imaginative play

WoodenToyShop is often approached by teachers, teaching assistants, nursery nurses and childminders who are looking for wooden toys to help children develop in all sorts of ways, not least for toys which encourage children to use their imaginations and to develop their creative attributes. Our fantastic range of art and creativity toys provide a whole host of opportunities for children to learn to think and act creatively as they play. Continue reading →

Earlier this week we introduced a number of wonderful wooden toys that we have added to the WoodenToyShop selection from French toymakers extraordinaire, Janod. We offered a glimpse of some of the toys are now safely on our warehouse shelves, so here are our thoughts on the rest of the new arrivals. Continue reading →

Earlier this week I discussed how the WoodenToyShop team works closely with the teachers, nursery nurses and childminders at schools, pre-schools and nurseries who frequently contact us to ask for recommendations for wooden toys which help with early learning and learning through play. Having already reviewed some of our customers’ favourite early learning toys, today we will take a look at some of the many role play toys through which children learn about subjects such as â€˜people who help us’ and the world around them. Continue reading →

As I lay in the dentist’s chair this morning waiting for the anaesthetic to work I remembered going to the dentist as a child and started to think about all the scary grown up experiences we had to take in our stride as little ones. Of course, we didn’t really take anything in our stride as our Mum and Dad made sure we were ready for the big wide world before we ventured forth. They achieved this in many ways, not least with books and stories but also through toys and play. Teaching children essential life skills with learning toys is one obvious way to give them a good start, but there are plenty of other toys which help in less obvious ways. Continue reading →