The Superiority of Wooden Toys
A child learns through games and fun. He or she unconsciously chooses those toys that meet his or her current needs. The main role of toys in children’s life is not to amuse them, but to help in their development. Through games children learns and develops, so it does matter what kind of toy we give to our child. Toys have certain functions in the development of a child’s senses, motor skills, coordination of movements, psychomotor skills; they encourage imagination, learning and socialization. Since a child gradually goes through different development phases from birth and through childhood, his or her need for different types of toys changes with time. Therefore, you should provide your child with those toys that are adjusted to the age and needs of the child, not those that parents like.
Parents and relatives often make mistakes when choosing toys, because they want to express their love towards the child by purchasing the most expensive and the most complicated toy. Psychologists say that the most quality toy for a child is the one that’s simple and universal. The simplest things like a piece of wood encourage children’s imagination the most. That piece of wood can be a house, car, ship, chair, cake… For a proper development and fun, children don’t need expensive and branded toys at all. What’s important to a child is that the toy is adjusted to his or her age – complicated just as much as child needs in certain age. If the toy is too simple for their age and level of development, it won’t motivate them. If it’s too complicated, the child won’t understand it and it will frustrate him or her. A child can perfectly play with the most ordinary house things like plastic cups, spoons, bowls, pillows, etc.
Characteristics of a good toy
A toy is considered to be good if it’s adjusted to the age and developmental needs of a child. A good toy should be simple in order to encourage a child’s imagination and creativity; a child should be able to play with it in many ways. The toy is considered to be good if it challenges a child to think, play with it, experiment, feel, and ask himself or herself questions and seek for answers. The toy should encourage development of psychic, motor, mental, social and emotional skills. A good toy should be nice, amusing, safe and high-quality and it should help child to learn and meet the world around him or her. Did you know that blocks, balls and stacking cups are considered to be the best existing toys?
Characteristics of a safe toy
The safety of any toy can’t be discussed without taking into consideration the age, skill level and temperament of a child. A child should always be given a toy that’s appropriate for his or her age. As the child gets older, more skilled and experienced, criteria that indicate a toy as a safe one are milder. However, regardless of the child’s age, there are several characteristics that a toy should have.
- A toy has to be firm enough so it wouldn’t fall apart to smaller parts that could cause injury to a child during games, throwing and falling. For children under the age of 3 who are putting everything they find in their mouths, parts of toys should be larger than their mouth so that children wouldn’t swallow them or inhale them.
- Toys must be made of healthy and safe materials and they shouldn’t contain toxic chemicals and paints.
- Toys a child can sit or climb on, must be stabile.
- Toys shouldn’t have sharp parts or edges that could cut the child.
- Toys shouldn’t make noise, because it can damage the child’s hearing.
- Toys should be designed to be easily washed or cleaned.
Advantages of wooden toys
Traditionally wood is considered to be an ideal material for making toys. Toys made of wood lasts longer and they enrich children’s space. Wooden toys were used 3000 years BC in ancient Egypt, and have remained until today. Nowadays, when market is full with industrial plastic toys from mass production, which are often of suspicious quality and almost always short-lived, wooden toys are completely their opposites. They contain a spirit of tradition and longevity and they are handmade and unique.
Young children put every toy in their mouth. Wood is natural material and it’s certainly much safer in children’s mouth than any plastic toy. Wooden toys are generally simpler than plastic ones and they enable children to use their imagination while playing with them. Wooden toys are more durable than plastic toys. Plastic toys get broken easily while wooden toys can stand much more punches and falls. Wooden toys are safe, without any health risk and more suitable than any other material. Therefore, educational toys for preschool children and young school kids, such as building blocks, puzzles and similar, are made of wood. These toys are durable and they will last for many years without any damage. Wooden toys can often be made from scrap or from recycled wood, thus they become not only cheaper but also environmentally friendly.
World of Wood
All the toys we manufacture are made of wood, without or with the minimum of metal parts. Wood is a natural material that’s not harmful, it doesn’t brake and it’s easy to maintain. Surfaces of the toys are smoothed and edges are rounded, parts of the toys are well embedded and glued so that they wouldn’t fall off during use. They have a simple design and smooth lines so that children can easily hold them. Glue and colours used on our toys are non-toxic, harmless and are bright to attract attention. We have no doubt that your standards regarding toys you give to your children are very high. Therefore World of Wood places at your disposal toys made with the safety and development of your child in mind, as well as the enjoyment and lastingness of the toy itself.
