Safety
Which claims about wooden toys actually hold up
It feels strange to take apart the marketing for the thing we are about to sell. Four claims have solid research behind them. Six do not.
The Journal
Notes on wooden toys, from a workshop being built
Half of these posts are about setting up a small toy workshop in Istanbul. The other half are the guides we wish we had found when we started looking for wooden toys ourselves.
Workshop diary
Istanbul had a hundred toy shops in 1635
Toymaking in Eyüp lasted three centuries and ended in 1957 when a boulevard was built through the market. The numbers left behind are both surprising and familiar.
Buying guides
Choosing wooden toys by age
What works for a one year old bores a three year old. Here is what actually holds attention at each stage, how many pieces are enough, and what to check before you buy.
Buying guides
Solid wood or MDF: how to tell them apart
Three things to look at while the toy is still in your hand at the shop.
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