Hearthsong - Loving Gifts for Children

Barbara Kane founded HearthSong in 1983 because of a growing conviction that, "…too often, in our culture, children are pushed to grow up too fast. I started HearthSong to make a statement reinforcing what parents themselves know is true, right and healthy--that childhood is a very special time." Children need time to be children.

A catalyst for Kane was a major national news magazine's cover story on "superbabies." This article, and her own observations, made her more aware of how our society pressures parents to teach their children more and more facts, at earlier and earlier ages. In Kane's view, "Earlier is not necessarily better. It's important that children learn basic skills, but at the right developmental age. Most of all, children need time for creative, imaginative play. In fact, it is through play that children learn most readily."

Kane chose the company's name to reflect her values: the hearth, a traditional symbol for the center of the home, and song to symbolize the family spirit, the joy that parents and children can experience together.

Originally printed in black and white, with pencil drawings of carefully selected toys and books, and mailed out of Kane's house by her family, the first catalog was a success. Circulation has grown from a mailing of several thousand catalogs to the current mail quantity of 19 million.

Our merchandise selection and product development goals are inspired by Kane's philosophy of child development, drawn from a broad base of child psychologists, parents, religious teachers, toymakers, and educators-especially those from the Waldorf school of thought. Kane felt strongly that childhood is a unique period in the life of an individual, that the consciousness of a child is completely different from that of an adult, that there is a specific purpose and a specific pattern to childhood and to the development of a child's consciousness, and that adults can help or hinder the accomplishment of that purpose and pattern.

With a love for children, a reverence for life, and a desire to support you in your task of parenting, we offer you our service and our products: toys you'll feel good about giving.