A NURSERY is on track to become toy free by 2020.

Daisy Chains nursery in Prestatyn is ditching plastic toys in favour of natural play.

Toys are being replaced by everyday items such as pots and pans, hats and jewellery, construction items such as tubing, bowls, curtain rings - anything described as ‘tactile’.

Director Rebecca Wright said the idea is to offer children an alternative.

“I have had the nursery 15 years in May. It was about 10 years ago in a staff meeting that we actually discussed the idea, and I said I would like it if we could be toy free,” Rebecca said.

Rhyl Journal:

Daisy Chain Nursery, Prestatyn. Aniyah Couts, nursery nurse Kate Roberts and Penny Seel. Picture: Kerry Roberts, KR111219b

“The idea is to enter this magical world that isn’t about just plastic toys.

“It is not really about getting rid of toys completely, but offering an alternative. Rather than offering a princess of a pirate, we are offering materials and paint.

“My daughter, when she grows up, she said she wants to be a wolf,” Rebecca added.

“So the thought process is… how can we support that? We can provide materials so she can dress up.

“It is about building on the play experience.

“Toys have their place. They are great for the home, and I am not saying they are not educational, but having a play area like this - the possibilities are endless."

“If a child wanted to go on a train, we would build the train out of natural materials and then each child has a ticket.

“It keeps their attention span a lot longer."

Rebecca said parents and guardians have been accepting of the change.

“Toys, they are quite limited,” Rebecca said.

“This allows us to cater for all ages, all diversities, all backgrounds - whatever their home life.

“We don’t want to say this is a plastic house, it has four rooms. There might be a child that doesn’t live in that kind of house, they might live in a small house, a small flat. You have to be so careful these days.

“What we are offering is a play experience supported by the staff.

“The children are all hitting their milestones.

“Parents have seen the difference.

“The nursery is like a home environment, welcoming, rather than a water-down version of a classroom. It is like how parents use to play with a den and mud kitchen.

“It is bringing back that style of play.”

Rebecca has been running a toy free pre-school for about four years.

She hopes to achieve accreditation for the nursery’s efforts in January.

“Every item is risk assessed,” Rebecca added.

“We are going to keep the small world animals and the dinosaurs. The children can build a whole environment for the dinosaurs and then plant them in it. We would probably keep 10 per cent of toys.

“The focus is on the process rather than the end product. It is about being a thinker and a doer.

“The world is getting more digital. There are robots and new technology. It is about thinking outside the box and making choices from an early age.

“We are not against toys. It is the old saying really - you can give a child a toy and all they play with is the box.

"It is about using their imagination and immersive play."