This right here is one of the most popular education-based toy around. And it's a video game system.

If I were pressed to defend the educational value of video games, I probably couldn’t do much other than say they can teach reading, math, problem solving, community interaction, cause and effect, and hand-eye coordination skills, so really I’d have an uphill battle talking about their benefits (wink). However, there are a handful of very popular toys being sold this very second to parents wishing to give their kids a little boost in the learning aspect of playing while still making sure the toy is fun (gotta love parents). But just what are some of the most popular educational and learning toys right now?

Yay! A noise-maker for kids!

Heard of LeapFrog? You probably have since they’re selling tons upon tons of electronic toys aimed at teaching kids. It just so happens one of their best-selling products is a video game system called the Leapster. It looks like a mutant Game Boy but plays like something with the explicit purpose of learning in the foreground. However, you can easily fool a kid into forgetting he’s learning something when the character in the game is Batman. LeapFrog also has a wide variety of other electronic-type toys with the Learn & Groove Musical Table for kids (a thing that makes noise), the Spin and Sing Alphabet Zoo (a thing that makes noise), or the Scribble and Write (I’m sure it makes some sort of noise, it is a child’s toy after all).

Responsibilities! Exciting!

If, perhaps, you’d rather not futz with noise or electronics in general, our good friends Melissa & Doug have more than enough toys made of wood and magnets. Sometimes simple can be best, and Melissa & Doug tends to make very high-quality toys that last and last. It’s hard to beat a magnetic alphabet set or a magnetic responsibility chart. Sure, kids hate responsibility, but disguise it with magnets and they’re sold.

Dang that kid looks happy. I want some of those blocks!

Fisher-Price is still around and doing just fine, by the way. Do you remember them from your childhood? I sure do. I had all sorts of plastic blocks and shapes and steering wheels and things of that nature from Fisher-Price, and I’m happy to say they still make all those things with their Brilliant Basics Baby’s First Blocks staying as a bestseller. Their Sesame Street Silly Sounds Remote may not really be in the same category though. It may say “Sesame Street: on it, but it also says “Silly Sounds” which is code for “Lots o’ Noise.” Just get the blocks.

Hooray for bugs! What, you don't like bugs? That's science!

It’s also cool to see that the Insect Lore Live Butterfly Garden is up near the top in sales. Why is that? Bugs, while super gross, are also super cool. Plus, it’s impossible for kids to find bugs in the house, so they have to go outside. If they can find tons of bugs inside, you’re teaching your kids something wrong. I was always happy as a kid with a bug net and a jar to keep my findings in. I assume kids haven’t changed too much since my childhood.

This is an incomplete list of the bestselling Education and Learning toys, but it’s a good start for sure. If all else fails, I can’t think of a single kid that’d say no to “Imagination Time” with their loving parents. In fact, I might just call my dad and see if he’s up for a game of it right now.

Classic wood abacus by Melissa and Doug

Wooden toys have always been a favorite of mine.  There is something about the solid, lasting, made-of-the-earth quality of wood that satisfies a need I have as a toy-searching parent.

NPR’s All Things Considered recently had a report about a lumber company in Maine that has been refitted to work as a manufacturing plant for a new line of wooden toys made completely here in the United States.

The company had seen a lot of its manufacturing of house wares moved overseas, and an idea was sparked by the lead paint scares that revolved around toys coming from certain places in China.

The story got me thinking about all the toys we buy and how doing a little bit of research could end up saving jobs for people in our own country, whether that may be the US, Britain, or India.

Stimulating local economies is good for the whole world.  Any time a company is able to keep the entire production process on one continent there are environmental savings, but the added bonus of saving jobs in a time when jobs are scarce at best is wonderful.

Focus on American-Made Toys

For example, how does one find some wooden toys made in the USA?

A quick, simple search led me to a page called Maine Made – America’s Best, which lists all kinds of products, not just toys, that are built in the state of Maine.  Other online sites will have an index listing the toys they sell that are made in America.  Another way to find great handcrafted toys, and this is true no matter where you live in the world,  is to visit a local craft co-op or craft fair & talk to the artisans about their work.

The craftsmanship that goes into these items is undeniable and these toys will last generations.  My own daughter has a favorite toy that is a wooden craft toy I got a long time ago, and it is as much fun for her as it was for me at her age.

With just a little bit of thought–before we buy–we can support our neighbors and our own economy during these times where economic stimuli seem to be needed wherever possible.

Melissa and Doug have hundreds of toys, but most of their toys can be put into easy-to-remember categories.  To help you navigate their vast toy empire, here is a breakdown of my favorite toy categories from Melissa and Doug:

Arts & crafts:  While a necessity for any household, arts and craft items can be annoyingly difficult and messy.  With the M&D items I have found the instructions on the craft items easily understandable and the options include stamps, beads, and painting.  My favorite:  an art easel that adjusts as my kid grows (plus, it keeps her from coloring on the dining room table).

Classic toys:  These are wooden toys such as blocks, or that hammer and peg workbench you had as a kid, as well as lacing items (great for quiet car rides).  The items withstand the poundings of a three year old easily and still manage to look good after a beating.

Puzzles:  I LOVE these puzzles.  Once we moved beyond their wooden puzzles I was equally impressed with the floor puzzles, both the designs offered as well as the quality.  The variety in the number of puzzle pieces is also a great thing since the increased challenge keeps the kids occupied.

Puppets:  The variety offered from hand puppets to marionettes to “full size” puppets is going to allow us to grow into some of the larger, more coordination-challenging styles.  The detail on these items is often quite stunning.

Play food:  This is perhaps my daughter’s favorite item.  She will spend a good hour preparing dinner for people with the cutting food, bringing us our sandwiches and apple slices.  The food uses hook and loop fasteners to stick together and is put together in such a way that she could figure it out even at 2 years old.

The motto of Melissa and Doug is to create educational toys that are heirloom quality.  In my book, I would have to say that they’ve wildly succeeded.

Toys by Spiel & Holz are inspired by Waldorf education, a philosophy that children learn best through active and imaginative play. These toys are made from natural materials, and have a minimum of details, letting the natural beauty and feel of the wood shine through. These toys are much more versatile and durable than the most toys nowadays, and they sustain a child’s interest much longer. Each toy set can be played with in a variety of ways—some of their toys are puzzles, building blocks, and play buildings all in one.

Spiel & Holz uses only premium European wood, primarily Alder. Most of their toys are hand-crafted and finished, making them a true work of art and craftsmanship. And each toy is painted with either natural, kid-safe paints and dyes.

Another maker of high-quality wood toys is HABA–check out our page about them.

This guide to toys made from wood will glide over some of history’s favorite playthings and then provide smart buyer’s tips and recommendations for modern wood toys.

A Brief History of Wood Toys

The history of toys is really the history of wooden toys. Archaeologists have unearthed wood pull toys from Egypt that are 4000 years old. Early versions of chess and checkers were played with wood pieces on a carved board.

Later, Roman children played with carved wooden horses and chariots. In fact, children’s toys may have inspired the gift of the Trojan Horse! Clearly, the ancient world was full of wooden toys adored by children and adults alike.

More recently, in the year 1760, the first puzzle was created by mapmaker John Spilsbury, who glued one of his maps to a thin wooden board and cut it into pieces. In Russia, stylized and stackable wooden dolls captivated the royal families for generations. At that time Victorian women were also passing their time by constructing elaborate wooden doll houses, some of which were complete with ivory and marble and cost as much a real house!

And don’t forget Pinocchio! Wooden puppets have been popular since the Middle Ages, crafted with care by wood carvers and showcased in rowdy street-side carnivals with ventriloquists.

But probably the most famous wood toy in history was invented in 1916. The son of an architect came up with Lincoln Logs, which are still on the market today. His father was Frank Lloyd Wright.

After the first World War, many children fell in love with making wooden models of airplanes, fire trucks, and cars. When materials were hard to find, thrifty folks would use old peach and apple crates to create realistic versions of their favorite things.

Why Wood Toys Endure

Wooden toys endure because toys made from natural materials are inherently valuable. The pride of woodcraft, good workmanship, and the values recycling natural goods are all part of the mystique of toys made from wood.

On a practical note, wood is also a naturally germ-free material. So carved wooden objects have always been prized as safe for babies to chew on when they are teething.

Lastly, wood toys excite the imagination due to their natural beauty, texture, and smell. These toys connect people to the place they live and remind us about what is truly important: our families, our communities, and the natural world we depend on.

Contemporary Wood Toys Buying Guide

Today, wood toys remain high quality possessions that can last a lifetime. Many of the ancient forms of toys are still available today by traditional toy makers. Also, some toy companies are producing sustainable wood toys, which are produced in environmentally sound ways to ensure the future of our forests.

Wood Block Toys

Wooden blocks are still one of the most popular children’s toys today. Wood blocks can be safe for infants but also keep the interest of older children. A good set of wooden blocks contains foundational blocks for building and accent pieces that will be appreciated by older children who are modeling their creations after a historic time period.

For instance, HABA’s Russian House Building Blocks are a great mix of simple blocks and fun tower top pieces and archways. These blocks are recommended for ages 3 to 9, but don’t be surprised if you see full grown adults crafting a beautiful Russian temple for hours!

Wood Pull Toys

Just like the ancient Egyptians, today’s toddlers are captivated by pull toys. These toys are really appropriate for babies 24 months +. (It’s hard to pull something when you haven’t learned how to sit up yet!)

Toys like Melissa and Doug’s Pull Along Zoo-Animals are great entertainment and also a chance for babies to learn about all the classic zoo animals of the world.

We also recommend sustainable wooden pull toys like the Taraluna Pull Train Toy. It is crafted by Fair-Trade artisans, made with sustainably harvested wood, and painted with vegetable dyes and a non-toxic varnish. It doesn’t get any earth-friendlier than that!

Educational Wood Toys

Wooden educational toys are simple toys that remain popular for a long time after children have grown bored with the latest plastic whirling gizmo.

Puzzles are just as exciting now as they were three hundred years ago. But today puzzles can teach young children about colors, textures, numbers, letters, and anything else.

We love Melissa and Doug’s wooden jigsaw puzzles. These 12 piece puzzles are hand crafted and decorated with farm, home, and work scenes. These are hearty wood pieces that will last a lifetime.

Melissa and Doug also shine in building educational toys like classic wooden dollhouses as well as miniature wooden barns and horse stables. These wooden toys make great gifts that will be certain to entertain kids for years.

Contemporary doll houses are just as intricate as in the Victorian days, but much more affordable! For example, Melissa and Doug’s Doll Crib is made with hand-crafted wood and includes a tiny pillow, blanket and soft little mattress.

This guide just scratches the surface, so to speak, on the great wood toys now available. Be sure to check back for more of our expert reviews soon.

What impresses me about HABA is that their wooden toys are made in Germany – it doesn’t get more traditional than that. The wood used is Maple and Beech and smells great.

With all the worries about toxicity and toys these days, wooden toys are really the way to go. Wood is naturally a germ-repellent surface, and HABA wooden toys are often natural, or coated with non-toxic paints and finishes.

The other strong-minded camp of toy experts are the toy traditionalists.  These experts argue that the best toys are the ones that stimulate a child’s creativity and imagination.  Traditional toys are more flexible than electronic toys; they can be used in a variety of contexts for a variety of purposes.  They also can be used in the bathtub!

Seriously, traditional toys can be used in group settings, individually, and one-on-one.   They also are used differently depending on the child’s age and skill level.  For example, Legos can be used to build a simple wall or a gigantic medieval castle. The only limit with traditional toys is the child’s own imagination.

Traditionalists also say that toys made of natural materials are valuable for children because they teach what the world is made of.  Wood toys are as popular now as they were a hundred years ago because of their aesthetic value, as well as their safety value.  Play-Doh, similarly, will always remain popular because it is safe to eat (if your child is a habitual eater).

Experts will probably always argue over this division between electronic and traditional toys, so the best course of action is to utilize both and see for yourself what your child responds to.

Alphabet blocks, in addition to being fun to chew on, also aid in intellectual development. Toddlers and twosies will naturally begin to sort their blocks based on the characters.  This piques their interest in letters, numbers, and colors, providing easy and ample opportunities for parents to teach them what everything is called.

This same natural learning method is great for introducing math, too.  Numbered blocks can help with counting, and eventually impromptu lessons on addition and subtraction are possible.

For babies, learning really is fun.  Many new parents are surprised how voracious their baby’s appetite is for soaking up information.  The old cliche that their minds are like sponges is readily seen during a simple activity like playing with blocks.

Later down the road, a child’s natural aptitude for building blocks will explode once Legos or other smaller blocks are introduced.  Although many Lego-type sets are now marketed to build a specific robot or vehicle, it is recommended that you get a basic set of the building blocks.  These often come in a bucket which can also be useful on its own.

These smaller blocks are popular up to age 12 or 13 usually, so it’s possible to get more than half a dozen years of use out of them.  Don’t throw them out when your child leaves home though; there’s bound to be another Lego-lover just around the bend.  These toys are always useful to have around.

So just because we as adults may find blocks boring, keep a set at the ready if you are planning on entertaining a child for an afternoon… or a decade.  That same set will still be useful years later, as their imaginations grow with the possibilities.  There is no other toy with as many uses as building blocks.

Kids of all ages are entranced by blocks.  Babies gaze at them with perplexed and almost mystical looks, and toddlers delight in crashing through a simple wall of delicately balanced walls.  When kids get older, they really get going with elaborate towers, fanciful creatures, and mini cars to drive around in.

For such a simple toy, there’s more to blocks than meets the eye.  These toys are more than just a way to keep kids occupied (although they’re great for just that purpose) – blocks actually are one of the best educational toys around.

For example, blocks can aid in the social development of your child.  Two or three toddlers playing with blocks can be a great social bonanza – although I recommend supervision at first.  This is how cooperation’s seeds are planted early in life.  As your children get older, having these block-building friends will teach them a lot about how to work together.

Blocks can also help toddlers with their physical development.  Babies can increase their grasping power by playing with blocks.  Hand-eye coordination is another skill that is targeted.  Maybe you’ve noticed that infants like to throw blocks or drop them onto other objects; this is how they are discovering the basic principles of physics on their own.

So if you own any glass coffee tables, well, now is the time to change the decor.

Stay tuned for more benefits of this timeless toy.