Hank Earned a Trip to The TreeHouse Toy Store!

My 2-year-old Hank has been pretty busy lately: He welcomed home his baby brother (Theodore was born Aug. 31) and he's been a big helper ever since. I was looking for a way to reward him for handling these changes so well, and I knew Gaetana and David at The TreeHouse Toy Store would have some great options.

Neither Hank nor I were disappointed:

Hank found three things in the special toy box: a Green Toys ferry boat, a Green Toys helicopter and Sprocket the Dog by Breyer. Sprocket (or Tusselll as Hank calls him) is a great toy for getting kids excited about bath time and keeping them occupied in the tub because he changes color as you bathe him.

Meanwhile, the Green Toys products an all made in the USA from recycled plastic (mainly, milk jugs). The jugs are cleaned, reprocessed into a raw material and mixed with food-safe mineral-based colors. All these toys are great for kids aged 2-3 or older.

As I parent living in the age of big box stores and Amazon, I love the neighborhood feel Gaetana and David have cultivated at The TreeHouse Toy Store since they opened it in 1996. They wanted kids of all ages to be able to explore The TreeHouse as if they were in an actual treehouse with fun things to discover around every corner and cool toys tucked into every nook. They created a shop where kids could come with their allowance and always feel like they could find something new and fun.

To David and Gaetana, PLAY is serious business since they understand how important play is to a child’s development. They are available to help you find just the right toy and offer free gift wrapping all year. They also have a full-service website (including in-store pickup or “TreeHouse Take-Out” as it’s called), TreeHouse Loyalty Club, shipping services, wishlists and good old-fashioned customer service.

Their shop is a reflection of both their talents: Gaetana hand-picks all the toys with an eye for ones that spark children's creativity and imagination, while Dave (who enjoys both woodworking and math) handles the financial side of the business and has built all the displays, including the large bucket-filled counters.

If you want to give your kids a special treat, SHOP LOCAL! I highly recommend you visit The TreeHouse Toy Store at 793 Elmwood Ave. (at corner of Auburn in the Elmwood Village) or call them at 888-882-1322.