The Holiday season is the perfect time for parents and children to savor beautiful moments of warmhearted bonding , and there ’ s never been a better moment to rediscover the boundless joys and transformative power of creative play ! Throughout Vermont , several innovative , independent toy shops provide unique opportunities for families to strengthen their ties through open and nurturing recreation . VERMONT Magazine reached out to three of the Green Mountain State ’ s most innovative toy shops to learn more about their toys , the stories behind them , and the ways that play can enrich the lives of children and adults alike . Helmed by passionate owners and educational organizations , these toy stores are changing the narrative surrounding creative play , catalyzing personal development and growth like never before .
Wild Kind Toys
Rutland , VT Wildkindtoys . com
Located in the heart of Downtown Rutland , Wild Kind Toys is a colorful and playful oasis . The shelves are lined with a curated assortment of appealing and sustainably-manufactured toys , which are hand-selected by the shop ’ s owners , Logan and Andy Paluch . Logan Paluch has an extensive background in child education and childhood adversity research . She drew on her deep knowledge of childhood resiliency training while drafting their business model . Open since 2021 , Wild Kind Toys isn ’ t just a charming toy store — it ’ s a place where parents can come to broaden their horizons and learn all about the benefits of child-led play . Paluch elaborates : “ In my public health work , we research the ways that we can help children navigate tough experiences . One way to do this is play , because it ’ s how children explore their world and process what ’ s going on in their lives . Play — in itself — is important , and the toys that they play with are also important .”
According to Paluch , open-ended toys hold the power to let children discover what they can do while unlocking new levels of power and confidence . “ Open-ended toys let children take charge of their play . It helps to nurture creative thinking and problem-solving skills , especially when they are playing with other children . That all factors into how they relate to other people and interact with their world as adults .” Paluch adds that toys that allow children to actively engage hold more educational and developmental value than toys that make use of electronic screens and buttons . The latter type of toys , referred to by Paluch as “ active toys ,” can potentially lead to the development of more passive behavior traits in children , because the toy is doing the work as opposed to the child . “ We want the toy to be passive and not the child ,” notes Paluch .
To that end , Wild Kind Toys hosts an impressive and diverse assortment of non-electronic outdoor toys , such as kites , toy road sets , and Scoot & Ride Highway Kick scooters . Beautiful wooden toys , such as barked tree block sets , wooden kitchen and doctor sets , balance boards , two story cottage houses , and wooden boats encourage tactile , open-ended play in an
indoor setting . Paluch believes that having engaging toys for children at every stage is absolutely essential for their development . “ As adults , many of us have grown to see play as an optional thing . As a consequence , I think that mentality can sometimes be passed down to children , who learn that play and education are separate . The truth is , kids learn many of the most important lessons through their play .”
In addition to providing an environment where children and parents can browse a stellar selection of quality toys and learn about the joys and value of playtime , Wild Kind Toys is also committed to sourcing environmentally-sustainable toys . “ We want to make sure that the toys that are in the kids ’ hands are supporting and being respectful of the places that they are coming from ,” says Paluch . “ We like to buy toys from companies whose manufacturing plants are run in sustainable and responsible ways . The way we see it , it ’ s not just the kids that are playing with the toys once they are made that matter — it ’ s the people that work to create them , as well .” Paluch goes above and beyond to research the toy companies , and also goes to exhaustive lengths to ensure that the toys sold at Wild Kind Toys are high-quality and durable . “ When we look at a toy , we also look at its future . We ask ourselves , ‘ Is this a toy that ’ s made to last , so that a child who is playing with it now can pass it on to their child or donate it so that it can be used by the next generation ?’” Two of Paluch ’ s favorite ecologically conscious toys from their current collection are the “ Tipper Truck ” and “ Recycling Truck ,” which are made by Luke ’ s Toy Factory . “ It ’ s a father-son team that creates fun ‘ puzzle trucks ’ that are perfect for toddlers and preschoolers . They come three or four parts , and they ’ re partially made out of sawdust that is collected from wood factories and then resolidified and hardened with a glue mixture . It ’ s really cool recycled material , and kids love playing with them .”
This globally conscious mentality is also manifested through the store ’ s ongoing philanthropic initiative , through which they donate 5 % of their monthly proceeds to a local nonprofit foundation . For the past several months , they have donated the funds to the Vermont Community Foundation ’ s VT Flood Response & Recovery Fund . Prior to that , they donated funds to Outright Vermont , which supports LGBTQA + youth in Vermont , as well as Come Alive Outside , a local , Rutland-based organization focused on helping children explore the outdoors . “ We have also donated to Wonderfeet Museum here in Rutland ,” says Paluch . “ It ’ s an amazing children ’ s museum that ’ s very close to our store . We love to recommend it to parents , because it ’ s a great place to bring your children .”
VTMAG . COM HOLIDAY 2023 13