Today, like everyone, parents are growing more aware of the environmental impact of the toys they bring for their children.
Moreover, there is a growing trend for sustainable and eco-friendly toys for babies and toddlers that are both safe and hygienic for play.
Montessori toys are based on the philosophy of simplicity and exploration. Let’s explore how wooden Montessori toys spark educational play in kids and are also a better alternative over other toys.
Sustainable Play: Wooden Toys vs Plastic Toys
Wood is a natural material and has been in use for making millions of things for so many years. Wood has a calm and relaxing impact on adults and children alike. Therefore, studies have identified the positive impact of wooden toys on kids. As children touch them, they feel calm and more attached to their natural surroundings. This boosts mood and promotes sensory development.
Eco-friendly Manufacturing of Montessori Toys
As previously mentioned, Montessori toys prioritise simplicity, functionality, and durability for children. Their easy and child-friendly craft ensures they don't overwhelm or overstimulate children.
Toys that are bright and colourful can overstimulate children. As their eyes are still developing, having too many loud colours at once can be difficult for them to process. Parents adore toys with pastel shades because it's always better to use muted colours.
Slow and Intentional Play with Montessori
Montessori principles are based on thoughtfulness while playing, which implies slow and meaningful play that makes children learn and explore at their own pace, without overwhelming them.
Montessori play encourages open-ended play, which means children can use the toy in many ways, encouraging their creativity and thinking prowess. Unlike plastic toys that are quite colourful and often come with a standard way of playing, wooden toys offer opportunities for open-ended play and self-exploration in children.
Generally, wooden toys are more durable than plastic toys. Plastic toys often break easily in rough play sessions. However, wooden toys are the ones that flow through generations.
Reusing Wooden Toys
One of the marvels of wooden toys is their capacity to be repurposed and reused. This is why wooden toys are often passed down through generations. Wooden toys are mostly sturdy and durable and can endure many rough play sessions, making them ideal for naughty kids who love to smash their toys.
Due to the longevity factor, even if a child outgrows a wooden toy, it can be kept safe, passed to the next generation, or donated to schools, daycare centres, or charities. This ensures continued use of these lovely toys.
Here are some quick and intriguing ways to reuse wooden toys:
- Painting and Refurbishing: Sometimes a fresh coat of non-toxic water paint is all you need to make an old toy feel brand new and ready to use again.
- DIY Projects: Turn your children’s old wooden toys, like the wooden blocks, shape towers, and other stacking games, into fun art and craft projects and DIY activities to nurture creativity. This in turn promotes open-ended play, as children can create infinite matches from their existing wooden toy collection.
- Educational Repurposing: Even if your child outgrows their wooden toys, you can always use them to teach younger kids numbers, counting, and alphabets.
By thinking beyond the generic uses of your kid’s toys, you can not only increase their lifespan but can also take a sustainable approach by eliminating and reducing waste.
Conclusion
For parents who want to ensure their children get the best childhood years without compromising with the environment, wooden Montessori toys are the solution. With the eco-friendly practices that make them and the subtle yet powerful ways of learning that they blend together, Montessori toys ensure that children actually learn while playing.
We hope that the guide above gave you useful insights and will help you find the next best toy for your kids. Explore our entire collection of toys at Barnshenn for newborns and toddlers. Are you in search of additional inspiration? Hop on to our social media handles, like TikTok, Pinterest, and Instagram, for more gift inspiration for toddlers. See you in the next blog.
