Watch the beat! Jamtown Junior ($44.95) is an incredible way to introduce your little Gene Krupa to his or her life in percussion. Kit comes with a playalong CD, rhythm cards, 30-page practice book, carrying bag and – get this – a pair of clave, a shaker and a drum with double headed goatskin, all hand-carved by village artisans in Peru and Bali. From a simple 4/4 backbeat to crazy poly-rhythm syncopation, Jamtown Junior is THE place to start.
Rebel with a spoon! The Rebel Children’s Dinner Set ($127) lets your child rebel against those demeaning hear-comes-the-airplane scenes at dinner time by feeding themselves. As you can imagine, it’s ergonomics-for-kids: the whole set (porcelain plate and mug and stainless steel spoon) is designed around how kids move. And as you can imagine, it’s one sharp looking set. They’re too young for your Denby collection, but the Rebel Children’s Dinner Set is a good start.
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Creativity starts here. The Ecotots Art Time Easel ($155) is tough and sharp. It’s made of Forest Stewardship Council Certified SmartWood for the best in environmentally sound design. And it’s three leg design stands up to any form of creative musings. Choose from Fire, Leaf, Cocoa or Clear, and get started on those art school applications.
We’ve said it before, we’ll say it again: BRUSHING YOUR TEETH ISN’T FUN. So you need to make it fun if you want junior to brush proper. Start with the Rondo Toothpaste Cap from Alessi. ($10.50) This crazy guy fits over the tube, and dispenses toothpaste by pulling his hand away from his mouth. Shut him up again when you’re done. Brushing is suddenly fun! And soon it’s a habit.
It’s not really that we want babies to burp and drool, but with the Peanut Organic Burpcloth & Bib Set from Kee-Ka ($25), it’s just so damn cute! And this set can handle it, being made of 100% Organic Certified cotton and featuring Velcro closures and total machine wash and dry toughness. If daddy burped and drooled with this set, we’d be worried. But you’ll love having it for your wee one.
The Doodle Drawer Desk ($199) is a great way to get creative! It’s made of sturdy pine with a bright orange or blue finish, and features nifty stuff like a wraparound desk surface and a pull-out drawer for storing snacks, crayons or other surprises. Just don’t store any perishables in there. It’s hard to concentrate on adding or drawing with rotting snacks in the work surface.
A lifetime of perfect dental hygiene begins with the Dental Finger Brush. ($4) Babies aren’t ready to hold toothbrushes, but you can brush for them with this gushy soft slip-on brush. After brushing, turn it around and use the gum massage side. Comes with a travel case. This is a great investment, and all for the price of a charred cup of pompously-named coffee. What a bargin.
Make dinner time fun for your little one with this adorable Kids Dinnerware set. ($22) It’s a 5-piece set: plate, spoon, fork, cup, and bowl, and it’s built to keep up with any form of table meltdown. Do you like 100% shatterproof? We thought so. It’s also 100% dishwasher safe, so post-meltdown clean-up is a breeze. And your little angel will love the monkey motif. Proper eating begins here.
The Ayres Twin Bed ($630) is a stylishly chic addition to your baby’s room. This bed, which comes in four attractive finishes, is made of birch wood from sustainable managed forests: the wood is naturally beautiful, and is harvested responsibly. Trundle bed available, as are removable guard rails. Not much to say about this bed: it’s just a sharp, solid bed featuring intelligent design and clean lines. And that’s about as good as it gets.
Imagine a combination Lego and Erector set for the MIT/NASA crowd of tomorrow, and you have the Spaceframe Sculpture Set designed by Scott Klinker for OFFI ($196). It’s also part origami, and part Lincoln Logs. Bottom line: it’s intellectually stimulating and good for hours of engaging play. And it’s made from recycled soda bottles, so play time is guilt-free for you.
