Your shop is undoubtedly the best in the world. I just adore it.– V.C
Our range is chosen with care and we source from conscientious companies who share our values. The integrity, purpose and meaningfulness of each item really does matter here at Myriad.
It was our own children’s play with simple natural objects and toys that sparked our interest and respect for the real value of creative play. From there we found our way to Steiner Waldorf education with its deep regard for the kingdom of childhood and the natural unfolding of the individual. Like the story of the man who tried to break open the cocoon in order to “help” the butterfly, forcing development prevents us from “flying”.
Myriad is small enough to care and offer a personal service, yet big enough to be professional! When you call us, you will speak directly to a team member who knows the products and can answer any queries you may have. Our team will take care of your order from start to finish!
Our range is chosen with care: we source from conscientious companies who share our values.
The integrity, purpose and meaningfulness of each item really does matter here at Myriad, and we select products with the following criteria in mind:
Underpinning Myriad’s ethos and the criteria we use to select products to be part of our carefully selected range, we have indentified the following core values:
A holistic and well-rounded approach to childhood encompasses a recognition that early learning comes from doing, that thinking and intellect is best developed through doing, and that the heart and soul are best served through real experiences.
“The very young preschool age child comes to know the world and others through physical, sensory activity. This is an immediate, participative way of knowing, by which the child, through physical activity and above all through imitation, emulation and play, comes to know and make the world its own.” Rudolf Steiner
“Without this play with fantasy, no creative work has ever yet come to birth. The debt we owe to the play of imagination is incalculable” Carl Jung
“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there will ever be to know and understand …Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.” Albert Einstein
At Myriad we believe in offering products that are worth purchasing, whose value is intrinsic and not dependent on fashions and fads, but instead are inspired by the impulse to create a good product that there is a need for, whether that be a hard wearing plaything that allows for imaginative play, or art materials with rich colours and textures for a fulfilling experience.
“He (man) can have no relationship to the synthetic products he takes in. These remain alien to his nature, and are unable to evoke a direct response from him life forces, his soul, or his spirit. Man, animal and plant have followed the same path of evolution and have a common foundation which is life.” Dr Otto Wolff
Sustainably sourced natural materials are our first choice for children and the environment. Toys should be age appropriate and open ended. Myriad Natural Toys and Crafts is inpired by the principles of Steiner Waldorf education.
At Myriad we firmly believe toys made from natural materials are the best playthings for children of all ages! Our reasons are listed below, and as you will see, the child and the environment both benefit from natural materials.
Those new to the Myriad range and approach often ask us “What would Myriad recommend?”. Here is our list of basic playthings your child will come to again and again – transforming them into whatever their imagination calls for! Most of these toys are suitable from the age of 2, and will be fully utilised when the child enters the imaginative play years, 3-6 years. These play essentials have proved favourites of both our own children and those of our customers over many years.
Steiner Waldorf education respects the essential nature of childhood, enabling each child to develop their inherent capacities and self-confidence in a caring, child-sensitive and structured environment.
There is a great value in choosing age appropriate toys. Here are some suggested toys for various age groups.
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