New Prague exhibition shows which toys are 'right' for children

A new exhibition at the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague 1 that opens today will showcase the different types of toys available to children, and question which of them are most appropriate and beneficial for them. The exhibition runs until Sept. 10 and is free to access, according to the museum’s website.

Intended primarily for families with children of preschool and early school age, “The Right Toy” exhibition encourages guests to think about just how educationally useful the toys are for the children, and how they could be psychologically beneficial.

The museum writes that playthings can be “very important for the formation of a child’s personality," and the exhibition aims to "provide parents and teachers with guidance" on how to select the most appropriate toy and game object. Toys manufactured by various companies are on display, including – for example – the KOVAP company founded in 1946 that specializes in the production of metal toys.

The Czech Anja firm and Truhlářství Křenek, both famous for their wooden toys, are also present with their creations. The recently established Noe is another firm that presents its textile toys at the exhibition. A woodworking workshop in Ořechov, near Brno, that focuses on the handmade production of toys and focuses on helping employees with disabilities will also present its playthings.

Started in 1994, the exhibition is a joint project of the Czech Association for Toys and Games and the Toy Association of the Union of Visual Artists of Czechia. Creators of toys that experts view as the most suitable for children are awarded prizes at Kamenice nad Lipou Castle, Vysočina, around the middle of July. The winning selections will then be displayed at the Kamenice nad Lipou Museum.