Wooden Toys for Kids: What Makes Them Great

When it comes to toys for kids, some people think wood is out, and plastic is in. But they can't be more wrong. Whilst wooden toys are a bit old-school, they never go out of style. Sure, plastic toys with high-flying, technological capabilities may be the choice today; however, wooden options remain the best for your child.

We cannot deny that plastic toys have grown in popularity through the years. However, the classic wooden playthings still trump them – big time! How? We'll give you 8 reasons why kids love wooden toys and why we're confident you will love them too:

1. Safe for Kids

Every parent's primary concern is their child's safety, which is why this is the first benefit we will tackle. Wood has always been a safer option regarding things that children use. Compared to plastic and metal, a wooden toy will not harm your baby. Cheaply made plastic toys, most especially, can break quickly. Worse, they leave sharp edges that can hurt your child.

Wood is not only robust but also made from natural ingredients. You never have to worry about them having BPA, PVC, and other chemicals that plastic toys contain. If you don't already know, these chemicals can have harmful effects on children and foetuses, which is why they are not recommended even for soon-to-be mums.

For your peace of mind, pick wooden toys in Australia that are made of:

• Beech
• Birch
• Oak
• Maple
• Oak
• Ash
• Poplar

The list above is of hardwood types considered the safest for kids. That's because they are formidable and can resist splintering, unlike softwoods. They should, however, be sanded thoroughly and finished with a safe, non-toxic oil. 

2. Environmentally Friendly

One common argument about a whole wooden toy set is that it destroys forests. After all, they are made of wood, so it makes sense that people think you have to chop down a lot of trees just to create one or two products. But that's not always the case.

Toys from trustworthy businesses come from responsibly managed forests. Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) ensure that wood products are cut and harvested from trees that meet the standards whilst providing environmental, economic, and social benefits to the community.

3. Long-Lasting

One drawback of wooden toys is that they are more expensive than plastic toys. But they last so much longer and can even be passed down from one child to the next. When cared for properly, they can outlast one or more generations. 

Obviously, cheaper toys, even those made of wood, can quickly deteriorate because of their poor construction. So, when you buy wooden toys online, make sure they are made with quality materials and from a reputable company.

4. Educational

Wooden toys online may not have sound and all kinds of effects found in plastic toys. However, that's what inspires creativity. The brain works harder, firing up your child's playing habits. Instead of plastic toys that, when stepped on, get destroyed, try a wooden horse. It encourages your children to imagine they are knights galloping during the Middle Ages to save their friends. Or they can play as architect extraordinaire using building blocks. 

5. Simple but Fun

Yes, you rarely find wooden toys with flashy lights (if any). But we guarantee that your child will have endless hours of fun with them, unlike plastics. Wooden toys are designed to stimulate children's imagination. 

With open-ended plays, your child will learn more and improve their numerical, spatial awareness, problem-solving, and literary abilities. 

Pick wooden toys in Perth that come in the form of building blocks and puzzles, which effectively encourage them to create something new. You may think that stacking blocks will not enhance their brain and motor skills, but this simple activity does. The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) highlighted the following benefits:

• Self-expression
• Vivid imagination
• Problem-solving and reasoning skills
• Maths skills, including balance and estimation, symmetry, and measurements

Block plays, as well as solving puzzles, promote hand-eye coordination, allowing children to better move, build, and lift items. 

6. Less is More

They say that quality trumps quantity, which is true in the case of kids' toys. Who needs 10, 20, or 30 pieces of toys lying around if they break easily? Also, you may have noticed that your child quickly gets bored of the toys as there's not much fun during playtime. 

Children's toy closets may be filled with a huge variety of toys, but how many of these items do they actually enjoy and learn from? This is where the concept of limiting the number of things presented to a child comes into play. Because there is a large assortment of playthings, children naturally move on from one to another without receiving the benefits each toy can offer.

Of course, the less is more concept only works when strategically picking toys that engage and attract your child. And that is the magic of wooden toys in Perth. You can get toys without a limited purpose, so kids do not get bored of them right away. For example, visually appealing wooden blocks can help tap into your child's creative nature. 

7. Timeless

Wooden toy sets give that timeless look and feel you can never obtain from plastic toys. They come in different textures, styles, and weights that promote a more involved sensory experience for the child.
Additionally, wood looks more sophisticated than plastics. Whilst the latter may have flashy lights and brightly coloured pieces, wooden toys add a timeless feel. They can even be used as décor because of their modern look and simplicity.

8. Great for Montessori Thoughtful Plays

The Montessori education method helps children find activities that interest them. This experiential approach fares better with the holistic development of real-world skills through imaginative play. Each toy in the Montessori curriculum can help meet the evolving requirements of the child. Wooden toys are perfect for achieving such a goal. As mentioned earlier, they encourage creativity, allowing the children to feed their curiosity whilst in conditions inspiring play and learning.

Montessorians love wooden toys for several reasons, including:

• Sensory Exploration: Wood warms when touched and stays cool when left alone. That's something that you will never feel with cold plastics, which remain at the same temperature. The feel and weight of wooden toy sets also change depending on their size and density. It's easy to see the sensorial value in choosing wooden toys in Montessori learning.
• Aesthetics: Wooden toys are exquisitely beautiful. Notice the grains that add patterns to the toys. Your children will recognise this organic effect, absorbing it as part of their environment without any filter. It means you're giving young learners lovely toys they can form and construct independently, which then help enhance the developmental experience.
• Safety: We have already discussed the safety of wooden toys. Natural materials do not cause health issues, unlike plastic toys. They are water-based with non-toxic components. So, even if your child puts the toy in the mouth, you have fewer concerns than plastics.

Children can create a fun environment when playing, whether it is a kitchen toy set, a toolkit, dollhouse, pretend-play wooden toys, or the traditional blocks and puzzles. Parents appreciate the durability and longevity the toys offer, even considering them a family heirloom. Knowing all these benefits of buying wooden toys in Australia, will you still buy plastic toys for your kids? We didn't think so!