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Toys

In the large warehouse from Næstved you can step into the wonderful world of toys. Exhibited here are toys from the beginning of the 19th century to the 1960s. Approximately 6000 toys are displayed. On the ground floor there are mostly boys' toys, German Märklin cars and Bing trains, mechanical toys from Lehmann and Danish Techno toys, Lineol figures and a Danish speciality: wooden toys made by the inmates in Danish jails.

When childhood was invented
On the first floor, the exhibition shows toys as a means of education. In the 18th century, childhood was recognised as a specific period in a person's life. Earlier, childhood had been thought of as a necessary and troublesome period. A time to get through before the individual could become a real adult.
At the end of the 18th century, the conception of childhood began to change. Philosophers, doctors and educationists began to view childhood as an important time where parents and others in contact with the children could influence the children in specific ways.

Educational toys
Toys played an important role. The idea was that by giving the child certain kinds of toys you could direct the child towards its future role in life. The exhibition shows how toys could influence girls to become good mothers and wives and boys to become active and out-going people expected to go out into the business life of the 19th and 20th centuries.

In the exhibition there is a catalogue of all the toys on display.