There is something wonderfully old fashioned about sitting at the table with a pair of scissors and slowly bringing a little paper world to life.
The Kraul Our Neighbourhood Paper Cut Outs invite children to create an entire miniature community of their own, filled with houses, families, bicycles, cars, traffic lights, a market and all the small everyday details that make a neighbourhood feel familiar.
Beautifully illustrated by Eva-Maria Ott-Heidmann, the set has the warmth and gentle storybook quality of traditional European picture books. The figures and buildings feel full of personality without telling children exactly what their story should be, leaving plenty of room for imagination once the cutting and making is finished.
Part of the pleasure is in making the scene itself. Children carefully cut out the people, homes and objects, arrange them into streets and little gathering places, then begin to invent the lives taking place within them.
A bicycle can set off to visit a friend, a car can stop at the traffic lights, neighbours can meet at the market and families can come and go from their homes. Before long, four simple sheets of card have become a whole miniature world.
It is exactly the kind of quiet, creative play that feels increasingly rare: no batteries, no screen and no fixed ending, just careful hands, beautiful illustrations and a story that grows as the child plays.
Perfect for a rainy afternoon, a holiday bag or a calm creative moment at home, these charming cut outs have all the nostalgic appeal of the paper toys many of us remember from childhood.
The Charm of Neighbourhood Play
Once the cutting is finished, children can rearrange the figures and buildings again and again, creating new streets, families and everyday stories.
The set encourages:
• Imaginative storytelling
• Fine motor skills through careful cutting
• Concentration and patience
• Familiar everyday role play
• Creating and arranging a small world
• Open ended play after the craft activity is complete
Love the old fashioned charm of paper cut outs? Discover the Kraul Farm Cut Outs and Paper Doll Cut Outs for more beautifully illustrated cutting, making and imaginative play.
Product Details
• Vintage style neighbourhood paper cut out set
• Features houses, people, bicycles, cars, traffic lights, a market and everyday neighbourhood details
• 4 illustrated craft sheets
• Illustrated by Eva-Maria Ott-Heidmann
• Sheet size: approximately 24 × 34 cm
• Weight: approximately 95 g
• Recommended age: 5 years+
• Material: card / paperboard
Kraul Toys & Creative Classics
Kraul is a family run German toy maker creating thoughtful toys, craft activities and experiment kits designed to encourage children to make, observe, explore and discover for themselves.
With roots stretching back to the 1920s and a strong connection to Waldorf education, Kraul believes that children learn most meaningfully through direct experience. Alongside its famous science, nature and construction kits are quieter creative classics such as these beautifully illustrated paper cut outs.
Almost everything in the Kraul range is manufactured and packaged in Germany, with an emphasis on thoughtful design, quality materials and play that leaves room for children’s own ideas.
Discover the full Kraul Toys & Experiment Kits collection at Magic Forest Shop.
We ship worldwide. International shipping options are available at checkout.