After sponsoring several giveaways on various other blogs in recent months, Bella Luna Toys is excited to be offering its first giveaway right here at home on Moon Child. To celebrate the positive response received so far, I am delighted to offer Moon Child readers our most generous giveaway to date:

Win a $100.00 Gift Certificate to Bella Luna Toys!

Better yet, you can increase your odds of winning by submitting four or more entries!

For your first entry, visit Bella Luna Toys and take a look at our favorite classic toys, and our new products. Then leave a comment below telling us what you love most about Waldorf toys, wooden toys, or natural toys, and why you choose them for your children.

For a second entry, sign up for Bella Luna Toys email newsletter. Not only will you get an extra chance to win, but you will also receive advance notice of subscriber-only sales, discounts and new product announcements. Then return here and leave the comment “Subscribed to newsletter.”

For a third entry, subscribe to Moon Child to receive blog updates by email, and follow my musings on childhood, play and Waldorf education. Then leave the comment: “Subscribed to blog.”

For even more ways to enter, mention this giveaway on your own blog, tweet about it on Twitter, or become a new fan on Facebook. Get an extra entry for each of these activities. Leave a separate comment for each. Be sure to include a link to your blog post, your Twitter name, or a note saying “New Facebook Fan.”

The winner will be chosen randomly from all entries received on Monday, June 7 at 9:00 a.m. EST.

We love wooden toys because they are safe, natural, and durable, but also because they are nourishing to a young child’s senses. They feel good and, with their variety of natural colors and grains, are beautiful to behold! Not only will wooden toys provide many years of play for your children, but with proper care, they will also be enjoyed by your grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

But how should one care for wooden toys to make them last? Because they are made from a natural, living material, they need special care and loving attention.

Simple cleaning with a mild solution of soap and water (I like Dr. Bronner’s liquid castile soap) or a vinegar solution will keep your wooden toys safe and germ-free. Vinegar has mild disinfectant properties. Be sure to avoid bleach, detergents or abrasive cleansers, which will dry out the wood, leading to cracks and breakage, and will also lighten the surface. Use a damp cloth, soft brush or a sponge to wipe clean. It is best not to submerge wood in water (and never put it in the dishwasher).

Wood needs to have its natural moisture replenished in order to prevent it from drying out, warping or cracking. The best way to keep your wooden toys hydrated and well-nourished is with a natural oil or wax, like plain mineral oil or beeswax polish, like Three Beautiful Bees. Beeswax polish is not only completely non-toxic and safe for children, but it also smells like honey, further adding to the sensory deliciousness of wooden toys!

Like all wood, wooden toys can be affected by changes in temperature and humidity. Be careful not to leave them outside overnight or for extended periods of time. Heat, sun and humidity can all affect the appearance and shape of wooden toys, and worse, lead to cracking, swelling or breakage.

With proper care and feeding, the wooden toys you purchase for your child today will be enjoyed for generations, delighting other children and families decades after the plastic toys end up sitting in the bottom of a landfill for all time.

What are your favorite wooden toys? Leave a comment and let me know!

Are all Waldorf teachers asked to describe Waldorf education “in a nutshell” as often as I am? I suspect so. One of my esteemed colleagues, Nancy Foster, a veteran teacher who taught at  Acorn Hill Waldorf Kindergarten in Silver Spring, MD even wrote a book entitled In a Nutshell, answering parents questions about Waldorf education.

Even though it’s a nearly impossible task, given the muti-faceted nature of Waldorf education and the almost-too-many-to-name  aspects that differentiate a Waldorf classroom from the educational mainstream, I did my best to give a “nutshell” picture of a Waldorf early childhood program recently for the wonderful crafting blog, Wee Folk Art. Here it is, reprinted in its entirety, with thanks to Kimara for asking such great questions that were a pleasure to answer!

Interview with Sarah Baldwin of Bella Luna Toys
By Kimara – Originally posted at Wee Folk Art on 14 February 2010

Kimara: In a nutshell, what distinguishes a Waldorf classroom from a more traditional educational environment?

Sarah: There are so many facets and layers to Waldorf education that it is nearly impossible to describe it in a neat, tidy package, even though I am frequently asked to do so! Since I am an early childhood teacher, I will highlight three of the key elements that distinguish a Waldorf early childhood classroom from that of a more mainstream preschool.

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