| One would think with all the bright gadgets and | | | | crafted animals and dolls then became more common. |
| gimmicks overloading children's senses in today's toy | | | | If you don't think alphabet blocks then you definitely |
| market, they wouldn't have any time for the simpler | | | | think wooden trains when you hear about vintage toys. |
| things in life. This is not the case, as wooden toys are | | | | It was in the nineteenth century that a lot more thought |
| still as popular as they ever were. Toys made from | | | | was put into creating children's toys. Craftsmen |
| wood have a certain straightforwardness about them | | | | developed revolutionary items like the jack in the box, |
| that encourages a child to use their imagination. It | | | | wooden army men, complex houses for girls dolls and |
| doesn't matter whether they are painted bright colors | | | | wind up toys with moving parts. They made trucks |
| or natural, kids love to play with them. | | | | and trains with tracks and just about anything |
| A Brief History of Wooden Toys | | | | appropriate they could to make children feel like |
| Archaeologists have reported finding spinning tops | | | | miniature versions of their parents. |
| made from wood as evidence that wooden toys | | | | Wooden Building Toys |
| have been around since ancient times. Hand crafted | | | | The twentieth century saw a boom in the building |
| dolls and animals have been found which were made | | | | industry, both commercial and domestic. It seemed |
| for children in dating back as far as 1100BC. Wood for | | | | relevant, with so many father's going to work, that a |
| toy making would have been their first choice since it is | | | | range of toys be bought out for children who wanted |
| so readily available and not hard to work with. | | | | to be like their dads. Interlocking and interchangeable |
| Wooden building sets, dolls houses, jack-in-the-boxes | | | | pieces that came in sets so children could build things is |
| and jig saw puzzles are all wooden toys designed in | | | | what they released. Lincoln Logs and Tinker Toys are |
| the 1800's which are still very popular today. | | | | two companies who produced these wooden toys, |
| Toy Peddlers | | | | and they are still around today. |
| It was in the sixteenth century that Germany started | | | | There are so many flashing, plastic, battery operated |
| producing toys for trade. The men who made them | | | | toys in stores that it comes to the point where they all |
| would travel around the country selling them as they | | | | seem to blend into one. It is so lovely to see a child |
| went. They were time consuming to make, and were | | | | surrounded with hi tech toys and their eyes still light up |
| considered a treat or gift for unforgettable events. | | | | when a wooden train is introduced. They may be |
| Some craftsmen were lucky to be enlisted to make | | | | more expensive because they aren't mass produced |
| toys for the royals, and were paid well for their work. | | | | in Asia, but they pass the test of time and have great |
| Educational Wooden Toys | | | | benefits in stimulating a child's individuality and creativity. |
| Whenever we think of wooden toys we think of the | | | | They are also classic decorations as well. |
| little blocks with the alphabet painted on them or | | | | Summary: |
| engraved into the wood. Toys that children could learn | | | | Still nowadays wooden toys are the favorite for many |
| from date back as far as the eighteenth century in the | | | | children. They are great for developing creativity and |
| UK. When adults saw how much a child could develop | | | | many are designed to educate them as well. Don't fall |
| their imagination playing with the blocks, they sought | | | | for the hype of cheap five minute wonder toys, but |
| out more miniature friends for them. Small hand | | | | instead invest in quality that will last lifetimes. |