apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

In a store designed for little people, it is the little touches that make it great, like comfortable child-height seating in their (excellent) book department, and felt ceiling banners that use simple graphics rather than words to indicate different sections of the store.

Best of all, instead of dividing their stock by gender, Toys Et Cetera groups toys by themes like art supplies and science activities, letting children find the toys they are interested in, rather than steering them towards gender specific expectations. As a former little girl, and soon to be parent of one, it is wonderfully freeing to be in a store that doesnt reinforce the notion that some toys are only for girls, and others are just for boys.

I am sure that child development theorists and educational specialists would drool over the incredible selection of open-ended play options that Toys Et Cetera carries things like Beka blocks and this incredible doorway puppet theatre.

But as a prospective parent, this store reminds me that the best toys the ones that are the most fun, the most engaging, and the most memorable - are not usually the ones that require batteries or carry a movie logo on them. Instead, they are the toys that foster our creativity and imagination.

-Kris