The History Of Wooden Toys

Toys have been an important part of childhood since early civilization and while children today are much different than those thousands of years ago, many of their favorite toys are similar to those that have been around for centuries. As long ago as the ancient Greek and Roman empires, children are known to have played with dolls, horses, and chariots. The earliest toys discovered by archaeologists were all made of wood.

Wooden toys continued to be a common part of childhood for thousands of years. By the 1700's, German toymakers began to craft a variety of toys from wood to sell to the general public. Salesmen would travel around Europe to market the popular wooden toys, taking advance orders for special occasions and often for custom made wooden toys. Almost life-like dolls and animals were becoming favorite playthings for children all over Europe.

Over the next century, toymakers became more elaborate and detailed with their wooden creations. Wooden miniatures like dollhouses and theaters became popular during the 19th century, as well as wooden toy soldiers. Many wooden toys, like the classic Jack in a box, were hand painted with bright, vivid colors. Wooden trains, along with their wooden tracks, were one of the best selling toys during this time period.

By the end of World War II, a number of new materials had been introduced to the manufacturing industry including still popular plastic. The production of wooden toys steadily declined as more and more toymakers opted for cheaper and more modern materials. Plastic toys were much easier for mass production and were more affordable to families with children.

Today, wooden toys are rarely seen on the shelves of traditional toy stores but the charm and appeal of these childhood classics has kept a number of wooden toy manufacturers in business. A variety of wooden toys can be purchased online, from miniature appliances to small novelty gifts and games.

Wooden toys are typically simple playthings that encourage a child to use their imaginations. Wooden puzzles encourage children to develop cognitively as well as develop fine motor skills. Wooden ride-on toys and pedal cars enhance physical skills and gross motor development. Whether it is a fire station or a farmhouse, miniature wooden play sets aid in social and emotional development. Wooden toys hold great educational value because of their simplicity.

Plastic toys are still generally less expensive than wooden toys and are considered safer by some because of the flammability of older wooden toys and possible injuries from thrown or falling wooden objects, but wooden toys do not contain toxic PVC like plastic toys do. Wooden toys are the most durable toys and can usually last through generations of play.

Today's wooden toys are just as innovative, if not more so, than modern, electronic toys. Cars, trucks, and wooden wind-ups make wonderful gifts and wooden pull along toys delight toddlers. Quiet games like chess and checkers, and even tic-tac-toe can be found made of wood, as well as physical games like ring toss.

www.made-from-india.com - Find Toys manufacturers, Toys exporters and Toys suppliers with the advent of the internet, more and more shops are selling their wares through the net. There are many online toy stores and just a search on the net will reveal many of them. It makes sense to buy toys online. One can compare prices and also browse through different types of toys fro the comfort of their home. There are so many categories of toys including educational toys (like mecanno), intelligent toys (remember the robot which whistles and moves if you clap your hands).

Bakugan Toys

Do you know what is guaranteed to be at the top of every kids Christmas list this year? Bakugan Toys! Yes there is a new toy craze in town and every kid from here to the Philippines wants it! Bakugan mania is in full storm in the US! Toys R Us can't keep these toys in stock, they sell out as fast as they are putting them on the shelves. There are national tournaments being hosted by Toys R US, and Activison has even signed on to make a Bakugan Video Game. But what exactly are these popular Bakugan Brawlers and why are they so popular?

Remember when you were a kid and you had the biggest collection of marbles in your neighborhood? Well, imagine if those marbles transformed into robots and monsters when you rolled them, springing to action with hidden magnets when they hit the field? That's pretty much what you get with Bakugan, it's a new spin on a classic game. The game itself comes from the Japanese Anime cartoon called Bakugan Battle Brawlers. First aired in 2007 it was a wild success. In fact it has been signed on for a new season called "New Vestroia." In the show, the main characters and their Bakugan buddies battle to protect the Earth from the evil Naga who wants the ultimate power and control of two universes.

The characters play the game by throwing down their cards and letting their Bakugan balls do the talking. The monsters within are released, and the most powerful Bakugan wins the battle.

Every year it seems like there is a new popular cartoon-made-into-a-game. Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh, Digimon, and the list goes on. This year promises to take that to a new level. Not only do kids get to play with the cards, they have the Bakugan Spheres as well to play with. When the spheres hit the magnetic cards they pop open revealing what is inside. The players can use their ability cards to boost the Bakugan's 'G power' and the strongest one wins the match.

The game itself is simple enough for your younger ones to play, but also has enough complexities to keep the older ones entertained for hours. It's also a great way to help your kids learn math. With two levels of strategy, not just your cards but also rolling your spheres, there is enough here to captivate parents as well. Although be sure you don't let your kids know!

Bakugan are guaranteed to be super popular this year, Toys R Us is having a difficult time keeping them in stock and many are being sold for much more than market price. It will just get more expensive as time goes on, so score yours today and save!

www.made-from-india.com - Find Toys manufacturers, Toys exporters and Toys suppliers with the advent of the internet, more and more shops are selling their wares through the net. There are many online toy stores and just a search on the net will reveal many of them. It makes sense to buy toys online. One can compare prices and also browse through different types of toys fro the comfort of their home. There are so many categories of toys including educational toys (like mecanno), intelligent toys (remember the robot which whistles and moves if you clap your hands).

Teacup Pig ToysToys

Last years toy pet substitute was the Zhu zhu Pets hamsters without the mess. This year sees the release of new Teacup Piggy Toys as substitutes for the controversial Teacup Pig pets. Teacup Pigs off course being mini pot belly pigs bred for the purpose of serving as household pets. Despite their cute factor and obvious popularity real pet pigs do require more care than the average pet. This is however good news for parents who are looking for toys substitutes this holiday season. The new toy teacup pigs may just be the mess free alternative you have been looking for.

Made by Toyeck, the teacup pig toys are articulated with movable feet and head. Teacup Piggies also come with a vocabulary of 25 words making them nearly more interactive than real piggies. There are a total of fifteen Pig Toys to collect. Each pig, with its unique personality and matching accessories. The toys come in three litters the first batch being born on Christmas Day, 25 December 2009. These include Snowflake, High Tips Locket, Goldie, and Copper and Princess.

The second Litter of Teacup Piggies was born on New Year's Day, 1 January 2010. This litter is made up of Carat, Jade, Glitter, Ivory, Denim, and Bling. The last Litter is born 1 February 2010 and is made up of three little piggies Emmie, Oscar and Jade. Each Piggy has a cup and matching accessories. Kids can create also play dress up with their piggies from the range of outfits available. Play sets including a Teacup Piggies Electronic Lights & Sounds Showtime Limo, Lights & Sounds Beauty Spa Play Set And a Fashion Runway Play Set- all sure to have kids entertained for hours.

Top Baby Educational Toys

Educational baby toys are meant to be fun while they stimulate learning and aid in brain development of infants. There are thousands of educational toys for babies on the market today. Parents usually have a hard time choosing developmental toys that are effective, age appropriate and fun. Learning toys for infants must stimulate hearing, vision and touch. At the same time, it is important for parents to remember that baby educational toys do not have to be expensive or high-tech in order to stimulate a child's creativity and curiosity.

Fisher Price Brilliant Basics Baby's First Blocks

Blocks are recognized to be one of the best baby educational toys ever invented. They stimulate a baby's creativity and aid in his overall development. The Fisher Price Brilliant Basics Baby's First Blocks consist of 10 brightly colored blocks of different shapes. They can be dropped into an open bucket or pushed through a shape-sorting lid. As the baby grows older, he can move on to sorting, stacking, and identifying colors and shapes. These blocks are recommended for babies 6 months to 3 years old.

This baby toy encourages the development of motor skills. Filling the bucket with blocks and dumping them out strengthens eye-to-hand coordination. Grasping and sorting blocks develops hand dexterity. Playing with the blocks also stimulates creative thinking and enhances problem-solving skills.

Baby's First Blocks are available at Amazon.com, with prices starting at less than eight dollars.

LeapFrog Spin and Sing Alphabet Zoo

Babies can learn the alphabet, animal names and sounds with this baby educational toy from LeapFrog. A catchy tune plays while the ball is spinning. Letters of the alphabet are introduced using animal names. The Spin and Sing Alphabet Zoo helps babies develop their motor skills by batting or spinning the wheel over and over again.

Babies as well as parents will love the catchy songs. This toy is very entertaining and will hold a young child's attention for hours. It is highly recommended for babies who are 6 months to 3 years old.
This educational toy for babies is amazingly durable and well made. It is definitely worth a lot more than its price of less than $20 at Amazon.com.

Melissa & Doug Deluxe Bug Jug Fill & Spill Soft Baby Toy

Fill and spill toys come with their own containers for self-storage. They're great for hours of play at home and as a travel toy. Babies love the Melissa & Doug Deluxe Bug Jug Fill & Spill Soft Baby Toy for little ones age 6 months and up.

Four bugs made of soft materials come in a plastic jug with mesh fabric top. These multi-textured toy bugs crinkle, squeak, jingle and rattle. There's a grasshopper, spider, ladybug and butterfly.

This soft baby educational toy helps your baby develop fine motor skills as well as hand-eye coordination. The toys are machine washable, which is great because some babies like to stuff the bugs in their mouths. Different textures help stimulate your baby's tactile senses.

www.made-from-india.com - Find Toys manufacturers, Toys exporters and Toys suppliers with the advent of the internet, more and more shops are selling their wares through the net. There are many online toy stores and just a search on the net will reveal many of them. It makes sense to buy toys online. One can compare prices and also browse through different types of toys fro the comfort of their home. There are so many categories of toys including educational toys (like mecanno), intelligent toys (remember the robot which whistles and moves if you clap your hands).

Jakas Toys

Toys by the Indian firm, Jakas, are very popular as collectables on the Indian market.

They began production in 1954, and these earliest teddies are quite rare. All the joints were moveable, with glass eyes and made from mohair. Kapok was used as the stuffing.

By the 1960s synthetic fur and plastic joints and eyes were in use. Prices for the toys were therefore lowered, as these materials were cheaper than the traditional ones.

The distinctive Jakas teddy, with outstretched arms and typical embroidered face, was introduced in the 1960s. Unjointed, they did bend at the hips, in order to be able to sit. An extensive range of toys were also made, all with the typical face and included dogs, bunnies, and poodles. A wheeled range of animals such as bears and horses was made in both a pre-walker and a walker size. Teddies were made in many sizes, often light brown the most famous being Big Ted. Pyjama cases were also popular!

As did Joy Toys, Jakas could not compete with the influx of cheaper Asian toys from the 1970s onwards, though it did reduce the quality and costs, in an attempt to stay in business. In the 1990s Jakas was forced to close its doors.