This is a resource for any Design and Technology GCSE student that has chosen to design and make a toy. It is intended to answer specific questions students might have, suggest ideas for them to consider and provide guidelines to inform their own thoughts.

The document is designed to give background and prompts to think about when starting to design a toy;

 Toy Technology resource for GCSE students

We are only able to provide guidelines in this leaflet. We are unable to assist in any technical way as toys can be made of many materials from paper, board, wood, plastic, metal or a combination of all these. 

A book entitled GCSE Design and Technology: Resistant Materials by Colin Lever (published by Causeway Press Ltd., PO Box 13, 129 New Court Way, Ormskirk, Lancs L39 5HP) is aimed at students aged 14-16 taking this GCSE qualification and could be useful.

If you would like information on the history of toys or board games, there are several excellent books available at most good libraries including some on how to make toys. And of course, toy museums should be visited if possible. If you are interested in designing toys for children with disabilities, you should write to the charity that deals with that disability, e.g. Royal National Institute for the Blind.

When deciding what toy to design, you need to decide whether you are devising a 'teaching' toy or activity toy, the age range for the item and how the children will play with the toy. That brings us to the most important fact: much of the information is on your doorstep. A visit to your local toyshop will show you what is popular with different age groups, what is already on the markets, and what toys are suitable for very young children.

There is some additional general information in the general information section that you may also want to look through for background information.