Award Winning Toys

A genuine toy award means an independent panel, often including child development specialists, educators and parents, has tested the toy with real children and judged it on play value, safety, durability and developmental benefit. It is not a paid-for badge. Look for recognised UK awards such as the Toy of the Year, Junior Design Awards or Made for Mums to know the assessment carries weight.

Most wooden toys from Jaques of London carry clear minimum age guidance, and many are designed for children from three years upward. Younger toddlers need toys with no small parts and rounded edges throughout. Each product page lists the recommended age range, and the construction of our wooden pieces means sharp edges and loose components are not a concern in age-appropriate selections.

Wood wins awards because it performs well across every criterion judges care about: it is durable enough to survive years of play, it feels satisfying in small hands, it does not crack or splinter with normal use, and it carries no concerns about brittle plastic breaking into sharp pieces. Wood also ages gracefully, which matters when a toy is intended to be passed down rather than thrown away.

Wipe wooden toys with a lightly damp cloth and dry them straight away. Avoid soaking, dishwashers or prolonged damp storage, as these cause wood to swell and finishes to lift. For painted pieces, mild soap on a cloth is fine. Stored in a dry room and given a light coat of natural beeswax polish once a year, a quality wooden toy can look well-kept for decades.

Start with age range and then think about what the child already enjoys: building, outdoor play, creative games or social games played with the family. Award-winning toys tend to have broader appeal than heavily themed licensed products, so a classic wooden game or construction set is rarely wrong. If in doubt, games that two or more people play together are almost always welcomed in a family home.

Jaques uses solid wood and finishes that meet UK and EU toy safety standards, including EN71. Water-based paints and natural stains are used across the range wherever possible. If a child has a known sensitivity to specific wood types, lacquers or dyes, the product descriptions note materials used, and our customer service team can provide further detail before you buy.

The honest answer is that awards are a useful filter, not a guarantee. A toy that wins on play value and developmental benefit criteria tends to hold a child's attention longer than one judged purely on novelty. The strongest indicator of lasting play is open-ended design, where the child directs what happens, rather than a toy that does one fixed thing. Most Jaques award-winning pieces are built around exactly that principle.