You must know this 2 consider sustainable baby products brand that BabyLux carries

Sustainable packaging is a relatively new addition to the environmental considerations for packaging. But now many brands have offered it. You must know this 2 sustainable baby brand that we carry.

What packaging is considered sustainable?

Sustainable packaging refers to the sourcing, development, and use of packaging solutions that have minimal environmental impact and footprint. Simply put, sustainable packaging is earth-friendly and doesn't contribute to the further depletion of natural resources.

Choosing products in sustainable packaging is one way to avoid harmful chemicals and cut back on the amount of plastic that ends up in landfills. The materials below are great options when choosing sustainable packaging! 

• Aluminum is able to be completely recycled without any loss in quality at a fraction of the initial production costs and energy requirements of plastic.

• Bamboo is the fastest growing plant in the world, making it the number one renewable resource Bamboo actually grows faster when it is cut down!

• Compostable/biodegradable paperboard is made from recycled paper pulp. When manufactured and disposed of properly, it is largely considered a renewable resource.

• Glass and metal are 100% recyclable. This means that they can be infinitely recycled into new packaging without loss of quality. It is also very easy to repurpose a glass or metal container!

• Recycled plastic is another option. Many companies repurpose plastic into new packaging. While this is not ideal (in terms of a renewable resource), it is better than other alternatives.

• Silicone is an eco-friendly material derived from sand. The process to manufacture silicone is much less wasteful than the process to manufacture plastic. It can be recycled -in the right facilities- and is a safe non-toxic alternative to plastic.

Getting familiar with BabyLux carried brands that consider sustainable

Loulou Lollipop

A brands to consider investing in, they product mainly are made from silicone. Why silicone? Silicone rubber does not react with food or beverages, or produce any hazardous fumes. 

Silicone is a polymer mostly made from silica (sand) oxygen. It can withstand heating and freezing without leaching or off-gassing hazardous chemicals – unlike plastics utensils, which contaminate food in these environments.

Food grade silicone is durable, soft like rubber, unbreakable, and often referred to as ‘soft glass’ due to its resilience, non-porous surface, and sustainability. It is resistant to odor and stains, hypoallergenic, and because of its smooth surface, very easy to clean. For these many reasons, food-grade silicone is the perfect material for eco-friendly and non-toxic baby products.

While for soft goods they using TENCEL™ Lyocell and Modal fibers that are produced from wood pulp from sustainably managed sources, a renewable resource. Tencel has a much lower CO2 footprint than many other fabrics.

Read more: 5 Must have Loulou LOLLIPOP items

Dena

Dëna toys are made of platinum-based silicone, a soft, resistant material, BPA free and 100% safe. This material is also used to make dummies, baby bottles and teethers of the highest quality. Silica is the raw material used for manufacturing silicone and is very abundant in beach sand and other similar rocks. Silica is also, for example, the main component of glass.

Platinum-based silicone uses a noble metal, platinum, as a catalyst, which gives it a higher quality. This makes it the ideal material in the manufacture of moulds and products suitable for contact with food.

Likewise, they repel water and germs, so, in addition to facilitating their cleaning, Dëna toys guarantee maximum hygiene and food safety.

Read more: What can you play with Dena toys? You'll never think about it!

What is an open ended toys? 10 Types of open ended toys that best for children

There are many open ended toys on Instagram especially in Western countries. I heard that open ended toys are good for children, but I don’t really know what the benefits are. To put it simply, open ended play is to follow the children's intuition to make what they want, learn from mistakes, accumulate a sense of accomplishment, and develop into a more flexible future person.

As parents, what is even more worrying than guiding my children to play with open ended toys? Don't be afraid, in this article I will introduce to you what open ended toys are. What are the benefits of playing with open ended toys?

Content:

｜Opening

｜What is open ended play

｜Benefits of open ended toys

｜Open ended toys that best for children

If you come to an environment where there is no right or wrong and no standard, no one will correct you, no matter what you do or say. Would you be happy and feeling released? Or do you feel anxiously overwhelmed?

I think most adults will immediately question “Does it even exist?" More people tend to be overwhelmed, but it doesn't matter. This is the common feature of our growing up in a standard environment.

But do you know? Now children are still in a relatively standardized education environment, accepting guidance that does not meet the needs of the times, and only after they enter the society, they discover that the world is not what they imagined.

How to let the next generation have strong adaptability and professionalism is the most important topic for us, parents.

What is an open ended toys? 10 Types of open ended toys that best for children

What is an open ended toys?

If you want to understand open ended toy, you must first understand what is "a not open ended toy”? Let's call it standard toy. For example, in the Gundam parts set bought from the toy store, the child assembles the model by hand. In this process, do you think it is open or standard?

The view of early childhood educators is that it is good to do it by hand, but assembling with parts designed by others, this is a standard gameplay, which lacks integrated thinking and creativity.

Open game is a form of game with 90% children and 10% toys. In the process, children are the dominant players, toys are auxiliary materials, and the purpose of the game is ‘the process’.

Open play emphasizes the process. For example, we should focus on the process of building a simulated zoo, not just whether he builds a correct zoo.

The core spirit of open games coincides is STEM education.

To put it simply, open play is to follow the children's intuition to make what they want, learn from their mistakes, accumulate a sense of accomplishment, and develop into a more flexible future person.

The benefits of open ended play and toys

The characteristics of low structure and high construction of open toys give children opportunities to explore and grow. Therefore, foreign countries will also use "Invitation to Play" to describe it, which means "invite" children to take the initiative to play.

1. The opportunity to become a leader

Open ended game is a game without rules or at least children are the one who creating the rules. During the process, children have the opportunity to decide for themselves how to accomplish the goal. For example, if you want to build a castle, you have to think about what shape of material to use, what color to choose, and so on.

This is a good opportunity to cultivate children's independent judgment, so that they can deal with difficult problems more skillfully and make independent decisions when they grow up.

2. Opportunities to solve the problem

Take the above-mentioned castle as an example. What if the castle collapses in half? If you can't find a suitable part, what can be used instead? Or make one yourself?

3. Unlimited opportunities for creativity

What will the castle looks like is entirely up to the child to imagine, decide, and then create. Adults can guide him in the process, but he does not tell him "what the castle should look like", "the tree must be green" or "the roof must have an attic." First follow the child's expectations and intuition, although in the end he builds a hot air balloon, it is also the best result!

Types of open ended toys

What is an open ended toys?

Simply say, all toys that can be used for multiple times and multiple games can be called open toys.

Seeing this, you might still be confused. Let's start with the toys we can usually see!

1. Build blocks

Simple, good-textured wooden toys are classics of open ended toys. It is suitable for children to play alone or with others. Because it is simple enough and has no rules, it is very suitable for creativity.

Apart from geometric shapes, building blocks have no redundant design. Children can stack and piece together a block at will. This process is an open ended gameplay!

Read more: What is STEM.org certification? Why do I need a STEM certification?

2. Dolls/Puppets

Huh? Is there an open ended way to play dolls too? We generally think that dolls are "designed" toys, and there should be no room for flexible extension, but did you know? Dolls are also an indispensable element in open gameplay!

These dolls are the representatives of a villain in the hands of children. They can take them to play in the castle they built, or they can let the villain slide down from the pillows. The whole home is an amusement park!

When we tell stories, we use dolls or puppets as characters, which is more vivid. In the same way, when children develop games or extend their imagination, they will also need puppets to assist them!

3. Anything with neutral color

There are many kitchen utensils, tool boxes, doctor toys, etc. in the house, right? These don’t look like open gameplay, but they are not! Open ended toys do not lie in the toy itself, but pay more attention to how you play with it.

For example, children can let the dolls float on the water on the bowls or plates then start a little adventure, allowing the children to experience life and discover themselves without restriction, which is also one of the benefits of open ended play. Pay attention to not being restricted by gender when providing materials. It is best to choose neutral color, which reduces the chance of children's creativity being dominated by the meaning of color.

4. Pretend play and dress up

Dress up, props and costumes should be children’s essential toys. Girls may like princesses and mermaids, while boys like racers and Spider-Man. If your children like that, you can prepare more of these props and costumes at home. When the children's friends come over, they can also play together. They negotiate and plan on their own. Maybe a self-directed and self-acted stage play will be produced.

The colorful silk scarves like the ones you have seen are hot-selling children's products in the United States! Because silk scarves are soft and changeable, in addition to being used as clothing, children can be used as wings, tents, flags, etc., so foreign countries even create unique ways to play silk scarves. Isn’t it interesting?

5. Brushes, paints and cardboard

Art creation allows children to inspire creativity and beauty, and help children prepare art supplies. They can use recycled materials such as cartons, clay, and bottles to create.

Read more: Recommended bath toys

6. Toys that can generate rhythm and music

Music is another broad and imaginative world. We need to give children some small objects that allow them to enter and start exploring the world. Some are very simple or even self-made. For example, a pot and a spoon are good "metronomes". They can play more complicated ones when they grow up. Small drum kits, electronic organs, etc. are all very good toys.

7. Sports toys

Ball, skipping rope, frisbee, etc., which is also very beneficial. Not only can they exercise, but these simple sports toys are good items that inspire children to come up with a variety of ways to play.

You can also find that some kindergartens have large-scale wood, cement, old tires, etc. in the outdoor spaces. These items are used to inspire children to use their bodies to play a set of their own games!

8. Animal shape toys

The usage of animal shape toys is very similar to dolls. Whether it is farm animals, zoo animals or dinosaurs, children can enter a world full of imagination. A group of animals is a small society, and children will spend a lot of time studying the relationship, dialogue and struggle between them.

The animal shape toys itself has no redundant design, it is easy to combine with the building blocks or loose materials in the home, so it is also fun to make things together!

9. Construction toys

The most common construction toy is LEGO. This kind of toy is more difficult than wooden building blocks. There are different shapes of blocks and the combination of different blocks is also different. Children need to keep trying, designing, and even knocking out and restarting. Train the small muscles and mind.

10. Teaching tools and board games

Board games have fixed rules of the game, but children must think deeply about various strategies while observing the rules, so as to exercise their problem-solving skills.

Read more: Playing with Dena toys

Many parents worry that they don’t have time to play with, or don’t know how to guide their children. This is all normal! How to start an open ended game, it is recommended to start with preparing materials. The easiest way is to buy building blocks, buy some dolls or animal shape toys, and show them directly to the children. When the child is older, he can choose to construct toys, follow the instructions at first, and then slowly learn to make the shape he wants.

The main concept is to find materials at your home, use recycle waste, such as cartons, bottles, or even flowers, grass, buttons, and many more. Let your children play freely!

Recommended toys to develop child's skills for the future!

Did you know you can help your child succeed in the future by developing skills with playing toys at home? Far from taking time away from your child’s current curriculum, there are skills that can all be worked into other lessons — both in school and at home. Experts say all kids will need these skills to succeed, no matter what field they go into.

“Almost every employer, in every occupation, prefers workers who know how to problem-solve, be creative, work collaboratively, and communicate well”

Content:

| Problem-solving skill

| Collaborating and working in teams skill

|Thinking in 3D and design skill

Problem-Solving

To get ahead in a competitive world, our child will need to be able to think critically — to observe, analyze, and come up with smart solutions to complex dilemmas. It’s the quality kids need to write a persuasive ad campaign, say, or to fill out a new prescription for a senior on multiple medications.

Recommended toy: TOYI

If your child complains about being bored, point him toward the junk drawer. Suggest them to create their very own superhero from the stuff they finds, using TOYI to assemble it.

Read this article written by Primroses School.

Collaborating and working in teams

The most successful companies know how to hire the best people and get them to work toward a common goal. That’s one reason teachers love classroom projects — they teach kids the value of teamwork. Meanwhile, to raise a child who works well with others, sure you can do family activities.

Recommended toy: Dena toys

Cooking with siblings or playdate buddies not only sharpens math and reading skills but also boosts teamwork. After all, taking turns with the mixer (and sharing the beaters) is the first step toward learning cooperation. Cookies are always a hit. Dena toys is a perfect toys for cooking activities, it can be use as your cake mold.

Read more: Educate your child with these 6 Montessori activities!

Thinking in 3D and design skill

The ability to visualize objects — and the way they fit into a space — is what experts call spatial awareness. We use the skill every day when we merge our cars onto highways, for instance, or find our way around a new store.

Recommended toy: Hix by MOLUK

Hix Construction Cones are a perfect example of imaginary play. Consisting of four convertible cones made of elastic silicone rubber, these help tots with their visual-spacial ability, hand-eye coordination, and fine motor skills. Alex says ‘What makes them interesting are live hinges that let you fold each cone into four different shapes which can then be stacked and nested in countless different configurations.

Recommended toy: MOOMU soft blocks

Studies said that toy blocks can help children develop motor skills and hand-eye coordination, spatial reasoning, cognitive flexibility, language skills, a capacity for creative, divergent thinking, social competence, and engineering skills. No wonder why parents like to purchase toy blocks for their kids.

Read more: Vanilla Soft Blocks

“Toys can be anything; children can play all morning with a stone and a plastic bucket. It is about how imaginative conductive and how many applicative possibilities toys offer.”

Playing open-ended toy with Dena toys - My First Rainbow

Dena is a safe, simple and smart toy, suitable from babies to all ages. Their toys are made of food-grade platinum silicone, the same high-quality material as dummies, teethers and baking moulds. It’s a new alternative to wooden toys.

Dena means "everything" in the Basque language (*Basque is a member of a people living in the Basque Country of France and Spain) spoken. Dena toys are a high-quality, versatile toy that could be used in open-ended play to promote creativity and imagination. With Dena toys, everything is possible!

All of Dena’s products made from platinum silicone. Platinum silicone is a soft, strong, bacteria resistant, hypoallergenic and BPA-free material and 100% safe. It resists temperatures from minus 60º C to 220º C. It can be used in the microwave, oven, fridge, freezer and is dishwasher safe.

Read more: Dena, toy that every parents are looking for

Content:

| What is open-ended toy?

| What are the benefits of open-ended toy?

| Summary

What is open-ended toy?

Wonder is the beginning of wisdom.

All of Dena toys is an open-ended toy. What is an open-ended? Open-ended toy is one that can be played with in many different ways. They aren’t bound to one form of play.

For example, a video game can only function in one way. You can’t make spontaneous changes depending on your mood. But an open-ended toy can be used to suit your child’s imagination. This nurtures child’s creativity and developing skills.

Let say it in a simpler way. Open-ended toy means there’s no pre-defined structure to the play pattern associated with the toy. The experience is entirely child-led and the toy acts like a blank canvas which relies on the child to manipulate and bring it to life.

Due to its minimalist and timeless design, Dena toys can be used by babies, pre-schoolers and beyond in many diverse ways, and yes, it is an open-ended toy!

Read more: Educate your child with these 6 Montessori activities!

What are the benefits of open-ended toy?

The more ways a child can play with a toy, the more he will learn.

Encourages social development and social interaction

Open-ended toys result in open-ended play. This type of play can evolve over time while also encouraging children to create and problem-solve as they explore the world around them. Open-ended play with peers encourages social development and social interaction while also developing cognitive skills. Children have to discuss and negotiate how to use the multipurpose toy. The social and developmental gains made by open-ended play far exceed those made by directed play.

More cost-effective in the long run

Another advantage to open-ended toys is they are more cost-effective in the long run - Mom, listen cost-effective! Although this may benefit the giver rather than the receiver, it’s an important consideration. Open-ended toys, such as a set of blocks, a doll, or a toy truck will accompany your child over the years as they learn, grow, and play. When children dictate play, it can constantly be reinvented and play can become more creative and complex. In turn, the learning also becomes more complex, offering more learning opportunities.

Summary

It is almost Christmas season, when searching for the perfect holiday gift in your price range, of course you should ensure that the toy is safe and age-appropriate. Once that is established, evaluate the potential play and remember that the more ways a child can play with a toy, the more he will learn. Open-ended toys truly are the gifts that keep on giving.

Read more: What can you play with Dena toys?

What can you play with Dena toys? You'll never think about it!

Keeping your little one busy is very important, by let them stay busy, they can learn and develop more. The next question may be, “How can I keep my children busy?”. It is simple, instill a lifelong love of learning through buying them toys that engage them on creative, emotional, fun as well as educational level. Today we would like to let you know what you can play with Dena toys, and you’ll never think that one toy could be this useful and so functional.

Read more: Dena toys introduction

What can you play with Dena toys?

Use Dena as teether

This is a perfect way to start playing with Dena. You can start introducing Dena to a 6-months baby. Dena is made of platinum-based silicone, a soft, resistant material, which make it become 100% safe teether.

Use Dena for learning shape and colors

We all develop language skill by naming shapes and colors. If you want to encourage their language skill, give them love with a bunch of toy with lot of shapes and colors, also give her as much time as possible to play. Dena, will help them learn to classify by form and color. Remember: you are her best toy. Play with your baby as much as possible.

Read more: Playing open-ended toy with Dena toys - My First Rainbow

Use Dena as educational toys

Dena educational toys and their multiple combination possibilities enhance symbolic play and stimulate the child’s creativity and imagination. Let them invent their own games. Playing calmly will slowly teach her to empathize, to share and to respect turns and rules.

Use Dena as construction toys

Dena is a fantastic construction toy. Many of the skills children demonstrate are a direct consequence of correct sensorimotor development. Dena very flexible, that is why Dena could be the ideal context for creating stories and even the perfect inspiration for her first maths lessons.

Use Dena as your bath buddy, pool buddy, beach buddy

Having children who not enjoying bath time? You should try Dena. Not only for bath, you can also bring Dena to the beach, combine all of its games. Let me give you an example, when you go to a beach, stacked the toys and the wave knocked them down, stack as tall as you can before the wave come. But, never lose your Dena!

Use Dena as mold: cooking mold, painting mold

See the pictures! How could you not falling in love with a very useful toy like Dena? You can use it since your baby 0 year old until at least 6 years old. Dena is totally safe up to 220 degree environment, it means Dena is safe for dishwasher use and oven use. From now on, cooking will be one of your bonding time with the kids.

Read more: Build learning kids by let them playing blocks

“The best games are those that do not exist in reality, but are born and develop when the child wants.”

Bonding time! Do these 6 STEAM activities with your child

Being a parent in the present era is certainly faced with a variety of parenting trends that make you confused, one of which is about the selection of toys. In the market there are many educational toys circulating in children's toys, but your little one does not necessarily like to play them.

Content:

| What is STEAM activities?

| Why STEAM toys can make children feel interested?

| 6 STEAM activities ideas

What is STEAM activities?

STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. Each of STEAM's five subjects share a common approach and focus. They require gathering and using evidence to create knowledge or solve problems. STEAM learning happens naturally everyday as children explore, play, and try new things.

STEAM toys are curriculum-based products to help prepare children for the study of academics, technology, arts and more. STEAM toys are educational products that help to engage children in a culture of learning and fun with the help of toys and activities.

Why STEAM toys can make children feel interested?

"STEM toys" are meant to encourage children to develop their skills in the key disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and shoppers are seeing more and more of them on digital shelves. But many parents wonder whether these toys really deliver on their promises.

Each child has a unique pattern of development and it varies according to age, environment and intelligence that was born from birth. Well, this STEAM toy method frees each child to explore his own mindset and creativity and a perfect bonding time activities.

It gives children tools and methods to explore new and creative ways of problem-solving, displaying data, innovating, and linking multiple fields. STEAM aims to spark an interest and lifelong love of the arts and sciences in children from an early age

6 STEAM activities ideas

1. Sand print game

You only need clean sand and various forms of mold, they can enjoy playing sand on the beach. Use Dena as sand mold, in case your children afraid of sand, you can use it in kitchen as a cake mold. Really worth to have!

This activity trains the sensory and motor nerves at once. They will practice recognizing shapes, developing their creativity in arranging sand into something.

2. Play dough

Toys that can be formed freely are most suitable for sharpening children's motor skills. As parents, you must try fisherTiP. FisherTip is a high quality product which made in Germany and produced from potatoes grown on domestic farm. It is 100% biodegradable.

3. Color stamp

Playing color stamps can be another way to stimulate children's creativity. Itis cheap and easy, parents just need to prepare white cardboard and food coloring.

Dissolve food coloring with water. Give an example to the little one by dipping your hand in the liquid color, then make a stamp on the cardboard.

Not only hand stamp, try the other parts of the body such as feet, fingers, or use other objects such as banana and tree trunk. Banana stem will produce a unique shape.

Read more: Build learning kids by let them playing blocks

4. Puzzle

Training your little one playing puzzles is also fun! They will practice creatively while sharpening logic. Find the right pieces and arrange them until they are become a new figure.

You can try Plus-Plus, they only contain one shape only, which two plus signs. One shape with endless possibility! Designed and made in Denmark, this deceptively simple shape is the ultimate in open-ended play.

5. Arrange the shapes

Before introducing your baby to lego, try to teach them using a bigger size of toys, like soft blocks, or you also can use a simple tools. Arrange small boxes of used drugs or food packaging for example.

But you need to remember to prepare at least several different forms. You can take advantage of plastic bowls and different size of glasses. He will slowly recognize what size is. If they already feel bored with simple tools, then it is the time for soft blocks. Don’t forget to choose a soft block with attractive shape and colors.

Read more: MOOMU Vanilla Soft Blocks

6. Puppet plays

Whose little kid doesn't like to play dolls? Every babies must have at least 1 doll at home. Yups, usually parents use it to practice their communication skills.

Dolls are moved followed by voices from Daddy and Mommy, as if the doll itself is speaking. From this activity children learns to recognize sounds. Well, after a bit later, try to let him direct the puppet show himself.

Use the doll at home, hold one for you and give one more for the little one. Invite children to talk through dolls, after a while they will understand and try to play alone.

Read more: Recommended toys to develop child's skills for the future

It turns out that preparing educational toys for children doesn't have to be expensive and luxurious right? Interesting recommendations for young moms. Good luck!!

Dena, a special open-ended toy that every parents are looking for

Dena means "everything" in the Basque language (*Basque is a member of a people living in the Basque Country of France and Spain) spoken. Dena toys are a high-quality, versatile toy that could be used in open-ended play to promote creativity and imagination. With Dena toys, everything is possible!

The options are endless in the ways Dena toys can be used as a teether, for stacking, as a sensory toy for children with special needs, at the beach and even as a baking mold. What can you play with Dena toys? You'll never think about it!

Parents can have peace of mind that that their child, no matter the age, is playing safely and children love the freedom to play without rules of how it should be used!

We know your customers will be thrilled to find a high-quality, creative toy like Dena toys!

Read more: Activities idea with Dena toys?

What makes Dena so special?

Dena toys are an unstructured toy that contributes to the early stimulation of babies and the development of their imagination and creativity. You know what, Dena is a STEAM toy.

Dena is a safe, fun and creative toy!!

We all know kids like to play and we like to let them play wild and free. We like simple toys that stimulate their imagination, creativity, and can help them develop future skills. We really like wooden toys, but one day we realized that wood doesn’t adapt well to the needs of younger children, who instinctively bite, hit or throw their toys...

Dena, teether and playmate, all in one.

Thanks to its soft material and its design, with Dena toys your baby will begin to stimulate her creativity from the first day. They will spend the day experimenting, playing and chewing safely. Dena toys are very useful for psychomotor development.

Read more: Educate your child with these 6 STEAM activities!

Is Dena ideal for all stages of kids?

The answer is YES! Why? Let’s take a look below.

More about Dena

Dena made of platinum-based silicone, can resist temperatures between -60ºC and 220ºC. Suitable for microwave, oven, dishwasher, fridge and freezer. This toy is BPA free, PVC free, Latex free and Phthalate free.

Read more: Build learning kids by let them playing blocks

Did you know you can help your child succeed in the future by developing skills with playing toys at home? Far from taking time away from your child’s current curriculum, there are skills that can all be worked into other lessons — both in school and at home. Experts say all kids will need these skills to succeed, no matter what field they go into.

Read more: Recommended toys to develop child's skills for the future

If you have interest in being Dena reseller, no matter where you are, in HongKong, Vietnam, Indonesia, Korea, Japan or any other countries in Asia, send us an email and I will reply you shortly.

Hope that BabyLux can be parents’ best assistant.

BabyLux is looking for Dena Toys distributor, especially for those who located in China and Vietnam, send us message and show us your enthusiasm!!