How many times has someone said to you “It goes by so fast” or “You blink and they’re all grown up!”??!
While there are some stages of childhood that we can’t wait for our kid to outgrow (we’re looking at you diapers & tantrums), there are so many other time that we whisper to ourselves, ‘slow down’. You have all the time in the world to be a grown up. Cherish your childhood.
It is this idea of actively helping our children to embrace being a kid that we use as a filter for many of the decisions we make. Is that TV show too grown up for them? What message is this music giving? Where on earth can I find shorts for my girls that aren’t so darn short??
For us, the toys that our kids play with are a big part of helping them to extend this blissful childhood stage. We’re not alone in feeling uncomfortable handing our beautiful, impressionable children a doll with a big chest, tiny waist, and feet that are perfectly moulded for sky-high heels.
Maplelea Girls are gorgeously crafted 18 inch dolls that celebrate everything we love about Canada. Their body accurately reflects a real 10 or 11 year old girl, and their hair is thick and easily styled. Yes, your chid can actually brush this hair! Ball joints at the hips and shoulders provide a range of motion, and soft torsos make the dolls comfortable to hold. The head turns at the neck and the eyes open and close. The detail in the clothing and accessories is unparalleled - seam edges are finished and the fabrics and designs are fashionable, authentic, and durable. No short-shorts here!! Best of all, each of the dolls are made from non-toxic materials.
We love that each girl comes with a 64-page 6-ring expandable journal that includes their life story as well as a set of pages for our kids to write more about their doll, and themselves. The themes and stories help teach Canada’s culture, heritage and geography. They are written at a young kid’s level and often from the character’s perspective. Each doll comes with both a French and English version of the journal. Saila’s journal also includes a third version written in the Inuit language of Inuktitut. How cool is that?!
And if your child isn’t drawn to any of the Maplelea Girls with pre-determined back stories, there is a whole line of Maplelea Friends with 18 different hair, skin & eye colour combinations so your child can enjoy the experience of having a doll that looks just like them for which they can create their own story.
While all of those features are amazing, the truly stand out aspect of Maplelea Dolls is how they grow with our kids. Our youngest got Saila when she was 3 - at the height of her baby obsession. She would feed her and walk her and tuck her in at night, it was love at first sight. Our 8 year old has a best friend & confidante in Léonie that lives with her 24/7. They do their hair together, play piano together & share all of their deepest secrets. We can see how this play will continue on into the tween years when our 13 year old babysitter comes over and the girls all get together using the dolls to film short videos, stop motion projects, and cool crafts like the DIY campfire featured in the Maplelea video on the right!
Maplelea Dolls are an investment in your kid's childhood that pays out rewards for many years to come.
That's why we're extra excited to give away a Maplelea Girl or Maplelea Friend of your choice ($100 value)!
Enter through Rafflecopter below by 11:59 pm on Thursday, October 26th.
You must be a Canadian resident (not including Quebec) and aged 18+ to be eligible to win.
Good luck everyone!
Note: Maplelea Girls & Maplelea Friends are safe for ages 3+ due to choking hazard presented by small parts.
Born & raised in Vancouver, and co-founder of Healthy Family Media and the Healthy Family Expo, Angela is a reformed divorce lawyer turned healthy family champion! By day, she thrives on connecting conscious brands with busy Vancouver families. By night, you’ll find her wrangling two feisty daughters, choosing between instant pot or healthy freezer meals for dinner, and singing with MomChoir. She especially loves sharing her favourite family-friendly finds with other Lower Mainland parents!
