Wooden toys or plastic toys? 

This is not just a matter of personal taste. It is also an attitude to life.
Many parents prefer wooden toys for a variety of reasons.
Why are wooden toys so popular these days and what are the advantages? 

Why do so many mums and dads, uncles and aunts, grandfathers and grandmothers swear by the renewable raw material and why is it worth using wood for toys?

While wooden toys were mainly found in the alternative environment a few years ago, they have long since proven their worth in your children’s room and are enjoying increasing popularity.

But why is it like that?

Reason 1: Wooden toys are training your child’s fine motor skills

Wooden toys can help your child with everything! Be it coordination, making decisions, flexibility or his own balance.

Your child plays, has fun and learns things that are important for his mental and physical development.

An example, your child builds a tower out of wooden blocks. This requires fine motor skills. Your child needs to find a way to build the blocks so that they don’t fall off or the build collapses. This as well trains fine motor skills, the body awareness and coordination.

Wooden toy cars have a similar effect, as it is heavier as a b lock. To make the wheels turn, your child will have to push or pull harder. A lesson in strength and coordination. Your child learns to apply just the right amount of energy to move his car with the desired speed.

Reason 2: Wooden toys are stimulating your child’s imagination

Wooden toys are simple. There are no tones or flashing lights. Your child must use his imagination to play. That means, your child needs his mind to play and is not passively filled with information.

Play is important for the creative, social, emotional and linguistic development of your child. The ability to think and reason is also strengthened when playing imaginatively.

Reason 3: Wooden toys are stable and safe

Wood is a strong and durable material. Have you accidently walked over a wooden block? Imagine what would happen if you walked over a plastic one.
To destroy a wooden toy it will take more than your child’s weight to destroy a wooden toy. In contrast to toys made of plastic or other materials, wood is extremely stable and breaks rarely.

This is not least due to the fact that a lot of wooden toys are handmade. In this way, the toy itself meets the highest quality standards and, with some care, can become a real family piece. My mom keeps the old toys from mz sisters and myself and our daughter loves to play with our old blocks and the wooden playshop. 

Wooden toys are not only more stable, but also safer. With fewer small parts that can break off, there is also less risk for your child of injuries and swallowing small parts.

And if something breaks, it is quite often fixed in a blink of an eye with wood glue and sandpaper.

Reason 4: Wood makes your child happy

Today many children sit in front of a smartphone, tablet or PC for hours. This not only switches off the mind and stimulates the small brain of your child. This causes also mood swings and a bad mood for your child.

Here wooden toys can help. Playing with wooden toys is soothing and happy by stimulating his creativity and interaction . Your child can relax and can concentrate on his thoughts.
No distraction by flashing light, loud and annoying sounds or other special effects and flashing lights by annoying toys, programs or apps.

Reason 5: Wooden toys are expensive! WRONG!

Why are you laughing?
Wooden toys are cheaper! Why? Because they last much longer than cheap toys made from other materials. When you bought the last toy that just broke and your child was crying until you got another one?

Wooden toys last at least decades. Instead of having to buy the same toy again and again. Doesn’t that justify the higher price in the beginning for the long run?

Think about this, wooden toys are also easy on your nerves. Because noisy toys get even the calmest parents with a lot of patience upset.  Hearing the same sound effects and melodies over and over again is annoying. Wooden toys avoid this and are also beneficial for you.

Beside the noise, what is running these toys? – Batteries –
What is your monthly or yearly budget on batteries, electricity, chargers and battery packs to run all these toys and what happens when a battery leaks or a cable is cut?

Still laughing?

Reason 6: Wooden toys are sustainable and eco-friendly

Do you want an eco-friendly household and educate your child in environmental responsibility in a playful and fun way? You can start with the toys of your child. 

Today’s wooden toys are made from fast-growing trees and sustainable forestry. You want to make sure that the wooden toys do not come from overexploitation or the rainforest. Labels like the seal of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) or the Australian Forest Certification Scheme are promoting and guaranteeing responsible, economical and environmentally friendly management of forests.

Reason 7: Wooden toys  are looking good and are timeless

A nice look of a toy is nice to have! A timeless wooden toy brings with it a certain flair. It’s stylish, responsible, and looks easier than other toys and games.

Wooden toys fitting in almost any room, even your living room. You prefer a blinking, noisy and jumping toy in your living room or a wooden box with wooden blocks?

Reason 8: Socialization and acting with others

Is the toy of your child coming with a good instruction and shows methods how to use or play with it? If so you are lucky else your child will ask you to explain what it can do with the toy and how to play with it. 

In contrast wooden toys encourage you to be open-minded and encourage your child to interact with their playmates effectively. By doing this your child will be allowed to use wooden toys in different manners and many as he can. When your child starts to play with the exciting toys continuously, it not only will motivate him to talk with you and other children to solve the riddle.

Wooden toys are stimulating your child to interact and collaborate with his friends. By Playing with wooden building blocks with someone else, he begins sharing his ideas, builds relationships, learns listening and understanding. And last but not least is developing empathy.  

Reason 9: Improvement of the language

In general the sensory play encourages children to communicate with others effectively which supports his language development.

Another aspect is you as well since you will talk with your child and teach him new and different sentences. In comparison if you give your child an electronic book or computer will you talk with your child or you let the electronic help do the work. Think about it.

Reason 10: Wooden toys are minimizing the anxiety

Research shows that wooden toys can help your child to shape his future by reducing anxiety and nervousness.

Wooden toys are manufactured by using organic material. This  allows your children to experience the warm nature of the material and the quality it’s made of.

 

Conclusion

  • Wooden toys have advantages over the same made of plastic. 
  • Wooden toys can teach your child many things that simply can´t be teached with other toys. Wooden toys are a classic and experience a revival.
  • Wooden toys are keeping your child busy for hours.
  • Wooden toys are imaginative, educational and fun for your child. 

Why you have wooden toys at home? I love to hear from you. Just leave a comment below