Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008
It’s no secret that a huge proportion of the world’s toy manufacturing has found its way to the Far East, particularly to China, in recent years. Very few of the wooden toys we sell now come from anywhere other than that part of the world. Don’t get me wrong - some of these people produce fantastic quality products. Have a look at this Fire Engine if you have a moment, made in Thailand in a state of the art factory. The quality of the finish of the rubberwood is fantastic. Or this dolls house , until very recently made by the British craftsman who had been producing in the UK for years, and now unable to produce economically himself. There’s no doubt the Chinese factory has done a great job in producing a sturdy and well made toy and at a fantastic price. But I’m uneasy.
I know I’m not alone thinking that too much reliance on foreign manufacturing is unhealthy, for a whole host of reasons, not least the loss of skills and the loss of jobs in Britain and Europe. It is now virtually impossible to find any toy that is made here, and believe me we do try. So I was quietly pleased to see this article in Time Magazine. It looks as if the honeymoon period for Chinese manufacturing is coming to an end. Maybe some of the British manufacturers should start dusting off their machinery and putting up the job vacancy adverts. We can only hope.
Posted in Dolls Houses, Uncategorized, Wooden Toys | No Comments »
Wednesday, March 26th, 2008
I never cease to be amazed at the number of Junior Carpenter sets we sell – certainly one of our most popular toys. Although it shouldn’t really be described as a toy because these are real tools that really work, and certainly should be used under supervision, at least to start with.
Perhaps that’s part of the reason for these sets’ popularity. They are to be used “to start with”. They are bought by people who want their children to develop practical skills that they can use throughout their lives. The tool-kits are an introduction to woodworking, which is as popular a hobby as it ever was, and one that is invaluable throughout life. And it’s fun too.
The tools themselves have to be considered as “to start with” as well. There’s a good selection in the set – a junior saw, a hammer, screwdrivers, pliers and a mallet. There’s even a small plane and some sandpaper. The tools all work, but eventually they’ll need to be updated, although some may last a lifetime. I still use my first hammer from a set my father put together for me in about 1958. Don’t remind me how long ago that is. I used those tools incessantly then, and I don’t believe I had much supervision, sawing up bits of wood and knocking them together with nails. There was a particularly unattractive and unsuccessful chair I recall. I didn’t think it was dangerous, sawing and hammering on my own, but I guess it was a bit risky at seven years old.
I think that’s another reason why these sets are so popular. It’s no coincidence that “The Dangerous Book For Boys” has been a bestseller. Many people are anxious that this generation of children are being cocooned, maybe over protected, and when will they ever face and assess risk for themselves? Perhaps that’s being over-dramatic, and no doubt today’s children will make perfectly good adults. And I know for sure that thousands of them will be very proficient carpenters.
Posted in Crafts for children, Toy Safety, Wooden Toys | No Comments »
Tuesday, March 25th, 2008
Mulberry Bush take the issue of Toy safety very seriously. All the toys we sell come from reputable manufacturers and safety testing certificates are held by them, or by the company that imports them into Europe. The test certificate for any toy – be it a wooden toy, game, doll etc - will show an age for which the toy has been agreed to be suitable, but these are, in effect in bands, dependent on the age test for which the toy has been entered.
As a toy retailer we are fortunate in that, not manufacturing or importing directly, we are not immediately involved in the testing process, but we know that the tests for toys for children over three years old are a little less exhaustive than for those under three. There are good reasons for this – for example the choking hazard is less of an issue for the slightly older child, and therefore the test process may not be so rigorous for this aspect. This of course means the testing is cheaper. It also means that if a manufacturer then badges the product as suitable for a child of three plus and has a toy certificate to support this, then should there ever be any safety issue they can say they have done all that is required of them.
What this can sometimes mean though is that a toy originally envisaged as suitable for a toddler, and of little interest to an older child, is marked as 3+. Some purchasers will be put off, because they can see that the child for whom they are buying will not be sufficiently challenged. But the toy is no less safe than had it been tested and marked for the younger age. You can be sure the paint will be safe, for example, and if there are no small or removable parts then sometimes it’s difficult to see how a toy can be “unsafe” – which of course it is not.
There isn’t a foolproof answer to this conundrum – except perhaps to say that there is no substitute for sensible parental guidance. If you think your child is bright enough to play with a toy marked as appropriate for one a bit older, well give it a try – initially under supervision of course. Just make sure there are no removable bits, and if the child is prone to suck or chew, well just keep it in reserve for a few months. They’ll soon grow into it – sadly all too fast, and before you know it they’ll be taking their A-levels !
For up to the minute toy safety information visit the British Toy and Hobby Association Website.
Posted in Toy Safety, Wooden Toys | No Comments »