Ad-gifted. I have always been a big fan of wooden toys so was delighted to be sent two products from Jaques of London. I selected the Let’s Play London Bus and the Wooden Noah’s Ark, both of which are best sellers on their site. Although with so many wonderful toys to pick from I did have a difficult task on my hands narrowing down my selection to two.

Rather remarkably Jaques of London is 226 years old. This makes the company the oldest toys and games maker in the world. They established way back in 1795 and are still family owned, now with the eight generation of Jaques’ at the helm, Joe and Emmett. So, naturally they are obviously very passionate about what they do and take customer satisfaction very seriously.

I enjoyed learning more about their history. I was intrigued to read that during World War 2, MI9 recruited Jaques of London to make hollow chess pieces which had hidden maps, currency and documents to help British and American prisoners of war escape.

Sustainable

I love how Jaques of London use 100% FSC approved wood so you know that they are considering the environment when making their beautiful wooden toys. I think we all want to make more sustainable choices these days.

Non-Toxic

The paint used in their wooden toys is water based so toxic free which is very reassuring. Especially as young children have a habit of putting most things into their mouths! It’s a stage and part of their sensory motor development and will pass. But whilst it lasts you want to make sure the toys you buy don’t have nasty chemicals, lead based paint is a real risk to your child’s health.

Now I will give you a bit more information about the two items I picked and why I think they are great for your child’s development.

Wooden London Bus

The Let’s Play London Bus comes with numerous passengers and a driver. It is currently on sale at only £29.99, reduced from £41.99.

Children will enjoy using their imagination playing with this iconic London Bus. They can decide where the passengers are travelling too and what they might see whist on their journey. You can introduce your child to British culture and London landmarks.

Toys like this are great for children as they don’t get distracted with loud sounds and flashing lights. They themselves shape the play and how it develops. That process is much more beneficial for their development, it’s how they start to make sense of the world around them. They get an opportunity to develop their language and if playing with other children their social skills.

Working through different scenarios children can learn more about problem solving (for example if one of the passengers misses the bus or gets off at the wrong stop what would happen?).

Wooden Noah’s Ark

The Wooden Noah’s Ark has two of each of the included animals which is in keeping with the story of Noah’s Ark. Priced at £19.99 (reduced from £24.99) it offers excellent value. It is a sturdy toy which will last for years. The shape sorting element of the toy helps children develop their motor skills, hand eye co-ordination and problem solving skills.

Absorbed in play children can be more receptive to learn about the animals in the set. You can begin to mention animal habitats and adaptations. Such as a lion has night vision, sharp teeth and claws and a keen sense of smell. This is such a fantastic toy to start having those discussions about the world.

The Wooden Noah’s Ark can also help children become more compassionate, as they understand the importance of saving the animals from the flood. Teaching kindness and empathy benefits our children as they are more likely to be happy and have high self-esteem going forward into adulthood.

I would love to hear about your favourite wooden toy from the Jaques of London website if you wanted to leave a comment below.