For lotsof people, wooden toys are nostalgic and tactile , from building blocks and teething rings to classic train sets and rocking horses, they have so much more character and personality than insubstantial factory manufactured plastic ones. Modern toys are predominantly made with plastics, over 95% of all toys these days lining the shelves of cavernous toy stores are made in the Far East from man-made, unsustainable, oil based materials and metals. What should we consider when buying toys? A wooden toy has great durability and quality, for even the toughest toddler, charging cars into the skirting boards, they should last for years to pass along to brothers and sisters, and eventually have pride of place on a book shelf as a happy memory and well crafted ornament. If you consider environmental reasons, and the resources needed to make wooden toys, these can be managed sustainably with good forestry and re-planting schemes, ensuring the trees are treated as a crop which can be continually harvested. One type of wood frequently used in toy production is rubber-wood. The trees are drained for their sap which is used to make types of rubber, and once past a certain age, they will stop producing so they are harvested, therefore this wood is actually a by-product, which had historically been burnt to dispose of, but now manufacturers are making use of these left-over's! On the other hand, metals and plastics are a finite resource which are depleting at alarming rates. Drilling for oil and mining for metals, and the processing involved is very destructive and polluting. When we think of the eventual destination of the army of broken toys, the wooden ones obviously break down as any naturally occurring biodegradable material. On the other hand, plastics and metals will remain for centuries, leaching toxins and chemicals into our land. The safety of plastics should also be mentioned, toxic chemicals in plastics are very important if you consider how babies and toddlers love to chew anything to hand especially for teething youngsters, there is a possibility they could be ingesting small parts and chemicals in plastics. Studies have also shown that plastics containing phthalates (found in PVCs) also contain heavy metals like lead and cadmium, all of which are also highly toxic and have been linked to numerous serious medical conditions. Another worrying element BPAs (Biphenyl A) is commonly used to line metal food tins and also in teething rings, plastic drinking bottles, baby bottles and beakers. Researchers have found amounts of this chemical in people who eat a large amount of pre-packaged food, and also made links towards types of cancer and infertility. Fun and education of course also play a key part in choosing toys for children. There is also something to be said for introducing children to how their toys have been made, planting the notion that wooden toys come from trees, educating your little ones in how things are made will make them a well informed individual! Playing with building blocks, letters and numbers, or an old-school abacus, traditional toys offer a huge variety of learning opportunities and key literacy and numeracy skills. Role-play games can also give hours of fun with toys such as black-boards, cookers, work-benches and push-chairs, playing at being mummy, daddy and teachers you'll certainly experience new traits in your children's personality! With so much to consider, anyone would think parents had a choice, but we all know it's the little people in the house-hold who have the final say, so let's help them choose wisely!
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