6 Top ‘Open-ended’ Educational Wooden Toys for Kids in India

6 Top 'Open-ended' Educational Wooden Toys for Kids in India
“We should have busy children, not busy toys!”

There was a time when parents use to boast about battery operated toys they got from abroad for their kids, but no longer. As a responsible parent one need to understand that machine and battery operated toys are more damaging to your kids as they are finished products and there is not much left in it to trigger a child’s imagination.

“We should have busy children, not busy toys!” Magna Gerber, RIE approach

Replace these ‘perfect’ toys with  ‘open-ended’ toys

Open-ended means ‘not having a fixed answer; unrestricted; allowing for future change. Playing with open-ended toys, children have no fear of doing it wrong since there is no ‘correct’ method or outcome and observant adults are privileged with insights into children’s development and thinking.  Open-ended toys are essential through entire childhood. All children have curiosity and imagination, which opens up with open-ended toys. Ideas multiply, confidence grows and creative play becomes a way of discovering life around them, without force.

The next question for sure is where to find such toys. One need not head abroad. We have in India some such amazing toy makers. This blog exclusively looks at top 6 Open-ended Wooden Toy makers from India.

Shumee

Shumee toys

Shumee toys : image

Shumee is an online brand for sustainable, eco-friendly, high quality open-ended educational toys. Shumee is the brain child of Meeta, a Harvard educated lady and mother to little boys. Each toy is made after putting in enough research, so that it just does not engage a child, but also sparks his/her creativity and imagination.

Little Genius Toys

Little Genius Toys

Little Genius Toys : image

Little Genius Toys Pvt. Ltd is another company that makes eco-friendly, sustainable, wooden educational toys. Toys are designed to stimulate brain power and help hand/eye coordination. There toys are widely accepted by educators throughout the field.

Skola Toys

Skola toys

Skola toys : image

Skola toys are specially designed to promote child’s imagination,  logical reasoning, problem solving and visual discrimination skills. They have toys for kids in the age group of 1 year to 7 year. They have classified their toys into number based, environment based, dexterity based, language and cognition based. The Skola toys has derived many of its values from the inspiring work of Dr. Montessori.

Brainsmith

brainsmith toys

Brainsmith toys : image

At Brainsmith, the team is dedicated to create innovative learning materials that stimulate young minds, instill a sense of curiosity and foster a lifelong love for learning. This is again a new moms venture. Toys are designed keeping in mind a child’s development and ability to learn. Products are made from premium quality wood. They are eco-friendly and sustainable. In addition to wooden toys, they also make a unique product called quantum cards.

Varnam

Varnam toys

Varnam toys : image

Varnam is an award winning social enterprise working with artisans from Channapatna, also known as ‘toy town’, Karnataka, for over 4 years. They use the traditional lac-turnery method for making toys and lifestyle products. All colours they use have been tested and certified by Industry experts making them absolutely safe for children.

Desi Toys

Desi toys

Desi toys : image

Desi Toys is a creation of Swapna  Wagh, another mom. It was launched in 2012. Desi toys operates out of Mumbai.  Products are made from a mix of solid wood, MDF and fabric. Toys are designed keeping in mind child’s developmental needs, ability to learn and Indian traditions.

So parents go ahead and replace existing ‘perfect’ toys with  ‘open-ended’ toys.

Would love to hear from you in case I missed any toy store.

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22 Responses

  1. Nice article. Please do check my article life can be simple! Do like, comment and follow my blog. Your support will be appreciated. Thank you

  2. Ruchie says:

    Whenever I hop here I feel more gaining something great article once again !!

  3. Neha says:

    This is such an informative article. I like such toys which encourage imagination. Will check them out.

  4. myteenytot says:

    Awesome article !!
    I just love wooden toys as it gives innumerable play ways.

  5. Bushra Khan says:

    The best part about wooden toys is they are unbreakable! I have never bought wooden toys for my kids but seeing that these toys really help with cognitive amd motor skills of kids I would love to replace my kids toys

  6. Papri Ganguly says:

    Wooden toys are very interactive and good stuff to play with. Thanks for this compilation.

  7. Jhilmil says:

    I love shumee and skola toys and over all the concept of wooden toys is fab. My son loves playing with them!

  8. Varsh says:

    Loved the concept of open-ended toys. They boost creativity and make memory sharper. Children will have fun using them.

  9. Nisha Malik says:

    I have got few out of these for my son and I love the concept behind these activity and toy sets. Nice compilation.

  10. Mrinal Kiran says:

    I absolutely love this idea of open ended toys! They help the kids to be creative! Great post

  11. You have a unique way of telling things Hena, I like the details of your writing. Wooden toys for kids are safer to use and actually help is gross motor skills too.

  12. Appreciate this post and way you have conveyed importance of open ended toys. Next toy I am going to buy is something suggested by you

  13. A wonderful article as usual. I always like what is sustainable and helps improve child’s imagination.

  14. Saaks says:

    Such an informative article! Learning and fun at the same time

  15. Wow nice! Wooden toys are really beneficial than electronic gadgets 🙂

  16. Aisha says:

    The jigsaw puzzle is one of the best educational toys to teach creativity, shapes and the name of the object to the kids. It is fuss free to carry around for your child to play with anywhere. It’s a perfect choice for any toddlers to relax as well as hone your kids brain. Gift this wooden jigsaw puzzle set to boys, girls or children for any occasion. (https://goo.gl/YxkAsP)

  17. Enriching post dear, I at all times am quite an advocate of Skola toys dear.

  18. Dr Karuna kamble says:

    Very informative thank you !
    http://www.mebtoys.in is also very well versed with productive wooden toys .
    I saw them at an exhibition in Mumbai India and they had some impressive work

  19. Leah Manoj says:

    Lovely read! Loved wooden toys as a kid. I came across this post about how wooden toys were made in india and the story behind it , Lovely post and a must read https://www.mozaicq.com/blog/channapatna-wooden-toys-a-legend-toy-story/

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