Sunday, September 6, 2009

CONTINA! from HaPe International


As summer is winding down and the weather is changing, kids will be playing indoors more and more. They need compelling activities to keep their attention and so do the parents who play with them. Contina! from HaPe International, is the most awesome way to while away the hours with your children.

Not your average toy, Contina! is an open ended activity that will have you creating and laughing and bonding together. I'm really gung-ho for environmentally friendly, safe, quality, brain expanding toys. Made of non toxic and eco-friendly bamboo, and under $25, it's an incredibly great value for what it is.

This is hands down one of our top three favorite toys. It keeps my son busy for at least an hour every time he takes it out (almost daily) and it holds my interest as well. We sit at the table building towers and knocking them down, creating designs, houses, flowers, animals, spelling names...it's endless.

They are basically flat bamboo blocks, about 1 inch wide by 4 inches long by 1/4 inch thick, in a rainbow of colors and shades all in a box of a generous 120 pieces, both tactile and pleasing to the eye.

The box is sturdy and designed to used as a storage container, it has a little handle so you can carry it like a briefcase. Something as simple as that is really important to me. How many times have I bought a toy and it ends up smashed at the bottom of the toy box never to be really played with, or pieces get lost? I now look at how a toy will be stored before it comes into the house.

Designed collaboratively with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization with teachers, technicians and designers from over 15 nations, Contina! is part of The Bamboo Collection, intended to make use of a sustainable resource while helping to provide economic growth for people worldwide. It's win-win genius on many levels.

Contina! is durable, and something you could pass down through the generations. I can't say enough good things about it. If you need a fun activity that won't lose its appeal, a gift, or something for the classroom, this is a sure thing.

2 comments:

Kristen's Raw said...

Very cool! Thanks for posting.

Cheers,
Kristen

Eco Mama said...

Thanks for visiting Kristen!
xo
Eco Mama