Wooden toys outlast plastic ones by decades and become treasured family heirlooms. Here are 8 classic designs you can build in a weekend, all using child-safe materials and finishes.
The 8 Projects
- Push toy on a stick — A simple animal cutout with wheels, attached to a dowel handle. First toy for toddlers.
- Stacking rings — Lathe-turned rings of decreasing size on a central dowel post. (Can be made without a lathe using a drill and hole saw.)
- Wooden blocks set — Classic cube blocks in 1.5″ size, sanded smooth, finished with beeswax.
- Alphabet blocks — As above with letters, numbers, or images pyrographed on each face.
- Balance board — A curved rocker platform for proprioception development. One cut on the band saw and some sanding.
- Toy car — A simple rectangular body with four axle dowels and four wheel discs cut with a hole saw.
- Tool bench — A peg board with oversize wooden bolts and nuts — hours of engagement for 2–4 year olds.
- Pull-along duck — A silhouette duck body on a string with a bead head. The classic wooden pull toy.
Safe Finishes for Toys
All toys should be finished with food-grade mineral oil, beeswax, or a non-toxic hardwax oil (WOCA or Rubio Monocoat). Avoid varnish, polyurethane, or oil-based paints on toys for children under 3.
