BEFORE the advent of Playstations, Xboxes and the worldwide web, wooden toys were a mainstay of early childhood.
While toys may bring about a nostalgic mood for many, they also have an important function many of us forget about. The concept of playing with toys is extremely helpful when it comes to physical, social, emotional and cognitive development.

As children develop, they grow in confidence, learning decision-making skills and acquiring critical thinking skills. While it is a fact seldom cited, only 20 per cent of the more than five million children in South Africa (below the age of five ) have access to early childhood development (ECD). This statistic also serves to highlight the importance that toys play in ECD.

This is where TREE (Training and Resources in Early Education), a non-profit organisation based in Briardene, comes in.
While the organisation focuses on ECD, it also offers accredited courses to help women from rural areas set up crèches as well as develop wooden toys made on the premises which stimulate children’s cognitive abilities.

We recently caught up with two of the wooden toy makers at TREE headquarters – Nhlakanipho Myeni and Welcome Sithole.

“It’s pretty exciting. Not everyone gets to say they work with toys all day. More importantly, it’s the fact that we are making differences in other young children’s lives, who don’t have access to toys. Many can’t afford expensive toys so they miss out on what it is to be a child,” says Myeni, as he expertly cut out pieces for a wooden puzzle.

“I’ve also learned so much from Welcome, he is very knowledgeable,” he said.

The woodworkers make everything, from trucks to puzzles to wooden stackers.

Sithole, who has worked for the NPO for 23 years, said his skills have also meant he can make toys for his own children. “I have six children and I’ve used my skills to make them all toys. They love the puzzles, those are their favourite,” he said.

• The wooden toys made at TREE are also available for local residents at their offices on Krishna Road, and any donation of wood off-cuts are also welcome. Contact 031 579 4711 for more information.