Welcome to Play! Handmade Wooden Toy, we are so glad you're here.
Like many wonderful things, Play! Handmade Wooden Toys began in the most unexpected of times—during lockdown.
Our daughter was about to turn one, and finding a birthday present was almost impossible. Shops were closed, deliveries were uncertain, and we wanted to give her something special.
My husband is a carpenter who has always loved working with wood, so there were always little off cuts scattered around our home. As for me? I'm the creative one. If it involves painting, creating, or thinking a little differently, I'm in my happy place.
So we made her a simple set of wooden blocks, with a little push trolley to collect and carry her blocks.
What amazed us wasn't what we'd made—it was what she made of them.
A few simple pieces of wood became a towering castle. Then they became tiny chairs for her teddy bears. Moments later they were a rainbow for her unicorn to jump over, a bridge, a road, and countless other things only a child's imagination could dream up.
There were no flashing lights, no buttons to press, and no batteries to replace.
Just endless possibilities.
As the world slowly opened again, birthday parties returned, along with brightly coloured toys that beeped, flashed, sang songs, and seemed to do all the playing for the child.
They were exciting.
They were noisy.
And they were the complete opposite of those simple wooden blocks that could become absolutely anything.
A little while later, our family faced the beginning of a different journey. After many medical issues and countless questions, our daughter was diagnosed with Autism and ADHD.
Although we had answers, life was challenging. Meltdowns became part of our everyday routine. Toys were thrown. There was shouting, screaming, and violent outbursts. If we're being completely honest, our home often felt like a battlefield.
Through therapy and learning alongside her, we began to understand something that changed everything, a calmer environment helped create a calmer little girl.
Softer colors. Less noise. Natural textures that felt comfortable in her hands. Fewer distractions.
Those small changes made a big difference.
That experience completely changed the way we looked at toys.
We're not saying wooden toys are the answer for every child. Every child is wonderfully unique.
But we discovered that open-ended toys invited creativity instead of overstimulation. They encouraged imagination instead of entertainment. They gave our daughter the freedom to play at her own pace, creating her own little world without lights, sounds, or screens competing for her attention.
That is why we believe so deeply in wooden toys. Although we still have meltdowns and bad days, we are still learning how to make the world a bit easier for her. We do know that her home with her toys is her safe space.
Every toy we make is lovingly handmade with intention. Built to last. Designed to encourage imagination. Created to become whatever your child needs it to be—a castle today, a spaceship tomorrow, and perhaps a tea set by the afternoon.
Thank you for being here and for supporting our small family business.
We hope our toys become part of your family's story, just as they became part of ours.