Like a kid with a timeless toy

Published on 02-11-2014

There’s a Tonka truck in your bathroom, a toy mobile phone lurking in the hallway that plays ‘Old MacDonald’ every time you step on it and an Elmo who giggles if you so much as look at him. Don’t be alarmed, these are just signs that there’s a small person (or people) living in your house.

Parenting has its fair share of hazards. Just when you’ve got the kids into bed and think you’ve somehow made it through another day in one piece, you’re brought back to reality by a mystery toy randomly bleeping or spookily playing a tune of its own accord in the middle of the night.

On the flipside, it’s impossible to measure how much joy our precious littlies bring to our lives. So it’s only natural that we try to light up their little faces with surprises and treats, right? Buying toys can be lots of fun but you need to keep your wits about you. Gone are the days of ‘just’ buying Lego – if it’s not Spiderman Lego, Disney Lego or Star Wars Lego it just won’t cut the mustard.

Every year there’s a different toy craze - some manufactured concoction that no child can possibly live without. Many a Hollywood movie plot has seen a parent going to improbable lengths to get their hands on that ‘must-have’ toy or doll for their child on Christmas Eve. Over the past 25 years this holy grail of toys has been everything from a Rubik’s Cube to Cabbage Patch Kids, Tickle Me Elmo, Buzz Lightyear and endless generations of electronic gaming gizmos.

Despite the fact that the number one selling toy is different every Christmas, some toys remain timeless classics and these tend to be the ones that have no branding or electronic components. That’s why the simplicity of our handcrafted African dolls and toys transcends trends.

Our artists’ one-of-a-kind handmade creations have a beautiful authenticity that sets them apart from mass-produced merchandise. African toys also help your kids learn about the world, and any pram would be proud to host one or more of our beautiful soft-toy giraffes, elephants, zebras or rhino. The African craftspeople who make these gorgeous stuffed animals use durable kitenge fabric, with stunningly vibrant patterns printed on the cloth using a traditional batik technique.

Our miniature soapstone sculptures of hippos, rhino and elephants make great nursery decorations or treasured ornaments for older kids, as the handiwork of our African artists really brings these tiny treasures to life. Or if you prefer your art a little more mobile, our wooden animal toy cars are essentially fun wooden sculptures on wheels. The craftsmen and craftswomen who sculpt and paint these wheelie creatures bring African art and craft together in a way that captures the imagination and kids just love them.

African toys are great fun for parents too, as they provide the perfect opportunity to practice animal impressions with the kids while you roar and trumpet your way around the savannah of the lounge room floor together. Best of all, they never need batteries and they don’t go bleep!

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