Wooden Toys

Matching wooden toys to the child and the occasion

A child who loves to build will reach for anything that stacks and fits together, while one who lives in stories will want something to bring into the next game. The occasion matters: a big day calls for one larger present, while a visit or a thank you suits something small.

For a very young child, we suggest checking the maker's age guidance before you decide. Think too about the room the present is going to, and whether it will live on a playroom floor or a bedroom shelf. If you know the family less well, a quiet word with a parent saves you buying something the child already has.

Beech and plywood, and how they differ

Beech is a hard, close-grained wood that sands very smooth and takes paint well, which is why toymakers have turned to it for generations. Plywood is built from thin sheets of wood glued with the grain running crossways from one layer to the next, so it stays flat and stable and cuts cleanly into shapes.

Among our pieces, a few are made in beech and a few in plywood. Whatever the wood, a toy may be left natural or finished with wax, oil or paint, and the finish decides how it looks and how it is cared for.

Making up a gift set around one main present

A small set often feels more generous than a single present, and it takes little planning. Start with one main piece, then add one or two things that belong with it: something that extends the same game, a book on the same theme, or a bag or box to keep the pieces together.

For brothers and sisters, two pieces they can play with side by side make sharing easier than two unrelated presents. At Christmas, a festive piece makes an easy addition to a set, and you will find some in our range. Sticking to wood throughout gives the gift a look that hangs together.

What fits a Christmas stocking or a party bag

A stocking works best with presents that are light, slim enough to slide in and fine without much wrapping, plus one bigger piece at the top for the first moment of unwrapping. Wood suits a stocking well, since it can take a knock and has a pleasing weight in the hand that a child notices straight away.

A party bag asks for something simple that suits a group of children, so nobody feels left out, and that travels home in a coat pocket. A little wooden piece tucked beside the slice of cake is often the thing still being played with long after the party is over.

How to clean a wooden toy without soaking it

Wipe wooden toys with a cloth wrung out in warm water and a drop of washing-up liquid, then dry them straight away with a clean towel. Never soak wood or put it in the dishwasher: water works into the grain, the wood swells, and as it dries it can crack, warp or lose its paint.

Some of our pieces pair wood with metal or plastic, and a few include cotton. Dry metal promptly so water does not mark it, wipe plastic as you would the wood, and spot clean cotton unless the maker's care note says it can be washed.

Finding a home for toys in a playroom, bedroom or nursery

Wood is happiest in a dry room at an even temperature. Keep toys off sunny windowsills and away from radiators, where they can dry out and crack, and out of damp corners, where they can swell.

Low, open shelves and baskets let a child see what is there and put things back without help, while a lidded box or a fabric bag stops a set from scattering. Putting some toys away for a few weeks and bringing them out again makes old favourites feel fresh, and a wooden piece left on a nursery or bedroom shelf looks at home between games.