the reading nook

3 Developmental Benefits of a Personalized Name Puzzle

When choosing which toys to place in front of our kids, the options are daunting.

If you're anything like me, before you swipe the card, press 'complete order' or rip off the price tag on that new toy, you're probably asking yourself a hundred questions.

February 15, 2023
2 min read

@melissa.ferguson taking time for her family during busy photography season

Moms We Love: @melissa.ferguson

This month we are honored to be featuring Melissa Ferguson of @melissa.ferguson on Instagram. Melissa shares her journey to becoming a photographer, how she balances work/mom life and what she's hoping for in 2023.

February 06, 2023
3 min read

Start-to-finish: Name Puzzle

A question we often get is "how do we make our [insert product name]".

Have you ever wondered how we make our handmade wooden toys? Here's your chance at a peek inside the process of our best-selling personalized name puzzle – the Smiling Tree Toys Spell Well Name Puzzle! So, in this series we'll show you all the thought, work and craftmanship that goes into our toys; starting with our best-selling, personalized name puzzles; the Spell Well Name Puzzle.

January 16, 2023
3 min read

3 Ways to Use Our Wooden Toy Cars for Open-Ended Play

We've all heard the trendy term "open-ended toys" or "open-ended play", but between diaper changes, mealtimes, school pick up AND drop off, plus all the other mom things we have to accomplish in a day, we've probably forgotten how and why to incorporate this into playtime.

November 14, 2022
2 min read

Personalized Wood Ornaments to Start a Holiday Tradition

Ever since I was a little girl, I've loved creating and keeping traditions - specifically holiday ones. So, many moons ago (nearly 10 years to be exact), when Justin and I were in the beginning stages of what would become the Smiling Tree Toys you now know, I wanted to keep that love for traditions present in our product line.

October 31, 2022
2 min read

Moms We Love: @thenerdyboho

Chelsea Maras, aka @thenerdyboho, shares her approach to play-based learning with handmade wooden toys from Smiling Tree Toys.

September 19, 2022
2 min read

Country

the reading nook