Wooden Toys
For many parents and even sometimes the children themselves, modern toys with their flashing lights, realistic noises, and motion at the push of the button seem far more exciting than traditional wooden toys. But what are the real pros and cons?
It would seem from all the advertising these electronically enhanced toys get that there must be some real benefit to them. Many of them even claim to be educational, particularly the type that has children answer trivia or reading and arithmetic questions to win points in electronic games.
But studies show just the opposite. In a two year long study done at Stirling University on childrens educational toys no benefits could be identified from playing with electronic toys. None at all. In fact, they seem even to stunt a child’s mental development, hindering his ability to think creatively. The children’s thinking seemed to get stuck in the pattern created by the electronic device, which start and end with a single purpose.
On the other hand, traditional wooden toys, or their simple plastic counterparts (no batteries, please!) were less restrictive. With them, the children were free to make up various games and outcomes. These toys inspired the activities so important for a young child’s development, namely role play, interaction, creative thinking, concrete sensory stimulation and general cognitive skills.
It seems that many of these electronic toys, with all their “bells and whistles”, in the end don’t allow the children to really play. Children’s play is a mental as well as a physical exercise. An electronic toy takes the mental work out of play by performing electronically some or all of the noises, motions or actions that a child’s imagination used to supply.
Electronic toys are about as effective mentally and educationally as a motorcycle is physically. A motorcycle takes the work out of getting from point A to point B, but what you want for physical health is a good hard pedal on an old-fashioned bicycle to develop strong muscles and general cardio-vascular health.
Parents and educators are recognizing this, and there’s a popular trend toward simpler, more traditional childrens educational wooden toys, especially for the youngest tots. While plastic toys as long as they are simple (again, no batteries or intricate detailing, please) can be very beneficial and have just as much play value as their wooden counterparts, there are some additional benefits to wood.
For one thing, wooden toys are more durable. They will last through multiple children and even multiple generations, creating family traditions as children play with the heirloom toys their parents enjoyed growing up. There’s also a pleasant solidity to wood and this appeals to children. There are even environmental benefits, since wood is a natural product.
So when you are selecting childrens educational toys, take the time to seek out more traditional wooden toys. Foster your child’s sense of creativity and wonder, give him the freedom to really play. He will be happier, healthier, and smarter all his life.