We were very encouraged earlier this week as the Slow Toy movement was given national newspaper coverage when the 2012 Slow Toy Awards were announced. Although we were disappointed that none of the toys we stock won any of these awards, we were heartened to read about a movement that celebrates the enduring properties of toys that are made to stand the test of time and to educate and entertain children as they grow up. So we decided to take a look at the criteria used by the judges of these awards and see if they could be applied to the wooden toys we sell at WoodenToyShop.co.uk.
The first requirement we looked at was 'encourages traditional play'. So many of our toys fulfil this requirement, starting with shape sorters and building and stacking toys through to dolls houses, wooden farm toys and play food.
The second quality the judges examined was 'boosts creative thinking'. Our children's easels, musical toys and hobby kits certainly encourage children to think and play creatively, as do toys such as the Melissa and Doug Deluxe Puppet Theatre. We are passionate about helping children to develop creatively and we believe many of the toys available at WoodenToyShop do just that.
Thirdly, the judges were seeking toys that 'inspire the developments of one's own imagination'. Again, we firmly support the idea that toys should inspire young imaginations and we think traditional wooden toys such as toy castles and pirate ships, toy kitchens, hobby horses and wooden train sets give children free rein to use their imaginations without limit when playing.