Wood was one of the first materials to be carved in the likeness of animals and people to delight young and old alike. It is difficult to pin down exactly when wooden toys first appeared, but there is evidence that ancient Egyptians and Greeks used wood, and early hand-carved wooden toys were also hand-painted.
Today’s world encourages children and adults to play games on their computers, and although there are benefits to be gained from this type of mental exercise, there is a recognized lack of tactile satisfaction. Battery-powered and electrical gadgets litter toy boxes and children’s rooms, and scores of toys are soon discarded in favor of the next mechanical wonders. Attention diminishes and plastic toys reign.
The good oldie times
Despite the seemingly superficial devotion to mass-produced toys, a call is now rapidly emerging for the return of the classic toys of yesteryear. Parents are now looking for the calmest and thoughtful objects and games of yesteryear.
There is a yearning in America for simpler times, simpler diversions, places we can go, and things we can use to stimulate our imaginations. The toys of yesteryear were hand-carved, often artistically designed, and fortunately for us, passed down through the generations. Antique wooden toys are in high demand because now, based on that emerging nostalgia for the allure and appeal of childhood classics, the wooden toy is becoming popular again.
Value added
Wooden toys and puzzles still have clear advantages over plastic and are valued beyond nostalgia:
– Wooden toys last the longest and wear out the most.
– They do not contain toxic PVC.
– They stimulate the imagination.
– Improve motor skills.
– Promotes social and emotional development.
– Develop problem solving skills.
– Help in the recognition of colors and shapes.
– Grow in value and become relics.
Wooden toys available today
The games of wooden checkers and chess make reflection provoke silent contemplation. Wooden cars and trucks still delight the very young. And young children still love all wooden toys. Wooden toys are usually simple toys and can be found online: a fire station, a farm, a dollhouse, and furniture. For kids and adults alike, puzzles remain cherished hobbies and new trends in puzzle making are continually emerging.
Three-dimensional wooden puzzles are one of the latest innovations in modern quality toy making. These so-called “live” puzzles are formed through a unique technique of sculpting and confusing a single piece of wood into a three-dimensional interlocking puzzle.
The animal you hold in this new form of puzzle articulates and moves like the creature it represents. The sequentially locked pieces create a sculpture that stays together when locked with the eyepiece and each puzzle has a surprise inside. The giraffe may have a baby giraffe inside, the cat a mouse, the turtle an egg, the golden retriever a puppy, the bear a puppy, etc. Mahogany, cherry and walnut are the woods of choice and the artist’s interpretations are sought after, not only as treasured gifts for children, but also by adults as works of art and conversation pieces.
The resurgence of wooden toys is not surprising given the fast pace of today’s society. Country life has come back into fashion along with the joys of a hammock and a good book, while toys have naturally followed suit. Parents are beginning to realize the benefits of life’s simplest pleasures, even for their little ones. Little Johnny, pretending that his wooden sailboat is a big ship on the high seas, requires imagination, inner storytelling, and calm concentration, which can best be defined as peace and quiet. It is in that land of peace and tranquility where we are most receptive to learning, where we grow to know ourselves and discover our own dreams.
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