Welcome to our ‘ Disadvantages Of Wooden Toys (Are There Any Disadvantages?) ‘ guide
Wooden toys have many benefits over electronic and/or plastic toys. They are more reliable, more sentimental, and they do not require environmentally unfriendly batteries. But, are there any disadvantages to wooden toys?
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Under certain circumstances, wooden toys can have disadvantages. Because they are made out of wood, they tend to be harder, and susceptible to the same things that affect all woods.
Let’s look at some of the disadvantages in more detail, as well as how you can avoid them.
4 Disadvantages of Wooden Toys And How To Avoid Them
Hardness
Just like your solid dining room table, wooden toys are made from durable wood. Wood is used in construction because it is hard and can withstand punishment. In this same way, the hardness of the wooden toys can be a bad thing.
Children may at times enjoy throwing toys around. This may be because the story they imagine features a throw, or they just enjoy throwing things around—I think we all do at certain times. Because the toys are solid, this may cause a problem, either for others or the house.
A way to stop children throwing hard wooden toys around is to teach them not to. By removing the toy and telling the child they are not allowed to play with it if they throw it, the child will hopefully soon learn that throwing is not allowed.
Positive reinforcement is also an excellent way of teaching children. Rather than scolding their bad behavior, you applaud their good behavior. It is easier for a child to actively be well behaved, than to not be badly behaved.
On the other hand, lighter wooden toys can also be found. Different types of wood have different weights. Woods that are lighter in color tend to be lighter in weight, such as cedar wood. When picking out a wooden toy, make sure to check the weight of it. As the weight will relate to the hardness.
Mold
Some wooden toys can have a mold problem. This is easily fixed by keeping the toy in a dry spot to allow any surface water to evaporate off. If mold starts to grow, a simple liquid made up of water and vinegar can be used to clean the toy.
Make sure to let the toy dry fully before giving back to the child. This will stop mold from growing again.
Check out our ‘ How To Remove Mold From Wood Toys ‘ Article
Mold is quite rare on toys, and will only grow under specific conditions. As long as you monitor the toys and make sure they are staying dry, you shouldn’t have a problem.
Because wooden toys are tactile, they are more susceptible to nature. Therefore, they might actually be a good way to teach your child about cleaning their environment. Perhaps introduce them to the idea that it is important to clean things before use will have an impact on them in later life.
Splinters
Wooden toys can be an issue for children who use their mouths a lot. Some young children will constantly put things in their mouth as a way of felling the object. This is because a child’s mouth can feel objects better than their developing hands.
If a child puts a damaged wooden toy into their mouth, it might lead to a splinter. Although rare, this can happen on occasion. Splinters can be removed with tweezers.
Modern wooden toys are designed with the possibility of splintering in mind. Companies will test their products for splintering and will alter the shape and finish of the wood before finalizing the design. As long as you buy from a reputable source, splintering is very rare.
Less Functions
This can be seen as both an advantage and a disadvantage, depending on where you stand. Wooden toys lack some of the exciting functions that electronic toys can provide. However, this also allows for the child to use their imagination when playing with the toy.
Rather than watching the electronic toy perform one function, your child can create their own imaginative world with the wooden toy. Toys like wooden cars can become a car in any story your child thinks of.
Imaginative childhood play is thought to be linked with open-mindedness in adult life. Your child’s brain will be far more stimulated if they have to imagine their own stories rather than be told what a toy is for.
Final Thoughts
Wooden toys, like anything, are not without their disadvantages. However, they are better for the environment, better for your child’s developing mind, and far less fiddly.
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