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You want your child to have fun while they play, but you also want them to be safe. Protecting their children is often the first goal whenever parents purchase a new toy, especially a ride-on toy. With the popularity of rocking horses for toddlers and younger children, it’s important to understand how to keep riders safe as they play. With an Amish-made rocking horse, your child can develop important motor skills and creativity while staying safely in their saddle.

Rocking Horse Size

One of the main contributing factors to a rocking horse’s safety is the size of the horse and the height of the seat. Many falls from rocking horses occur because the horse is too big for a younger child to straddle or the seat is too high for their feet to reach the ground. When your child sits on their Amish-made rocking horse, it’s important that their legs fit fully around the sides and that they can touch the floor with their feet.

Rocking horses can be designed to safely rock infants as young as six months old. These specially designed horses or other rocking animals have seats that secure the child while they rock. For older children, the use of their legs to push the horse and their upper body to help keep momentum helps them develop their motor skills as they play. Finding the right size of the rocking horse is important to know if it’s safe for your child.

For example, a rocking horse that’s 21 inches tall shouldn’t be used by a child under 18 months, in order to ensure that they not only fit comfortably but also ride safely.

Sturdy Build

The natural rocking design of the rocking horse has been used time and time again and is not inherently dangerous for children to use. However, weak materials and less-than-perfect craftsmanship can cause the mechanics to fail, creating dangerous situations that could lead to injury.

At Amish Toy Box, we’re dedicated to ensuring the quality of both material and craft. Each rocking horse is made by experienced Amish craftspeople in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, with locally sourced Pinewood. The strength of the wood prevents any breaks from damaging the structure of the toy. Your child can rock as long and as hard as they like without worry that their horse will break.

Non-Toxic Finish

One of the main concerns regarding the safety of children’s toys is the finish used. Many finishes for things like furniture use chemicals and other toxins to help preserve the material or color. At Amish Toy Box, all of our toys are made with child-safe, non-toxic finishes that protect both the toy and your child. Kids are prone to licking things or putting non-food items in their mouths, so it’s important to ensure that no matter what they’re playing with, it’s safe for them to experiment. 

Child’s Motor Skills

While age and size play a factor in keeping a child safe on a rocking horse, not everyone develops at the same rate. Rocking horses are a great toy to help younger children develop motor skills, but they can pose safety risks to children who haven’t fully grasped the use of their muscles yet.

When a child uses a rocking horse, they engage most of the muscles in their body. Their core muscles help them stay sitting; their back and leg muscles help them move the horse; their arm and finger muscles help them grip the handles. An Amish-made rocking horse is the perfect toy for children who have started to develop these muscles and motor skills. It helps them better define their abilities and develop further, leading to better motor skills as an adult.

However, if a child hasn’t gotten the basics down, they are more likely to fall off. If you want your child to be safe on a rocking horse, make sure they can do the following first:

-  Sit up on their own

-  Grasp medium to small objects in their hands

-  Use their arms to assist in crawling or standing up

If your child is having trouble with these, a rocking horse may not be the safest toy. While there are rocking horses available that have safety seats and harnesses, it may be better to invest in other toys that can help with basic motor skills before upgrading your child to a rocking horse.

Supervision

As with any new toy, it’s a good idea to supervise your child when introducing them to a rocking horse. Younger children may even need your help getting the horse to rock as they develop the coordination to do it themselves. Playing with your child as they rock is a good way to help keep them safe, and you get some fun bonding time as well.

If you are unable to supervise your child as they play but want to ensure their safety, make sure you set them up somewhere with softer ground, such as a carpet or plush rug, to prevent serious injuries if they do happen to fall.

Amish-Made Rocking Horses at Amish Toy Box

At Amish Toy Box, we’re dedicated to providing families with quality Amish-made toys. Our Amish-made rocking horse is designed to provide hours of fun and creativity for your child. The expert craftsmanship of our builders ensures that your new rocking horse is solid and safe for your family for generations to come. If you want to provide a safe and fun experience for your child that also helps them with physical development, get them a rocking horse.

Doll furniture is a great way to let your kids have fun while encouraging them to develop their nurturing side. With cribs, high chairs, and even wardrobes, your child can learn to care for their doll while they play. But not all doll furniture is made the same. Handcrafted doll furniture is designed with loving care, the very same kind of consideration playing with dolls creates in your children. Having handmade doll furniture creates an heirloom piece that your family can enjoy for generations. You’ll be surprised at the difference a handcrafted object can make.

Child Safety

Any children’s toy needs to be designed with their safety in mind. While mass-produced doll furniture may seem enticing, there’s not always a guarantee that it’s safe for children to use, especially younger children. Handcrafted doll furniture is made to keep your kids safe through the years. With non-toxic finishes and sturdy construction materials, you can rest easy knowing that your child can play to their heart’s content without getting sick or injured.

Child-Proof

Toys also need to stand up to whatever kids can throw at them. Because they are made on a mass scale and with a quick turnaround time, most doll furniture is likely to break after heavy use. Handcrafted doll furniture, on the other hand, is made to last longer. No matter how rough your kids are, the solid construction and sturdy materials will continue to hold up. This way, your doll furniture can last not just for your kid’s lifetime, but your grandkid’s life as well. These beautifully handcrafted items are guaranteed to be the newest heirloom object for your family to pass down from generation to generation.

Cost-Effective

Looking at the initial cost of a handcrafted piece of doll furniture and a mass-produced one, it may seem cheaper to purchase the latter. However, with their timely design and lasting durability, handcrafted doll furniture actually saves you money in the long run. You won’t have to keep spending money on replacement parts or new furniture when old ones get worn out. These items will last for years to come, saving you from having to buy new toys for your kids and grandkids in the future.

Beautiful Design

Each piece of handcrafted doll furniture is given the care and attention needed to create a beautiful design. Not only is the design sturdy and child-friendly, but it’s also visually pleasing and adult-approved. No matter what aesthetic you have in your nursery or playroom, handcrafted doll furniture is guaranteed to match, especially with customization options chosen with home décor in mind. Each piece is lovingly made and sculpted to not just provide your child with hours of entertainment but also to add a sense of style and design to whatever room it’s featured in.

Uniqueness

Because each piece of furniture is made by hand, you’re guaranteed a unique, one-of-a-kind piece of doll furniture. All of your children’s friends and neighbors will love bringing their dolls over to rest in beautifully designed cribs and store clothes in unique dressers and wardrobes. Each unique piece provides a special sense of ownership that you and your kids can be proud of.

Craft Support

With the increased popularity of mass-produced items, handcrafted anything is a bit of a dying art. When you purchase handcrafted doll furniture, you support craftspeople who dedicate their lives to providing homes with beautiful and sturdy items. By supporting them, you help others discover the joyful difference that handcrafted items make. Not only do you get a gorgeous new product for your home, but you also support the artisan economy.

Handcrafted Doll Furniture at Amish Toy Box

At AmishToyBox.com, our goal is to provide homes with high-quality Amish-made toys. We’ve teamed up with Amish craftspeople at Lapps Toys and Furniture in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to help realize that dream. Each piece of doll furniture is lovingly handcrafted and designed to provide your children with hours of fun.

Our two collections of 18”-22” doll furniture, as well as our dollhouse and miniature furniture, are designed to be child-safe. We provide everything your child’s doll could need, including cribs, beds, wardrobes, chests, and high chairs. Your young one can learn to care for their doll while staying safe and having fun.

Handcrafted doll furniture provides your family with a generational product that is beautifully designed to fit with your home’s aesthetic. These Amish-made pieces will keep your children entertained for hours as they play and learn alongside their beloved dolls. Your children love their dolls with care and attention, so make sure you provide them with doll furniture that matches that level of dedication. You can browse our selection of wooden doll furniture online or give us a call at (740) 277-1982 if you have any questions about your order.

Getting the family together for game night isn’t always the easiest task. From coordinating schedules to picking out a game everyone loves, there’s a lot to plan. But your next game night can be easy with a collection of wooden games that the whole family is guaranteed to enjoy. From outdoor fun with wooden croquet sets to the ever-popular wooden aggravation game, smiles will abound as your family has fun and strengthens their bonds.

Indoor Wooden Games

On cold winter nights or late summers up with older family members, indoor wooden games are a treat for all. 

Wooden Chinese Checkers

Chinese checkers is well-known and easy to play. With our carefully handcrafted wooden playing board, your family can enjoy long-lasting durability for years to come. Our wooden Chinese checkers set is hand-painted to add a beautiful aesthetic to whatever room you play your games in. With the included colored marbles, you’ll have everything you need to get started playing as soon as you sit down with your family.

Wooden Mancala Games

Originating in the 7th century, Mancala is easily one of the oldest games still played today. The two-player strategy game is perfect for competitive siblings who like an extra challenge, couples looking for a fun way to bond, and grandparents who want to teach their grandchildren something new. The beautiful wooden game board is sleek and small, easily able to fit in any storage solution and looks stylish when out on display. With the added strategy needed to play this game, it’s great for anyone who’s looking for family fun and mental exercise.

Wooden Aggravation Game

Aggravation is one of the most popular family games available today, and the wooden aggravation game set is the perfect addition to family game night. Despite the game’s name, also referred to as the Wahoo game, there is nothing but fun to be had when playing aggravation with your family. By moving marbles around a gameboard according to dice rolls, you can send your family members into a state of ‘aggravation’ by landing on their spaces. The sturdy handcrafted and hand-painted wooden aggravation game board is guaranteed to withstand years of use and fun.

Wooden Chess and Checkers

These classics have never looked so good. A wooden combination chess and checker game board is the best way to spend an afternoon, evening, or even morning with your family. Beautiful handcrafted pieces bring a touch of elegance to your game time. And the strategic planning needed to win helps strengthen your mental muscles and prepares you for even tougher mental puzzles. With a wooden chess and checkers set, your family will have years of enjoyment and learning ahead of them.

Outdoor Wooden Games

Wooden games aren’t just restricted to indoor use. On sunny days, you can gather the family outside for fun and physical exercise.

Wooden Croquet

Families everywhere have long enjoyed summer afternoons and evenings playing a rousing game of croquet. This popular game was made with beautiful wooden craftsmanship and includes study posts and mallets ready to withstand years of use. And with non-toxic finishings, they’re made to stand up to harsh sun rays and rain. The beautiful wooden croquet set is sure to keep everyone entertained as they get outside and enjoy the wonders of nature.

Wooden Kubb

Originating from Sweden, Kubb is a classic game that goes by a fantastical alternate name: Viking Chess. Kubb is a combination of bowling and horseshoes, where family members try to knock wooden pegs down by tossing batons at them. Although throwing wood around may sound like a dangerous family activity, the game itself is very safe to play and can be a great tool for teaching younger family members how to control their aim and power. With its handcrafted touch and weather-safe finish, the wooden Kubb set is perfect for families who enjoy spending time together outdoors.

Wooden Rice Pitch Game

As a variant of the popular cornhole game, rice pitch adds a fun element of shuffleboard to the mix. The handcrafted and painted wooden boards are well designed for both indoor and outdoor use, though throwing beanbags inside should be restricted to rooms with non-breakables in them! Child and adult family members alike can enjoy the thrill of earning points while building muscles and working on hand-eye coordination. The whole family will be able to bond and enjoy time spent together for years to come with the durable quality only wooden games can provide.

The Best Wooden Games for Your Family

If you’re looking for a great way to spend time with your family, either indoors or outdoors, look no further than the products offered by AmishToyBox.com. At AmishToyBox.com, we aim to help families realize how much fun they can have together with our collection of both indoor and outdoor wooden games. Whether you’re looking for a well-designed wooden croquet set or a fun and stylish wooden aggravation game set, our products are sure to delight and entertain you and your family. If you’re interested in boosting the fun of your next family game night, you can easily order any of our wooden games online. Each game set is guaranteed to bring you the best in fine Amish craftsmanship and family togetherness.

Playing games as a family can be a lot of fun. When nice weather hits, you want to be able to find enjoyable things to do outside. Ideas like the kubb game are a great way to get outside and have an activity to enjoy while you’re at it. It’s great fun for families, friends, and people of all ages. Yard games like these are the perfect activity to bring some excitement to your outdoor play. 

Kubb, and many other yard games, are great family-friendly activities. Take a look below to learn more. 

What is a Kubb Game? 

This term may be unfamiliar. It’s certainly a unique word. Kubb is pronounced like “koob,” rather than “cub” as it might appear. It can easily be played with large or small groups, with parts to accommodate up to 12 players at a time. 

The game has a Scandinavian twist, and it’s sometimes referred to as Viking Chess. The original game itself was not considered kid-friendly, but the versions that you see today and the outdoor models are something that kids can enjoy. You can also find versions where you can change the rules slightly to make the game simpler for young kids. 

Kubb uses sticks and is designed to be a training game that establishes and hones throwing skills. The goal is to learn to throw the sticks to a specific place within the game. 

The Rules of Kubb

This game can be very confusing, but most companies try to keep it simple to make it more family-friendly. 

When you play, you will first determine two teams. You can have up to 6 members on each team. Each player gets a skittle, or a kubb. This is a wooden block. Then there is also a king, which is a special wooden block.  

Establish the perimeter for the game so that you have sidelines, almost like a basketball court. It does not have to be that large. The size of the playing court is really up to you. The standard recommendations are 33 x 26 feet, 33 x 16 feet, or 26 x 16 feet. You can create whatever size will work for your needs or even your space. 

The goal is to knock down all the kubbs for the opposing team and then knock down the king. It is important to not knock the king down until all kubbs are knocked over, or else it’s an instant loss. 

The rules can be slightly complicated, so let’s break it down a bit more. 

Starting Point

Once you’ve established your court lines and set up the kubbs and the king, you can begin play. The king goes in the center of both teams at an even center point. The kubbs can be set up at random in front of players or with a strategy behind them. 

One team will throw first. They use their throwing sticks to throw toward the kubbs on the other side of the court. There needs to be a throwing line to stay behind each time. In order to avoid any injuries from the wooden sticks, one specific rule to enforce is throwing the sticks underhanded. They also should be held vertically at the toss. 

On the first turn, only 4 sticks are thrown in an effort to knock down the kubbs. But subsequent turns change it up slightly. 

Subsequent Turns

When a kubb is knocked over, it is then tossed into the opponent’s side. The goal here is to toss as close to the baseline as possible, and there are some strategies for how the kubb will be raised onto 2 edges with each throw. 

Any kubbs not on the baseline need to be knocked out by the opposing team, so players will stand behind the throwing line and try to take these field kubbs out. A team cannot work on defeating baseline kubbs until all field kubbs are knocked over. 

Once all field kubbs have been knocked over, the team will then work on hitting the baseline kubbs. Once all field kubbs and baseline kubbs are hit, it’s time to take out the king. Just remember, the king cannot be taken out early or it’s an automatic loss. 

The teams will take turns as they work through all of their sticks. The turns continue until someone gets the king. 

The Win! 

The win occurs when a team has progressively made it through all of the kubbs and then to the King. They must topple the king last. If for some reason they accidentally topple the king before everything else is toppled, they automatically lose. This gives the other team an upper hand and the potential to take the game even when it seems they are way behind. 

The win is the twist. While you might think taking out the king will be the win, you need to remember you don’t want to do it early. 

Change It Up as Needed

When you look into kubb, you will find there are several different ways to mix it up. Some people have placed interesting twists or requirements on the moves to make the game more challenging. When children are part of the game, there can also be some adjustments to make the details a bit simpler. 

While these are the basics of the game, the nice thing is that you can make minor adjustments to make it work for your terms and your players. 

Handmade Amish Kubb Game

Yard games have a lot to offer. They are made to be large and enjoyable for families and groups alike. Amish Toy Box has a variety of quality yard games, including a spectacular Kubb game that is well worth checking out. Grab some games and enjoy your time with family! 

Ride-on toys are fun for kids of all ages. Whether it’s a bike, a trike, a wagon, or a scooter, kids love to be on the move! Wagons are one of the best ways to help your kids get their energy out while they have fun. Kids can ride inside the wagon or pull it along, getting exercise and enjoying the great outdoors. Wagons also provide opportunities for kids to learn teamwork, allowing children to share the burden of pulling or riding when they play together. Getting your kids the Berlin Flyer Sport Wagon will help them get outside and enjoy the sunshine and fresh air as they play.

Why Go with Handmade Wooden Wagons?

There are a lot of options when it comes to picking out a wagon for your children. Although plastic choices may seem appealing, you can’t beat the classic quality of wooden wagons. When you think about wagons, the little red wooden wagon is what immediately comes to mind. And while improvements and new upgrades are great for many things, sometimes the classics really are the best choice. 

When you buy your kids a wooden wagon, you buy them hours of outdoor fun. And wooden wagons allow your kids to build their self-confidence by letting them use their wagons to help with outdoor chores. They can ride around in their wagon for play or use it to help transport things around the yard. However they decide to use it, you can rest assured knowing that they’re having fun while staying healthy.

Berlin Flyer Sport Wagon

If you’re looking for the best wooden wagons available for kids, look no further than the Berlin Flyer Sport Wagon. Berlin Flyer Express Wagons is a Mennonite-owned business based out of Holmes County, Ohio. Their wagons are designed with top-quality Amish craftsmanship, bringing the fun and charm of simple living right into your backyard. 

Berlin Flyer wagons are made from sturdy hardwood with steel hardware that keeps the fun lasting for years to come. Every part of the wagon beside the wheels is made in Ohio by the best craftsmen around. Their parts are locally sourced, so you can trust the quality and security of your kids’ newest toy. The wagons are finished off with non-toxic paint and varnish. When you get your kid a Berlin Flyer Sport Wagon, you get them a high-quality ride-on toy safe for all uses.

The F310

The Berlin F310 Flyer is the original design of the Berlin Flyers Wagon line. It was first designed in 1965 and has been providing families with fun and joy ever since. The F310 has earned its spot as one of the most popular express wagons with the quality of its craftsmanship. This model was created with safety in mind, featuring a No-Tip steering system that keeps your kids safe as they pull, push, and ride along. The F310’s tires are made from solid rubber and measure 10” x 1.75”. The solid wood bed measures 36” x 17.25”, giving your children plenty of cargo or passenger room and carrying up to 250 lbs. The F310 can match the aesthetic of any child with 8 flashy colors: red, emerald green, orange, purple, gray, hunter green, pink, or blue.

F410

Also designed in 1965, the Berlin F410 is the workhorse of the Berlin Flyers Wagon line. The F410 is just as popular as the F310 and features larger, sturdier wheels for heavier lifting. If your kids want to help out with chores or spend their whole day riding around in their wagon, the F410 has the power to keep up. The F410 has the same 36” x 17.25” hardwood bed but can carry up to 300 lbs. The larger 10” x 4” tires filled with foam allow this model to carry more and travel farther than the F310. The easy-to-remove hardwood safety rails of the F410 come in either red, emerald green, orange, purple, gray, hunter green, pink, or blue. The additional power provided by the F410 is perfect for heavy use that can last your family for generations to come.

The Difference Amish-Made Quality Makes

As a Mennonite company, Berlin Flyer Express Wagons merges the quality of Amish craftsmanship with the natural beauty of the Ohio landscape. All of their wagons come ready to easily assemble and feature top-of-the-line safety for your kids. Children of all ages can appreciate the beauty of their own Amish-made wagon. There’s nothing better than the classic wooden wagon, and it’s no wonder the Berlin Express Wagons are the top choice in ride-on toys for kids. 

If you want to provide hours of fun for your family without worrying over your children’s safety, you want a Berlin Flyer Sport Wagon. AmishToyBox.com lets you choose either the economy F310 or the powerful F410 to fit your family’s needs. Every generation in your household can enjoy the fun a quality wooden wagon has to offer. Whether your kids are learning to share by taking turns riding around or are helping with outdoor chores by carting goods back and forth, they’re guaranteed to have fun while doing so. At AmishToyBox.com, we work hard to make sure your family has the best experience with our products. You can view our wagons and other ride-on toys online or give us a call at 740-277-1982 to learn more about our mission of providing families with handmade Amish toys.

To this day, rocking horses are widely used by toddlers and young children with enthusiasm. But why is such a simple toy so enjoyable? Some tots can happily spend hours atop their wooden horse, rocking forward and backward without going anywhere. If you're thinking about buying a wooden rocking horse for your child, you'll want to make sure you've picked out the best one possible. And to understand which is the best, you need to get inside the mind of a toddler and rediscover your own childhood joy in rocking horses.

Imagination

All children are built with powerful imaginations. Just how long that imagination remains is up to the child and their environment, but toddlers have yet to experience enough of the world to truly lose their imaginative edge. To them, anything can be everything. A wooden rocking horse is more than just a few planks of wood expertly handcrafted and pieced together. It's a real horse they can have wild adventures on!

When a child rides a rocking horse, they can be a horse tamer, a jockey, a cowboy/cowgirl - anything they may want to be. And it doesn't have to be a horse they’re riding. They could enjoy pretending they're in a rocket ship or aboard a boat during stormy seas. There's no limit to the imagination when rocking horses are involved. A handcrafted wooden rocking horse is the perfect gift for any child with a good imagination and the need for a noble steed to join them on their adventures.

Muscle Development

Although your child may not be aware of it, rocking horses are improving their muscles as well as their imagination. Babies and toddlers are constantly in crucial stages of muscle development. Without the right tools and practices, children can fall behind on their motor skills. With a wooden rocking horse, however, toddlers can develop these skills while having fun.

The strength and coordination needed to keep the momentum of rocking help your child build their gross motor skills. The design of the rocking horse will help them keep some movement, lessening the impact they need to get the toy to work. This is the perfect balance of muscles needed to help them develop their push-pull skills without fatiguing them.

A rocking horse will also help develop a child's fine motor skills. Although the main motion is all about upper body strength, nearly every other aspect of the horse is about fine muscle movement. Children need to grip the handlebars, maneuver their legs and feet into position, and keep everything coordinated as they play.

Balance and Coordination

As with muscle development, toddlers are in the process of developing their balance and coordination. Being able to hold onto something can help them practice their balancing skills. When your toddler sits on a rocking horse and holds the handles, they're building core muscles and learning to balance. When they start to rock, that balance is being tested further and improves with each swing.

Their coordination increases as well. By building up their muscles, they're also learning the connection between their motions and the results those motions make. Children start to make connections between what they tell their body to do and how it reacts. It may take a child a while to figure out how to get a rocking horse going, but once they do, they've discovered an invaluable coordination technique that will help them grow and develop even more.

Soothing Motions

As a baby, you were probably rocked to sleep at some point or another, and you've likely rocked your own baby to sleep as well. The science behind the soothing rocking motion goes all the way back to ancient times. Before humans had houses and security measures, we were nomadic. And if you're out in the wild, it's best to be quiet. The rocking motion perfectly mimics the sensation a baby would have felt when being carried by their parents over long distances. It is ingrained in the human mind to associate the rocking motion with a need to be still and quiet; otherwise, you could alert predators and put yourself in danger.

Although there's hardly a need for such protective measures these days, the association is still alive, especially in babies and toddlers. Being rocked will soothe nearly any young child. Unfortunately, you can't always be there all the time to soothe them. As a baby starts to grow into a toddler, any parent will tell you the importance of them learning to self-soothe. Rocking horses are a great tool to help them learn this important skill.

The rocking motion of the horse is designed to closely mimic the rocking motion of being carried. This allows your child to soothe themselves without too much trouble. A child may play with their rocking horse when they're bored or excited, but they may also choose to play with it when they're feeling upset about something. Since they’re unable to fully vocalize their frustrations and concerns, a toddler can rely on their rocking horse to help them calm down and find peace. A wood rocking horse can teach your child emotional maturity and healthy coping mechanisms.

It's no surprise that kids love playing with rocking horses. Ever since they were first invented, rocking horses have been wildly popular. A wooden rocking horse allows your child to free their imagination, develop crucial motor skills, and practice healthy self-soothing techniques. If you want your child to have access to all this and more, you need to make sure you choose the best rocking horse for them. At AmishToyBox.com, we sell high-quality, handcrafted wooden rocking horses. Our toys are specially designed by Amish craftsmen and guaranteed to be sturdy, beautiful, and fun. Your child will love their new wooden rocking horse, and you'll love how much it can help them develop and enjoy life.