| Children go through different stages of play as they | | | | because children are free to use their minds to |
| grow up. Infants play by themselves and they tend | | | | explore and be creative. Classic wooden toys such as |
| to play with one toy at a time. Toddlers often play in | | | | building blocks, trains, boats and trucks will keep a |
| the same room, but aren't quite sure about the | | | | child occupied for hours. All the while the child is not |
| concept of sharing yet, so they tend to play with | | | | only being creative, but is building motor skills, too. |
| their "own" toys. Within a year or so they start play | | | | Wooden toys for kids range in size from small building |
| with each other's toys. By the time a child is ready | | | | blocks to a child-sized kitchen sets, complete with a |
| for Kindergarten they are more into socializing so | | | | wooden ice box, range, and storage cabinets. |
| they play together, sharing toys. | | | | Wooden educational toys such as wooden name |
| For many generations parents have been giving their | | | | boards, puzzles, and sewing boards can help a child |
| children wooden toys to play with. Back before toys | | | | learn to spell, reason, count and sew. Wooden |
| were mass-produced, toys were hand-made. People | | | | farming machinery and animals will help a child learn |
| would make their own toys for children by whittling | | | | about animals, vehicles, and farming. Wooden trains, |
| them from tree branches and further customizing | | | | boats, big rig trucks, tow trucks, and logging trucks |
| them by hand painting them. The art of making | | | | teach children about careers. |
| natural wooden toys has come a long way since | | | | Wooden coat racks can even be used to store |
| then. | | | | wooden toys. And with wooden letters, children even |
| What adult doesn't remember building castles, forts | | | | can learn to spell their name. These racks can also |
| and bridges with wooden tools and building blocks of | | | | have cutouts for animals, cars, or other wooden toys |
| all shapes and sizes? You probably even used | | | | and can be removed for playtime. |
| wooden trucks to deliver the "building materials" to | | | | These days, many adults have impressive collections |
| the construction site. Your mind probably went wild | | | | of traditional wooden toys of all kinds. Antique |
| imagining you were a knight on a steed or a train | | | | stores, auctions, and garage sales are great ways to |
| engineer, or the cavalry, or the captain of a great | | | | find pre-loved toys and missing pieces, but shopping |
| sailing ship! | | | | online is often a quicker and easier way to complete |
| Why would your child benefit from playing with wood | | | | your collection. |
| toys at any age? For one thing, handcrafted wooden | | | | Thinking about starting your own family traditions? |
| toys are economical because they are stronger and | | | | Building a collection of wooden toys is fun and can be |
| sturdier than toys made of plastic, so they are safe | | | | displayed on shelves, bookcases, or atop tables and |
| and they last. Many wooden toys have lasted so well | | | | will certainly be an interesting conversation piece. Not |
| that they've been passed own from generation to | | | | only that, but your toys will entertain your children as |
| generation. | | | | well as visiting children for hours! |
| Children benefit from playing with these toys | | | | |