Consider the environment, opt for wooden toys

Forget, for now, the time and effort that goes into creating wooden toys. Disregard the fact that wooden toys like a toy rocking horse or toy car can last for generations and become part of a family’s family. Nevermind even, the ability of wooden toys when it comes to sparking imagination and creativity among children that are lucky enough to play with them.

Instead consider this: Plastic material can, according to the anti-plastic bag campaigner Future Bags, stay in our environment for as long as 100 years. This is because they don’t breakdown and degrade, in fact they break into smaller toxic pieces which can and do contaminate our soil and water.

In truth, all the things we talk about at the start of this blog are nice add-ons, we know that wooden toys are durable and help with children’s motor skills, which both are key selling points. However, the environmental aspect is something so important, that it just can’t be ignored.

Ec-Ethical.co.uk says: “When we use plastic, we are indirectly using oil. Some may argue that because it is a by-product of oil refining, it will be there any way, whether or not we convert it into plastic bags or something else.

“The truth is when we think 'oil' it's not only the science and technology involved. It's also the politics and economics. How many wars have been fought — are being fought — over oil? Our insatiable demand for oil — to fuel cars and our plastic habits — has an impact on international relations. Believe it or not.”

This Christmas the Wooden Toy Gallery is showcasing toys ranging from wooden swings to wooden building blocks and musical toys. Whatever plastic gifts are on the market, there is an environmentally-friendly wooden toy alternative – and it’s crucial that you explore this.

Wooden toys are the past, the present, and the future. Unlike plastic toys they are made with material that can be put back into the earth, helping to continue the green cycle that, at the moment, is desperate need of a hefty spin.

Amazing 40% Discount on our Beautiful Wooden Rocking Horse

The WoodenToyGallery.co.uk, specialists in hand-crafted and organic wooden toys that encourage children's creativity and free-spirit, has now reduced the price of its famous ‘classic rocking horse’ by 40% - just in time for Christmas gift buying.

The built-to-last classic Wooden Rocking Horse is made with a sturdy seat and handles to hold. Rocking toys are perfect for youngsters learning to build coordination, strength and balance, so take advantage of this offer and help to stimulate your child’s senses and keep them closer to nature, with this classic wooden toy.

This amazing 40% discount is only available online at woodentoygallery.co.uk from 8^th Nov until 28^th Nov, so make sure you go online to buy this classic toy at this limited time offer right now.

To claim this discount all you need to do is go to our website here:

   

Wooden Rocking Horse

and add the voucher code: rhorse10  into the specified area at the checkout, press add and the discount will be applied upon completing your order.

             

       

Top of the Wooden Toy hit list for 2010 is...

Whether you like it or not, the festive season is now fast-approaching and once bonfire night is out the way, Christmas is all anyone will be able to talk about.

Here at Wooden Toy Gallery we thought you might like know a little bit more about the beautiful handcrafted toys that we create. Christmas is a busy period for us, so to help you make an informed decision when it comes to buying presents for the smaller members of the family, take a look at why the below gifts have stood up and resisted time and change – they are still popular today.

Click through on the toy to see more pictures and prices.

In at number one is the trusty and classic rocking horse. It’s one of those toys that makes a house a home, and no-one should be denied one in their infant years.

Second up is the wooden car, a firm favourite with the boys and the adventurous girls, this is a toy that will never go out of fashion – so is one to pass down from generation to generation.

Or go for the classic car jigsaw to take it one step further and really drive up (get it?) imagination!

For the even younger, the natural wooden teething ring is the ideal gift this Christmas. The perfect answer to the critics of teething rings with toxic chemicals and finishes, this one is absolutely natural.
 
At the halfway point is the wooden train, which will satisfy any child’s fascination for things that move. Clear the floor, because this one will be moving around the living room for years to come
 

Develop balance and motor skills with the traditional but updated wooden blocks.

The Handcrafted Wooden Turning Rattle is another one for the younger ones this Christmas. It is said that the rattle has the power to help a child develop its natural sense of rhythm…

Wooden handcrafted swings for the daring children out there this year.

Fuel a child’s fascination with aviation with the classic Children's Wooden Aeroplane.

Last but by no means least, the toy that allows every child into out of the front room and into a Western – the hobby horse. Wooden toy making at its best, this is one that will be passed around and enjoyed by the younger members of your family for years to come.

Tick the all-important ‘green’ box with wooden toys

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past ten years, words and phrases like ‘bio-degradable’, ‘eco-friendly’, and simply ‘green’, have come to be as common in everyday conversation as ‘hello’ and ‘goodbye’. The mighty alliance of the media and certain governments around the world have flexed their muscles, they have made clear their intent on creating an environmentally-conscious culture, and frankly, it seems to be working.

But for those who believe in the ‘green’ focus but can’t get the time off work to tie themselves to a tree in the New Forest, fear not, because there are changes you can make to your everyday life to take a step closer to being eco-friendly. While there are plenty of good reasons to invest in wooden toys (they prompt imagination, are durable, and are handcrafted, to name a few), one that is often skirted around is the environmental one.

Put very simply, wooden toys are biodegradable, and so they are much better for our environment than their plastic cousins. Plastic is sent to populate landfills, many of which are bursting at the seems already.

Plus, the durability of wooden toys means that they are not prone to breaking or damage, often in fact they are passed down through the generations of a family. And their often generic nature means that they do not come in and out with fashion and film, they simply exist in the same way that they have for hundreds of years, which for many families, is a comfort.

Though further, buying wooden toys that are uniquely handcrafted means buying into a significant tradition. The likes of wooden rocking horses, dolls, rattles and building blocks, are all puzzle pieces of toy history. These are the toys that have survived the test of time, and no amount of battery-powered tat will knock them from their perch. So, consider the green agenda, consider the history of the toy-making industry, and with your help, wooden toys will be entertaining children for the rest of this century, and the next ones after that.

Why Wooden Construction Toys Have a Bright Future

When British media entrepreneur Peter Orton dreamt up the idea of a cartoon character dressed up in a bright yellow helmet, blue dungarees and a hammer-in-hand, very few would have predicted a global hit worth more than £32.5 million per year for, effectively, a few construction toys.

But the figures never lie, and Bob the Builder, along with his construction toy friends, became a huge success in a very short period of time, primarily because of the merchandise, such as wooden toys, that the character created.

And while the success of Bob the Builder must partly be attributed to a clever catchphrase and some bright costumes, for many the real attraction for their children was quite simply in the wooden constructor toys that came along for the ride.

Unlike plastic toys, wooden constructor toys appeal to children who enjoy meaningful playtime. And, for parents who are keen to develop young creative minds in a fun and safe environment, wooden construction toys tick all the boxes.

Further, these toys hold valuable lessons in organisation, tidiness and have the power to boost logical thinking in young but very capable minds. Well-designed constructor wooden toys can be the perfect size for youngsters, and could help them find one of their first experience of ‘success’, because re-shaping the toys, adding parts and adapting pieces, takes time and effort for a young child.

Again, unlike other toys, constructor toys are not exclusive to young children, by their very design they attract older play partners too, such as parents and grandparents, and so play the role of communicator as well. Just another positive by-product of these hand-crafted toys.

Bob the Builder may have given the constructor toy the profile boost it needed, but the value of the toy has always been evident. With the potential to catapult creativity, communication, feelings of success, organisation skills and tidiness among children, this timeless toy should occupy a spot in the cupboard or drawer of any young child.

For fantastic wooden construction toys then just click here: Wooden Construction Toys

I want to share 'Logorama' with you

This is a wonderful comment on society and the insane abundance of corporate institutions.

Are there any you don't recognise?

Please enjoy the video: http://vimeo.com/10149605

For childrens wooden toys that are natural, safe for the environment and wonderfully fun, go to http://woodentoygallery.co.uk

Wooden toys are dangerous? Just like Nessy...it's a myth

"Sighting" of Nessy

When it comes to wooden toys, there is one myth that, just like the Loch Ness Monster, must be buried. I’ve heard a lot of people say that wooden toys are dangerous to babies and young children, but if you as a carer or parent take the right precaution, there is no reason why babies can’t enjoy owning a wooden toy just as much as their older brothers and sisters.

From my previous blogs we all know that wooden toys have the power to drive imagination and be the source of genuine excitement for youngsters, and safety concerns should not prevent babies and the very young from experiencing this as well.

Of course there is no harm in being careful, and any parent or carer would want to make sure that the toys their children are playing with are safe, but there is little point in being over-cautious – your child could miss out on one of the most important features of his or her early years.

Besides sparking the imagination of all the children that play with wooden toys, they can also become amazing family toys that are passed down through generations. Their durability and ability to stand the test of time make them far more worthwhile than ‘flash in the pan’ plastic toys.

Ok, so back to safety issues, quite simply, just consider many of the things that you would for any other toy.

Shape and size are obviously important. Avoiding pointed edges and sharp sizes when you’re buying the toy would be a good start, though that should be fairly obvious. If you’re in the children’s section, most of the wooden toys will be safe, though it is always worth checking or talking to a respected wooden toy producer.

Size is also a big factor with babies because they tend to put anything smaller than their hands into their traps. So, be sensible, make sure wooden toys are of a safe size before the youngsters are set free with them.

With this in mind it is worth considering the coating that is on the wooden toy, because things like varnishes and paint could cause harm.

In general terms, just apply some common sense to your purchases, and if you do there is every chance that young babies and toddlers can get all the excitement and enjoyment from wooden toys that older kids will.

Make Your Own Green Cleaning Products

We love wooden toys that are fun and good for the environment and we also love other ways to be good to the world like these home made cleaning products!

http://www.non-toxickids.net/2010/09/make-your-own-green-cleaning-products.html

"Do not wait for extraordinary circumstances to do good action; try to use ordinary situations."

— Jean Paul Richter, German Romantic novelist and humorist

Designer Annina Diston’s Down to Earth, Miniature Brighton Sharehouse

This really is a stunning dolls house with incredible attention to detail, along with our childrens wooden toys it's a lovely example of a childrens' toy that is more then just a toy.

"With intricate attention to the details of a real-life, lived-in home, and expert execution of tiny household nuances, from crumbs on the kitchen table and soap scum on the shower tiles, to an overflowing recycling bin, crammed closets, shoes and grocery bags peppering the entryway and a Mac computer screen with several windows open, Diston’s down to earth dollhouse is a refreshingly realistic portrayal of daily life on a scale that is tiny in size but but teeming with craftsmanship"

The fantastic photos really do show it off to it's best!

http://www.inhabitots.com/2010/09/14/designer-annina-distons-down-to-earth-miniature-brighton-sharehouse/

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Brace yourself for festive fairs and wooden toys

Simon Cox

For many people it’s business as usual now that September is well and truly under way. The holiday is a distant memory, the kids are back at school, and it’s heads down time right up until…Christmas.

Without wanting to be someone that buys into Christmas ‘spirit’ in September, there are a few things that spring to mind once October is in sight.

The Christmas fairs kick off earlier and earlier each year (some are starting in around a month), and they’re ideal opportunities to pick up presents or just ideas for presents. But, more importantly, they offer up the chance to browse some of the finest, most unique handcrafted children’s wooden toys from across the globe.

Fairs are littered around the major cities, and it’s not hard to find out details via the internet of your nearest event. Producers of wooden toys will be scrambling to present to you the many reasons why you should invest into wooden toys this year for your children, grandchildren, nephews and nieces, but the one reason that keeps pulling me back in, is their unique style.

The Christmas fairs showcase all different producers of wooden toys, and if you head down you’ll have plenty of choice. So my advice would be to flick through a few magazines and websites to get an idea of what it is you want to buy, and then browse the stalls until you see what you want. Bear in mind that the beauty of wooden toys is that they are durable and will last.

You are buying something that will be handed down through the generations of your family, so pick up a unique handcrafted gift that can be enjoyed for years and years to come.

MP3 Timepieces - The iPod Nano Watch Fits Perfectly on Your Wrist

Ok, so we obviously live, breath and live some more all childrens wooden toys but this is so cool! 

Check out the new iPod Nano and what they're saying on the blogs a out it...

"At first, I thought that the new iPod Nano was way too small, but after seeing this iPod Nano Watch, my perspectives have changed towards this Apple piece. An absolute perfect fit for wrists of all shapes"

http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ipod-nano-watch

This is hilarious, but maybe don't buy an iPod Nano from Letterman!

wooden toys

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Do Children Need Wooden Toys to Save their Imagination?

Did you know that amount of time children and teens spend on the computer has tripled in the last 10 years?

 Source

This actually comes as no surprise to me as the internet has become ubiquitous and is available to most children whether it’s in school, home or the local library.

So, like Baroness Susan Greenfield asked in a recent article:

Are [children] at risk of losing [their] imagination, that mysterious and special cognitive gift that until now has always made the book so much better than the film?

What a sad state of affairs it would be for children to become mindless droids, just looking up anything they may have a question about on Google or Wikipedia, then taking that as fact without actually experiencing what it is to research, understand and learn.

Do kids still have the skills to go out and discover for themselves through trial and error and in this cotton wool society, are they even allowed to by over protecting parents and a nanny state?

As little as 20 years ago, it was common place for kids to be out playing in the streets enjoying themselves, sometimes getting into sticky situations and even, yes, falling over and hurting themselves. 

But it seems more and more children are allowed to just while away their time in front of a screen, whether it's the TV or a computer. 

But what we seem to be forgetting is that humans and children in particular are incredibly resilient. But that resilience, although inherent in every child, must be nurtured and encouraged.

This is just like the ability to make mistakes, discover new things and solve problems which are becoming less and less with the advent of the all powerful, all knowing internet. 

So, why can't we let our children out to play like they used to and why are they spending so much time indoors in front of the computer? 

One reason is that there are now incredibly sophisticated computer games that can have kids hooked from as young as 6 years or sometimes younger, it’s a worrying situation we are in, which parents are letting their kids play. 

This has been attributed to parents working longer hours and not having time to  play with their children but even so, there's just more to do inside now.

So, is there any hope for our over fed, under-thinking, over pampered kids?

Well, of course, and despite these statistics, they certainly don’t tell the whole story. 

 

There are of course many wonderful children that still play outside and are allowed to make mistakes and grow up naturally. And this is partly why I have created the Wooden Toy Gallery, because it allows children to be children, to discover, explore, be boisterous, challenge themselves and enjoy nature in all it’s glorious beauty.

I mean, childrens wooden toys can have a profound affect on children and I recently read this wonderful comment in a blog post which asked if children still played with wooden toys:

Little girl, Real people stock photo by www.pixmac.com

 I use my scrap cut-offs to make wooden cars, trains, trucks, etc. for my small grandchildren. They loved them! They loved them so much I tried an experiment and just made different shaped and sized pieces from the scrap, not even fashioning them into anything recognizable. Same reaction - delight! Kids will use their imaginations to turn anything into something that amuses, challenges and intrigues them.

What a wonderful experience to read about. Just imagine how incredible it would be to get that reaction from your kids every time you bought them something new!

It’s an exciting world that we live in with more possibilities and opportunities for our children then ever before but what we must be careful of is overexposing them to the wrong things that stifle their natural creative abilities and actually let them be at one with nature and discover things for themselves.

What a wonder that would be. 

Saks Street Sweets Truck Delivers Sweets Ahead of Fashion's Night Out

Saks is the new Father Christmas! Delivering sweets to excitable kids all over the city, lucky kids! Wouldn't it be even more amazing if they were even giving away childrens wooden toys too!

"Saks has been announcing the locations daily on its Twitter, @saks. What a fun idea."

Saks Street Sweets Truck Delivers Sweets Ahead of Fashion's Night Out

via ShoppingBlog.com on 9/9/10

Saks Fifth Avenue has its Saks Street Sweets Truck out on missions delivering sweets as a countdown to Fashion's Night Out on Friday, September 10th. Saks has been announcing the locations daily on its Twitter, @saks. What a fun idea.

Photo: Saks Fifth Avenue

Permalink | Recent Headlines | Facebook | Our News Feeds

The Fjällräven Kanken Rucksack, a Swedish Eco-Design Classic and great for carrying Childrens wooden toys

"Check out these great Fjällräven Kanken rucksacks! I have to tell you about them as they are a classic amongst the eco-designs nowadays. I first spotted these slightly odd-looking bags in London"

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/treehuggersite/~3/nJWanYllISM/the-fjallraven-kanken-rucksack-a-swedish-eco-design-classic.php

Don't forget, these are great for carrying your childrens wooden toys.

GIVEAWAY Child Locator with Alert

"Losing your child in a crowded place must be one of the most terrifying moments in any parent's life.  Even if your child is only gone for a few seconds."

This article has a free child alert giveaway, it's worth a look:

http://www.mommylivingthelifeofriley.com/2010/09/giveaway-child-locator-alert-feature-precious-kid-arv-40/

And when they've been really good you can always give them some beautiful Childrens wooden toys.

The History Of Wooden Toys | Toddler | Toys For Children

Childrens wooden toys have been around for a very long time and they will be around even longer. This lovely article gives a wonderful Account of the history of wooden toys.

http://toys.for-children.info/the-history-of-wooden-toys

Kids: they dance before they learn there is anything that isn't music.  ~William Stafford

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Toy museum opens, lets Tryon play on its 125th birthday

There are so many beautiful Childrens wooden toys in the world so it's always a joy to hear a new Toy museum opening!

Toy museum opens, lets Tryon play on its 125th birthday

By Jessica Goodman The hand-carved wooden toys and items adorned the small house, seemingly cut into the side of a hill near downtown Tryon. ...


http://bit.ly/aNQicj

Sent with Reeder

Wooden Toys at the Bristol International Balloon Festival

We recently attended the Bristol International Balloon Festival for the first time ever with our lovely Childrens Wooden Toys and natural gifts.




Here are some of the lovely people we met. It's always so much fun speaking to them and seeing how excited they get about playing with the toys.



We got complemented many times on our products and how pretty our stand was, obviously this made us blush : )


It was a wonderful event and so big! It was incredible to be part of it and very exciting.

We were a little unlucky with the weather but that didn't dampen our spirits as we met lots of wonderful people who adored our stand and our wooden toys and gifts.

You can see a small selection of photos here from the show, the picture of the balloons (above) is my favourite, although I'm not sure if I would want to go up in one!

How to help your kids have fun and stay busy

It's hard to keep your kids entertained and away from the TV sometimes! And they may not always want to play with their childrens wooden toys (I know, it's hard to believe!).

So, take a look at these cool exotic necklaces that are easy and inexpensive to make and will keep the kids out of your hair for a while!

Isn't this so true..!

You can learn many things from children.  How much patience you have, for instance.  ~Franklin P. Jones

Plastic toys are shown to be toxic to children

A recent survey by the Consumers Association of Singapore (Case) has uncovered the shocking fact that 46 per cent of children's toys tested contained higher than permitted levels of toxic materials, including lead and phthalates.

We were horrified when we read this but not surprised. How horrible to think that by giving your children something that is supposed to give them pleasure we are actually putting them at risk.

These chemicals can cause terrible illnesses such as diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. They can also cause infertility and even death should enough be consumed, but this is over a prolonged period of time.

This is one of the main reasons why we started Wooden Toy gallery, because of the terribly destructive nature of plastic toys. They are often sold off the back of big marketing campaigns by large corporate organisations who seem to have little regard for the environment but are just set on creating the next big hit toy for Christmas.

And these toys are more often then not made from plastic which is produced from oil (we’re all aware of the issues around that). They are then manufactured in factories (often in very poor countries by underpaid workers) where the waste products are also highly toxic, and finally they are packaged up in large boxes or yet more plastic. This cycle is just awful for the environment, but even though we're sure most people are aware of it, they still insist on buying plastic toys.

But then to find out they are actually potentially dangerous for our children and can cause real sickness is just too much. When children have such wonderful imaginations and can have fun with simple objects like a large cardboard box or a tree house in the garden, we wonder if it’s really the kids who want the toys, or the parents who want their kids to have the latest model, whatever that may be.

Another issue we have with plastic toys is that they either get broken quickly, which makes them hugely expensive, or they are played with for a while and then thrown away where plastic doesn’t degrade for many years.

We understand it is a challenge when your children are begging you for the latest toys or you just want to buy them a treat. But, with this horrible news, it shows that really it’s not going to help them in the long run.

And we think this especially applies to babies and toddlers who aren’t at the age where they’re requesting toys. To give a young child a plastic toy is almost like giving them a bottle of chemicals to play with. Especially if it’s a toy they could easily suck or bite. We just don’t understand it.

we’ve taken this quote from the website http://library.thinkquest.org/06aug/00442/wu3rs.htm

‘Another pollution problem is that garbage in landfills creates a gas that contains a very dangerous air pollutant which can cause cancer. Also, rain and snow mixed with this garbage makes a poisonous liquid called leachate that pollutes groundwater. Used oil that is put in the garbage rather than recycled also drips into the ground and pollutes rivers, wells, and lakes.’

We appreciate there will always be a place for plastic toys but we feel that the nature of childrens wooden toys and the fact that they are made from natural materials and if discarded, can break down to create organic matter, along with the fact that kids simply love them, a pretty strong case for encouraging our children to play with these wooden toys.

Children’s Wooden toys are still top on the toy list!

As the Disney/Pixar Toy Story 3 film packs out cinemas throughout the UK, and undoubtedly across the globe, I can’t help but feel a certain amount of satisfaction on behalf of the entire children’s wooden toy industry. Here we have a blockbuster film, the third of its kind, with the latest in animation techniques and special effects at the forefront of technology, a market leader, and just look at who’s at the centre of the story?

Who’s responsible for capturing the hearts and minds of every child (and the occasional adult) who watches the film? Of course, it’s Woody, a children’s wooden toy!
If this isn’t evidence to suggest that a product has stood the test of time, I don’t know what is. For years people have created our wonderfully crafted toys, in all shapes and sizes, and it would seem that the excitement around children’s wooden toys hasn’t waned one bit. In fact, the interest and desire for them would appear to be growing.

Woody (great name!) is the leader, the favourite toy, the one that other toys look up to and respect. If we were looking at the toy hierarchy, the wooden toy is where it should be – right at the top.
Woody’s success is clear. The first Toy Story was released 15 years ago in 1995 and like with most things the proof has to be in the pudding, and if the reaction to Woody had been less than favourable, it would be unlikely that he would appear in the follow-up films, let alone be on the front page of every bill board and advert.

Carefully handcrafted wooden toys remain exciting, loved and cherished toys, and the fantastic press that films like Toy Story give the wooden toy industry is simply more evidence that they are top of the agenda for children and they are here to stay.

Photo: wiicube

Why Do Childrens' Wooden Toys Last Forever?

Producing childrens’ wooden toys requires nothing short of creating a masterpiece.
The skill, creativity and effort that goes into crafting such a treasured toy is remarkable, and is probably the reason why they are cherished and loved for years and years.

Very often, childrens' wooden toys become part of the family, as their durability allows them to survive generations and generations of knocks and drops, unlike the latest electronic or battery-powered toy.

From lorries and the traditional spinning tops, to aeroplanes and ships, the options are endless because childrens’ wooden toys aren’t dictated to by fads or fashions. Put simply, they are victims of creative minds, ideas and imagination.

Why would any parent want a cheap, run-of-the-mill toy, when they could own a handcrafted wooden toy? If you’re thinking of investing in a wooden toy, make sure you know what you want, because there’s no harm in putting your chosen craftsman to work. Any wooden toy builder will gladly take on a personalised job, and its final polish to perfection will help it stand out from every other toy your child has seen in the past.

And it’s ‘personalisation’ that is so key when talking about toys for your child. You child is like no other, no-one even comes close to having the same character, personality or likes and dislikes. If your child is unique, why shouldn’t his or her toys be unique?

Sadly, unique toys have never fallen off conveyor belts and production lines, they are created, built, crafted with skill and care. The Ikea-effect is currently rampaging through the toy industry, and while some parents may be happy fuelling the mass-production of cheap but cheerful toys, others are willing to invest in something that is built for one, and built to last.

We believe the creation of beautiful, fun and engaging childrens' wooden toys and all everyone we talk to agrees!

Children's Wooden Toys Free Their Mind

Free your child's imagination with a wooden toy

Aside from their durability, reliability, and their capability of letting your child's imagination run wild, children's Wooden Toys don't need batteries to operate.

So, next time you think about investing money into the latest IT-drenched toy fad, which will be yesterday's news by the time the batteries run out, consider buying a set of beautifully handcrafted children's wooden toys.

Unlike many toys, wooden toys don't rely on TV or film characters to appeal to children so they stay in fashion for far longer. Just imagine buying a set of toys that can be handed down through generations and generations!

Another great reason to give a child a wooden toy set is that it isn't linked to a popular or fashionable television or film character. So it's up to your child's wild imagination to give the toy a personality.

Too many of today's toys have pre-created characters and personalities, but wooden toys arrive loaded with the ability to be absolutely anyone. It is up to your child to exercise their imagination, which is so important at a young age and this helps them create their own toy over and over again.

And, if education is at the top end of your agenda for your child, wooden toys can be the perfect option. Not only do they give the brain a workout by requiring lively and active imaginations, they also can be bought as educational props.
For example, wooden puzzles or shape slot toys can really help to progress a child's hand and eye co-ordination.

And, their durability means that you won't be clinging on to the toy's receipt with the normal vice-like grip, in constant fear of a breakage and then the hassle of taking it back for a replacement.

But choice is important, and if you do decide to buy your child a wooden toy, make sure you buy something that matches the character of your child. If you can engage and excite your child on first sight of a range of beautiful children's wooden toys, the chances are the two will be inseparable for years to come!