31/05/2026
Twenty years ago, when I became a mother, I did not spend much time thinking about what toys my daughter should have.
Instead, I often found myself wondering about a much bigger question:
What kind of person would she become?
I am often asked what educational toys can do for a child.
As both a mother and the founder of Qtoys, I have spent more than twenty years thinking about this question.
But my answer does not come from research papers or product development. It comes from watching my own daughter grow from a curious little girl into the young woman she is today. My daughter is now 20 years old.
When I look at her now, I am not most proud of her achievements or qualifications. What makes me happiest is seeing the person she has become.
She is kind.
She cares about others.
She takes responsibility for her own life.
My daughter is also the reason Qtoys began.
As a young child, she spent countless hours playing with wooden toys. When she was not at childcare, she was often sitting beside my desk, exploring prototypes and testing new products. Most of the time, I simply observed and allowed her to play independently.
Over the years, I watched simple moments unfold.
Building towers and balancing blocks developed focus and persistence.
Open-ended play encouraged creativity and imagination.
Independent play nurtured confidence and problem-solving skills.
Hours spent exploring, creating and experimenting fostered a deep curiosity about the world around her.
These qualities did not appear overnight. They developed quietly throughout childhood and gradually became part of who she is.
As she grew older, I saw the same curiosity in her love of learning, the same creativity in her writing and drawing, and the same persistence when facing challenges.
Looking back now, I don't believe the greatest value of educational toys lies in teaching children specific skills.
The greatest value lies in helping children build the foundations that support them throughout life.
At Qtoys, we believe these foundations are:
Curiosity.
Creativity.
Resilience.
Connection.
Through play, children discover who they are. They learn to explore, create, solve problems, build relationships and make sense of the world around them.
And while no toy can determine who a child will become, a meaningful childhood can help nurture qualities that stay with them for life.
One of the questions parents often ask me is:
"What can my child achieve by playing with Qtoys during the first seven years of life?"
After watching my daughter grow from a curious little girl into the young woman she is today, my answer is simple:
Qtoys is not about helping children achieve more.
It is about helping them become more.
More curious.
More creative.
More resilient.
More connected.
And perhaps, through these foundations, grow into confident, caring and fulfilled adults.
For me, that is the true value of play.
