From 12 monthsRainbow stacker
Nine curved beech arches, water based paint
$38
Toys built to be played with for years
Tinker Tree sells wooden toys, board games, puzzles and craft kits chosen for long play rather than a quick thrill. Every toy carries a clear age label, gifts can be wrapped with a handwritten card, and orders leave the shop within a working day.
2 to 4 daysfor delivery
$4to gift wrap with a card
30 daysto return sealed toys
- Age label on every toy
- Gift wrapping with a card
- Delivered in 2 to 4 days
- Water based paints and oil finishes
Favourites from the shelves
The age on each card is the youngest child the toy suits safely. Toys marked with small parts are not for children under three, however much a younger sibling wants a turn.
From 12 months
From 18 monthsBuilding blocks, 60 pieces
Solid beech in five shapes, in a cotton bag
$54
From 3 yearsWooden train set
Figure of eight track, bridge and three carriages. Small parts
$72
From 3 yearsAnimal floor puzzle
24 giant pieces, 60 by 40 cm when finished
$22
From 4 yearsCounting board game
Roll, count and race wooden hedgehogs home. Small parts
$28
From 7 yearsFelt animal sewing kit
Blunt needle, felt and thread for two animals
$19
From 5 yearsPaint your own birdhouse
Pine kit to assemble, six paints and a brush
$16
Built to orderDollhouse, built to order
Three storeys painted in your colours. Not for under 3s
Price on enquiry
EnquireThe delivery fee is added at checkout. Toys still sealed in their packaging go back within 30 days; a dollhouse is built and painted for one family, so it stays sold.
What our age labels mean
An age label is about safety first and skill second. Toys with small parts, long cords or magnets never carry a label for children under three, whatever the play inside them.
| Label | Typical play | What to watch for |
|---|---|---|
| From birth | Grasping, shaking and mouthing | Nothing small enough to swallow, no loose cords, finishes safe to chew |
| From 12 months | Stacking, posting and pushing along | Pieces too big to fit in a mouth; check wood for rough edges now and then |
| From 3 years | Pretend play, first games, floor puzzles | Small parts begin to appear, so keep these toys away from younger siblings |
| From 6 years | Jigsaws, craft kits, games with rules | Needles, beads and paint need a grown up nearby at first |
| From 9 years | Strategy games, models, 500 piece jigsaws | Craft tools with blades are for supervised use only |
Safety marks vary by country, for example the CE mark in the European Union or testing to ASTM F963 in the United States. Every toy we stock carries the marks required where we sell it, and the label on the box always beats a guess from a photo.
Every toy is played with before it is stocked
Before a toy reaches our shelves, someone on the team builds it, plays with it and does their best to break it. Toys that splinter, shed paint or hide a small part behind a loose wheel go back to the maker, and only the ones that survive a week on the shop's play table stay.
Most of what we sell runs without batteries or screens, so the play comes from the child. In the shop, ask and we open a box so you can see exactly what is inside before you buy.
- Tested on the play table before it is stocked
- Water based paints and oil finishes on wooden toys
- Age label and small parts warning on every box
Gifts, parties and repairs
A good toy shop helps with more than the toy itself. These extras are arranged at the counter, by phone or through the form below.
Gift wrapping
Recycled paper, a cotton ribbon and a handwritten card with your message, and never a price inside.
per gift$4
Birthday gift list
Choose the toys with your child, we keep the list, and guests buy from it in the shop or by phone.
to set upNo charge
Party bags
Little wooden toys and craft treats packed to your budget, with nothing sugary inside.
per bag, from$6
Wooden toy repairs
Loose wheels refitted, chipped paint touched up and lost pieces replaced where the maker still supplies them.
from$8
Around the shop
The play table, the wrapping counter and the Saturday craft mornings.
Played with and reviewed (example reviews)
Our two year old has stacked and toppled that rainbow every single day for a year, and the paint still looks new.
The gift list made the birthday easy. Grandparents phoned the shop, chose from the list, and every present arrived wrapped.
The dollhouse came painted in the exact blue of our front door, and the hinged front still opens smoothly after a year of play.
Questions parents ask
How should we read the age label?
The age on the box is about safety first and skill second. A toy marked from 3 years may hold small parts, so it is not suitable for a younger child even if they would love it.
How can we check for small parts at home?
A common rule of thumb is that anything able to pass through a toilet roll tube is small enough for a young child to choke on. Keep such pieces away from children under three, and look over older toys for loose wheels or broken bits now and then.
Do your toys meet safety standards?
Every toy we stock carries the safety marks required where we sell it. Those marks differ between countries, so when sending a toy abroad, check the rules at the other end too.
Do you sell toys with batteries or magnets?
Very few. Where a toy takes button batteries, the compartment is screwed shut, and toys with magnets are labelled for older children only. A swallowed battery or magnet is a medical emergency, so call your local emergency number at once rather than waiting for symptoms.
How long does delivery take?
Orders leave the shop within one working day and usually arrive two to four working days later. The delivery fee appears at checkout, before the order is placed.
Can toys be returned?
A toy still sealed in its packaging may be exchanged or refunded up to 30 days after it arrives. A dollhouse built to order is made for one family and comes back only if it arrives damaged.
Can a gift be sent straight to the child?
Yes. Ask for wrapping in the shop, by phone or through the form, and we post the gift to any address with a handwritten card and no price inside.
Dollhouses, gift lists and advice
Ask about a dollhouse built to order, start a birthday gift list, book a craft morning or get help choosing a toy for a particular age. We answer within one working day, and each dollhouse is built and painted within six weeks of the colours being agreed.
- Dollhouses painted in colours you choose
- Gift lists kept until after the party
- Payment settled directly with us
Come and play
The play table by the window is open to every visitor, whether or not anything is bought.
Shop hours
| Monday to Saturday | 09:30 to 17:30 |
| Sunday | 11:00 to 16:00 |
Saturday craft mornings
Every Saturday from 10:00, children aged five and over make a small craft at the big table with a grown up beside them. Places are limited, so ask at the counter or through the form.