When it comes to toys, it is essential that you put time and thought into choosing the perfect ones for your child. Why? Because the toys your child plays with play a huge role in their development. When choosing toys for your child, it is important to choose purposeful toys that will engage them, help them meet their developmental needs, and build essential childhood development skills.
But choosing purposeful toys is not an easy task, and that’s why I’ve created this purposeful toy gift guide. What makes this guide even better is it showcases small businesses in Calgary (we all know how important it is to shop local).
Here are my top five Calgary small businesses (that I know of) who are offering amazing purposeful gifts this holiday season:
1. Bumbleberry Toys. Bumbleberry Toys is a family-owned wooden toy company that handcrafts the most beautiful animals. Each piece is a work of art! From farm animals to dinosaurs and everything in between, Bumbleberry Toys will not only improve your child’s sensory play experience but also provide your child with unlimited opportunities for creative play for years to come. To shop Bumbleberry Toys, visit bumbleberrytoys.ca.
2. Educating AMY. Educating AMY is on a mission to educate! They create amazing, heirloom-quality busy books that are perfect for traveling, home, or school. With every book sold, they send a girl to school that wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity! Holly from Educating Amy has thought of everything. Not only are the books engaging and fun, but they also help develop your child’s fine-motor skills, hand-eye coordination, problem-solving skills, and more. These books are the definition of purposeful toys! To shop Educating AMY, visit educatingamy.com.
3. Little Larch. Little Larch makes the best natural play dough. Their play dough is plant-based and made with natural dyes and scents. Yep, you read that right, their dough is scented with essential oils and dyed with ingredients like turmeric and spirulina. The dough is soft, long-lasting, and is always an invitation to play! To shop Little Larch, visit littlelarch.com.
4. Sprog & Sprocket. Sprog & Sprocket provides awesome indoor soft play rentals. From ball pits to a huge indoor playground, they have everything you need to keep your child occupied for hours! Not only will a Sprog & Sprocket setup engage your child for hours, but it will also help them develop essential gross motor skills and is the perfect introduction to risky play, safely in your own home. A gift certificate to Sprog & Sprocket will make the perfect gift for any child on your Christmas list (trust me, it’s like a gift to yourself as well because nothing makes a parent happier than a happy and entertained child!). To shop Sprog & Sprocket, visit sprogandsprocket.ca.
5. Evolve Montessori. Yep, that’s me! Not only to give amazing recommendations for the perfect purposeful gift, but I have created purposeful activity kits, too. Evolve Montessori Activity Kits are activities that I have developed and tested over months to ensure they engage your child while helping to develop essential early childhood skills. I spend countless hours finding the right tools and supplies to make the perfect Montessori-inspired activities for your child, so you don’t have to! Created by a Montessori teacher and mom, these activities are made to help your child discover their full potential. To shop Montessori Activity Kits, visit evolvemontessori.com.
Jenna is a mother, Montessori teacher, and owner of Evolve Montessori. Evolve Montessori offers unique and exceptional Montessori programs for kids ages two to four. For more information, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit evolvemontessori.com. Feeling Social? Follow on Facebook and Instagram.
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