| When it comes to toys, there's a lot to be said | | | | hobby with various levels of sophistication available |
| for the appeal of the classics. Most of us have | | | | to the hobbyist. You probably don't want to break |
| fond memories of playing with a train set, | | | | the bank helping your child collect hundreds of so |
| pounding out chaotic melodies on a xylophone, or | | | | called "prototypically accurate" models and rails, so |
| pulling one of those telephone-on-wheels with the | | | | there are simpler kits available through child toy |
| rolling eyes. We have fond memories of those | | | | stores to allow the fun of playing with model |
| toys because they were a heck of a lot of fun. | | | | trains without having to spend too much money |
| Sooner or later, most kids develop an interest in | | | | or worry about the more delicate models |
| whatever the Big Toy is this year. Most parents | | | | breaking all the time. |
| have not-so-fond memories of shelling out loads | | | | Wooden Toys |
| of cash for whatever the hit baby dolls toys or | | | | There are literally hundreds and hundreds of |
| super cool action figures are this year, only to | | | | different types of wooden toys available. The |
| have the kids wind up forgetting all about those | | | | benefit of classic wooden toys is that, not only do |
| Christmas presents in a month or two. The classic | | | | they have a kind of timeless appeal, often times |
| children's wooden toys, the old school train sets | | | | they are also dirt cheap, and they are usually |
| and doll house toys, they all have a sort of | | | | quite durable, without any pointy edges or easily |
| timeless appeal, which is why toy companies keep | | | | breakable parts. Baby wooden toys are available, |
| making them. Here's some info on a few of the | | | | providing a safer alternative to pointy plastic toys, |
| more iconic classics: | | | | and there are plenty of small wooden models, |
| A Brief History of the Xylophone | | | | such as airplane toys. |
| The xylophone is actually based on an ancient | | | | A Brief History of the Teddy Bear |
| design which originated in Africa and Asia. | | | | A piece of not-so-little-known trivia is that the |
| Interestingly, the instrument was developed | | | | Teddy Bear was named after American president |
| independently in both countries, rather than being | | | | Theodore Roosevelt. What fewer people know, |
| based on a design by just one person. In Africa, | | | | however, is that the concept came from a |
| the instrument still carries cultural significance. | | | | political cartoon printed in 1902. The cartoon |
| It is believed that the xylophone must've reached | | | | depicted an actual incident in which, on a hunting |
| Europe during the Crusades. In the early 20th | | | | trip to Mississippi, Roosevelt's attendants had |
| Century, the instrument became popular in | | | | managed to tie a black bear to a tree for the |
| American jazz bands, until it was displaced by the | | | | president to shoot (as he was the only member |
| vibraphone, but not before a miniaturized version | | | | of the hunting party who hadn't shot anything |
| caught on around the world as an inexpensive toy | | | | yet), and Roosevelt refused, deeming it |
| for children with an interest in music. | | | | unsportsmanlike. When Brooklyn store owner |
| The Train Set | | | | Morris Michtom saw the cartoon, he was inspired |
| Known in the US as Model Railroading and in the | | | | to create little stuffed bears, which he displayed in |
| UK, Australia and Canada as Railway Modelling, | | | | his store window beside a sign reading "Teddy's |
| train sets have an incredible appeal not only to | | | | Bear". |
| children, but to full grown adults. The earliest form | | | | The immediate success of the toy allowed |
| of the model train was seen in the 1840's, and | | | | Michtom to found the Ideal Novelty and Toy |
| was known as the carpet railway. These early | | | | Company, which still supplies teddy bears to toy |
| models were considered fairly crude | | | | shops even today. |
| representations of the real thing, and it wasn't until | | | | au is a leading Australian online toy store. Visit au |
| the early 20th Century that more realistic models | | | | for a wide selection of Kids Toys at discounted |
| began to exist. | | | | prices. To save money on your next purchase, |
| Today, railway modelling is a deeply involving | | | | please visit Toys. |