Well-made wooden toys are made from natural materials that do not break or chip. On the other hand, many plastic toys can easily break and create sharp edges. In addition, research has shown that many plastics are unsafe and may contain harmful chemicals that can leak out when young children and babies chew on them. Wooden toys are often touted as one of the safest options when it comes to toys for children and the environment, but why? Are they really better than the alternatives? Many times, the answer is yes.
Most wooden toys are free of many of the toxins that are sometimes found in plastic toys and, if carefully manufactured, they will be welcome to Earth at the end of their life, rather than having their broken parts left in a landfill forever. Wooden toys are often passed from one sibling to another, or from one family to another, for many years, as they are tough enough to survive many children. Wooden toys help promote teamwork skills, as other children, as well as parents and caregivers, are involved in helping children create their structural masterpieces or fit the pieces into their puzzles. Many wooden toys can be bought second-hand and disinfected, so the materials are reused and, when the toy has come to an end, often a few generations later, they can be easily recycled, since they are made of natural materials.
By offering safe, environmentally friendly and long-lasting benefits, wooden toys offer a product that you can feel good about spending your money and giving it to your children. This is very valuable information for people who want to know the difference between wooden and plastic toys. Whether it's a wooden horse and you imagine it galloping through the forest, also known as the back garden, or you're playing an extraordinary architect with a variety of colorful building blocks, simple wooden toys help to awaken children's imaginations and make them think innovatively. Wooden toys often encourage learning more than plastic toys because of the simplicity and open nature of their design.
Some larger companies may offer wooden toys at a fraction of the cost, but they coat their wooden toys with paints that contain harmful chemicals or use low-quality wood, such as cheap plywood. By buying a sustainably sourced wooden toy made with certified wood, you contribute in a small way to reducing the amount of plastic waste. In addition, as much as they may be cheaper in the short term, plastic toys are also notoriously expensive, especially if it's a coveted or popular toy that just came out. Since wooden toys can be discolored, repainted and varnished without losing the quality or structure of the material, wooden toys can be adapted to the child's age and interests.
You hate the overwhelming noise of electronic toys and the clutter of plastic toys scattered everywhere, but you want to know how wooden toys are different. Environmentally friendly, good-quality wooden toys also do not contain PVC, phthalates, or similar chemicals used in plastic toys. That's precisely why, in recent years, wooden toys have returned in a big way, and companies like John Lewis, Argos and The White Company are just a few of the major stores that have jumped on the wooden toy bandwagon (opens in a new tab). When wooden toys are carefully manufactured from high-quality materials, they stand up to even the toughest games.
