The entire traditional way of the Nenets nomads’ life depends on a reindeer. It is a great value, a symbol of the house. Reindeer is a source of food, material for making clothes, shoes, chums’ coverings, etc. Besides, a reindeer team is the main mode of transport in the tundra. This is probably why reindeer figurines are the most common among Nenets children's toys.
Toy reindeer are made from different materials: wood, bone, fur, stone, plastic.
Each player usually has several figures - these are both male riding reindeer and female reindeer with young fawns. Usually, toy reindeer were "harnessed" into a sledge, which was also made of wood, bones or flat stones.
A reindeer figurine was carved by a father for his children. As they got older, boys made the toys themselves. So through the game, the idea of a reindeer herd and its owner “birth” materialized and it honed a future master’s skills.