Traditional Toys

The origin of toys is prehistoric; dolls representing infants, animals, and soldiers, as well as representations of tools used by adults are readily found at archaeological sites. The origin of the word "toy" is unknown, but it is believed that it was first used in the 14th century.

As technology changed and civilization progressed, toys also changed. Where as ancient toys were made from materials found in nature like wood, cane poles and resin, modern toys are often made from plastic and synthetic materials often powered by batteries.

Ancient toys were often made by the parents and family of the children who used them, or by the children themselves. Modern toys, in contrast, are often mass-produced and sold in stores.

In Madeira, a wide range of traditional toys can still be seen  when visiting the Toy Museum which houses thousands of memorable iitems.

The Cane Pole Flute

The oldest flute ever discovered may be a fragment of the femur of a juvenile cave bear, with two to four holes, found in Slovenia about 43,000 years ago.

The Cane Pole flute is probably one of the earliest musical instruments. Because it is hollow, it would have been relatively easy for ancient peoples to craft a flute from this material. Cane poles are found in many places in Madeira, especially in and around streams.

Cane Pole Wired Uniwheeled Vehicle

Children have played with toy-like vehicles since ancient times, with toy two-wheeled carts being depicted on ancient Greek vases.

A great many toys are part of active play. Traditionally, in Madeira, kids used to build and play with what appeared to be a cane pole wired uniwheeled vehicle which consisted of a wheel connected to a long cane pole which was then fitted with a steering wheel that served to guide the toy.

Kites

Kites were late to arrive in Europe, although windsock-like banners were known and used by the Romans. Stories of kites were first brought to Europe by Marco Polo towards the end of the 13th century.

Madeiran kites were made from split cane poles (cana-vieira), covered with paper or cloth, and stuck together with gum, resin or any other sticky material besides glue, seeing that the latter was quite expensive to buy and not available to the majority of the population at the time.

Tops

The top (also called spinning top or spintop) was very popular amongst Madeiran children. The toy which was designed to be spin rapidly on the ground entertained kids for hours while they watched it spin to ever increasing precession until it finally toppled in a frequently violent last thrash.

Traditionally tops were constructed of wood, sometimes with an iron tip, and would be set in motion by aid of a string or rope coiled around its axis which, when pulled quickly, caused a rapid unwinding that would set the top in motion.

Toy Weapons

Children have always had small imitations of things from the adult world and toy weapons are no exception.

Traditionally, youngsters used to build and play with wooden toy guns made of a wooden rod fitted with a clothespin which projected elastic bands. Other wooden toys included swords and shields. Bows and arrows made of cane poles and string were also popular.