The Playful World Review & Giveaway

I recently had the opportunity to review some toys from The Playful World. I found this to be an incredibly neat opportunity because I haven’t seen toys like these. Nor have I seen toys advertised on the basis that these are. I think these toys are a wonderful concept!

The Playful World is a toy company created to provide today’s children with unique, custom designed toys that are handcrafted by artisans in less developed areas of the world and purchased under fair trade agreements. Which means:

• Artisans receive fair prices for their work
• Work conditions are safe and supportive
• Relationships are based on open dialogue and respect for cultural traditions
• The Playful World is committed to long-term relationships

Fair Trade is a good thing because it directly supports a better life for small-scale producers and artisans. So, you can see that buying a toy from The Playful World creates and opportunity for a family in need.

All of The Playful World’s toys are adorable and would make a great choice for any child. These toys are the toys your children will pass on to their children. I specifically reviewed the Bowling Buddies and an Elephant Animal Pal.

The Bowling Buddies Toys are made in Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyzstan is an economically depressed country in Central Asia. The workshop that produces the toys is dedicated to preserving the traditional craft of felt making with origins from early nomadic tribes. Since 1992 the workshop has provided vocational training to unemployed women and has worked to raise awareness and find markets for hand-felted crafts. The workshop is trying to improve the economic livelihood of women in their community by creating fair and sustainable employment opportunities. The women use locally sourced 100% natural mountain sheep wool to hand felt and hand sew our toys to the design specifications.

Bowling Buddies:

• hand felted, dyed and sewn by women artisans in Kyrgyzstan
• 100% wool felt outer shell, synthetic fill
• a set includes 3 pins and 1 ball
• pins are 8 inches tall
• ball is 3 inches in diameter
• meets or exceeds ASTM safety regulations
• suitable for ages 18 months and up

The Animal Pals toys are made in Peru. Traditionally, impoverished farming families living in the Andes of Peru have used fiber from the local alpaca herds to knit garments and goods. Women are now using their traditional knitting skills and forming artist cooperatives that export hand knit alpaca products, earning much needed incremental income for their families. Often this additional income means that families can stay together as the men are no longer required to migrate for additional work.

The Animal Pals:
• certified organic alpaca (natural colors)
• hand knit by women in the Andes of Peru
• 100% alpaca fiber outer, synthetic fill
• approximately 17” tall
• machine washable: warm gentle cycle with mild detergent, line dry
• meets or exceeds ASTM safety regulations
• suitable for ages 1 and up
• artisan workshop follows fair trade practices

I absolutely loved both of these toys. My son did as well. I couldn’t get the box open without him jumping in front of me taking out the toys and giving the “oooohs” and “ahhhhs”. I let him play with the Bowling Buddies and he loved them. I actually caught him talking to them.

I loved the quality, the concept, and the opportunity provided to the under privileged families in the foreign countries. By buying one of these toys, I feel like we’re doing our part to help families achieve a better livelihood. While looking at these toys, I honestly could not believe that they were handmade. I mean, the quality is just that awesome. You would expect that it was manufactured. The compliments are definitely there. I feel based off what I have seen, that the pricing is justified. Because these toys will last a lifetime, I would recommend these as keepsakes!

I know DS is going to love being able to look up on his shelf many years from now and get a laugh, because he will remember talking to the Bowling Buddies. If you’re looking for a toy that will last the test of time, The Playful World sells it.

The Playful World has been kind enough to give one of my lucky readers (US Residents only) the Elephant Animal Pal. Want to win!? Here’s how!

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