Wooden educational toys

In Russia’s olden days any house without toys was considered to be cold, soulless. Our ancestors believed that joyfully playing kids attract happiness and prosperity to a family.

Wood is the oldest material used for making toys, and it hasn't lost its popularity ever since.

Many centuries ago simple figurines of animals and people were carved from wood for children by their fathers for play and as protective charms and totems. Nowadays new materials paired with advanced toy-making technologies have replaced the warmth of this natural material, its “living” texture and authentic earthy smell.

Wooden educational toys for children are leaders among the objects that aid to harmonious development of the children, from babies to preschoolers. The main consideration for parents is to choose age-appropriate toys for the best developmental results.

Early childhood educators and psychologists are unanimous in stating: if the toy doesn't develop a child it becomes a useless item for him or her.

Wooden toys for children ages 0 to 5

Eco-friendly and safe wooden toys can be used starting from the first days of baby’s life. A few weeks old baby will already be following with interest after the noise-making mobiles, dangling balls or pinwheels attached to the crib. Rattle toys, bells, flappers, and other noise-makers will also be enhancing coordination and fine motor skills, making even “tasting” experience to be the safest one.

By the age of 1 your child will start making first steps, and the best toy would be wooden lawnmower push toy. These can be shaped as animals, insects or birds, making pleasant sounds when pushed. They will not only become a prop for your young walker, but also will make walking bigger distances fun.

The first book can be a wooden one. A book with easily turnable pages, unparalleled wooden smell and plus: impossible to rip.

Wooden toys for the development of fine motor skills
Famous Russian educator Sukhomlinsky used to say: “Child’s intellect is at the tips of his or her fingers”. Nowadays this became a scientific fact - development of fine motor skills stimulates speaking and cognition of children. Wooden toys manufacturers are keeping this in mind and design toys that are meant to develop hand-eye coordination, as well as finger and wrist motility. The most popular toys are:

Frames-inserters
This toy is for kids from 1 to 3 years of age. It is a preliminary stage for further puzzle games where in addition to coordination skills the child will need to employ logic and spatial thinking, will see cause and effect. The objective of the game is matching the object with its special place on the framed panel. The game contributes to the development of logic, imagination as well as colour and shape recognition.

Sorter (ages 1 to 3)
The objective is to match 3-dimensional object (geometric shape in most cases) with a certain slot. As a rule, the objects are colourful. A toddler learns to think logically, improves memory, attention, shape-recognition, while stimulating and developing fine motor skills.

Lacing toys
The task is to pull the lace through the holes in the toy. Designed for 2-year olds. Develops coordination, visual estimation, finger and wrist motility, all of which become basis for writing skills.

Pyramids and blocks (from ages 9 months to 3 years)
This toy is truly a classic. Wood is practical material and it is meant to be used for many years to come. Besides developing fine motor skills, these objects familiarize your little one with colour, shape and size. First construction skills are developed here as well. Wooden toys, unlike plastic ones, form the accurate perception of the reality: the bigger the wooden block is — the heavier it is.

Construction sets and wooden craft sets
The best choice for little ones ages 2 to 5 is the construction set with step by step assembly. One can construct the whole wooden town with roads and traffic signs or “plant” the kitchen garden with fruits and vegetables. Children will not only learn the basics of construction, but also get the knowledge of the real world around. Real life imitating construction set will be more suitable for older kids. Preschoolers can use the help of adults. These play sets improve concentration, goal-setting, logic and basics of scale modelling.

Seemingly simple and easy manipulations will have far reaching benefits for your little ones: speech and cognitive function stimulation and... the last but not the least — loads of fun and enjoyment!