Toys are the most precious memory for any child. It not only represents the personality of the child, but also contributes to the learning and development of the child. Over time, toys have taken on more than one function. They are now considered a crucial component of teaching and learning methods for younger children. Not just homes, but even play schools, and indeed elementary schools and beyond, also use toys to help children learn new things effectively. Although there are a variety of toys available on the market, wooden toys still have their own special place. Wooden toys and other “learning by playing” materials have been popular since ancient times. Unlike techno-electronic toys, toys that are made of wood have a very traditional feel. In addition, they are comparatively safer, since the material used is much closer to nature.
They owe their origin to the period before civilization. It is proven that even in ancient times, man created toys with materials such as twigs, clay and pieces of wood. The methodology and variety are quite advanced now for wooden toys, but the basics are definitely very traditional. Wooden blocks used as toys for babies and toddlers are the best example. Almost every house has at least one set of wooden blocks. They are used in a variety of ways to teach children motor skills, pre-math concepts such as shapes, sizes, and numbers. Even the Montessori method of preschool teaching makes extensive use of wooden toys, as they are much safer, easier to maintain, and have a long lifespan.
Aside from painted wooden blocks, wooden dolls and miniatures are also quite an interesting option as toys for children. Wooden dolls are mainly of two varieties: handmade and machine-made. The handmade dolls are made of wood and have different shapes of miniatures including animals, birds and dolls etc. Handmade wooden dolls are mostly recolored manually and those who love more natural and earthy toys will appreciate this variety the most. In fact, prehistoric excavations have shown that even in those times man was capable of making wooden toys such as miniatures, dolls and even vehicles with small details such as spinning wheels, etc. Machine-made wooden toys are certainly more sophisticated to look at and intricate. Details can be achieved more easily than in handmade toys. Previously cars were common wooden toy vehicles, now of course it has given way to more sophisticated looking cars.
However, it is an interesting observation that wooden toys have found their own dedicated buyers. Many children love buying wooden toys as collectibles more than playing and throwing toys. Wooden vehicles without wheels are already available on the market as a representation of ‘Flintstones’ vehicles. These toys are becoming increasingly popular as collectibles among children, primarily between the ages of 3 and 6. Other wooden toys available are wooden puzzles, scrabbles, and drawing boards, etc.
