New Website!

Our website address is:

www.enchantedforesttoysak.com

We are now located at:

3535 College Rd #102
(near Gulliver's Books and College Town Pizza)

Please call (907) 374-5991 for more information

More Main Lesson Samples

"Abraham" from a 3rd Grade Old Testament Book

"Thor" from a 4th Grade Norse Mythology book

"Starry Night" from a 7th Grade Astronomy Book

"Rapunzel" from a 2nd Grade Fairy Tale Book

Workshops at the IDEA Curriculum Fair in Fairbanks

Enchanted Forest Toys will be presenting 2 workshops at the upcoming IDEA Homeschool Curriuculum Fair on Monday, April 27th and Tuesday, April 28th at the Westmark Hotel in Fairbanks.

On Monday from 1:30-2:30, we will be offering:

"Introduction to Waldorf Crafts"

Learn how a variety of arts and crafts materials are used within a Waldorf homeschooling context. This workshop will provide a hands-on introduction to beeswax crayons, modeling beeswax, needle felting, and translucent window stars.

Then, on Tuesday from 11:30-12:30:

"Creating a Main Lesson Book"

Main lesson books are traditionally used with the Waldorf style of education, but can be adapted to any unit study. Rather than utilizing textbooks or worksheets, students draw from a rich variety of sources to create their own unique, memorable, and meaningful keepsake books for each topic studied. Main lesson books are an ideal format when working with students of multiple ages as each child can adapt the day's work to their individual level. This workshop will offer a demonstration of how to create a main lesson book with a particular emphasis on Waldorf resources. There will be completed main lesson books on display along with a slide show of a variety of main lesson book pages.

I deas for Easter Basket Treats

Along with all the sugary jelly beans and marshmallow eggs, I like to add fanciful Easter surprises to my childrens' baskets. Sometimes the bunny brings flower bulbs for spring planting, or even a packet of carrot seeds (hint, hint!). Usually there is a new story book in the basket along with a couple of little knick knacky doo-dads--maybe a hand held puzzle or a little wooden bunny. An active game (even a small board game or something along the lines of jacks or marbles does the trick) that they can play to burn off some of that sugar induced mania is always a nice addition as well! Sometimes there are art supplies or a craft kit in case the warm spring sunshine inspires their inner artist. Bubbles and pinwheels are always fun too. Regardless of the contents of the basket, I think I am delighted as the boys on Easter morning when I see their faces alight with the magic and anticipation of discovering what the bunny has brought for them this year.

Though it is still snowy and blustery, springtime is almost here! The days are longer, the sun brighter, and the willows are even starting to bud. It is just a matter of time until the snow starts to melt and we enter every mom's nightmare--laundry season (a.k.a. spring "break-up")!

To celebrate, we've got lots of wonderful springy surprises at Enchanted Forest Toys this month including charming Easter Basket stuffers, outdoor games and loads of new picture books. Drop by and say hello soon!

Our Favorite Picture Book (one of them anyway!)

"Deep in the forest, under the curling roots of an old pine tree, was a small house. Warm and dry in winter, cool and airy in summer, it was the home of one of the forest people. He lived there with his wife and four children; Tom, Harriet, Sam, and Daisy."

So begins one of our family's favorite stories ever, Children of the Forest. In fact, our copy is in tatters from so many re-readings throughout the years! Written by Elsa Beskow in Sweden in 1910, this story follows the adventures four children who live deep in the forest. They play hide and seek with the squirrels (who can be "scatty, thoughtless creatures and sometimes they forgot what game they were playing and the children could catch them.") Occasionally they are frightened by vipers laying in wait or by a grumpy troll who lives in a cave near the biggest blueberries, but mostly they happily scamper through the seasons with their animal playmates.

The illustrations are gorgeous and offer many fanciful details to enjoy. I'm convinced that the evocative illustrations have fueled my boys' imaginations over the years as they have frequently spotted signs of children in the forest in the woods around Fairbanks!

Stocking Stuffer Ideas

We feel it's important for stocking stuffers to be very special--maybe even look like something that could have actually been crafted by elves in Santa's workshop! We've got lots of old fashioned ideas like jacks, tops, and pick up sticks along with some charming little gnome dolls, musical instruments (jingle bells maybe??), and little games from Germany in colorful tins. Other ideas include playing cards with lovely drawings and topics ranging from spices and mushroom varieties to ocean life and kings and queens of Scotland. For older kids, we've got tricky little wooden and metal puzzles. Finger puppets and wooden animals are other special little treats!