Since 1946, Ten Thousand Villages has supported the work of artisans in over 30 countries including Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East.  The company has grown to over 145 retail stores.  They continually strive to improve the lives of artisans in developing countries through the expansion of fair trade.  Most of its artisan partners use environmentally friendly processes, sustainable natural resources, and recycled materials for their products.

I was able to try out the Handmade Caterpillar and Butterfly Puzzle. Now, this is a tad too old for Will (who is 18 months old), but Madison (my 4 year old) seems to handle it pretty well. You can definitely tell this is a hand painted puzzle. It has the detail that you don’t normally see.  The butterfly puzzle has more pieces, but the bottom of the tray is also painted with a butterfly, so it makes it easier to figure out where the pieces go.  The catepillar is less pieces, so it is a tad easier to do.  As for materials,  this is painted albizia wood (and the paint is nontoxic).

Ten Thousand Villages has many other items to pick from also.  I focussed on the toys, but you there is really something for everyone there.  I found gifts for women, men, and even teachers!  If you are a looking for a one of a kind gift this Christmas, Ten Thousand Villages is your answer.

If you are looking for software to purchase this Christmas, Creativity Express definitely should be on your list. The animators who created animated films like Mulan, Lilo and Stitch, and Sinbad have joined forces to create this game. The ages on it are from 7 and up. However, Madison (who is 4) and I were able to do play with this together. Creativity Express has 16 lessons on it. The lessons include movement, portraits, museums, making paint, etc. On top of having 16 lessons, there are also 30 hands on activities your kids can enjoy. Some of the activities include creating a comic book, a time capsule, and making crazy masks. With the software, you can easily store and share their artwork too!

The part that impressed me most with this software was that I found myself learning a lot about art. There was a whole section on what ingredients make up certain paint colors. I was really surprised at some of the ingredients. I learned that the impressionist era was the first time painters had paint in tubes. They no longer had to make it from scratch every time they painted which is why you find lots of outdoor paintings for that time period. The artists were able to take the tubes of paint out to their subject, and it was just easier for them. I could really go on and on about all the things I learned.

Creativity Express is software that will definitely keep your kids (and even you) occupied for hours.

One of the puzzles that we have in our house that the kids have the most fun with is the ImagiPlay RainForest Puzzle. It is for ages 3 and up. However, my 4 year old and 1 year old both love it. Mommy loves it too.  This puzzle is made from rubberwood which is an earth friendly hardwood.  The part I love the most is that it is painted with lead free paint.  It is clearly labeled that way, and I don’t have to worry about Will (the one year old) sticking it in his mouth (love it, love it, love it!).  It is 18 pieces, so they can easily play with it together and not get into any fight.  We also were able to create many different scenes with the puzzle on my living room floor.  I love the fact that we can do that and also still make it into a puzzle.  It is very versatile and is great for your child’s imagination.  As you can see from the pictures below, I highly recommend this puzzle to any one with little ones.  They really will play with it for hours and hours.