Basic wooden train sets provide hours of entertainment for kids. Although its simplicity is part of its charm, you may feel like your wooden train set is ready for a face-lift. Whether you are attempting to add to a set that is used every day, or spice up a tired set to recapture interest, accessories will give you the train bling you are looking for.
Consider these 4 wooden train set accessories to create instant appeal!
Buildings and Landscaping – There are many different types of buildings available to add to your train set. These range from simple block buildings to more intricate houses. If you are crafty, you can even buy plain wooden blocks or craft store wood pieces and make/paint your own according to your little one’s interests — city, town, farm and countryside etc. To complete your populated area, try adding landscaping with trees, bushes, gardens etc. If you want to stick with the wooden theme of the set, you can purchase or make your own trees. Craft stores may carry small fir trees during the holidays that may be just right for your landscaping or even your own tree farm alongside that choo-choo. Another idea for both buildings and foliage is to use Legos if that is something your kids are into. Change the scenery with the seasons or as often as you like!
Animals and People – Every landscape needs some human and animal life to keep it realistic. Many brands offer human figures, some of which can be posed and/or even fit into the train cars. Others are more basic block-type cut outs. Lego people, squinkies and other small toys may also come in handy for this purpose. Toy animals can be used to inhabit zoo, farm or jungle landscapes.
Train Cars – If driving the train along the wooden track is the main highlight for the child, consider adding some additional train cars. Many brands use magnetic attachments to couple the trains, and are therefore pretty easy to interchange vs. having to stick with the original brand you purchased. Add different colors and types of train cars to spice things up.
Tracks and Engineering Accessories – Expand the train track and get even more creative with layouts by adding more tracks to your set. Get more basic straight and curved pieces to enhance building options or invest in unique pieces like crosses and switches to allow for even more creativity. Bridges and tunnels are always popular pieces, although you will want to check things like tunnel height to make sure your trains will be accommodated. For a bit more money, you can find specific stops with tracks built in to assimilate right into your set up. Logging and coal stops as well as signal stations and even haunted mines are among the vast options available.
Little touches can make a big difference to the appeal of your wooden train set. Surprise your little engineer, by adding some new accessories while they are asleep or get them to help create accessories with you using Legos, wood and paint, clay or other craft supplies. Change your scenes with the seasons or as often as you like!
Before you decide which accessories to add check out this list of DIY wooden train set accessory ideas to liven up your set! If you’re looking for the right set prior to accessorizing don’t make a purchase without taking these important factors into consideration!. Free reprint available from: Accessorize Your Wooden Train Set: 4 Ways To Make Your So-So Set Into Something Special.