Last updated on September 14th, 2022 at 09:06 pm
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Last updated on September 14th, 2022 at 09:06 pm
Lincoln Logs have affectionately been nicknamed “America’s Toy”, and they have been hugely popular in the United States for over 100 years.
Despite them being around for over a century they are still incredibly popular but many people have heard of them but don’t know a lot of specifics about them.
One such example is what I will be covering in this article which is what are the best ages for Lincoln Logs.
All Lincoln Log toys are designed for children ages three and up. They are generally deemed unsafe for those under three years old due to the small sizes of some pieces being a choking hazard. Since they are made of actual wood they are also not the best thing for children to be chewing on which is another reason why three and up is a good age range.
Lincoln Logs are a classic American toy that help kids develop their creativity, fine motor skills, and design abilities, all while having fun but it is important to balance these things with possible risks involved with giving them to younger children.
As long as you don’t give Lincoln Logs to younger children then they are very safe but younger children don’t know enough to not try to eat the smallest pieces which is where they can become dangerous.
Despite the recommended age for Lincoln Logs being 3+ there are many children who are older that will enjoy playing with them as well. Building with blocks, Legos, and Lincoln Logs is a lot of fun for children of all ages so you will find that playing with them likely won’t end until at least the teenage years.
To learn more about Lincoln Logs and what ages they are meant for, keep reading!
Who Are Lincoln Logs Best For?
Lincoln Logs are designed for all children over the age of three. The different sets contain many small pieces, so they can be a choking hazard for infants and younger toddlers.
Lincoln Logs aren’t just designed with children in mind, though. Since they have been around for over 100 years, they are also great for adults to recreate their childhood memories with their children or grandchildren as well.
Vintage style or heritage sets of Lincoln Logs are made specifically for those who want to recreate the nostalgia of their childhoods for/with their children.
Building sets are incredibly popular not just because of the ability to play with different generations but also because of the versatility of the toys. Lincoln Logs can easily be used to build houses but they can also be combined with many other toys to play pretend as well.
Ultimately the ages for Lincoln Logs is only limited by the ability of the person to have fun and use their imagination.
Where Can you Buy Lincoln Logs?
Lincoln Logs are still a widely popular toy, so there are plenty of options when it comes to shopping for them.
General Retail Stores
Lincoln Logs are manufactured by Basic Fun Inc, but they are sold by retailers all across America. Popular national retailers that carry Lincoln Log sets include Walmart, Target, Michael’s and Kohl’s.
If you have a rewards account with any of the stores, shopping at them for Lincoln Logs can be a great way to save a bit of money. They all have both online and in-store purchase options for toys including Lincoln Logs.
Online Marketplaces
Amazon is one of the biggest online retailers in the world, and they carry many classic and new Lincoln Logs sets. One advantage of shopping with Amazon is its famously fast shipping times, but the prices can sometimes be higher than some other stores so it is worthwhile to check multiple places.
You can also find used Lincoln Log sets on websites like eBay and Craigslist.
If buying used you have to be careful about how old they are as some of the more vintage sets can have some chemicals in them that could be harmful to children.
Toy Stores
Many places still have local toy stores (although it is getting more and more rare) and that is another place you can find Lincoln Log sets. Doing a quick search for toy stores near you is a quick and easy way to find the closest place to get your Lincoln Logs.
Collector’s Markets
Like a lot of classic or vintage toys, there is a market for antique Lincoln Log sets. Online forums and websites for used goods like eBay and Facebook Marketplace are good places to look at if you want to buy (or sell) vintage Lincoln Logs.
You can also find them at antique stores, collector’s malls, and pawn shops. It also could be worthwhile to see of there is a store that specializes in vintage or antique toys in your area.
What are the Best Lincoln Log Sets?
If you’re looking to buy Lincoln Logs for your kids or grandkids, you may be overwhelmed with the number of choices that you have.
To get you started on your search, here’s a couple of the most highly rated Lincoln Log sets for children.
The Frontier Sheriff’s Office
This set of 51 pieces is big enough to keep kids entertained for a good amount of time and also to exercise their fine motor skills.
It’s got plenty of bright colors to keep their interest, and it comes with a few plastic figurines, so building it isn’t the only fun part.
It also comes stored in a backpack, making clean-up easy, and traveling with it a breeze.
The Prairie Town Mine
This set is made up of 122 pieces and is good for hours of building and play. It’s got several figures and accessory pieces, including a pretend explosion that can be used to “destroy” the mine.
The number of pieces is also great for creativity as it means that kids don’t necessarily have to build the same thing every time.
The one downside of this set is that with so many pieces, it can be easy to lose or misplace them. There are also some pretty thin pieces, which can be fragile and are easier for younger children to break apart.
What Are Lincoln Logs?
Lincoln Logs are sets of interconnecting wooden logs, which can be stacked on top of each other to build various structures.
While the classic log cabin structures may immediately remind you of the American West, the design for the toys was actually inspired by Japanese architecture.
John Lloyd Wright (son of famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright) was traveling to Japan in the early 1900s and was inspired by the interlocking “earthquake proof” buildings he saw there.
In 1916, after he had returned to the United States, Lincoln Logs were born. They are still sold today as design kits for young children.
A set of Lincoln Logs will come with real wooden logs of varying sizes which all have notches in the ends. The logs can be locked together in square or rectangular shapes to build classic log cabins and other buildings. Many sets also come with accessory pieces made from plastic such as doors, windows, roofs, and decorations.
Lincoln Logs are made of 100% real wood, but the exact formula has changed over the years. They used to be made of strictly redwood trees, but nowadays they are made of a composite wood from many different types of trees.
Conclusion
Lincoln Logs are a classic children’s toy that has been popular in America since the early 1900s.
They are designed for children over the age of three, but they are also famous for being fun for parents and grandparents to get involved with too.
Lincoln Logs can still be bought in stores around the world, despite the fact that they are over 100 years old, a testament to their timelessness.
Last updated on September 14th, 2022 at 09:06 pm
