Posted on 4th Nov 2009 @ 4:31 PM

Parents have been using wooden toys to keep their children occupied, amused and to assist in their emotional and physical development since prehistoric times.

Wooden Toys in Prehistoric Times

Learning through play is not a new concept. As prehistoric man evolved and began to use tools, they fashioned small versions of hunting equipment such as spears, bows and arrows which were then used to teach young boys how to hunt and fish like their fathers, thereby preparing them for later life.

Similarly girls were given dolls fashioned from sticks, and small clay pots and cooking utensils which were used to help them to learn how to care for children and cook.

The skills that these prehistoric children learned through playing with these early wooden toys were essential to their survival.

When Did Wooden Toys First Appear?

It’s very difficult to track precisely when wooden toys first appeared, however archaeologists have found evidence that the ancient Egyptians and Greeks fashioned wooden playthings. 

From prehistoric times until around the 5th century AD, wooden toys were typically ‘one of a kind’ made for children by their immediate family and friends, and of course, wealthy families would commission toys from local carpenters.

The Rise & Fall of Wooden Toy Manufacture

During the Middle Ages, as wooden toys became more fashionable, craftsmen began to manufacture them, and they were sold at local markets and fairs. Whilst clearly we’re not talking mass production here, it did become more common for parents to buy wooden toys for their children, rather than making them.

Wooden toy making became an industry in it’s own right in the 18th century; initially in the forested areas of Germany where timber was cheap. Small co-operatives of families worked together to make toys for wholesalers who sold the toys via mail order across Europe and America.

Popular wooden toys included:

• Wooden Spinning Tops
• Wooden Rocking Horses/Hobby Horses
• Wooden Dolls
• Wooden Skittles
• Wooden Whistles
• Wooden Rattles
• Wooden Building Blocks
• Wooden Sleds
• Wooden Miniature Animals

Wooden jigsaw puzzles were first created around 1760 by John Spilsbury, a mapmaker. They quickly became popular and remain so today.

Over the next century wooden toy makers fashioned more elaborate toys. Miniature dolls, dollhouses and furniture became increasingly popular for girls; and for boys, wooden cars and train sets became best sellers.

Around the same time wooden construction toys became increasingly popular. These construction sets could be used to create a wide variety of buildings and vehicles and were the forerunners of popular construction toys like Lego today.

Sadly, towards the end of the second World War new materials such as rubber, plastic and metal were increasingly used for toy manufacture. Toys made from these materials quickly became popular as they were significantly cheaper than their wooden counterparts. As such, the production of wooden toys declined.

Wooden Toys Today

Today, although the vast majority of toys are manufactured using modern materials, we are seeing wooden toys making something of a comeback. This may be down in part to nostalgia, as parents yearn for a simpler time and a simpler life and seek to shelter their children from modern life.

When you add to this the fact that wooden toys are built to last, and are able to endure years of play that their cheap plastic counterparts simply cannot withstand; wooden toys are an appealing option. They can be passed down between siblings, and of course down the generations, and be enjoyed for many years to come.