Bean bags at the Nine Months Fair: this is what parents thought

Before I even attended the Nine Months Fair, I had one big question: would my bean bags actually fit in here? The Nine Months Fair is all about babies and young children, of course, but would everyone understand how fun and versatile bean bags are? Or would they think, "Bean bags, what are you supposed to do with them?"

Everyone raved about this sensory and open-ended toy

Well, those doubts vanished within a few hours. From the moment the doors opened, enthusiastic and curious parents flocked to my mini booth. Half of them said, "Hey, I know these beanbags from Instagram!" and the other half were genuinely interested and wanted to know what you can do with beanbags and why they're so fun. They genuinely wanted toy inspiration for their young children. Some even discovered open-ended toys for the first time.

That's precisely why the Nine Months Fair was such a success. I had the opportunity to show parents how open-ended toys help children play in their own way, use their imaginations, and explore endlessly. I was also able to share play inspiration with the beanbags .

What are beanbags? The best open-ended toys for young children.

This is what I told everyone at the Nine Months Fair. Beanbags are one of the most versatile open-ended toys . They're simple, but because of that, you can play with them in a hundred different ways. Whether you're looking for sensory toys for babies , indoor tossing toys , or a way to encourage your child to sort or move , beanbags are suitable for every stage.

As a parent, you usually choose toys that suit your child's development. But beanbag toys change along with their development. The beanbags themselves remain the same, only the way they play changes.

How to play with beanbags? Toy inspiration by age

• Baby is exploring the world (sensory phase) – Each beanbag feels different thanks to the different fabrics and natural fillings. The beanbags make sounds when you lift and drop them. Plenty to discover!
• A toddler learns all about gravity (throwing phase) – Perfect for endless beanbag tossing games. Knock over a tower or toss them into a basket.
• And a toddler wants to move things (transport phase) – You'll recognize this because your toddler is constantly putting things in baskets and then taking them out again. So give them a basket and beanbags if you recognize this game.
• Toddler Wants to Sort (Sorting Stage) – A toddler in the sorting stage might, for example, sort the rainbow bean bags by color with other rainbow toys or put them in a neat row or pile.
• Toddlers are increasingly engaging in role-playing (imagination play) – Toddlers use beanbags in their role-playing. A bed for little dolls or cakes in the play kitchen.
• Every child wants to move and is constantly developing their gross motor skills. First, they learn to roll, crawl, climb, and walk. That's why balance and movement games are always a hit. – Tiger to a beanbag. Place a beanbag on your head and walk a course, or use it in combination with Stapelstein.

Want to learn more about open-ended toys ? Also read my blog post: "What is open-ended toys?"

We make our own bean bags for play. We choose sustainable materials and fill them with cherry stones, grape seeds, and a mix of these. All bean bags are certified and therefore safe toys. Because the bean bags are filled with small items, we always recommend supervised play and regular checks for damage.

What parents said at the Nine Months Fair

The discussions at the Nine Months Fair clearly showed why beanbags are so well-suited for families with young children. These were the most common reactions:

• "Oh wow, this toy can be combined with everything!"
• I'm looking for battery-free toys that are actually used. I think my child will love these! And so will I!
• "My child is always on the move. I think we can come up with endless active games with this."
• "What a nice alternative to all those plastic toys that are forgotten after a few weeks."
• "I remember them from school! How nice that you've given them a new look!"

More than 250 parents went home with a set of beanbags , and many more visitors walked away inspired by open-ended toys and imaginative play.

Children discover open-ended toys at the Nine Months Fair

During the fair, the beanbags were scattered around the playground. And the children had a blast playing with them! Hundreds of children played with them and discovered how to throw, stack, and sort them.

Next year: back even bigger!

The Nine Months Fair was such a huge success for me and my little beanbags that we'll be back at the Mini-Club next year, but with a larger booth that we'll be building ourselves. Even more color, even more play inspiration, and even more space to show what Little Botanic Label stands for.

Want to discover all the beanbags? View them here .