Toys have been excavated from archeological sites dating back to 3000BC. Wooden toys in particular are said to date back to the ancient Egyptians where dolls were made of wood and pottery. Past civilisations utilised natural materials which were widely available, wood being one of these materials. Wooden toys have always been available although the use of plastics and other man made materials made wooden toys fall from favour with many parents.
Times are changing once again with environmental issues in the news daily, many parents are keen to reduce the use of plastic and are choosing wood as an environmentally friendly alternative. I especially like toys made from rubberwood. Rubberwood has a very attractive grain and a solid feel, it is easy to machine and shape so it is ideal for making lovely shaped toys. Environmental wise the rubberwood was in the past a byproduct of the latex industry. Trees were discarded and burned once they had reached to end of their latex producing life. These discarded trees are now used to produce toys, Plan toys and I'm Toy are two manufacturers that use this method and the toys produced are really lovely.
Wooden toys are durable and relatively safe although as with all toys you should ensure that your child plays with age appropriate toys. Be especially aware of toys with small parts which can be a choking hazard for small children. If you have children of different ages it is a good idea to have a play session with both children using toys suitable for the younger child, the older child will have fun interacting and teaching their younger sibling and will enjoy revisiting old favorite toys.
Regularly inspect your child's toys for signs of wear and tear and loose parts as even the strongest toys can eventually show signs of damage. I look for wooden toys that use water based dyes rather than paints, they look great as you still get to see the grain of the wood rather than a thick coat of paint. It is a good idea to look at the sort of adhesive used on the toy, there are child safe adhesives on many wooden toys.
Wooden toys now come in all forms from simple building blocks to parking garages and train stations. The benefit of wooden toys is that they remain simple, there are no flashing lights and music to distract. Children will benefit from using their imaginations to create their own games with or without siblings, friends or parents. Role playing situations with garage or play kitchen type toys are great for cognitive development and developing fine motor skills. I would also recommend toys that are not gender specific - boys love play kitchens as much as girls so why paint them pink? Dollshouses are another example of a traditionally girls toy which should and can be enjoyed by boys.
So in summary wooden toys have a long history for a reason they are durable, safe for your child and likely to be better for the environment. They will offer years of quality play value and can then be passed on for another child to enjoy. I firmly believe they represent an excellent investment.
I have first hand experience of wooden toys as a mum of two boys and co director of an online toy shop. If you would like to see some of the wooden toys mentioned in the article please visit Jack Ted and Dolly
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