Remember your favourite toy? What was it like? Do you still have it?
Toys in the past were made to last, mainly because they were made of durable materials like wood.
Today’s kids live in a consumerist era, where a toy is only good for a few days before they get fed up with it. Most of them are made of plastic or gadgets that don’t sparkle their imagination and barely do anything to help them socialize.
Maybe you haven’t concerned to get wooden toys for kids, but those are a great option that can endure many rough playing. Also, your child may be much happier with a simple toy that inspires them to create an entire world of imagination, instead to play with a piece of plastic.
Here are some excellent reasons why your kid deserves to play with wooden toys.
Why wooden toys?
Some materials never go out of style. Such is the case with wood. Although you won't see a huge hype about wooden toys, they're actually a great choice and enjoyed by generations of children. Even today you can find wooden toys for kids that are following the modern trends.
Compared to the plastic toys that last for a brief time and all the digital gadgets that are consuming their time and attention, wooden toys are a healthy option that sparkles imagination and intelligence.
Besides that, investing in a wooden toy you're investing in longevity. The toy could serve for many years without breaking or losing colour. There is no risk of harsh odours that are bad for your kid's health. This is an eco-friendly toy that won't be another piece in the pile of plastic.
Environment-friendly
Made of sustainable sources, wooden toys are environmentally friendly options compared to plastic toys. The wood is an organic and renewable substance and wooden toys can easily be recycled.
Also, these toys barely use any paint; if they do the pain is usually free of toxic chemicals.
On top of that, wooden toys aren't made in mass production. Usually, they're hand-made which means every toy is unique.
Safe
Plastic toys, unfortunately, are cheaply made. They can break easily, leaving sharp edges and small parts that can be a risk for your kid's health. Wood, on the other hand, is a sturdy and strong material that offers far lesser risk.
Your kid can benefit from this connection to nature through contact with wood. This way they can improve their mental and physical wellbeing.
Wooden toys can help your child’s physical, mental and emotional development.
Educational
In 1976, the educational psychologist Dr Lawrence Mestyanek noticed a lack of educational toys for children and infants with learning disabilities. He attempted to change this by creating special wooden toys in his garage. Wooden toys offer a range of educational qualities.
Some of the classic wooden toys include building blocks, puzzles, and miniature construction sets, which can help children with motor skills, numeracy, literacy, and problem-solving.
Kids today first learn how to scroll down the phone and take a selfie, before they can even say a complex sentence. The advance of technology manifests in toys as wells; practically most of the toys are little gadgets with million of accessories. But, less is more. With wooden toys, kids face a blank slate upon which they can project their imagination.
Notice how kids can play with a stick they found in the park. Allow their mind to imagine things. A wooden toy can sparkle their fantasy which is immensely important at an early age.
Although it sounds sad, kids today are lonely. They're connected through social media, phones and computer games, but in reality, they're all by themselves.
Wooden toys for children can encourage interaction with other children and support sharing and teamwork. These toys are made without any chance of visual or sound effects. This allows the kid to use their own voice and make sound effects while playing together.
For instance, if your daughter and her playdate have a wooden dollhouse, they will have to move the objects and dolls inside, speak and make sound effects. This way they won't just sit and stare into a gadget waiting for entertainment; instead, they're doing it for themselves.
The same goes for wooden balance bikes. Your kid doesn't have to only sit and wait for you to push them (or use a remote so the bike can move by itself). They have to use their own strength and muscles to move forward. If other kids are riding their bikes, your kid would want to do the same. And there will be lots of laughing and talking while being outside.
What happens when your kid gets a plastic toy that requires batteries and they run off after a while? In most cases, you'll forget to buy new ones, and the toy will be forgotten in the pile of toys that are no longer interesting. Also, plastic tends to break easily, and we all know that kids aren't gentle with their toys.
Wood on the other hand will last for a long time. It can endure rough treatment and can last for generations. And it's a nice thing to pass it your favourite wooden toy to your kid, and they to theirs.