Gone are the days when the only wooden toys avaliable were blocks and the occasional train set. With more parents becoming concerned about lead levels and toxic paints whilst shunning plastic flashing toys that don’t allow for imagination, the demand for wooden toys has increased considerably. Manufacturers are answering our requests for toys that adults love to look at as much as their children love to play with, and with the amazing range of wooden toys we’re now spoiled for choice.
Take a peek under the jump to see some of my favourite wooden toys currently available for bubs ranging from newborn to five years old.
Arabian Building Set $48.00 from Eco Toys – Putting a twist on the traditional building blocks with unusual shapes and forms for your toddler. The best thing about wooden blocks is how easy they are to add to, the more blocks you have the bigger and better you can build, and with wooden blocks you never have compatability issues between the different brands!
Wooden Cosmetics Set $59.95 from Peanut Gallery – This beautiful little set features listick, pressed powder and everything your little one could need to explore make up in imaginative play.
Le Toy Van HoneyBake Baking Set, $99.95 from MyWoodenToys – As the mother of two boys with a great interest in cooking (okay, the youngest is more interested in eating, but he does like to watch the baking process) I wasn’t prepared for just how difficult it is to find high quality gender neutral baking sets and kitchens. This awesomely retro set is perfect for my cupcake obsessed two year old.
BirthStone Teethers, $39.50 from HoneyBeeToys – The aesthetics of this teether are amazing, it’s absolutely beautiful (and functional!) as a toy and teething aid, but also a wonderful keepsake for the baby box or to display on a shelf.
ooMoo Kids Balance Bikes, $154.99 from The Kids Depot – The design of these bikes allows your child to develop balance and the skills needed for riding a “big” bike easier than they can with a trike. They’re made from solid birch and (excluding the ‘Roxster’) they have adjustable seats so the bike can grow with your child.
Leka Baby Gym, $44.99 from Ikea – Before the angry emails start that shopping at Ikea is anything but “alternative”, I have to say in their defence that Ikea’s wooden toys are excellent. We have several of the wooden toys from the great big blue box, including a train set that’s played with daily and they are all holding up amazingly.
The simplicity, design and colours of this baby gym are very much in line with Montessori teaching, and it looks so good that it’s not one of the toys I rush to pack away in the evenings!
Lacing Butterflies, $19.50 from Just Wood Toys – I have fond memories of sitting down with my Mum whilst she worked on the latest craft project whilst I sewed card after card with various designs and patterns. These butterflies are a little more exciting than the cards I had, and are a great way to introduce your preschooler to sewing.
Tags: ecofriendly, green, Play, Shopping, toys, wood, woodentoys
Haven’t come across the lacing butterflies before, they look like great fun and I love a fine motor challenge for preschoolers!
They’re a great tool for fine motor skills, similar to threading spools but not quite so many bits to pack away when you’re done!
Where can i buy a wooden toy sword in nyc ?