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Wooden toys for the intelligent 21st century consumer
Nowadays people are becoming more informed about the state of the environment. Ecological responsibility is no longer mainly concentrated in environmentalist circles or the self-righteous ideology of hippies and new agers, but is actually becoming an immediate expectation that concerns the average person. In the 21st century, simplicity and going green are what is aspired to, as opposed to opulence, over-consumption, and materialism—traits that defined the Industrial age. Ecological and organic products are becoming trendy, with the terms natural, organic, healthy, and minimal as the by-word of every hip product on the street. Educational children’s toys are no exception.
Toy companies have joined the campaign in going green, selling and marketing toys that are made from all-natural, organic materials as opposed to mass-produced toys made of plastic. One of the most popular ecological toys is wooden toys.
Is wood truly environmental?
Some people may argue that wood toys are bad for the environment because they are made of wood (which comes from trees) and therefore contribute to the denuding of forests. To mass produce toys made out-of-wood, plenty of trees are needed to be cut. This is why when choosing a wooden toy make sure that it is FSC-certified. This ensures that the wood used to make the toy was logged responsibly and sustainably. Trees are sustainable sources for raw materials and thus they can always be used and grown back. Logging should be strategically and systematically done however, so as not to denude a forest, taking into consideration that trees can grow after ten years of planting or more. Responsible logging is therefore very important. The most obvious reason that wood toys are better for the environment as opposed to synthetic toys is that they are made from natural materials and can therefore be recycled and reused, whereas synthetic toys will end up as waste products which have no future use and will only eternally pollute the earth.
Being truly responsible
Before buying toys made out of wood, research on the background of the Toy Company or manufacturer. One thing to check on to make sure that the company is doing their part in bettering the planet is a Fair Trade certification.
Fair Trade certification ensures that the workers who crafted the wooden products were fairly compensated and that no child labor was involved. If you truly want to take ecological responsibility seriously, you should opt for products manufactured as close to home as possible. Not only do you support local companies and artisans and foster community growth, you also help reduce oil and energy consumption in the form of transportation.
The charm of wood
Wood toys are simply more enduring than synthetic toys when it comes to lifelong value. Synthetic or plastic toys are cheap and disposable while wood toys can be passed on from one generation to another. The older it gets, the more value it has. Because wood is a natural material, it is more elegant and aesthetically appealing compared to plastic toys. Its beauty and function can outlast any passing generation, fad, or fashion, and can even be one day sold as an antique with a considerable value. Wood toys are crafted by hands and are, in a way, a work of art. Buying wood toys from local artisans encourages them to strive and improve in their craft, fostering creativity in their field. One of the most treasured toy made of wood are wooden dollhouses. These beauties can be as intricately and sophisticatedly designed as any real house.
There are even custom-made dollhouses that can be a model of your own home. These are surely invaluable not only for your daughter but for the whole family.
Safe for babies and toddlers
Because it is made from natural materials, wood toys are safe for babies and toddlers. There are baby rattles made of wood and are perfect for babies because they are safe to bight and chew which babies and toddlers are prone to do with their toys. Toys made out of PVC contain toxic chemicals that may be harmful for kids. When choosing baby and toddler toys such as wooden toy boxes, wooden blocks, and wooden rattles, make sure that they are made from 100% pure wood; maple or beechwood are durable and preferable. The paint that was used should be water-based and have no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which are known to be toxic. Beeswax is an organic and safe coating that will add durability to the wooden toy. Other things to watch out for and avoid are carcinogenic dyes, flame retardants, and insecticides. Baby rattles made out of wood are not necessarily boring. They come in many different shapes and sizes, as well as in multi-colors. The popular ones are animal rattles including fish, birds, and elephants.
Honing intelligence
For older kids past the age of being a toddler, wooden puzzles are a neat idea! There are simple puzzles and complex puzzles that can boggle even the mind of an adult, and can even be stimulating for a genius. There are also those who collect puzzles made out of wood because of their beautiful and elegant design.
Puzzles for kids can be as simple as wooden shapes designed for sorting into corresponding holes or cages. The shapes can be painted in different colors for better recognition. Others are three-dimensional blocks that can be formed together akin to playing Tetris. These sort of toys help develop motor skills, classification and identification of colors and shapes, as well as reason and logic. More complicated puzzles are brain teasers that can involve numbers, calculations, strategy, and ingenuity.
Toys for boys
Of course, the most popular toys made of wood are toys made for boys. These include model airplanes, helicopters, trucks, cars, and trains. Father and son can have a lot of fun together building tracks and highways made of wood.
These toys are often sold in pieces and are meant to be put together to form a complete toy. In a way, they also function as a puzzle. These toys are not only fun but they are also highly educational!
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