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Mouse Loves Pig: Travel Toys Without Noise

Screen-free toys to foster imaginative play. Kids play with these toys for HOURS.

$10,351
pledged of$10,000 goal
139
0Days Left

Project Description

 Open-ended, handmade, organic, beautiful, fun to play with toys.

 

 Designed by an architect mom. These toys are packed full of thoughtful details that ensure maximum repeat play value.

 

Toys that will grow with your child through all the stages of imaginative play. 

www.mouselovespig.com

 

When was the last time you had coffee with a friend with minimal interruptions?
Or watched your kids play cooperatively together with minimal arguments (not gonna say no arguments, we’re toymakers, not miracle workers)
What if learning through play could go with you everywhere?

 


 
Meet the Founder, Ruth
 

As an architect, I learned the fundamentals of good design.

As a mom, I am constantly learning new things about the importance of open-ended play in early childhood development.

As a citizen of the world, I believe we need more artisan made and small batch production and less mass produced easily breakable throwaway things.

As a toymaker, I am combining these realms to create beautiful, durable toys that encourage independent and imaginative play.

Good design is not about colors and textures, it’s about filling a need for your end user. And kids need fewer, better toys.” - Ruth Rau, founder of Mouse Loves Pig

 

The Problem:

Our children are missing one fundamental necessity of childhood: free time. 

In a world filled with digital distractions, full schedules, and carpools from one activity to the next, our children are missing the breathing room to be…. children.

Their little brains are growing so fast, processing so many new inputs every day. Imagine a computer that is constantly computing with 20 programs open all the time and never allowed to reboot: it becomes sluggish and difficult to use.

Our children’s minds are similar.

They are bombarded every day with new information, new experiences, new things to learn and do. This is awesome that they are exposed to so much rich sensory input. But eventually, they go into sensory overload and become easily bored, easily angered or frustrated, and easily lose themselves.

 

 

The Solution:

Play is like a reset for their minds. Purposeful play with no constraints, no learning objectives, no fine motor skills to master in order to play properly…. it’s a salve to a busy mind.

Play helps them make sense of the world around them, helps them process all of their activities and experiences, helps them find their place in the world, AND helps with early language development. They repeat themselves, they practice new sounds, they remember new concepts.

Without adequate open-ended playtime, our kids have trouble forming lasting memories of their day, and it all runs together in a blur. (the same might be true for us as adults)

Screen-free play has been shown to encourage stronger neural connections. Playing with simple toys fosters creativity and imagination. Imagination helps them, later in life, make cross-disciplinary connections in their studies and in their lives.

You cannot teach imagination from a book, but you CAN give them the tools and the toys to help them teach themselves. 

Open-ended toys are the tools.

 

To purchase a toy, please visit our website

www.mouselovespig.com
 

 

 

 

Folds up into a convenient little bundle, just perfect for a purse or diaper bag. The larger sizes have their own little carry handle (and kids LOVE to be in charge of their own toys!)

 

And of course, all the toys are washable.  (with kiddos that eat everything, they have to be!) We recommend fastening all closures and placing your toy inside a laundry bag or pillowcase, wash on the delicate cycle, and line dry.  A cool iron may be used as needed, but let's be honest, who has time to iron!?
 

To purchase a toy, please visit our website

www.mouselovespig.com

 

 

Made by hand with love

 

Mouse Loves Pig is committed to flexible employment for people who need it.

Our manufacturing partners are also on lock-down because of the virus, but we look forward to working with them as soon as they are open to bring more playful toys into the world!

 

 

 

 Are you loving Mouse Loves Pig Travel Toys? Why not share the love?! Click the image below to share and we’ll send you a FREE downloadable lock screen for your phone as a way of saying thank you.

A full set of 3 locks screens is also available as part of our backer rewards.

bit.ly/MouselovespigUpdates

www.facebook.com/mouselovespig

www.instagram.com/moueslovespig

www.twitter.com/mouselovespig

Just a few of the places the toys have been featured!

 

 

To purchase a toy, please visit our website

www.mouselovespig.com

 

 

Ruth and her 2 sources of inspiration.

 

Special thanks to all the people and businesses that have made this project possible!

BirchFields - Videography and Photography

Savor Photography - Photography

Active Health Chiropractic - Filming location

Hideaway Cafe - Filming location and aaaaalllll the coffee

Paiges of Gray - Photoraphy & product reviews

Jillian Green Photography - Photos of Ruth and the boys <3

Aeolidia - Branding and packaging design studio

 

And to Mope and Piggy.... the imagination behind Mouse Loves Pig.
 

 

 

The Campaign FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions:

    Do you accept returns?  Is there a warranty?

    Unfortunately, we do not accept returns from crowdfunded projects.  We will however repair or replace a defective toy as part of our happy kid guarantee policy. 

     

    Duties, fees & taxes?

    Please note that you may be responsible for duties, fees and taxes applicable to your region.
    For US orders there are no customs duties. All other destinations world wide VAT and Duty may apply depending on your country. Please check with your local customs office for customs charges.

     

    When will I receive my rewards?
    All rewards will begin production in September 2018 and ship by December 2018.

     

    How do I specify my shipping address?

    You will receive an email survey to specify your shipping address after the funding period ends.

     

    If I live in Winchester, can I do local pickup? 

    Yes you can! You will still have to pay shipping, but we will refund you in cash when you pick up your reward.

     

    How do I choose which designs I want?

    You can include your choice in the notes section as you use the support portal.  There will also be a confirmation email at the end of the crowdfunding period to double check your choice and your shipping address.

     

    What is a stretch goal?

    A stretch goal is a funding target set beyond our original goal of $10,000. Stretch goals are a way for us to add more toy designs and options as we get more funding.

       

      What is an Early Bird reward?

      An Early Bird reward is a pledge tier that is only available for the first 48 hours of our project.  As a huge thank you for being one of our first supporters, these Early Bird tiers represent a significant savings off the expected retail value of the toys.

       

      Why organic?

      Pesticides are not great things.  So the fewer of them in the world, the better.  Choosing certified organic cottons is a way for us to vote with our dollars for the kind of world we want our children to inherit.  Personally, I want the kind of world for my kids where streams are not polluted with pesticide runoff from agriculture operations.


      And with GOTS certified fabrics, there is also a social component to the certification that ensures fair labor practices.  For more information about GOTS certification, please see https://www.global-standard.org/the-standard/general-description.html

       

      Da Georgia Raus
      09/17/2018
      Limited Edition Designs Small Travel Toy
      $59
      09/17/2018
      Limited Edition Designs Small Travel Toy
      $59
      Melody
      09/15/2018
      Stickers in the mail
      $20
      Heather B
      09/15/2018
      Monetary Contribution
      $25
      Katrina Oakes
      09/15/2018
      Small Travel Toy
      $59
      Betty
      09/15/2018
      Stickers in the mail
      $10
      Kathryn
      09/14/2018
      Large Travel Toy
      $109
      Rose Jordan
      09/14/2018
      Monetary Contribution
      $10
      Kim Sherman
      09/14/2018
      Small Travel Toy
      $73
      09/14/2018
      Limited Edition Designs Small Travel Toy
      $59
      Monetary Contribution

      These masks are NOT a replacement for CDC approved materials. They are a supplement only.  It is my sincere hope that these masks never have to be used, that appropriate PPE will be available for people who need it most.

      However, during the shortage, I am doing what I can with the skills I have. Organizing the making and distribution of these masks as a stop-gap measure is something I can do.

      Donations here go directly toward purchasing supplies and shipping materials to send these masks to healthcare professionals that are requesting them.

      12 Supporters
      Select this reward
      5.00 USD
      Inspirational Phone Lock screens

      Contribute $5 or more for exclusively designed for Mouse Loves Pig. 3 different phone lock screens to inspire you every day.

       

      2 Supporters
      Select this reward
      50.00 USD
      $50 Gift Card to Mouse Loves Pig

      Use anytime on our website, mouselovespig.com

      0 Supporters
      Select this reward
      100.00 USD
      $100 gift card to Mouse Loves Pig

      To use on our website!

      0 Supporters
      Select this reward
      200.00 USD
      $200 Gift Card to Mouse Loves Pig

      To use anytime on our website!

      0 Supporters
      Select this reward

      About the Entrepreneur

      Winchester, VA
      Created 1 Campaign
      Family

      Rewards

      Monetary Contribution

      These masks are NOT a replacement for CDC approved materials. They are a supplement only.  It is my sincere hope that these masks never have to be used, that appropriate PPE will be available for people who need it most.

      However, during the shortage, I am doing what I can with the skills I have. Organizing the making and distribution of these masks as a stop-gap measure is something I can do.

      Donations here go directly toward purchasing supplies and shipping materials to send these masks to healthcare professionals that are requesting them.

      12 Supporters
      Select this reward
      5.00 USD
      Inspirational Phone Lock screens

      Contribute $5 or more for exclusively designed for Mouse Loves Pig. 3 different phone lock screens to inspire you every day.

       

      2 Supporters
      Select this reward
      50.00 USD
      $50 Gift Card to Mouse Loves Pig

      Use anytime on our website, mouselovespig.com

      0 Supporters
      Select this reward
      100.00 USD
      $100 gift card to Mouse Loves Pig

      To use on our website!

      0 Supporters
      Select this reward
      200.00 USD
      $200 Gift Card to Mouse Loves Pig

      To use anytime on our website!

      0 Supporters
      Select this reward