Guidecraft, USA

"Faithful to the tradition of fine craftsmanship, Guidecraft creates objects of lasting value that give children’s minds and imaginations room to truly grow."

「秉持對精湛工藝傳統的信念，Guidecraft 創造出具有持久價值的產品，給予孩子的心靈與想像力能真正成長的空間。」

玩具的價值，不是只是給童年
而是在生命的每個階段，都能帶我們回到自己

_____【 Guidecraft ｜產品特色 】_____

在我們的空間裡所選擇的玩具或用品
大多有著共同的標準與特色：

「　天然．無毒．安全．有機　」

「　在乎社會責任．致力環境友善　」

Guidecraft 的產品通過 GREENGUARD Gold 認證
這代表極低的揮發性有機化合物（VOC）排放
在室內空間使用，對孩子的呼吸環境是安心的

使用 FSC 認證木材
與非營利組織 One Tree Planted 合作
官網上每一筆消費，都會種下一棵樹

經過教育專家、幼教老師與家長共同設計
他們的玩具不只是好玩，同時也根據著孩子天生的遊戲模式來開發
是真正從「孩子怎麼玩」出發的設計

Guidecraft的特質
是我們在 Play With Me 想要傳遞的東西——

「　安全的材質、開放的遊戲、自然的學習　」

「　以及，對孩子的成長發展，全然的信任　」

_____【 Guidecraft ｜Roadway System 】_____

空間裡的這組軌道拼圖，是 Guidecraft 的經典之一

這組 Roadway System 軌道拼圖遊戲
有 42 片不同形狀的軌道
直線、彎道、十字路口
像拼圖一樣可以自由組合

沒有固定的拼法
孩子可以像拼拼圖一樣
自由組合出心中想要的城市道路
每一次排列，都是一次新的創造

孩子可以一個人安靜地規劃路線
探索什麼能連接、什麼需要轉彎
在反覆嘗試裡，自然地體會空間與方向
也可以和其他孩子一起共同遊戲，發想協作

「這條路要去哪裡？」
「這邊放一個彎道好嗎？」

在共同創造的遊戲過程裡
同時練習聆聽、協調、分享與合作

搭配積木還可以蓋出立體的橋和建築
軌道的尺寸與標準 Unit Blocks 相容

一個平面的道路，
可以慢慢長成一座有故事的城市

在遊戲的過程裡，自然的理解，
這個世界是怎麼運作的

適合的遊戲方式：

自由拼排——讓孩子依照自己的想法設計道路
搭配小車、小人偶，延伸出完整的城市情境

合作共玩——兩三個孩子一起規劃
從「這條路要往哪裡去？」開始
練習溝通、協調、分享空間

搭配積木——Guidecraft 的軌道尺寸
與標準 Unit Blocks 相容
可以疊出立體的高架橋和建築場景

_____【 Roadway System | 對兒童發展的好處 】_____

・空間感知：規劃路線的過程，建立對距離、方向、轉彎的概念

・工程思維：嘗試不同配置，體會什麼能連接、什麼行不通

・精細動作：拼接軌道片時的對齊與組合

・想像力與敘事能力：在自己建造的城市裡說故事

・社交互動：多人共玩時的協商與合作

如果你喜歡 Guidecraft 的設計理念，他們還有幾款很值得認識的玩具：

Branch Blocks 樹枝積木
保留真實樹皮紋理的原木積木
36 塊不同形狀的木頭
讓孩子在室內也能感受戶外的自然觸感
非常適合鬆散素材的開放式遊戲

Treasure Blocks 寶藏積木
木框搭配透明壓克力窗
可以放入彈珠、樹葉、小石頭
觀察、展示、收藏自然裡找到的小寶物
也很適合搭配光桌使用

Grippies 磁力建構組
18 個月以上就能玩的磁力玩具
柔軟的橡膠觸感、鮮豔的顏色
不同紋理帶來豐富的觸覺探索
是寶寶認識磁力與建構的第一步

Little Bricks 小磚塊積木
60 片仿真小磚塊
讓孩子像真正的建築師一樣蓋房子
練習堆疊、平衡、結構思考

在 Play With Me 的空間裡
Guidecraft 的軌道拼圖屬於建議「提前預約的特別玩具」

如果想在來訪時玩到，
可以在預約的時候先跟 Vira 說一聲，
我們會為你特別準備好

下次來Play With Me
如果遇到了讓你們著迷的特別玩具
歡迎跟我們分享你的遊戲心得

Have Fun,
Vira

~~~~~ ~~~~~

In the last post, Alice recreated the scenery of a family road trip using Guidecraft's track pieces. This time, we'd like to properly introduce the brand behind them

It started simply — I collected these toys because I was drawn to them at first sight. It was only later that I realized we were connected by something deeper: a shared set of values

In preparing to share their story, I took the time to do some proper research, and it became a wonderful chance to get to know the people behind this brand — people who create with intention and care

_____【 Guidecraft · USA · 1966 】_____

In 1966, a young man named Fred Fein began making wooden toys by hand in a small woodworking shop in Garnerville, New York. He cut, painted, packaged, and inspected everything himself. That little workshop was where Guidecraft began.

His first creation was a set called Wedgies — small wooden figures with wide bases and narrow tops, designed to pair with building blocks and encourage social play.

What made them remarkable was this: in the conservative landscape of 1960s America, Fred quietly embedded ideas that were well ahead of their time. His female figures weren't only mothers — they were professionals in different fields. His community characters came in a range of skin tones and cultural backgrounds. Small wooden figures, carrying one person's goodwill and vision for the world

Fred's son Jason eventually took over, and across nearly sixty years, Guidecraft has grown from handmade wooden figures into a design brand known for educational toys and children's furniture.

There's a line on their website that I love:

"Faithful to the tradition of fine craftsmanship, Guidecraft creates objects of lasting value that give children's minds and imaginations room to truly grow."

The value of a toy doesn't belong only to childhood. At every stage of life, the right one can bring us back to ourselves

_____【 Guidecraft · What Sets Them Apart 】_____

The toys and products we choose for our space tend to share a set of common standards: natural, non-toxic, safe, organic — made by people who care about social responsibility and are committed to being kind to the environment.

Guidecraft's products carry GREENGUARD Gold certification, meaning extremely low volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions. For an indoor space where young children play and breathe, that matters.

They use FSC-certified wood and partner with One Tree Planted — every purchase made through their website plants a tree

Their toys are co-designed with educators, early childhood teachers, and parents. They're not just fun — they're developed around how children naturally play, starting from the child's own instincts rather than an adult's assumptions.

These are the same things we want to offer at Play With Me: safe materials, open-ended play, learning that happens naturally — and a deep trust in how children grow.

_____【 Guidecraft · Roadway System 】_____

The track puzzle set in our space is one of Guidecraft's classics. The Roadway System comes with 42 pieces in different shapes — straights, curves, intersections — that fit together like a jigsaw, freely combinable with no fixed solution. Every arrangement is a new creation.

A child can work alone, quietly planning a route, discovering what connects and what needs a turn. Through trial and repetition, a sense of space and direction develops on its own. Or they can build together with other children — imagining, negotiating, co-creating.

"Where should this road go?" "How about a curve here?"

In the process of building something together, children naturally practise listening, coordinating, sharing, and cooperating.

Add blocks and the roads become three-dimensional — bridges, buildings, a whole cityscape. The track dimensions are compatible with standard Unit Blocks, so a flat road can slowly grow into a city with its own story. And through play, children come to understand, quite naturally, how the world around them works

Ways to play:

_____【 Roadway System · Benefits for Child Development 】_____

If you're drawn to Guidecraft's design philosophy, here are a few more of their toys worth knowing:

At Play With Me, the Guidecraft Roadway System is one of our "reserve-ahead" toys. If you'd like to play with it during your visit, just let Vira know when you book and we'll have it ready for you

And next time you're here, if you and your little one discover a toy that captivates you — we'd love to hear about it

Play With Me ． 親子客廳