Wooden toys have been popular for many centuries. In fact, archeologists discovered wooden horses and toy chariots, jointed dolls made of wood, carved wooden crocodiles with moving jaws and other toys that children as far back as 1100 BC played with. Roman children, Egyptian children and Grecian children of old all played with wooden toys.
In the 1500’s German premiered toy manufacture for the public, hiring crafters to create wooden toys and sales people to travel ever part of Europe selling these wooden toys. Children of European royalty had customized wooden toys sent from Germany to commemorate events such as anniversaries and birthdays.
19th century children played with elaborate wooden toys, such as large theaters and doll houses with gaudy and ornate decorations. Wooden soldiers and jack in the boxes were gaily painted for these children’s delight. Wooden box shaped trains were popular too, as were their grooved train tracks made of wood.
The Swedish Brio firm created all sorts of wooden toys but is best known for its wooden toy trains. Each year Brio manufactures nearly four million wooden trains, trucks and cars for various parts of the globe. In fact, Ford Motor Company doesn’t deliver as many vehicles to the U.S. as does Brio.
While wooden toys, a more costly and less flexible product than the newer plastic play things, are less popular than they once were, they still have their followers, especially with teachers. A few large wooden toy manufacturers flourish or at least hold their own, but many smaller crafters and mom and pop enterprises flourish with wooden toys that fit every budget and customized need.
Early childhood education experts tout the benefits of wooden toys, especially for young special needs children, who thrive on the sensory benefits of wooden toys.
