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There’s something about wooden toys that never seems to go out of style. Maybe it’s the nostalgia of past generations, or the way those sturdy beech and pine blocks survive generations of rough and tumble. But it’s probably a mix of both, plus a heap of clever design.
Hobbyists have long known what makes wooden toys special. Their tactility. The way natural paint feels underneath fingertips. Their simplicity, sure, but also their creativity. A wooden toy just does things that plastic and metal can’t - the sense of texture, the possibilities for learning, or even the fact that they just look so good in a playroom or displayed proudly on the coffee table.
Plenty of parents love them for what they can teach their children, too. There’s much to learn in simple wooden toys - sometimes the fewer the electronic bells and whistles, the more a child’s brain can innovate. And it’s fascinating to watch that spark go off when a child picks up something made of solid wood and just starts testing, tinkering and even - yes - gnawing. It happens a lot with wooden toys, especially in the early years. And that’s one of the beautiful benefits for the little ones whose sensory learning matters. As babies see, touch, hear and taste in their first years, wooden toys can deliver safe and simple sensations that other materials often can’t.
One of the best-loved wooden toys is the roly poly animal - there are plenty of options out there, but the Wooden Animal Roly Poly Assorted range is one that’s made to last. It’s made from wood that’s brightly painted with non-toxic, child-safe finishes, and comes in 3 different animal themes - a seal, a penguin, and a bear, to give little ones the chance to experiment with different looks and colours. It also doubles as a skill-building toy for little ones learning how to grasp, roll and even throw items. And there’s a lovely bell inside each roly poly animal that sounds gently as the toy rolls in any direction - even making it easier for toddlers and older children who enjoy audio cues as they play.
The real kicker about wooden toys is how they lend themselves to classic play patterns that can’t really go out of style. Like the puzzle.
Everyone loves a jigsaw puzzle, but what’s great for children is that it offers so many different opportunities for learning and creative play - and with wooden toys in the mix, it only gets better from there. The Wooden 4 In 1 Jigsaw Puzzle Vehicles is a great example - not only is it a set of 4 puzzles with 24 pieces each, but each puzzle features a different set of vehicles for children to enjoy learning about - making it perfect for families with more than one child. It’s a great choice for parents who want to gift a family with children of multiple age groups, too. And each set includes a sturdy box to store all those puzzle pieces after playtime - all made from solid wood so it’s made to last for years in a home. This makes it an excellent choice for parents and collectors who want to keep the puzzle set safe for future grandchildren, or even for gifting to other loved ones.
At the end of the day, parents know that children aren’t going to be able to resist a wooden toy that gets them active - especially not when it’s noisy and fun to use. Children love hammering benches because there’s something about bonking things with a mallet that just never seems to get old. For those who want to introduce a wooden toy with an extra dash of skill and focus-building magic, look no further than the Wooden Hammering Bench. Made from natural wood and painted with vibrant primary hues, this classic hammering bench features 6 pegs that children can hammer down with a mallet to their heart’s content. What’s great about this particular hammering bench is that it rotates - making it possible to rotate between pegs without having to move around the toy itself - giving children more play in a safe, compact space.
Children love looking at vehicles and machines in action - especially in high-octane scenes. These can be difficult to get right in wooden toy format, but that doesn’t, mean it isn’t out there. Some puzzles have been developed with natural wood and vibrant finishes so they stand out in any child’s playroom. Take the Wooden Puzzle Emergency Services 48 Piece. It features an action-packed scene that includes illustrated fire trucks, police cars, ambulances and emergency medical response teams in action - all set on sturdy wood. All the pieces are contained in a beautiful wooden box with an easy slide-in mechanism that makes it easy for parents and children to store or retrieve all 48 pieces without much fuss. So whether children want to explore this emergency services puzzle as a learning opportunity or with parents or friends, it’s the perfect addition for families who want to stick with classic wooden toys.
The thing about wooden toys is that they’re more than just simple, time-tested solutions for parents who are tired of batteries running out. The variety of puzzles, hammering benches and cause-and-effect toys in today’s ranges are here to make childhood better - all while keeping those precious memories intact for generations to come.