‘FIRST’ WELSH SINGING TOY BECOMES STAR ATTRACTION
A COUPLE have designed what they believe is the “world’s first Welsh singing toy” that sold out across the world and even crashed their website due to high demand.
When Anglesey couple Awena and Baron Walkden had their daughter Cari Mon, now aged two, they struggled to find any toys that could sing in Welsh.
Frustrated with the lack of options, the couple decided to create their own toy, a brightlycoloured singing star called Y Seren Swynol, which sings Welsh nursery rhymes.
They believe it is the first of its kind.
Awena, 32, a solicitor, said: “When Cari Mon was born we thought there was a real lack of Welsh singing toys or any Welsh toys at all, really.
“We thought it’s a real shame, especially with all the debate about the Welsh language allegedly being in decline.”
After two years of research and 15 prototypes, Awena and Baron, who live in Llangefni, created their company Si-lwli Cymru and pre-ordered 1,000 stars.
In just one month they were completely sold out, with orders being sent across the world including to Australia, New Zealand and Vietnam.
Y Seren Swynol has five nursery rhymes from the well-known Cwm Rhyd y Rhosyn album by Dafydd Iwan and Edward, activated by five buttons on each point.
Awena said: “At the start we made a prototype which was just a flannel and some sound boards from inside Christmas cards and then Cari Mon absolutely loved it.
“The English toys they have are good but as Welsh is my mother tongue and with my family you could see the difficulty with how she was interacting with them.”
As interest grew in their creation from friends and family, with several people asking to have their own version, the cou- ple decided to approach a manufacturer for their first batch in April this year.
As they announced that peo- ple could make pre-orders the toy proved so popular that their website crashed for days due to so many visitors.
Awena said: “Our web developer said that they think it went down due to so many people going on it.
“It wasn’t designed to have that much capacity as we weren’t sure it’d be that popular.”
She added: “This toy is proving that the Welsh language is in demand.
“We’re not looking to make any money from it really – it’s a project of passion.”
The couple also welcomed their son Mabon into the world around four months ago – and he is also a fan of the toy, which is aimed at newborns to three-year-olds.
Awena said: “The star is for kids, it’s for parents who are learning Welsh with their children, and it’s for parents who may not be learning Welsh but their children might.”
A second order of 3,000 stars has been made and they will be available through the couple’s website and in select children’s stores in November.
The company will also be selling the star at Llandudno Christmas Fayre.