Posted on by vanessaravalico

Modern Rascals

checkout_logo_4_600x (1)

Business Highlight 

This blog post is sponsored and I have been compensated for my time and work put into this piece, the opinions are honest and true to my beliefs.  

36

 

If you follow me on Instagram you have probably seen Modern Rascals mentioned in my posts, stories, highlights, and IGTV videos. My relationship with Jana and this amazing local business that she owns is on a customer basis, personal basis (we have commonality and passion about business and all things early development) and business. Jana trusted me only a few months ago to take over her Modern Rascals Instagram account and speak to her audience and customers all about my beliefs and expertise with open ended toys and loose parts in regards to early learning and development.

 

 

When I decided it was time to start growing Amadeo’s, Grimm’s ( https://modernrascals.ca/collections/grimms ) and Grapat ( https://modernrascals.ca/collections/grapat ) collection, I wanted to purchase from a Canadian Business, Run by a (bad ass) Woman with ecological and humanitarian ethics behind the brand. Jana- Modern Rascals, checked off all criteria and then some!

 

I asked Jana if she would be willing to share with us her “why”, one of the biggest reasons I rally and support this brand the way I do in this community is Jana herself. She is a kind and caring human being with high standards with the brands she carries from clothing to toys taking into account from the salaries and conditions the makers who creates these beautiful products are in, all the way to how these products will impact and add value for us, her consumers, in a positive way. I’ll never forget she had a question box in her Instagram stories, of ask me anything, while she was passing the time during a tattoo session and I asked, “What do you love most about the products you sell”, to which she responded, “That the workers are making a living wage and the bright rainbow colours make me happy”.

I Absolutely Love that! I’m more then happy to invest in quality toys for my child and support a Canadian business owner who genuinely cares about the impact her company is making on the world the way that Jana does!

Here is Jana’s “Why”

 

jana mr

When my firstborn was little, I cobbled together happy colourful clothes from a variety of big stores. As he got bigger the choices got more gendered and the colours and prints were limited. I wanted clothes to be open-ended (or at the very least not inherently limiting) and so off I went on many late-night google searches. I eventually found bright happy prints in Scandinavian brands like DUNS Sweden and Maxomorra.

Fast forward to a parental leave career change and that moment where I jumped off a cliff and launched Modern Rascals. For the first year we only sold clothes. As we got bigger (and my own kids got bigger) I started looking for the same open-ended and non-limiting choices in toys as well. And let’s face it the toys we carry are just as happy and bright as the clothes that we love 😀

—

Jana & the Modern Rascals team

Insta: @modernrascals

 

 

To this date Amadeo’s Wooden toy and open-ended toy collection includes these amazing brands purchased from modern rascals:

Grimms : https://modernrascals.ca/collections/grimms

Grapat : https://modernrascals.ca/collections/grapat

Folkmanis : https://modernrascals.ca/collections/folkmanis

Holztiger : https://modernrascals.ca/collections/holztiger

Papoose: https://modernrascals.ca/collections/papoose

Way To Play : https://modernrascals.ca/collections/waytoplay

Wobbel : https://modernrascals.ca/collections/wobbel

Erzi : https://modernrascals.ca/collections/erzi

IMG_9944

When I’m looking at what to purchase in regards to toys for Amadeo, I consider these three things…..

 

1.Safety : This touches on what quality of materials the toys was made out of. Where the toy was produced and what their safety standards and practices are in regards to production of the finale product. Age suitability, I’m a huge believer in more mature play and exposure to toys that may be suitable for older children however safety is always a top priority when thinking of the toys you’d like to offer to your child unsupervised.

2. Life Span : If I’m purchasing a toy especially,  at a higher price point, you best believe it will be open-ended and my child will be playing, exploring and discovering new ways to interact and create with the materials over many years. Spending $120.00 on a Grimms Rainbow that can be played with from birth to 12 years old ( at least) ends up costing you only $10.00 a year! The investment is essentially in the amount of years it will be enjoyed.

3.Will this help my child evolve: Children’s most important work in their early learning and development is accomplished through play.  Investing in open-ended toys will help support your child explore the world, through play.  With play that emphasizes the process or experience rather than the final product children will be able to build on who they are as a person and what interests and makes them happy. This to me is worth ever penny I invest in Amadeo’s Toy collection.

For more on open-ended play and toys visit : https://mylittlelamb.ca/2020/03/28/open-ended-play/

57

When I go through the beautifully designed and incredibly user (  mom brain ) friendly website that is https://modernrascals.ca/ , all of the toys that Jana sources hit my top three credentials of what I look at when I purchase toys, resources and materials either for Amadeo, for my programs or parent and child classes.

What are my Top toy recommendations per age that Modern Rascals sells you ask ……

I created some graphics for when I took over Modern Rascals Instagram account and here they are, keep in mind almost all of these toys, because they open ended will be played with for many years to come not just exclusively for that month.

one month
One Month 
two months
Two Months 
three months
Three Months 
four months
Four Months 
five months
Five Months
six months
Six Months 
seven months
Seven Months 
eight months
Eight Months
nine months
Nine Months 
ten months
Ten Months 
11 months
Eleven Months 
12 months
Twelve Months 
kinder and schoolage
Kinder & School Age 

I put my HUGE stamp of approval on all things Modern Rascals and recommend taking some time to visit their site ( https://modernrascals.ca/ ) to explore their beautiful clothing, reusable’s and extraordinary open ended toy collection!

Because Jana is so amazing she has offered the My Little Lamb community a 10% your entire first toy order with code : MYLITTLELAMB ( this is not affiliated)

Thank you Jana for all that you do in regards to your business!

 

 

442 Replies to “Modern Rascals”

  3. I would love to see my energetic 19-month old explore and play on a Wobbel Balance Board! Thanks so much for this post!

    Like

    Reply

  5. My son would absolutely love the way to play roads! Hes obsessed with everything cars and even designing new styles. I think this would really foster his imagination and growth a

    Like

    Reply

  6. There are so many toys that I am now about to add to my baby registry!!! The large rainbow is 100% one of them! We decided not to find out the sex because we really wanted to allow the baby to be a baby and be loved as a baby without added pressure of performing. Finding Modern Rascals through the Instagram giveaway is like the best thing that’s just happened!!!

    Like

    Reply

  15. The wobble board is at the top of my wishlist. I have got to find a way to burn some energy off the 3 year old. The stepped pyramid of blocks is next. So many 🌈 rainbow blocks.

    Like

    Reply

  17. The tough part is choosing. But I have a wish list and the items are not listed in any order of priority.
    Large rainbow
    Rainbow semicircles
    Way to play tracks
    Large stepped pyramid
    Wooden balls
    A Wobble board
    Coloured coins

    Curious to know- since you have seen most of them being used – and if you were forced to choose one and only one – which would it be ?

    Like

    Reply

  21. As an educator as well, I love what you do with the open ended toys! It is so important for kids and adults! of all ages to let the imagination run wild!!! My favourite toy is the large rainbow. The possibilities are endless!!!

    Like

    Reply

  22. The rainbows!!! I can’t wait to get my hands on one (or two, or three). Such great open ended toys, glad to have discovered Modern Rascals. 🙂

    Like

    Reply

  24. So many wonderful things on the wish list! But would love to get a rainbow 🌈 and wooden pyramid block set 💙💛❤️

    Like

    Reply

  25. I would love the large rainbow or the accessories (trees, people, cones) for dramatic play. My daughter loves open ended toys, she would play with these for hours. Love all of your amazing toys, can’t choose just one ♥️

    Like

    Reply

  29. I’m a preschool teacher and my heart just bursts at the possibility provided by these toys. I would die to have rainbows, a tuff tray, stacking river stones, the felt bowls anything and everything 😊

    Like

    Reply

  30. The element rainbow 🌈 is my absolute favorite! Allows the little ones to stack, pile build and breakdown but can also be used in combination with different toys — it simply sparks their beautiful creativity and can be utilized endlessly!

    Like

    Reply

  31. I would love any of the Grimms building blocks! As a Kindergarten teacher I see the benefits of having open ended materials/toys out for children to play. it is amazing what they can do with it!

    Like

    Reply

  32. My lil guy is the perfect age for the stacking colourful pebbles as he’s starting to grasp items and explore the feel for them in his hands and I love how he’ll be able to grow into them more and use his imagination later on!

    Like

    Reply

  37. Would love the balance board because my daughter LOVES crawling underneath and over things. She is getting ready to walk soon so it would be a great help for her balance! 🙂 Love your blog!!

    Like

    Reply

  39. Love open ended toys!! Loose parts are the best!!! ❤️
    I’d love to be able to purchase a way to play highway set, some Grimm stackers and Grapat loose parts.
    This blog post is full of wonderful information!!

    Like

    Reply

  44. What a great article to help reframe my thinking of toys and ages!
    Modern Rascals seems to have mastered all of it.
    I’d love for my active lol title 16 monther to experience the Wobbel board for sure! Obviously he’d hopefully love any of it but I also have my eyes on a large rainbow.

    Like

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Kitty Cancel reply

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:

Gravatar
WordPress.com Logo

You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Google photo

You are commenting using your Google account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Twitter picture

You are commenting using your Twitter account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Cancel

Connecting to %s