Are Wooden Toys making a come back over Plastic and Electronic Toys?
Well it appears so! Our Customers are telling Us they are moving away from mass produced plastic and electronic toys, especially screens. To be fair individuals and families who shop with Us are probably already leaning towards natural, eco friendly and sustainable Toys, also generally preferring locally made (or at least lower Toy Miles) wooden toys to also reduce transport and packaging impacts on the environment.
What's your thoughts? Have your families tastes for Toys changed over the last year or 2?
In the lead up to Christmas 2018 Russell Zimmerman, Executive Director of the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) commented; “This year we are noticing a range of toys that are designed to stimulate imagination and creativity, which is a refreshing change from the technology-driven pattern we have seen in previous years,” Mr. Zimmerman said.
These are just some of the benefits Traditional Wooden Toys deliver with features which address these criteria and more!
ARA's findings are backed up by market research company "Play" who quoted GutCheck as saying "Parents are looking for toys which are durable, unique, can hold attention for several years, and emphasis creativity or development". In our opinion; that sounds exactly what Traditional Wooden Toys offer!!
We're proud to say our Handmade Traditional Wooden Toys have been entertaining and educating Aussie Kids since 2014 (actually since 1993, but we were only making for friends and relatives back then) with many returning Customers adding to their initial purchase to grow the number of quality handmade Wooden Toys in their children's Toy Boxes.
The Australian Toy Association advises Parents to consider the following when choosing the right Toys for their Children:
- Consider your child’s developmental stage;
- Take note of your child’s interests;
- Choose a variety of toys;
- Try toys that get children away from screens; and
- Make sure toys are safe.
The return to popularity of Traditional Wooden Toys, especially those hand made, can be partly attributed to the ability of Wooden Kids Toys to tick all the above boxes. After all they have been tried and tested since around the 18th century, although the exact documented history of Children's Toys is difficult due to varying interpretations etc.
We think this passage from Wikipedia encapsulates the extraordinary value Wooden Toys have to offer in the growth and development of your child's life:
"Playing with toys is considered to be important when it comes to growing up and learning about the world around us. Younger children use toys to discover their identity, help their bodies grow strong, learn cause and effect, explore relationships, and practice skills they will need as adults."
The above quote highlights some of the key reasons we started making Hand Made Wooden Toys here in Australia. While our own 'greengrub' Brand Wooden Toys take this a step further by ensuring only the most natural, sustainable and eco friendly principles are used in our Toy Making we're told by Parents they value this extra safety and environmental focus as a key decision in choosing, not only our greengrub brand, but other Traditional Wooden Toys for their Kids.
Irrespective of what Toys you choose for your Kids, spending actual physical time with them and focusing your attention on playing, teaching and challenging them will provide your family with unbelievable fun and enjoyment. Cherish your time with your kids, they grow up so fast!
Yours in Happy Fun & Games
Greg - Wooden Toy maker and greengrub Wooden Toys Owner
Sources:
https://www.retail.org.au/mediacentre/childrens-to...
http://austoy.com.au/value-of-play/choosing-the-ri...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toy