Why You Should Switch to Wooden Toys for Your Child

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Did you know that approximately 80% of plastic toys end up in a landfill site? Yes, plastic toys are durable, washable and sturdy, but they aren’t biodegradable. So, when a child has outgrown their much-loved plastic toys, the only option is to throw them away. Some are incinerated, leading to the release of toxic fumes and increasing the amount of carbon in the atmosphere, whilst others often end up floating in the ocean, contributing to the current environmental crisis and harming marine life. However, the good news is that there are eco-friendly alternatives available on the market, such as wooden ones from brands like Jaques of London. Read on to find out why you should make the switch to wooden toys for your child today:

They are sustainable

There’s no doubt that wooden toys are much more eco friendly than your average plastic toys, but they are also a good long term investment, which makes them budget friendly for those wanting to cut household costs. If you feel your child has outgrown them, you can simple donate them or easily recycle them, leading to minimal environmental damage, as the materials used to manufacture them are most likely sustainably sourced and they are often coloured using toxic-free pigments.

They are durable

Plastic toys are prone to breaking due to their weak composition, when compared to wooden toys, making them unsafe if broken or chipped, as small parts can easily be ingested by young children. On the other hands, wooden toys are durable, so they’ll be more likely to survive any accidents, leading to a lower turnover of toys in your household. Moreover, if they look a bit grubby, they can easily be wiped clean, whilst care must be taken with a plastic toy which contains electronic counterparts. Therefore, you simply can’t go wrong with wooden toys, especially if you plan to pass them down to other children, like this stunning Shape Sorter.

They offer educational value

With the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, it has been reported that screen time has increased amongst individuals. Therefore, wooden toys may be a welcome distraction in your home for your children. Due to a lack of electronic parts or voices, wooden toys can help children with developing their reasoning skills, problem solving skills, hand eye coordination and fine motor skills. Furthermore, plastic toys are unable to offer the same sensory experience that wooden toys are able to offer; they allow the exploration of various textures, shapes, sizes and weights which a smooth, shiny plastic toy would not be able to. Moreover, wooden toys are a great tool to encourage social interaction between children, helping them to develop their awareness, such as this Dinosaur Car Park.

So, what are you waiting for?