Toy Fire Trucks

When children start to walk it’s a great opportunity to buy a toddler toys that will last for several years. Traditional toys tend to be built to last and although some can be deemed to be a little expensive, just look at what you are getting.

Craftsmanship second to none, sometimes materials used from sustainable sources, and a guarantee that the paint or glues used are non-toxic. Edges are rounded off for safety and you are unlikely to find sharp spikes or bits that fall off and create choking hazards. Energy is abundant at this stage and children just love to be active. Some of the more energy sapping gadgets come in the form of ride-on or ride-in toddler toys.

Don’t forget the other senses too. Toddlers love noise, colour and movement, in fact anything that clangs, whistles, rings or bangs is a firm favourite. Ride-on toys are built in all shapes and materials. Some are built like rocket ships and have vibrating motors and flashing lights to add to the excitement. Other ride-on toys can include fire-engines, complete with bells, or tow trucks – in fact whatever you want your child to ride around on it’s available, even a ride-on lion! Of course when the child has mastered the art of balance and co-ordination a firm favourite is the trike. These traditional toys are made in all kinds of materials but the wooden trike is becoming popular. Wheels are bound with rubber for easier maneuvering and will also stop those scuff marks around the house.

Then there is the ride-in toy taking the form of cars – even vintage cars – and the like. The child will love to motor around the house or garden hooting and making car noises. The more traditional toddler toys are still being manufactured today. Take the old hammer and peg set where the child can hammer away at wooden pegs that go through the hole to be hammered back again once the work is done. This has been improved upon by making the pegs into balls which will only drop through the hole if they are hit in the right manner. A little noisy but the children love the noise and they are rewarded by seeing their actions moving something. Great for hand-eye co-ordination too!

For quieter play there are many push and pull along toddler toys [http://www.monkeyshine.co.uk]. Traditional toys like train sets are now being made in wood with tracks and all kinds of attachments. Take, for example, the circus set. The track is laid down in free form and the engine can be pushed around by the child. Circus wagons and trucks hold many different animals and the child will spend hours loading and unloading them from the train. Other examples include school sets where pupils are transported to the school building. This is a great way to introduce the child to the idea of him/her going to playschool or ‘big kids’ school one day.

Playtime with ‘normal’ toys will encourage imagination and role-playing which is somewhat lacking with the more sophisticated electronic toys on offer today.
By:Gary Clay

About the Author:
Gary is a respected authority on toddler toys [http://www.monkeyshine.co.uk], writing for a number of sources including his own e-commerce toyshop, Monkeyshine, where you will find a great range of traditional toys [http://www.monkeyshine.co.uk] and superb service.