“Animals-on-Wheels” are the newest addition to TLB Music‘s indoor playspace! These adorable push toys by Green Toys are perfect for babies and toddlers: they’re sized for small hands, safe, durable, and really easy to clean.

*”Animals-on-Wheels” are made from 100% recycled milk jugs.
*Encourage fine and gross motor skills.
*No sharp edges or metal axles.
*No BPA, phthalates, or PVC.
*3 adorable designs to choose from: elephant, pig, and turtle.
*Affordable: only $12.99 each (we got ours for less than $9 each on Amazon!)
*Dishwasher safe!

View Animals-on-Wheels on www.amazon.com:

Elephant-on-Wheels
Pig-on-Wheels
Turtle-on-Wheels

(click here to enlarge image)

1. Snow Stompers by Poof Slinky  {View on Amazon}
Your kids will love stomping through the snow, leaving behind giant footprints. Easily attaches to shoes or boots!

2. Sno-Brick Maker by Poof Slinky  {View on Amazon}
This mold makes snow “bricks” so kids can construct forts, igloos, walls, and castles!

3. Snowball Maker by Flexible Flyer  {View on Amazon}
Make a snowball in seconds with this handy tool.

4. Toddler Boggan Sled by Paricon Sleds  {View on Amazon}
This pulling-sled is ideal for young toddlers. With a high back and safety straps, your little one won’t miss out on outdoor winter fun!

5. Kids Snow Shovel by Suncast  {View on Amazon}
This practical mini shovel is perfect for small hands.

6. Freestyle Mini Luge Snow Sled by Zipfy  {View on Amazon}
This lightweight sled is easy for kids to carry up hills and is a favorite with reviewers who love its speed, its sleek look, and the fact that it can hold up to 250 pounds- meaning parents can get in on the fun!

7. Snow Ball Throwing Stick by SnoFling  {View on Amazon}
Take your snowball fight to the next level with a SnoFling.

8. Snow Dino Kit by Wide Ideas Inc.  {View on Amazon}
Tired of making your same old snowman? Update the classic snow sculpture with this adorable set! Wide Ideas Inc. also makes a snowman kit (level 1) and a snowbear kit (level 2).

Last week, we hosted our first annual Halloween Costume Party at TLB Music!  Our amazing staff teamed up to transform our music studio and playspace with giant cobwebs, bats, jack-o-lanterns, lights, balloons, LED candles, and more.  We created a Trick-or-Treat table filled with yummy vegan sweets like YumEarth lollipops, Dandies Marshmallows, Newman’s Own Cookies, and fruit.  I also baked almost 300 mini brownies!  (Brownies are so easy to veganize:  just substitute eggs with flax eggs in any brownie recipe.)  Continue reading to see my photos from the party!

Over 60 children attended in adorable costumes and the TLB team dressed up as a rainbow! We all had so much fun together!  In our music room, the kids jammed out with our teachers to songs like “I Put a Spell On You”, “Monster Mash”, “Love Potion No. 9″, and “Thriller”. They made the sound of thunder with our collection of world percussion instruments and got a chance to play the Trombone, Saxophone, and Snare Drum with our head teacher Ashley! In the art room, Let’s Gogh Art helped partygoers decorate foam pumpkins with glitter pens, jewels, and other stick-ons. After music and art, kids headed down to our indoor playspace for snacks and playtime!
Thank you to everyone who attended the party!

(Click on photos to enlarge)

Katia and I are so excited to be throwing our first Halloween costume party for kids at TLB Music!  We can’t wait to decorate the studio with cobwebs, spiders, glowing lights, pumpkins, and more.  If you live in the NYC area, please join us on October 30th for music, making Halloween-themed crafts, playing in our indoor playspace, and snacking on yummy sweets. We’ll be giving away $100 in Bird Bucks to TLB’s staff pick for favorite costume of the day and will be raffling off a full session of music classes ($688 value) for our Winter/Spring 2014 session!

What: Halloween Costume Party for kids ages 4 months – 6 years
Where: TLB Music 266 East 78th Street (between 2nd and 3rd) NY, NY 10075
When: Wednesday, October 30th 2013
Time: come anytime between 2:30 – 5:00! We think most people will stay about an hour.
Tickets: $20 per child in advance | $25 per child at door | 50% off siblings
How to Purchase Tickets: Call 212-744-0404, email tlb@tlbmusic.com, or purchase tickets online at: www.tlbmusic.com/workshops-events/

Click through for 10 of our favorite eco-friendly toys for kids!

1. Pallina by Hape (3+) This game of strategy is made from eco-friendly bamboo and nontoxic paints. View on www.fatbraintoys.com.
 

 
2. Pizza Parlor by Green Toys (2+) This adorable play set is made from 100% recycled milk containers and is dishwasher safe! View on www.amazon.com.

3. Ride-On Recycling Truck by Wonderworld (18 months+) We LOVE this truck! It is made from environmentally friendly rubberwood, strictly using non-toxic paints, dyes and lacquers and formaldehyde-free glue. The packaging is also made from at least 70% recycled paper! View on www.amazon.com.

4. Eco-Dough by Eco-Kids (2+) This molding dough is non-toxic and made from natural ingredients including plant, fruit and vegetable extracts. View on www.ecokidsusa.com.
 

5. Stacking Cups by Green Toys (2+) These stacking cups, numbered 1 to 6 on the bottom, are perfect for little hands. They’re made of 100% recycled milk cartons and can easily be cleaned in the dishwasher. View on www.amazon.com.

6. Mini Automoblox Set (3+) These adorable cars can be deconstructed and constructed over and over again, improving fine motor skills! They’re made of natural German Beechwood with a non-toxic finish. View on www.amazon.com.
 

7. Pull-Along Snail by Plan Toys (19 months+) This simple pull along toy is fantastic. It’s made of organic, recycled rubberwood and encourages toddlers to crawl and walk. View on www.amazon.com.
 

8. Flatbed Truck and Race Car by Green Toys (12 months+) This is a favorite in our playspace! Like all Green Toys, it’s made from 100% recycled milk jugs and has no BPA, PVC, phthalates or external coatings. View on www.amazon.com

9. Seed Bombs- Butterfly and Bird Mixture (4+) Not really a toy, but lots of fun nonetheless. Plant the seed bomb (perfect for little hands) and water to easily grow plants and flowers that will attract butterflies and birds! View on www.fatbraintoys.com.
 

10. Stacking Tree by Plan Toys (2+) This eye-catching stacking tree is made from recycled rubberwood and can be rearranged to make a variety of different trees! View on www.amazon.com

[The Playroom at TLB Music]

During most NYC winter days, outdoor playgrounds just aren’t a possibility because of the cold and bitter wind! During the summer, the heat, humidity, and stormy weather can also mean playtime indoors.  Luckily, parents have lots of options available. NYC is home to many fantastic indoor play spaces for children. Here are 5 favorites (including our own playroom) that all offer drop-in rates!

CHELSEA- City Treehouse

WEBSITE:  http://www.citytreehouse.com/

LOCATION:
129A West 20th Street
between 6th and 7th

AGES: 18 months – 8 years

PRICING: Single Visits and Multiple Pass Packages

The City Treehouse offers children’s classes and the largest indoor water play area in NYC! You can also celebrate birthday parties and special events in the unique Chelsea play space.

UPPER EAST SIDE- The Playroom at TLB Music

WEBSITE: http://tlbmusic.com/playroom/

LOCATION:
266 East 78th Street
between 2nd and 3rd

AGES: 6 months- 6 years

PRICING: Single Visits and Multiple Pass Packages

The Playroom is filled with eco-friendly, developmental toys and activities for children. Inside the Playroom: a clubhouse, rock-climbing mountain, soft play room, train table, play kitchen, slides and more! TLB also offers music classes, birthday parties, and special events for kids.

UPPER WEST SIDE-  PlayWorks™ at The Children’s Museum of Manhattan

WEBSITE:  http://www.cmom.org/explore/exhibits/playworks

LOCATION:
The Tisch Building
212 West 83rd Street

AGES: 0 – 4 years

PRICING: Adults and Children- $11 / Children under 12 months- FREE

PlayWorks™ is the 4000 square foot play and learning center for children ages 4 and under at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan. What you’ll find there: a giant talking dragon, a deli, sand play, soft space for crawlers and much more!

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS- Wiggles & Giggles Playhouse

WEBSITE: http://www.wigglesgigglesplayhouse.com/

LOCATION:
875 West 181st Street
corner of Riverside Drive and 181st St.

AGES: 0-5

PRICING: Single Visits or 4 Month Unlimited Play + Class Combo

This drop-in play space has a dress-up area, train table, play kitchen, and soft play! Wiggles & Giggles also offers enrichment programs, children’s classes and groups for new moms.

BROOKLYN- PLAY City

WEBSITE:  http://playspacenyc.com/play-city

LOCATION:
33 Nassau Avenue
between Guernsey and Dobbin Streets

AGES: 0-5 years

PRICING: Single Visits or Annual Membership

PLAY is an early childhood education center and indoor playspace located on the intersection of Williamsburg and Greenpoint. PLAY City is their 1000 square foot play area that includes several city-themed installations like a farmer’s market, a diner, a townhouse, and art corner. PLAY also hosts birthday parties and classes for kids!

We put together a collection of classic toys and games designed with a stylish, modern aesthetic.    No apps on this list and no batteries needed!  We’re going back to basics with tops, blocks, hopscotch, darts, and dominoes!

1.  Cat Steps by Educo (3-7 years) $12.99
view this item on www.amazon.com
Move over tin cans! These steps are safe, sturdy, and perfect for walking in the sand. Your children will improve balance, coordination, and motor skills while leaving behind adorable cat paw prints along their path! 
2. Spinning Tops Optical Set by Haba (3-8 years) $8.99
view this item on www.amazon.com
This top set comes with 8 optical illusion disks to try!
3. Life on Earth Matching Game by eeBoo (4-8 years) $12.51
view this item on www.amazon.com
The gorgeous images on these sturdy cards are a perfect way to learn about different animals and improve memory skills.
4. Hardwood Texture Dominoes by GuideCraft (3-7 years) $18.48
view this item on www.amazon.com
Perceive through touch with textures like hardboard, sandpaper, cloth, and more. We love this modern twist on dominoes!
5. Design Your Own Yo Yo Kit by Seedling (5-11 years)$12.18
view this item on www.amazon.com
Craft your own home-made yo yos with your children!
6. Dado Cubes by Fat Brain Toys (3 years+)$24.95
view this item on www.amazon.com
Children can unleash their creativity and design flair with these smart “blocks”. The slits in the cubes allow them to interlock, forming unlimited 3-D structures. This item is a favorite in our playroom!
7. Jump Rope by Green Toys (5-9 years) $7.64
view this item on www.amazon.com
This adorable jump rope is made of 100% recycled plastic and cotton rope. Every product Green Toys makes is eco-friendly, eye-catching, and durable!
8. Hop to It Play Carpet by Learning Carpets (2-10 years) $35.54
view this item on www.amazon.com
Hopscotch is easy with this soil and stain resistant carpet with skid-proof backing.
9. Automoblox Minis by Manhattan Toy (3-15 years) $22.64
view this item on www.amazon.com
These cars are so much fun to take apart and reassemble! The full-size cars from Automoblox are fantastic as well and excellent for developing fine motor skills.
10. Doodle Pro Travel by Fisher-Price (3-7 years) $18.50
view this item on www.amazon.com
The Doodle Pro is perfect for little hands on the go.
11. Doinkit Dart Set by Marky Sparky (6-15 years) $26.09
view this item on www.amazon.com
Take the fear factor out of darts with this magnetic set!
12. Three-Seater Rocker by Wesco (1-4 years) $134.99
view this item on www.amazon.com
This is another favorite in our playroom! This update to the see-saw is easy to use, stable, and can be used inside or outside.

Play mats allow babies to explore their world through sight, touch, and sound.  We picked ten favorites that rank high in customer reviews and aesthetic appeal.  Browse below to find the perfect design for your family!

1.  Twist and Fold Activity Gym by Infantino ($39.99) View this mat on www.amazon.com

2. Start Your Senses Activity Mat by Bright Starts($119.99) View this mat on www.amazon.com.

3. Symphony Motion Space Gym by Lamaze ($93.48) View this mat on www.amazon.com.

4. Baby’s Play Place by Bright Starts $82.00 View this mat on www.amazon.com.

5. Treetop Friends Activity Gym by Skip Hop ($79.00) View this mat on www.amazon.com.

6. Garden Patch Play Gym by Boppy ($63.00) View this mat on www.amazon.com.

7. ABC Activity Gym by Skip Hop ($74.99) View this mat on www.amazon.com.

8. Twist and Fold Activity Gym by Infantino ($37.79) View this mat on www.amazon.com.

9. Sassy Stim Gym Playmat ($25.09) View this mat on www.diapers.com.

10. Rainforest Melodies and Lights Deluxe Gym by Fischer-Price ($69.95) View this mat on www.amazon.com.

Beach day with the kids? A scavenger hunt is the perfect activity for children to actively explore the beach! Click the link below to download and print the PDF.

Scavenger Hunt- Beach Day Search PDF

Want more scavenger hunts? CLICK HERE

Want more summer inspiration? Check out our favorite sunglasses, summer hats, and swimsuits for toddlers.

1.  Blue Turtle Kite ($29) Pottery Barn Kids view item on www.potterybarnkids.com
This 15′ turtle comes with 300 feet of flying line and a handle that is easy for children and adults. (5+)

 2. Sand Play Set ($17.98) Green Toys view this item on www.amazon.com
This set, made by one of our favorite toy companies, includes a bucket, shovel, rake, and sand mold. It’s all made out of curbside collected milk containers! (3+)

 3. Natural Sunscreen SPF 30 ($11.99/2.5 oz) Beyond Coastal view this item on www.beyondcoastal.com
We love this sunscreen for kids. The SPF 30 protects your child’s skin while nourishing it with ingredients like shea butter, vitamin C, and grape seed extract. It’s also oil free, fragrance free, and cruelty free!

 4 Swirl Tie Dye Beach Towel ($25) Lands’ End view this item on www.landsend.com
This large 100% cotton towel is UPF 50+ and can be monogrammed for an extra $6.

 5. Sand Molding Set ($8.31) Melissa & Doug view this item on www.amazon.com
Set includes a turtle, a fish, a crab, a seahorse, and a starfish. All the molds store inside the turtle shell. (2+)

 6. Striped Mesh Slingback Bag ($7.94) Old Navy view this item on www.oldnavy.com
This bag also comes in pink, yellow, and purple.

 7. Turtle Bubble Set ($9.32) Melissa & Doug view this item on www.amazon.com
Want more bubble shapes and sizes? Try Melissa & Doug’s butterfly and ladybug sets too. (3+)

 8. Alphabet Sand Mold Set ($9.99) Learning Resources view this item on www.amazon.com
Play and learn! (3+)

 9. Baby Beach Chair and Umbrella ($19.99) Redmon view on www.amazon.com
This chair and umbrella set fold flat for easy storage and transportation.

 10. Clicker Crab Toss & Grip ($10.57) Melissa & Doug view this item on www.amazon.com
Develop hand-eye coordination while playing on the beach. (3+)

 11. Turtle Stripe Baby Beach Wrap ($19) Pottery Barn Kids view this item on www.potterybarnkids.com
This blanket is UPF 50+ and can be personalized for an additional $7.00. (fits infants-3T)

 12. Bilibo ($26.13) Bilibo view this item on www.amazon.com
This toy can be used for pouring water, scooping/molding sand, creating stepping stones and much more!

A couple weeks ago, we posted our first scavenger hunt for city kids.  We had so much fun creating it that we decided to make another one!   Click on the link below to download the PDF and print!

Scavenger Hunt for Kids: City Search 2

Want more scavenger hunts? CLICK HERE

I created a scavenger hunt for city kids!  This hunt is perfect for toddlers and young children exploring their environment.  Click on the link below to download the PDF and print!

Want more scavenger hunts? CLICK HERE

When we came across this free app for children ages 2-6, we fell in love with it immediately.

Art Maker reminds us of the sticker books we had as children.  We both loved decorating scenes with sparkly, fuzzy, and scratch-n-sniff stickers!  This app provides the same feel but with lots of modern updates.

To begin your creation with Art Maker, choose from 7 backgrounds or use a picture of your own.  Each background has lots of themed “stickers” to drag and drop into the scenes.

Grown-ups will appreciate the multi-dimensional, creative options.  The “stickers” are eye-catching, textured, and whimsical.  Items include animals made of cloth, buttons, objects made of tin foil, toilet paper rolls, and more!

Also, several items from each collection are puzzles to add a challenge for older kids.

Children can resize, rotate, and move the “stickers” until they’re positioned wherever they want them.  Once the picture is complete, save a copy to your photo roll to share with others.  You can also create stories with your images, add audio, and animate the objects to make short movies with your pictures!

Bottom line:  This app is lots of fun, easy to use, and creates high quality images that you and your children will love.  Best of all, it’s free for a limited time!

To visit Art Maker on iTunes, click here.

Here are some pictures we made with Art Maker (click to expand):

Hohner makes fantastic, durable musical instruments for young children.  Almost all of the instruments our students play in our Upper East Side music studio are by Hohner.  They are attractive, easy to clean, and have great sound!  We put together a list of the 5 most popular.

To purchase any of the featured musical instruments:

Visit our NYC studio-  TLB Music 266 East 78th Street  NY, NY 10075  www.tlbmusic.com

or click on the links below each item to purchase on www.amazon.com.

Toddler Xylophone
view on www.amazon.com

Maracas
view on www.amazon.com

Translucent Harmonica
view on www.amazon.com

Tambourine
view on www.amazon.com

Ocean Wave Drum
view on www.amazon.com

(1890- Toy Train.  photo source)

We had so much fun compiling pictures for our blogpost “The Baby Stroller:  A Visual History” that we decided to create another Visual History post.  This time, we’re featuring children’s toys over the course of a century, from the 1890s to the 1990s.  Scroll below and watch the way children play evolve from decade to decade:

1890- Ball and Hoop

1895- Toy Sheep and Hoop

1897- Toy Catalogue

1900- Toy Horse

1904- Tea Party

1905- Doll

1906- Doll and Toy Donkey

1908- Rocking Horse

1910- NYC Playground

1910- Carnegie Playground on 5th Ave, NYC

1914- Pedal Car

1917- Eaton's Catalogue

early 1920s- Toy Boat

1927- Toy "Spirit of St. Louis"

1928- Tricycle

1928- Toy Car

1929- Keystone Toys Advertisement

1930- Doll

1932- Stuffed Bunny

1936- Tea Party

1937- Toy Car

1937- Asleep with Dolls

1946- Homemade Pull-Along Duck

1948- Woolworth's Doll House Ad

1949- Jumping Over Wagon

1950- Lincoln Logs Advertisement

1952- Huffy Bike Advertisement

1954- America's Top Ten Hasbro Toys

1954- Train Set

1950s- View-Master

Slinky Ad- 1957

1958- Hula Hoop

1959- Barbie's First Commercial

1960- Toy Dog

1963- Ken Doll

1964- Hot Rod Jalopy

1965- Toy Wagons

1967- Matchbox Cars Advertisement

1968- Horse Marionette

1969- Rocket

1969- Girl Playing with Top

1970-Drums, Tinkertoys, Cars, Books, and More!

1971- Toy Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch

1973- Toy Lion and Phone

Mattel Ad- 1975

Mattel Ad- 1975

1977- Legos

1978-Fisher-Price Toys Advertisement

1979- Star Wars Toys

1980- Strawberry Shortcake Advertisement

1981- Ernie Doll and Music Toy

Early 1980s- Mattel Toys Advertisement

1984- G.I. Joe

Mid 1980s- Cabbage Patch Kids

1988- Barbie Brochure

1989- Playing Nintendo

1991- Sledding

1992- Breakfast with Kid Sister

1992- Playskool Tape Recorder Advertisement (source)

1992- Playskool Advertisement

1994- Toy Car

1994- Train Set

1997- Tickle Me Elmo

Ready to Swing at the Pinata! (1988)

Little Tikes Swing (1999)

Teddy Bear in Swing (1999)