Exploring Wooden Toys the Fair Trade way

Article Written By: Gecko

I have always loved wooden toys and there are a number of reasons why. Firstly, they are made from natural materials giving them a beauty unsurpassed by any other kind of toy. Having been manufactured from a malleable material such as wood, toys are always beautifully made. In modern day such toys are mass produced but in yesteryear, these would have been made more primitively or crudely by skilled craftsmen.

Some toys are left in their natural wood state resplendent in their organic beauty of warm wooden tons. Not only are they wonderful to look at but they also have a grainy texture giving a natural feel not found in any other materials. Other toys are painted in bright shiny primary colours that cannot fail to have a great visual impact on a child.

I have a certain satisfaction about a wooden toy in knowing it will pretty much withstand the rough and tumble function it needs to ensure. The solid properties of wood give it an inherent robustness unmatched by the plastic alternative for durability and longevity.

Because these products are produced within the controlled framework of fair trade co-operatives, it means they have been produced ethically. By this, it means that no-one has been exploited where a fair wage and working conditions have been applied throughout the whole production process.

The range of fair trade toys is broad with some being fundamental in helping a child to learn about spelling words, colours, shapes, counting, letters or numbers. A good example is the wooden ark with sets of brightly painted animals, from zebras, elephants and tigers to alligators, lions and monkeys perfect for helping children to recognise and name objects they may not necessarily see unless they visited a zoo.

For boys, there are various play-scenes with castles, complete with wooden soldiers, horses, and drawbridges to help stimulate a child s imagination. There are also sturdy wooden trains and building blocks in a variety of shapes, colours and sizes. For girls there is a wide choice of pretty scenes based on themes such as fairies, butterflies, ponies and mermaids.

Other good examples of wooden toys with a more educational objective are the jigsaw puzzles that have brightly coloured numbers or letters painted sequentially across them. The objective for this kind of toy is to encourage and help a child to learn about counting or the sequence of the alphabet. These kinds of jigsaws come in a variety of designs including elephants, dinosaurs, crocodiles and trains. They are normally brightly painted to make them eye catching and visually stimulating.

Although not really a toy, there is an interesting selection of fair trade money boxes handmade from wood and then painted to depict animals such as zebras, cats and giraffes. I have also seen a mouse made from a hollowed out coconut shell with wooden ears and a string tail. They really are quite original and would make a perfect gift for either a child or an animal lover.

About the Author

Please see Indigo Ocean Trading for more details.

You Can Link Directly to "Exploring Wooden Toys the Fair Trade way" by using the url:
http://www.allbestarticles.com//shopping/toys/exploring-wooden-toys-the-fair-trade-way.html

This Article Has Been Published on Thu, 22 Apr 2010 and Read 246 Times

Find All Best Articles at http://www.allbestarticles.com

Rating: Not yet rated

Comments

No comments posted.

Add Comment

You do not have permission to comment. If you log in, you may be able to comment.

Related information on Toys

Shop for Lego City Online
How the right educational toys can help enhance cognition
How to keep your home safe and toxin-free for baby
Safety Issues With Army Toys
Made in USA Toys and Handmade Wooden Toys Make Quality Standards
A Short History of Teddy Bear and Barbie
The Discrepancy Between Toys When We Were Kids and Modern Ones
Don't Rent Inflatable Toys And Pools
Exploring Wooden Toys the Fair Trade way
Electric RC Helicopters: Modern and High Tech Toy
Eco-Friendly Toys Distributor Making Constant Effort towards the Green Environment
What Does Every Boy Want To Find Under The Christmas Tree?
What Defines a Creative Toy?
What's In A Name Ask The Zhu Zhu Pets
LEGO Figures and LEGO Themes
Why Simple Toys Are Often The Best Toys
Toy Kitchens Are Great For Creative Play
Points to Note about Plush Toys
Light, Music, and Sound Tables Create a Fun Day For a Child
Bouncy Castles for Sale Gives Consumers a New Way to Jump For Joy
Consider Buying the Educational Toys of your Kids from Leapfrog Toys
Legos - An American Icon That Continues To Thrill Toddlers