Before toys were stamped out in plastic only to fall apart in time for
another round of Holiday shopping, durability was the name of the game,
and nothing stands the test of time like wooden toys.
Brio Stacking Clown
Brio Stacking Clown
A funny play on the classic stacking cone, the Brio Stacking
Clown (ToyDirectory)
gives a child an identity to put together instead of just a geometric
shape. Children 12 months old and up can sharpen their cognitive skills
by learning sequence logic and motor skills. They can also use their creativity
and sense of humor to recreate a distorted stacking clown. The clown comes
with nine colorful wooden rings for $24.99.
Deluxe Wooden Block Set
Deluxe Wooden Block Set
No toy box is complete without the educational wooden block set. Although
they come in various forms (including dinosaurs and butterflies), the
classic wooden block set by Lights, Camera, Interaction
has provided children through the years with the ability to string words
together without having to slurp on alphabet soup ($12.99).
Derby Rocking Horse
Derby Rocking Horse
The rocking horse has sustained cowboy and Kentucky Derby dreams in its
many different incarnations for decades. From KidKraft,
the rocking horse ($79.99) is sturdy enough for any host and has been
a staple in American households since the 18th century.
Radio Flyer Traveler Wagon
Radio Flyer Traveler Wagon
Before the movie of the same name, Radio Flyer wagons
were already a legend. The classic red wagon features natural
wood
sides and
no-scratch
rolled edges for endurance. Good for carting anything from dirt to the
family dog, the $89 price tag is a small cost compared to the lasting
enjoyment that this toy will bring.
Tinkertoy Classic Jumbo Builder Set
Tinkertoy Classic Jumbo Builder Set
Since 1914, Hasbro’s Tinkertoys has
lived up to the motto of “Good then. Good now. Good always.” The Classic
Jumbo Builder Set ($29.99) is one of the most popular models
of the Tinkertoys line. This set comes with 102 wooden and plastic pieces
to build just about anything.
Lincoln Logs Walnut Wood Schoolhouse
Lincoln Logs Walnut Wood Schoolhouse
Why would a child want to construct a model of a schoolhouse, you ask?
To demolish it, of course. Introduced to the public after Tinkertoys hit
the market, John Lloyd Wright, son of renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright,
proved that builder sets can be sophisticated and fun. Ideal for children
36 months and up, Lincoln Logs, from K’Nex,
have been challenging children for years at the small price of $9.99.
Jumbo 65-Piece Colored Wood Block Set
Jumbo 65-Piece Colored Wood Block Set
Strombecker’s classic Hardwood Building Blocks
set ($29.99) has been improved with non-toxic lead free paint, so there’s
no need for alarm when a block is inevitably placed in a child’s mouth.
This classic toy also functions as a tool that helps develop motor and
mathematical skills.
Itty Bitty Beach Band
Itty Bitty Beach Band
For the young musician in your family, there’s this little xylophone
toy from Jackrabbit ($32). The xylophone, ideal
for children 3 years old and up, comes with a 7-piece symphony for Oceanside
orchestras.
