Hey grandma/grandmommy/nana/mimi/etc.!
There's absolutely nothing better than when the grandkids come over, right? You love the heart-melting feeling you get seeing the little ones running into your home with a big smile on their face, they always have a blast, and (of course) mom and dad are grateful you're taking the kids for a few hours! But there's an ever-underlying fear that you just can't shake... You've spent years and years cultivating the aesthetic of your home, turned into your sanctuary, and you really, really don't want the kids' toys and belongings to make your living room look like daycare exploded.
If you want to shake that sense of dread, you're in the right place! Here's Wrightsville Ave's official guide on how to spoil your grandbabies while keeping your home looking beautiful!
The Dedicated "Grandma's House" Toy Stash
The first step to keeping a happy grandchild and a beautiful home is knowing what toys are in your home. Keep an attendance roster if you must! You can then put together a dedicated toybox for your grandchild with heirloom, boutique-quality toys that get to live at your house! This way, you know exactly what belongs with you, and what toys need to go back home with your grandbaby.
Another great benefit of curating your own toy stash is that you don't have to put anything in it that you don't like. Bright plastic toys? Nah. Neon flashing lights? No, thank you. Annoying loud songs? Nope. If a toy doesn't fit into your decor or the aesthetic of your home, you have zero obligation to pick it up! You get to pick and choose the toys that look and feel the best, and skip right over anything you think would be annoying or cause clutter.
These toys are only allowed to live at grandma's house! These are your grandbaby's friends that they get to play with whenever they see you, which makes them extra special for both you and the kids. Here are some of our favorite examples!
Coffee Table Approved Cars
Grandkids, especially toddlers, love things that go "vroooooom!!!" But grandparents don't want/need a giant plastic parking garage. Not only is it an eyesore, but it takes up a lot of space, too! Our solution? Candylab cars!
These cute wooden cars are crafted beautifully, painted by hand, and all of the materials (down to the packaging) are safe and non-toxic. These cars have a gorgeous vintage-inspired aesthetic, too, and they're durable as can be. That means you don't need to worry about any unsafe materials in your grandkids' hands, and you don't have to deal with any meltdowns from a toy dropping and breaking.
Once playtime is over, Candylab cars can be packed right back into their aesthetically pleasing little boxes and tucked away, but you can also "park" them on your coffee table. A little Candylab car on your coffee table books can look like a darling mid-century inspired modern art piece!
Shop our Candylab toys HERE!
The Bookshelf Secret
Children love to use their imagination and adventure in "tiny worlds," but bright plastic dolls and noisy action figures can quickly become headache-inducing. When it comes to imaginative, quiet play, nothing will capture your grandchild's attention quite like our Maileg mice! These Danish-designed dolls are adorable, super soft, and are as fun to play with as they are beautiful to look at. When it comes to using toys as decor, we at Wrightsville Ave choose Maileg first!
Maileg mice come packaged in vintage-inspired matchboxes and cigar boxes where they "live," creating an aesthetically-pleasing style that looks great next to all of your favorite chic living room decorations. They also have loads of furniture pieces, too, that are made of the highest-quality metals and wood. You can create entire scenes with Maileg toys, and I have to warn you... collecting Maileg toys can become addicting fast!
Maybe having little matchboxes out isn't exactly your style--no worries! Their matchbox homes take up virtually zero space, so whenever playtime is over you can slide them between your favorite novels when the grandkids go home.
This also creates a super sweet tradition for you and your grandchildren. They know exactly which shelf to run to once they show up at your house to find their favorite little mouse friends!
Shop our Maileg collection HERE!
Want to learn more about why we love Maileg? Read our blog post HERE!
The "Resident Baby"
Every grandmother's house needs a live-in baby doll that her grandkids can rock, feed, and read to. This is an especially great toy to have if you have baby/infant grandkids and want something special for your "big kid" grandchildren. Kids love to mimic, so while you're cradling and holding your littlest grandbaby, the big sibling is able to do the same. On top of having special bonding time, this also instills a sense of responsibility in your older grandkid, too.
The resident baby doll should be larger than the wee Maileg mice. When it comes to actual baby dolls, you can never go wrong with Minikane. Minikane baby dolls are ultra-realistic, subtly vanilla-scented, and absolutely adorable. These are the gold standard when it comes to baby dolls, and the doll clothes, accessories, and furniture pieces are just as cute and well-made.
Large or medium sized Cuddle & Kind Co. dolls are another great pick. These ethically-sourced dolls have a fabulous mission, and they're made of organic cotton by skilled artisans who are paid fair wages, so it's a toy you can feel good about buying, too.
The best part about these toys? There's absolutely zero need for a big toybox or neon plastic toy bin! All of these dolls look great tucked away in the corner of the room in a beautifully textured woven basket. Bonus styling tip: Add in a nicely folded swaddle from Quincy Mae to serve as the doll's little "blanket!"
Shop our selection of Minikane dolls HERE!
Shop our Cuddle & Kind Co. collection HERE!
Learn about Cuddle & Kind Co.'s mission to donate ten meals per doll sold HERE!
Making Grandma's House Magical
When you have a curated toy stash that lives at your house, you're making visits with your grandbabies extra special. Not only are you building core memories with them, but you're also taking an active role in helping them grow. They make grandma's house a fun place they always want to visit, and they'll always love and remember their "grandma toys."
When the day eventually comes where your grandbaby is all grown up (it's tough to think about, I know!) the pieces in your toy stash become special keepsakes, whether they stay at your house for good or one day go home with the grandbabies. Hey, maybe you can even have them pass these toys down to your great-grandbabies one day!
Are you ready to put together a play corner that's as beautiful as the rest of your home? Shop our quiet, screen-free toys online, or pick up your grandbabies and take a trip to visit us in-store. See you soon!
SHOP MAILEG DOLLS
SHOP CANDYLAB TOYS
SHOP MINIKANE BABY DOLLS
Are you the grandparent going above and beyond and putting together an entire nursery/playroom for your grandchildren? Read our exclusive guide on an aesthetically-pleasing playroom refresh HERE!
Are you getting ready for your first sleepover with your grandbaby? Don't panic! We wrote the perfect survival guide for you. Read it HERE!