Here are just a few of the environmental and practical benefits of wooden toys.
Environmental Benefits of Wooden Toys
Wooden toys are better for the environment than their plastic counterparts, because they are made from a renewable material. Although plastic is a finite resource derived from petroleum, sustainably harvested wood can be produced for an indefinite period of time. Wood also involves less energy and pollution than plastic, and it is usually not overpackaged to the same degree.
Health Benefits of Wooden Toys
If you have a young child, such as a baby or toddler, you should consider the possible health effects associated with plastic. Plastics often contain neurotoxic compounds such as phthalates and bisophenol-A (BPA). In theory, these can disrupt a young child's mental and neurological development. Provided they are not adorned with lead-tained paint, wooden children's toys do not contain any compounds taht are harmful to a child's health.
Educational Benefits of Wooden Toys
Many modern, colorful toys discourage creativity and reinforce the culture of distraction. Toddlers who play with noisy, flashing contraptions do not learn the importance of creativity and delayed gratification. Their mental development suffers because they do not learn to use imaginative play. However, wooden toys encourage creativity, problem-solving skills, fine motor development and other important traits for strong educational development in children.
Character-Developing Benefits of Wooden Toys
Wooden toys command a child to come up with his own games, rather than expecting the world to produce an instant reward for simple actions. Children who play with wooden toys learn to be happy with simple, humble playthings; they view high-tech toys with awe and gratitude. Wooden toys help to develop a child's character in addition to supporting his health and education.
As a mother, I'm grateful that my daughter enjoys playing with simple, old-fashioned wooden toys. I believe that they have helped to enhance her emotional, physical and educational development in ways that flashier toys can not accomplish.
