I am starting this topic so that we might share ideas for toys and games for children. I had a lot of fun as small child with things I found or made. I made sling shot out of a y-shaped piece of tree branch and rubber bands and used rocks for ammo. I also made a bow out of reed and a piece of string, which I used to shoot cardboard boxes. And for fun, I would roll a 55 gallon drum to the top a hill, get inside and roll down.

Here some ideas from another topic:

Laurel Loflund - 22 April 2008 12:17 AM

My personal preference for dolls are the dolls designed in what is called the Waldorf style. I can’t speak authoritatively about the religious theories of Rudolf Steiner, from whose philosophies the toys were designed, however the dolls are soft, nurturing-looking, made of natural materials. Quite sweet and non-threatening.

Here are some online sources for these kind of dolls and other Waldorf-style toys.

http://www.joyswaldorfdolls.com/

http://www.threesisterstoys.com/

http://www.hazelnutkids.com/

http://www.waldorftreasures.com/

God bless,
Laurel

Faust - 22 April 2008 12:44 AM

Laurel,

Hello. Yes, those Waldorf dolls do look like nice toys for little ladies. I have sometimes wondered if there was not some virtue in the porcelain doll. Little girls used to carry and care for these dolls for years without breaking them, one wonders if they did not gain a bit responsibility and maturity from them. There are a number of good things one can say about Rudolf Steiner, but I am not sure quite how he should be judged in such context overall. Something for me to think about this week.

Laurel Loflund - 22 April 2008 07:59 PM

Faust - 22 April 2008 12:44 AM

Laurel,
I have sometimes wondered if there was not some virtue in the porcelain doll. Little girls used to carry and care for these dolls for years without breaking them, one wonders if they did not gain a bit responsibility and maturity from them.

If one would like to purchase a real 1850s style porcelain doll, then sew her period-correct outfits (free patterns on the web site), go to http://www.elizabethstewartclark.com/DC/index.htm. Not inexpensive, but truly lovely.

After a brief perusal of some of the sites which offer reproductions of antique porcelain dolls, I must say I prefer the looks of the Waldorf dolls to the somewhat intimidating faces of the later 1800s porcelain dolls. The only one I really like is the 1850s one I have linked to above.

God bless,
Laurel

Laurel,

Hello, I started a new topic for this discussion, because I thought it might go well with the theme of the topic you started earlier. I have known of some mothers and daughters who got quite a bit of enjoyment making dresses for dolls together.

No problem, Faust. Thanks for the contribution.

Even in an agrarian lifestyle, there is room for some recreation for young and (hopefully) old. Perhaps in the mode of an earlier time…

Ragged Soldier Sutlery and Vintage Volumes
http://www.raggedsoldier.com/chez.html

“We started our business focused on civil war toys but, since the civil war occurred during the early Victorian period, they could also serve if you were seeking Victorian toys. Because they were in use 140 years ago, you could also use the label of “old fashioned toys” for many of our products. I guess you could really say that all of our toys are old fashioned since no batteries are required!”

God bless,
Laurel

Laurel,

Yes, that is a wonderful site. I greatly enjoyed old style toys like that as a child.

Another links worth looking at.

http://hopechestlegacy.com/