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As parents, we want to get toys that are safe, durable and affordable for our kids.
So, when we’re shopping for toys, we often get overwhelmed making a decision on which to buy and which to forego.
One such dilemma is in deciding whether to buy wooden or plastic toys.
Well, this doesn’t have to overwhelm you. I got you covered.
I compiled five differences between plastic and wooden toys. Read on!
By Lilian.
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Differences in Durability
Let’s not even deny it. Kids are not very careful when handling stuff, even their toys.
So, as a parent, you want to get toys that will stand the test of time after a lot of running around with kids.
Well, most people agree that wooden toys are more durable than plastic toys.
This is especially true for those toys made from hardwood; they can hardly break, even when adults play with them.
Many plastic toys, even accidentally stepping on them, with your shoes on, will break them.
The dyers and stickers in these toys also fade away and tear quite fast.
Despite this, it’s not all shine for wooden blocks; they’re not so appealing, an aspect that leads us to the next difference between plastic and wooden toys – attractiveness.
Differences in Physical Attractiveness After Use
Both plastic and wooden toys are equally attractive when they’re new. The differences start to show after use.
Most wooden toys do not retain the original color.
After a year or two, while the plastic toys will look almost the same in terms of physical appeal, the wooden toy will have faded substantially.
This means that the wooden toys will require repainting after some time to gain back that physical appeal.
Differences in Eco-Friendliness
If you’re an environmental conservation enthusiast, then you probably know that plastic toys are not so good for the environment.
The material that makes plastic toys – ABS material – is non-biodegradable. This means that when the toys are depleted in use and finally land in the garbage, they will stay longer undecomposed.
Some scientists estimate that the ABS material could still be environmental waste 1,000 years from now!
Because of this, wooden toys are more eco-friendly than plastic toys.
Wood is perfectly biodegradable, so it contributes less environmental waste.
Differences in Cost
Well, there’s no denying that there’s a huge difference in price between wooden and plastic toys.
Upfront, high quality wooden toys are more expensive than plastic toys.
This price premium can be explained by the fact that wooden toys require high-skilled wood workmanship, which means high labor costs in the production process.
However, over time, most buyers appreciate that wooden toys are cheaper in the long run.
As mentioned earlier, wooden toys are pretty durable and unbreakable, especially if they’re made from hardwood.
This means you don’t have to keep replacing the toys every now and then – for instance, building blocks.
In this way, wooden toys are cheaper than plastic ones.
Differences in Safety
Every parent’s primary priority for their kid is safety.
Wooden toys are, to a great extent, safer than plastic toys.
Plastic toys can break easily, most of the time leaving sharp edges that could injure kids.
Because wood is sturdy, the risk of having these sharp edges is far much lower that with plastic toys, which makes wooden toys safer for kids.
Wooden toys rarely have pieces that break easily.
Breaking most wooden toys is difficult, even for an adult.
However, it’s important to remember that there’s a risk of toxicity for the wooden toys that have been painted or re-painted with any paint instead of a non-toxic paint for physical attractiveness.
The paint could have materials that are toxic for kids.
Conclusively, although wooden toys and plastic toys are different in many ways, they’re basically toys. That’s the most fundamental thing.
Choose what’s right for you and your child and let the rest pass by. Cheers!
Photo by Cottonbro.