Toys have been made since prehistoric times with the earliest ones being made from natural materials like sticks, clay, rocks or in Ancient Greece terracotta or wax. Socially, toys were an important prompt in rites of passages into adulthood. Even some of the earliest toys had intrinsic designs with mechanical features or locks. With the changing status of children during Enlightenment, play started to be seen as an important aspect in children’s development. This sparked the development of more educational games such as puzzles, cards and board games. The industrial era marked the golden age of toy development, which became available even for working class families.
There is no way to summarise the process of toy making because of the endless number of its different forms and global relevance. The materials used range from wood to plastic and techniques of making are often culturally significant and depending on the local craft traditions.
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A list of toy makers can be found on the website of the British Toymakers Guild.
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