The baby shower gift that parents actually want to keep
Some reasons why a well-made, durable toy is a more considered baby shower gift than most — and why the parents will still be grateful for it years later.
Archive
Category: Toys – Philosophy, Design and Use
Posts on what makes a good toy, how toys are designed and used, and why material, realism, and open-ended play all matter more than most people think.
How Play Can Be Healing
Psychologists use play as both a diagnostic tool and a therapeutic one. Here is what parents and caregivers can learn from that — and how the right play environment supports children through difficult experiences.
Are wooden toys more sustainable than plastic toys?
The sustainability argument for wooden toys goes well beyond the obvious. Here are the less-discussed but more significant reasons why material choice in toys matters for the long term.
How to Encourage Symbolic Play
Adults often inadvertently interrupt or undermine children’s pretend play. Here is what the research suggests about how to support it instead — and what to avoid.
Why we use hard wood to make our toy figurines
Toys made of hard wood are stronger and heavier. They retain their beauty after extensive use. Heavier toys aid children’s sensory development.
Why we make people of different times and cultures
Children who grow up knowing about other cultures and periods of history develop a deeper understanding of their own lives. Here is the thinking behind Mr Fox Crafts’ people collections — from Himba figures to People of Old.
Playing with Cougar
The cougar — also known as the mountain lion or puma — is North America’s most widely distributed wild cat. Here is how its biology, folklore and mythology can enrich children’s play with wooden figurines.
Playing with toy skunks
Skunks are more fascinating than their reputation suggests — highly adaptable, surprisingly intelligent, and rich in folklore. Here is how to use that to enrich children’s play.
Playing with toy raccoons
Raccoons are clever, adaptable and culturally significant across North American traditions. Here is how their natural history and folklore can make play with wooden raccoon figurines richer and more engaging.
Playing with toy animals
Wooden animal figurines are among the most versatile open-ended toys available. Here is an overview of the many ways children can use them — and how adults can support that play without taking it over.