Toymaking With Children

by Freya Jaffke, Susan Howard (Translator)

The toys that surround children during their first five years are essential tools for awakening imaginations and creativity. From many years of experience as a kindergarten teacher, Freya Jaffke makes helpful suggestions for adults who wish to select age-appropriate toys for children. She also shows how to make a variety of toys. There are sections on the meaning of play, stages of play, outdoor play, and how to help children play. This greatly expanded edition is an excellent handbook for all parents of young children.

Genres: Parenting, Crafts, Nonfiction, Childrens

Paperback

First published June 1, 1987

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of great ideas. Definitely worth looking at again once kids are older. Projects I would return for: playstands, standing dolls, many doll patterns and ideas, carving spoon and bowl, carving dollhouse furniture, simple dollhouse, dollhouse dolls, carving animals and other farm yard objects, many knitted animals (if I ever learn to knit), marionettes, and outdoor play ideas.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book with lots of different arts and crafts to do with kids. I came across this book when I was looking for sheep patterns on Ravelry. I love the simple patterns found in this book.

[Kellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of great ideas for making simple toys using felt, wool, wood, hand-sewing, crochet, and knitting. I prefer toys that I can make with my kids' help, not just for them, and there are lots of options for that here. Of all the toy-making books I have read, this one offers the most variety, and I was happy to see that I could feasibly complete a large number of these projects even with my own very remedial wood-working, sewing, and crochet skills (and no knitting skills). This book offers many of the same ideas from the Clouder/Nicol "Creative Play" books but with more detailed instructions (includes patterns).

[Carrie S · Rating 5 out of 5]

I keep coming back to this book for ideas. This helped me to not worry that we can't afford a thousand toys for our child because her imagination will do a lot better with some simple, often handmade, toys.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for natural, hand-made and unique. These ideas are along the lines of Montessori and Waldorf ideas for children's play.

[Bug · Rating 3 out of 5]

awesome book with lots of easy to make toys. currently i am knitting chickens

[Laura Stiller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a great little book on basic Waldorf methodology and simple toys to make for children. I appreciated their view that children's play is just "re-playing scenes from daily life."

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Toymaking with Children by Freya Jaffke (1990)

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many great projects and ideas, although the author is a wee bit preachy.