What a dollhouse should be.

steve | 8:38 am | September 7, 2007 | Birthday Gifts, Christmas Gifts, Gifts for Daughters, Gifts for Nieces, Toys

I will admit that I very much live up to my title of being a doting uncle. When you’ve got two nieces and a nephew who are bona-fide cutie-patooties, it’s very, very difficult not to be.

 So when I went birthday shopping for my niece, Kristi, I wanted to get something really special. Unfortunately, these days, when you walk down any toy store or department store’s aisles, it’s difficult to find toys anymore that really teach old-fashioned values. Barbie’s gotta have her “fashion fever”, her “glam pool” and her “bling bling”. And let’s not start talking about those “Bratz” dolls–I’m no prude, but the “Bratz Babyz Night Out” outfits are enough to make me blush!

 That’s what I really love about Hearthsong. When’s the last time you saw a real doll house like this one, made of real wood, not with plastic and lead paint. Check out all the furniture collections, and the happy family all ready to move in.

And the best part about this dollhouse is what it’s missing. A child’s imagination. In a world that’s filled with licensed cartoon characters and shoot-em-up video games, that’s often the one thing that is lost. And I admit, when I see my nieces coming up with their adventures, it makes me feel great (and provides some entertainment–the “dad” eerily share some characteristics with my brother).