Lacing Shoe Toy Review and Giveaway From Oompa Toys!

Childhood isn't complete without lots of toys!! We all have a favorite toy that brings back fond memories. When choosing toys for my kids, I like to try to find ones that are more than your average toy.  I like toys that help develop skills, challenge the mind and still are entertaining! I also like toys that are safe for them of course.  I was so excited to find Oompa!! They offer great toys that totally fit my wants and needs!

Here's a little about Oompa from their About Us page: The idea for Oompa Toys took hold in 2003. Early one morning I crept into my infant daughter's room and tripped on a plastic, battery-operated walker. Loud animal noises instantly blared from the seemingly innocuous toy. I had a bleeding toe and stifled some not too pleasant words. A cacophony of clucking chickens, moo-ing cows and quacking ducks would not be silenced despite my best efforts. I gladly (and somewhat vindictively), threw the walker in the trash. An electronic bovine moo'ed as I walked away.

I felt there was something unnatural about surrounding my daughter with so many disposable toys. I wondered if she dreamt of copyrighted characters or if her first words would be "Dora" or "Mickey". I wondered if she would ever learn to use her imagination. She did, after all, play with toys that with the push of a single button did and said everything for her. I donated most of the contents of her room to a local charity the next morning.

Finding replacement toys that were well designed and not covered with characters owned by publicly traded companies proved difficult. Most local stores stocked toys made of synthetic materials and finishes. Existing web sites had limited selections and poor customer service. After months of looking I began to feel the type of toys I wanted didn't exist. Finally, during a trip to Europe, I discovered a plethora of toys that were not only made of natural, beautiful materials, but objects I wouldn't mind having in my home for years. I knew other parents in the United States would appreciate these European toys and that I had to bring Oompa Toys to fruition.

My interactive agency background as a graphic designer, programmer and project manager for several Fortune 500 companies proved useful. A developer at heart, I feverishly created the first version of the Oompa Toys web site while pregnant with my second child. Inventory was warehoused in my garage. My brother and sisters generously donated evenings and weekends to help get the business up and running. Finally, with the help of my husband (co-founder ofMochila) I created the Oompa Toys brand as one of the leading online specialty toy retailers.

As a mother with relatives in a developing country, I believe toys should not only be natural and well-made, but created in humane and safe working conditions by adults and with absolutely no child-labor. I go to great lengths to ensure toys within the Oompa family do, indeed, come from safe environments. From extensive interviews with company representatives to annual onsite tours of manufacturing facilities, you can be assured that our toys come from companies who care about their employees.

Oompa Toys, founded in 2004, was a family held California corporation. In May of 2007 I moved both the company and my family to Madison, WI. Oompa Toys continues to carry a wonderful, ever expanding mix of wooden toys, baby toys, soft dolls, play food, ball tracks, play mats and other beautiful, high quality wooden toys. We offer fair and competitive prices and strive for 100% customer satisfaction.

Thanks for reading! If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, let us know! Feedback (both good and bad!) will help us serve you better.

Milanie Cleere
Chief Executive Officer
Oompa Enterprises, Inc.

I got to try out the Bajo Lacing Shoe!!  It has the ties in the front to learn how to tie shoes, and something I think is even better-holes in the side to lace a "needle" through with a string!! This is one of my favorite fine motor toys!  My kids love to play with it and "sew" the shoe in different patterns! The wheels roll so it can be pulled behind for yet another way to play! This toy is versatile and fun!

Product Details: 

Help preschool-aged kids hone their fine motor skills with this simple yet entertaining wooden lacing shoe. The shoe is done in smooth natural wood and dotted with holes all over, to lace the included shoe laces through. There is also a row on holes, lined up to allow your child to learn how to lace and tie their shoes as well. Children will have fun coming up with all sorts of complex lacing patterns, then undoing them, and making new ones all over again! Great for keeping kids occupied on car trips or daily outings.

Bajo wooden toys, baby toys, cars and furniture are hand-finished in a small village near the Carpathian mountains. These beautiful European toys are made of locally grown apple wood, cherry wood, alder, maple, beech, birch or walnut and are finished with child-safe, non-toxic lacquers.

Check out the blog here!

Like Oompa on Facebook!

Oompa wants to offer you a Lacing Shoe from Bajo!!  Here is how to win!!:

MANDATORY ENTRY: YOU MUST DO THIS FOR ANY EXTRA ENTRIES TO COUNT!!

Go to Oompa.com and tell me which other product you would like! Leave me a comment below telling me what it is and be SURE TO INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL SO I CAN CONTACT YOU IF YOU WIN!

Want some extra entries? check out how!:

Follow @oompatoys on Twitter. Leave me your twitter name.

Follow @frugalfamilyfun on Twitter. Leave me your twitter name.

Blog about this for 5 extra entries. Leave me the link to the post

Put our button on your blog for 1 extra entry. Leave me the link to your blog.

Tweet daily about this giveaway-up to 5 entries per day!! (1 entry per tweet, must be at least 1 hour apart)

Tweets must state that this is a contest and must include@frugalfamilyfun @oompatoys and the link to this giveaway! Leave me the link to your tweet in the comment.


You can use this tweet: Help teach your child to tie their shoes with this Shoe Lacing toy from @oompatoys! @FrugalFamilyFun  is giving one away! http://ow.ly/1QqzV

Sign up for Oompa's email alerts  (On the bottom of their homepage, right hand side)

Purchase something from Oompa, leave me a comment w/ your order number

Contest begins now and ends June 26,2010. Winner will be chosen via Random.org and will be notified via email. Winner has 48 hours to claim their prize or forfeits the prize. In this case we will redraw for a new winner.

I was not monetarily compensated for this review. I was given the products mentioned from Oompa Toys for review. These opinions are not affected by the products received. They are my honest opinions. The winner will also be receiving the Lacing Shoe from Oompa. Photos from Oompa.

 Contest is open to those with a valid (no PO Box) shipping address in the US!