Are you looking for  truly unique toys that are fun to play with, will challenge your child’s thinking, stimulate their imagination, and provide hours of play?  I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Ken Kahn, founder of Oh! Toys, and I am just thrilled to be telling you about some of the wonderful toys he sells on his site.

It started when Ken purchased a Cuboro marble run toy at a museum gift shop. It was such a hit with the recipient that he asked the museum shop where he could purchase more of them, and was surprised to be told that the toy, which was manufactured in Switzerland, was not widely available in the U.S.  From that, Ken started Oh! Toys and stocked it with toys that are popular in countries like Germany, Austria, and Japan, but aren’t widely distributed here.

Ken generously sent me some of the new, exciting products from European toy makers that he found this year, and he’s not kidding when he says these are high quality toys, and not like anything else you find even in educational toy stores. From Cuboro, the Swiss toy maker who made the marble run that got him started, Ken sent the new Cugolino marble run.  It comes with 37 pieces and 3 marbles, and the pieces can be used with other Cuboro marble sets.  The ramps, half-height blocks and colored blocks make this unique and allow for an even greater variety of set-ups. Kaitlyn could hardly wait for me to build something so she could get down to the business of dropping the marbles! Ken calls this a “heritage toy”, meaning the investment you make in it will pay off as you pass this toy on to other children for years to come. It’s listed at $139.00.

Tsumiki Construction Blocks from Japan are definitely not the typical “box of blocks”.  In addition to rectangles, triangles, and cylinders, the set also includes half circles, and cylinders with notches in the top so the pieces fit together better. I don’t have a photo of Kaitlyn playing with these, here’s an image from the site which will show you just how unique the shapes are of these blocks. The set comes with 60 pieces.

Right now, Ken has an AMAZING deal for these wonderful blocks. The regular price is $99, but you can get them on sale for only $59.00. These award-winning blocks would make a wonderful gift!

I am just crazy for Ruck + Zuck, the adorable wooden clowns who love to spin colorful “plates” and have their own car. Quoting from the site:
” Ruck + Zuck are two lovable characters in the Kellner Stick Figure family. Like all Kellner creations, Ruck + Zuck are whatever you make them to be. This award-winning toy system lets you take over and create characters and scenes that are only limited by your imagination. Pieces are child-safe wood, fabric and plastic. 48 pieces, plus 40 Jummi (joiner) pieces.

For over eighty years, Kellner Steckfiguren toys have entertained children and families in Europe. Combining amusing and cleverly designed beechwood, plastic and cloth pieces, this classic system truly puts the child (or grown-up) in charge of where the play and creativity go. There are deliberately no instructions or restrictions placed on your imagination. Playful discovery is the name of the game with these toys. Winner of The Thuringer Design Prize in 2001, the German Design Prize for Toys in 2001, and the RedDot Award in 2002″

I had a lot of fun playing with..I mean helping Kaitlyn play with Ruck + Zuck. Although there are no instructions, I used the picture that came inside the box to get an idea of how to make the clown bodies. You can also join their arms so that one clown is swinging the other over his head. And it comes with a piece of twine and these sticks with rollers on the end so you can make a sort of zip line for them to slide down. I’d love to get the whole set so we could have an entire circus!  The set comes with 48 wood, fabric, and plastic pieces, plus 40 joiner pieces. Because there are small pieces in this set, it is NOT for young children, and I’d recommend closely supervising play even at 3 or 4, just to be sure they don’t put one of the round pieces in their mouth.  The cost is $49.00 and again, this is a toy you will have for years.

The last product I want to mention is the Spinning Tops. Such a simple toy, yet popular for generations. Kids of all ages are fascinated by getting a top to spin just right. And Oh! Toys carries tops I’ve never seen before, in shapes that are far different from the typical tops. They would make terrific stocking stuffers, at prices starting at just $6.00.  It’s not often that I get to correspond with the owner of a toy website, let alone speak to them in person, and I am so glad I got that chance with Ken.  Please visit Oh! Toys when you have a minute and browse the selection of wonderful, unique, internationally popular toys he carries. You are sure to find something for the perfect gift!