Tea Set, By PlanToys - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Wooden teapot set with minimalist design   

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:  2 year-old ++   

Who would love this: Young kids that love pretend play + tea party set 

Our two-year-old Missy has a particular fascination with teapots, cups, saucers and anything that can brew and create “simmering hot” beverages. This Tea Set from PlanToys looks “plain” yet different, simple but definitely trendy; and most importantly, Little Missy loves it! 

Why I love ❤️ this toy: 

(1) 13 Pieces Wooden Tea Set - The set comes with 13 pieces for a tea party for two: A contemporary-styled tall teapot with a round lid, a sugar bowl completes with lid, milk jug with handle and a short spout, two tea cups, two saucers, two stirring “teaspoons” (that don’t quite look like any spoon), and two tea bags made of felt material and white thick cotton strings. All of the items were purposely designed in chunky form, with thick rims, and huge knobs on the lids. They are perfect for small little hands and easy for young kids to manipulate. 

(2) Minimalist Design - I think what instantly sets this Tea Set apart from its counterparts in market is its minimalist, “unvarnished” natural feel, and neutral appearance. The tea set has a wooden but smooth softness in it. I love that the tea set has an inviting designer-feel that fits to be displayed as a centrepiece decor. I love the unique, non-painted and a little rustic feel of the tea set pieces. 

(3) Sustainable Material - Typical to PlanToys style, the set is made from environmentally friendly and sustainable rubberwood. The craftmanship is beautifully-done with smooth finishes. PlanToys is well-known for paying close attention to safety standards of their production process, and uses only non-toxic materials in its manufacturing. 

I think this is one durable and lovely tea set that can stand the time to be passed down from one family to the next. 

[This review was first written and published in Instagram on 29 December 2021] 

Where to buy this:

https://www.plantoys.com/products/tea-set

Enjoy the video! 

Farm Animals Set, by PlanToys - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Beautiful farm animals, sustainably made using compressed sawdust 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:  12 month-old ++   

Who would love this: Parents looking for sustainably-made toys. This is a great first "farm animals set" for young kids. 

In this modern age where electronic and visually-stimulating toys seem to occupy a huge proportion of the toys market, it’s refreshing to see something simple, unassuming, timeless, and not “overdoing” it, like this “Farm Animals Set” from PlanToys .

Why I love ❤️ this set: 

(1) Beautifully Crafted Farm Animals - These farm animals are adorably chubby and heart-meltingly cute. Included is a bright pink, short-legged piglet (that reminds me of a classic “piggy bank”) with a nice flat snout. The wooly white sheep is probably my personal favourite; clouds-like, gentle-looking, and gives a calm quiet aura. The brown horse is a handsome fellow with thick black mane. There is also a black-and-white Holstein cow with distinctive spotted markings. They have an inexplicable “softness” in them, with zero sharp edges, smooth and solid to hold in hands. Each of the animal has a visible middle parting lines, each side symmetrical and identical to the other. My three-year-old thinks these figurines are gorgeous; my six-year-old wishes they can “do a bit more”. I feel that most kids would probably outgrow this toy pretty soon, but the great thing is, these animals has a “timeless” and heirloom character. They will stay as a beautiful decorative item for a long time, and can be passed down from one family to the next easily. 

(2) Sustainably Manufactured Using "PlanWood" - I love the sand-like pigment and the rustic-feel of these animals. These figurines are made of “PlanWood” - a sustainable material made from surplus sawdust and wood pieces, compressed under high pressures and heat, and added with organic colour pigments during the composite process. When you see a PlanToys, you think about sustainability, child-safe guarantee, and environmental-friendly. 

(3) Imaginative Play - These animals are lovely additions to any story-telling settings, especially one involving a good old farm. I think they make perfect first animals toy for young kids. I have previously written about the “Wild Animals Set”, that has quite a similar style to these farm animals. These farm animals would go beautifully-compatible to the wild animals, and make some great characters in any fable and fairy-tales with cheeky twists! 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.plantoys.com/ (Website) 

Enjoy the video! 

Wild Animals Set, by PlanToys - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Beautiful animal figurines made of compressed sawdust   

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:  12 month-old ++   

Who would love this: Kids who enjoy imaginative play/ AND parents looking for sustainable toys 

I love watching my kids in their “small little world” moments; the way they hilariously staging their animal figurines, making funny voices, and narrating a story of “The Friendly Lion King”, “Gingerbread Man of another version”, and the New Jungle Tale.  If you are looking for some animal friends for your small world creations, this PlanToys “Wild Animals Set” is an adorable choice! 

Why I love ❤️ this set: 

(1) 4 Beautifully-Crafted Wild Animals - This set includes 4 wild animal figurines - cute, curvy, baby-like, sleek, and unmistakably, PlanToys. You get a bright orange lion with majestic big ears and brown thick mane; yellow giraffe with stylish “starfish” hairstyle and three dark spots on each side; a remarkable blue elephant, and a stripy zebra with neat black mane. I love their “soft roundness”, the solid texture for little hands, and zero sharp edges. I love the balanced symmetry of the figurines with visible middle parting lines, and the words “PlanToys” printed on them. These are genuine, simple toys for young kids - nothing “extraordinary”, no sparkly details, no adjustable joints. Just 4 attractive-looking, small-sized figurines, bright and smooth, heart-meltingly sweet. The kids would probably outgrow them really soon, but these are timeless gifts that would stay and endure for a long time. 

(2) PlanWood - The sand-like pigment and the rustic-feel of these animals are the unmistakable signature of “PlanWood” - a sustainable material made from surplus sawdust and wood pieces, compressed under high pressures and heat, and added with organic colour pigments during the composite process. You can’t stop loving PlanToys for its environmentally-friendly, child-safe  productions. 

(3) Perfect for Imaginative Play - Our three-year-old finds these animals a lovely addition to her story-telling settings; this is an awesome first animals toy for small kids, and can be easily incorporated into any imaginative play. The great thing is, PlanToys also produces other similar sets that go beautifully compatible with these “Wild Animals set” such as the Farm Animals set and Dinosaur Set. They would make a great team in any story-telling sessions! 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.plantoys.com/

Enjoy the video! 

Oriental Tea Set, By PlanToys - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Unique oriental-style tea set  

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:  2 year-old ++ 

Who would love this: Kids that love a cute tea party  

There is some magical charm about tea party and a cup of hot brewing beverage that warms your heart and spices up a conversation. Today I’m going to talk about this Oriental Tea Set from PlanToys that brings a smile with its little unique Asian theme! 

 

Why I love ❤️ this toy: 

(1) Unique Oriental Tea Set - Well, it’s oriental! The set comes with a top-handled dobin-styled teapot, a bowl (probably a Japanese chawan tea bowl or pitcher), 2 teacups, a teaspoon, and a tray. I love that unique round silhouette of the teapot, curved handle made of hemp rope material, and a removable wooden lid with knob. It’s aesthetically pleasing, classically Japanese-inspired and with a blend of modern touch. The accompanying black bowl is completes with a smooth round lid and a minimalist-looking spoon. I also love the two small-sized yunomi-styled teacups for little, gentle sips. The round wooden tray is perfect for keeping everything neat and tidy. I love that everything is well thought-of and beautifully-designed. 

(2) Material - The teapot set is ethically made from a combination of sustainable PlanWood and natural rubber wood. If you have never heard of PlanWood, it’s a made of 99% surplus rubberwood sawdust with organic pigments for colour, compressed with high-pressure moulders. I really love the “black-clay” feel of the PlanWood which gives the teapot and bowl a very natural, unglazed matte texture. The spout, lid and base of the teapot is made of natural wood for a little trendy touch. 

(3) Sustainable Toy - I love that PlanToys is well-known as an environmentally friendly brand that constantly creates new designs and techniques to produce sustainable toys. All PlanToys are made from spray-free rubber wood trees which no longer produce latex, and finished with organic pigments and water based dyes. I love the philosophy and the sustainable choice of the brand. 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.plantoys.com/ (Website) 

Enjoy the video! 

Bread Loaf Set, By PlanToys - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Wooden and realistic-looking bread loaf pretend toys   

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:  2 year-old ++ 

Who would love this: Kids that love imaginative play + aspiring little bakers 

PlanToys always gives me that warm and fuzzy nostalgic feeling; the toys are usually minimalist in design, sweet in appearance, and exude beautiful softness. This Bread Loaf Set is one of my personal favourites. We love artisan handmade breads, and this set has everything that makes us smile! 

Why I love ❤️ this toy: 

(1) Realistic and FUN - I love the realistic-looking tools and bread loaf! This set comes with a dark brown loaf that reminds me of a nutritions-packed rye bread, bread knife with serrated edge, bread pan, wooden rolling pin with handles, a flat rectangular dough scraper, dough/ bread-kneading mat, soft blue oven mitt, and a bag of pretend flour. I think this set matches perfectly with the PlanToys Stand Mixer Set that I have previously reviewed on 29 January 2022. Imagine the fun of whisking and beating, stirring and mixing, and then serving up a tray of piping hot bread! What I LOVE most is its signature PlanWood material - the unique compressed sawdust that gives the loaf and the bread pan a realistic touch with slight unevenness in colour and natural feel. I love watching my three-year-old getting her oven mitt on whilst sending the tray of “dough” into the imaginary oven under the coffee table 🤣. 

(2) Sliceable Loaf - I love how PlanToys always incorporates little details that make its toys interactive and engaging. I love the Velcro-attached bread slices; the girl loves slicing the dark brown loaf into four thick slices, and serves them up with spread of invisible butter 😋. The flour bag is a thick cotton fabric in beige with Velcro fastener and clean artistic design at the front. 

(3) Material- I love the solid rubber wood material, the signature PlanWood™ (an ingenious eco material made by compressing sawdust produced in the factory), the non-toxic water-based dyes and organic colour pigment. I love the sustainable principle associated with PlanToys, how everything is ethically made in Thailand from chemical-free rubber trees that no longer produce latex, and its e-zero formaldehyde free glue. PlanToys ticks all the boxes we are looking for in an environmental-conscious brand! 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.plantoys.com/ (Website) 

Enjoy the video! 

Dentist Set, by PlanToys

Nature/ Type:        Pretend/ Role Play & Imaginative Toy  

Rating:                  ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Recommended age: 3 year-old ++

Who would love this: Kids with great imagination and who love a game of pretend play 

If your kid has immense fear of dentist or doesn’t quite get the point of dental hygiene, this dentist set by PlanToys might be a good way to start a conversation with your little people. 

Why I love ❤️ this toy: 

(1) Quality Materials: As usual, Plan Toys is quality guaranteed. Made of sustainably sourced wood, coloured with carbon-neutral organic pigments and watercolour dyes - the set is pretty, and eco-friendly.

(2) Clever Design: I love those little “extras” that make this toy so unique and fun to play with; the syringe with a pull-able and press-able plunger, a dentist mirror to check the back of a jaw, some wobbly loose teeth to be yanked out by the plier, a drill to treat the blackish tooth cavity. We are loving all the fantastic pretend play time while educating the kids the importance of taking care of your precious teeth, without sounding boring.

Just a warning that the toy is of a smaller size range compared to most of the plastic dentist toy sets in the market. 

Enjoy some of the awesome features of the toy in the video below. 

Animal Puzzle, by PlanToys

Nature/ Type:         Board Game

Rating:                   ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age: 3-year-old and above

Who would love this: Wooden toys + challenge lovers (or anyone who just love retro-looking pretty things)

Animal puzzle from PlanToys. This is one clever game gifted by a friend many years back. The game doesn’t seem to be available for sale  anymore (can’t find it online), so I would call it a little adorable piece of “antique”. 😂

Why I love ❤️ it: 

(1) The Wood Material: “earthy”, sustainable, and loving the cute colours and shapes of those animal tokens! 

(2) Simple Rules: the boy has been playing with this since 3 and is still loving it today (he’s 4.5 year-old now!). The aim is to place each of the four animals in the same quarter, and ensuring that the same kind of animal is not placed on each of the horizontal and vertical row. I am impressed how much fun and concentration this easy instruction generated! 

One “downside” is that each game can be ended really fast, the most we get to is 2 to 5 minutes per game, and we can play it 3 to 5 times consecutively when the kid is in the mood. So this is probably not the best toy to occupy a long-stretch of time, but is undoubtedly a good fun way for a little distraction from routine.