MoMA Topsy-turvy Stacking Blocks

Stacking blocks with a twist always make a great gift and this set of ten topsy-turvy blovks by MoMA, The Museum of Modern Art hit the spot with their playful tilts. Lightweight, they’re made from paper and wood, and I’ve earmarked them for a future gift. RRP £13.99 – try Waterstones (£11.19) and Amazon (£12.59).

FaceMaker by MillerGoodman

Hot diggety dog – I thought the previous products from MillerGoodman were good but their latest release FaceMaker is set to become my favourite yet. The concept is similar to their original ShapeMaker with shapes predisposed to creating faces. Each rubber wood block has a variety of shapes which can be used to make any [...]

Wishbone 3 in 1 Bike and Ride-On

New Zealand company Wishbone with its 3 in 1 innovative designs has blown some inspiration into the ride on market. There’s their bike which starts as a trike, then becomes a medium sized balance bike, and then you flip the flame and make it a large balance bike when they’re five, plus there’s also the [...]

Cool Educational Buy: Circa – the circular calendar for kids

Several months back, we were tipped off about Circa, a circular calendar designed by mama of two Melinda Holahan, whose innovative design helps children to visualise the cyclical nature of the calendar, incorporating days, months, dates, and seasons. As a mama of two that badger me about where they’re going each day, whether it’s the [...]

10 Best: ideas for a tree-themed room

  The branches may be bare at the moment, but I can’t help but think of spring and greenery. Although far removed from trad teddies and bunnies, trees are a fantastic unisex theme for a nursery – great if you don’t know what flavour you’re expecting. Designers love them as well – there’s a veritable [...]

Kid O A Night at the Opera wooden play set

If your house is anything like ours, it’s swamped with toys post-Christmas, but I must admit I’m sorely tempted by this little beauty from the ever-fabulous Kid O. The opera-themed play set comprises 16 wooden play pieces (singers – love the large pink-haired soprano – and props), a wooden base tray, a double-sided backdrop and [...]

gg* stunning wooden percussion instruments

These are without a doubt the most beautiful musical instruments for kids that I’ve clapped eyes on! Crafted from beech by super hot Japanese designers gg* (Kat featured their drawing board a while back), the circular drum, square with mixed sound bells, and triangle are transformed into objects of percussion desire, in winning brights, contrast [...]

BG Christmas Gift Guide: Last minute inspiration for £1-£5 for kids under five.

We’re almost at the end of this years gift guides, so it’s time to look at gorgeous, great value buys to fill stockings or to gift to the increasing list of children we all have to gift each year. Lu has already featured the under £1 gift guide and here are our favourites for £1-£5 [...]

Magnatab by Kid-o

Magnatab’s by Kid-o are a serious splash of intelligent, cool, beautifully designed play to help children learn to write letters and numbers. The accompanying magnetic pens are used to draw over the tablets so that the ball bearings rise up with the task of pushing them back down fun and fascinating too. Aside from upper [...]

BG Christmas gift guide 2011: stocking filler ideas under £1

Welcome to the BG Christmas Gift Guide 2011. Austerity measures may be in place for Christmas this year, but that doesn’t mean you need to forgo the traditional stocking. And cheap needn’t mean nasty. We’ve trawled the web to find a myriad of mini treasures for less than a pound. Bookmark and refer back when [...]

Miniio dolls houses

I have to admit an irrational dislike of most modern dollhouses. I don’t know whether it’s because most of them are so twee or whether it’s because I’ve got the best one ever at my mum’s, handmade for me by my aunt and uncle, oh, aeons ago. But I have to say my opinion is [...]

10 Best: ideas for a train-themed room

  Choo choo! You don’t need to go anywhere near Thomas the Tank Engine to achieve a first class kids’ room that’s just the ticket. Move along down, please! Firm favourites Ferm Living come up trumps on the wallpaper front with their Tiny Train design, £59, Koko Kids. Love these Galt room dividers – be great [...]

Tegu magnetic wooden blocks

You know that moment you see something and think, ‘What an excellent idea. Why didn’t I come up with that?’ Well, I’m experiencing that over Tegu magnetic (yes, magnetic!) wooden blocks. Handcrafted in Honduras from sustainable woods the ‘blocks’ are actually a mix of cubes and planks containing inaccessible magnets within.  There are three different [...]

10 best: buys from museum shops

   Museums have come a long way in recent years. Gone are the days of the provision for children being limited to a photocopied worksheet – today’s institutions have all-singing, all-dancing interactive exhibits and activities galore. Look out for Myf’s upcoming post on Eureka! – it sounds amazing. Clearly launched as a bid to augment [...]

Hot Preview: Muji Christmas Gifts

Here at BG, we’re mega Muji fans and every year I keep an eye out for their always amazing Christmas collection of gifts which are always high quality, well designed, lots of eco friendly wood, and popping with imagination and style. This year, Muji have actually tipped us off early and given us a preview [...]

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