Are Wooden Toys Really Better Than Plastic?

The answer to the question above is yes. Wooden toys come in a lot of forms. There are wooden building blocks, jigsaw puzzles, rockers, rattles, dolls and doll houses, toy cars and ships, and many more. They don't move, don't talk, don't require batteries, but in more ways than one, classic toys fashioned from good ol' wood are better than toys made from plastic or metal.

Here are reasons why.

1. They are safe.

Toys made from plastic, metal, and even synthetic fabrics can pose unseen dangers to your children. Many of these mass-produced plastic toys are made of separate little components that, more often than not, can be easily yanked off and become potential choking hazards for little children. A lot of them also make a lot of noise, which can produce high levels of noise and expose the ear to hearing damage. On the other hand, wooden toys are noise-free and, when made properly, are free from lead, mercury, and other toxic materials found in metal or plastic toys.

2. They encourage imagination.

Unfortunately, battery-operated toys are much like TV, the movies, video games, and the Internet. They entertain the kids for a little while then afterwards they become boring. Why is not surprising to see a pile of toys left un-played with in one corner of your child's room? With wooden toys, kids visualize. They imagine. When they play with wooden kitchen sets, they see they are cooking real food with their toys. When they ride a wooden horse rocker, they feel as though they are real cowboys galloping on a real horse

3. They are more durable and easier to maintain.

Haven't you noticed how flimsy plastic toys can be? A little joshing around and you will notice that a few pieces are already missing from the main structure of the toy. Wooden toys, well, because they are made from wood, are more hard-wearing than any plastic or foam toy you can find anywhere. Thus, they also last longer, which makes them cost-effective and better for your budget. And because they have lesser parts than most battery-operated toys, they do not break down easily and it is easier for kids to put them away properly.

4. They are naturally educational.

Battery-operated toys usually leave the hands of your children to sing, dance, fly, or whatever its manufacture intended it to do. Wooden toys, on the other hand, stay where they are and children have to touch them, pick them up, and hold them for them to be able to play with their toys. Touching and feeling are two ways by which children learn. They naturally involve themselves with the toys because they engage the senses for long, unlike with battery-operated toys that usually become dull and uninteresting after the first few times they take a flight or speak out their programmed lines.

5. They are beautiful.

Admit it. Toys made from wood have a warm and welcoming aesthetic appeal that no toy made from plastic, metal, foam, or any other synthetic material can ever give off.