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.