I wanted to add a little something about waldorf toys. I often hear/read people say that they think waldorf toys are lovely but they're too expensive and they could never afford all natural toys. If you are trying to create a more "waldorf" home life that is simply not true. The goal behind toys is not merely for them to be natural but for a child's play area to be mindfully simple...free of the clutter of an over-abundance of toys. A few, well chosen natural toys go a long, long way.
Also, while Magic Cabin, Hearthsong, Rosie Hippo, etc have some wonderful toys it is very possible to outfit a child's play area with beautiful toys without ever ordering from any of them.
I
HIGHLY reccomend the book
Toymaking With Children by Freya Jaffke. It really opens your eyes to the possibilies of sticks, yarn, pinecones, seashells, an odd piece of wood, etc. It shows how to make a variety of simple dolls, puppets, and marionettes. It shows how to carve dishes, bowls, spoons and scoops, and some animals. It shows how to knit some animals. It shows how to make wonderful blocks from logs and sticks. And more. (it also shows children playing with these items)
Playsilks are wonderful but cotton is also a natural material. Hemmed edges are nice but children don't care if the edges fray a little. Many things (baskets, wooden bowls, tablecloth turned playcloth, fancy doilies, a little vase for yard picked flowers, odd metal trays, little brass bells, etc) can be found very,very inexpensively at thrift stores. Or, if you really like the look of playsilks but find them outside your budget go to
www.dharmatrading or
www.thaisilks and order some blanks and dye them with simple kool-aid. Metal cookware (small pots, whisk, spoons, etc) can often be found at dollar stores for little money.
Playstands are a great versatile thing. Many mamas here have shown that they are easy to make for not a ton of money.
There are free instructions posted on the sewing/crafty FAQ section for nature table dolls, bendy fairies, wool balls, bendy mermaids, crocheted kittens and chickens. The materials for these are not very expensive. When you pay someone else to make them you are mostly paying for their time.
The same goes for Waldorf dolls. They take quite a bit of time to make. They are not overly difficult. Many mamas here have shown the dolls they've made their children. Their first attempts are wonderful. They may not be 100% perfect but it's the imperfections that give a doll personality.
A basket can be a doll cradle.
Also, how many dolls does a child need? Do they need a new doll every Christmas and birthday or is it prefferable to have one or two...maybe 3 (acquired over the span of their childhood)...dolls that the child has had a real chance to bond with? (just some food for thought...)
Fancy wooden play food is nice but not essential to waldorf play. REAL beans and pasta work well. As do acorns, chestnuts, fruit pits, small pinecones, rocks, etc. It's very easy to create some simple fruits and veggies from felt or wool. My kids can often be found *cooking* a beanbag.
Anyone can make finger puppets. The can be knitted, crocheted, made from scrap fabric. The easiest to make are from felt. Get the kids involved in making some finger puppets.
Anyway, my point is that waldorf toys are not necessarily expensive. Most are simple to make or gather. We add a few choice purchased (or traded for) pieces at birthdays and holidays but by and large most things here are handmade or from the thrift store.
And if the thought of making something completely overwhelms you...come hang out at the sewing or crafty board. We're all learning new skills every day. It's all a process...a pretty fun process at that! And there's always someone to guide you if you get stuck and pat you on the back when you've finished.
edited to add: I'm sick and fuzzy brained so if this come across as pushy I don't mean for it to be. If you're happy with a house full of plastic toys...great. I'm happy for you. No judgements from me. But if you're looking to slant your homelife the waldorf way I just wanted to point out that it's not a requirement to spend a ton of money on fancy toys.
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