined. My goal is to have the new site up and running by September, but I realized that in order to meet that goal, I need to devote every free moment I have during the month of August to that end. I’m excited to share the results with you, and hope you will find that it was worth the wait! There will be many new products and I think you will find the new system to be much more user-friendly with lots of cool new features.

Once that transition has taken place, I look forward to resuming regular blog posts in the fall with the new energy and vigor that the change of season brings. I will, however, be making my first post over at Simple Homeschool this month as a guest contributor, so keep an eye out for that!

Things are humming along as usual at Bella Luna Toys. I’ve been so grateful to my son Harper who has been packing and shipping all your orders this summer, as well as helping me edit photos for the new site. He’ll be holding down the fort as I head off this week to a LifeWays board retreat in California. (What will I ever do when he leaves for college in a few weeks?)

I’m looking forward to spending a week with my fellow LifeWays board members, a group of amazing, powerhouse women who have dedicated themselves to the needs of young children and their families. I’m also looking forward to gazing at the Pacific Ocean for a few days instead of my computer screen! It will be a most welcome change of scenery.

In the meantime, be sure to “friend” Bella Luna Toys on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter. I’ll keep in touch with quick updates and notices of promotions there. Most importantly, please leave comments here if there are new products and features you’d like to see added to the new site! Your suggestions are invaluable to me.

Blessings on you and your children, and hoping your August is full of play!