Posted on by vanessaravalico

Modern Rascals

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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.  

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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 😀

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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

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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/

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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”

  2. Because the little loves creating stories/dialogue we’re thinking some grimms friends or grapat tomtens and of course somewhere for them to live/play, so perhaps a rainbow or grimms earth… so many choices!

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  5. Gah, I forgot the pebbles, the pebbles would be huge here. She’s take them “to school” in her backpack, use them in the kitchen, as jewels for the rainbow friends, climbing rocks for animal figurines. Those pebbles would get big love here.

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  9. A Grimm’s rainbow has been on my wish list for my girl for a while. As she gets older the possibilities to play with it are endless! And we can easily use it both inside and outside!

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  12. I got a Grimm’s rainbow at your recommendation from modern rascals for my son’s first birthday and we love it! I would love the stacking pebbles and also the Grimm’s pryamid!

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  19. Jana is amazing! I love her stance on important issues and how she lets her stance be known. Next on our list is a grimms rainbow, stacking stones, and way to play. Now to figure out what to get first!

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  20. Love love love grimms and grapat toys. We were introduced to them by you and bought the majority from modern rascal and can safely say we’re obsessed. I love that the girls will be playing with these for years to come and it doesn’t hurt that the toys love beautiful out on display.

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  21. I would love to add either the pebbles or the grimms pyramid block set to our collection!

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  29. I would love the rainbow and now going back through everything, would also love the rings for my kiddos!! Beautiful pieces!

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  31. Oh wow I’m in love with all the colours!!! It’s super hard to choose, but I think the rainbows are my favorite!

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  32. Great read! There’s so many great toys from Modern Rascals on my wish list but if I had to pick one it would be the Element-Large Rainbow!

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  37. It’s so funny that this came up in my feed today because I was just looking into purchasing a wabbel. My daughter would love it!

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  41. Wow I just love your review, and its so true these toys last longer and are far better for imaginative play. I love rainbows and the rainbow stacker is a huge hit at out house. We’d love to get some of those little peg people amd cars too.

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  42. I would LOVE the grimm’s rainbow for my 10 month old. I do however love the open ended toys for her age group as well. I’ve seen the rainbow everywhere however and have yet to just pull the pin and buy it.

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  43. My wish list items include the grimms elements, a bigger rainbow we have a small one, a wobble board and the way to play tracks I’ve been eyeing these items up for a while

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  44. I love all these open ended toys! Such quality. Purchasing from a local business owner is so important! C would love the rainbow!

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  47. My 14 mth old would have fun with any of these toys but I think she’d especially love that wobble board!

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  49. Stepped Pyramid 4 cm Thick Building Sets Or wooden animals would be my go to — waiting for the shop to reopen to order!!!!

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