Childhood is the time when children do nothing but play. It can be said that they learn while playing. You can also say that it is their way of learning. Perhaps it is the reason why all preschool activities involve playing. They use educational games to teach children about the alphabet, numbers, shapes, sizes, colours, and relationships.
Traditional v/s Digital Games
The advent of gaming websites and mobile apps highlighted the darker side of gaming. They have shifted the focus from education to entertainment and addicted children of all ages. Parents are also concerned about the drawbacks of increased screen time and the reduction in educational value of online games. Traditional toys are both safe and educational.
Eco-Friendly Learning Toys
Traditional toys are again in demand. Children need educational games that are valuable for their lives. Manufacturers are busy making manual toys with sustainable and manmade materials. It is necessary for parents to understand the difference between eco-friendly toys and plastic products. By investing in wooden toys, they can teach children the value of environmental protection.
What Are Eco-Friendly Learning Toys?
Environmentally friendly toys are made from sustainable materials, like wood, bamboo, organic cotton, natural rubber, and recycled natural materials. The use of sustainable materials awakens children to environmental concerns. They understand the difference between natural ingredients and synthetic materials. It can prove to be a big step towards a greater goal of achieving environmental safety.
Eco-friendly toys also support sustainable manufacturing practices, such as using non-toxic, natural colours. Eco-friendly manufacturing reduces waste and saves the environment. For example, the damaged or outdated toys can be recycled to make new toys. In this way, eco-friendly toys can be made new again. However, it can’t be said about plastic toys that work on the “use-and-throw” principle.
Why Smart Play Matters in Early Childhood
Children play with everything they can get their hands on. Their curiosity encourages them to explore the world by using the things they can see and touch. If they see a toy car, they touch and run it to understand its functions and uses. It is called smart play, and it matters most in early childhood.
How smart play teaches children:
· They ask questions about things they can see, touch, and use
· They feel cold, warm, smooth, rigid, spongy, and hard surfaces.
· They build, sort, and stack similar objects.
· They play roles, such as a driver, cook, doctor, and pilot.
Children visualize flying airplanes by holding the aircraft in their hands and running. They also know how doctors behave. When they become chefs, they become more conscious about cleanliness and hygiene. Traditional toys teach real-life lessons, and for this reason, are still relevant for children. Digital games have little educational value compared to traditional toys.
Benefits of Eco-Friendly Learning Toys for Kids
Eco-friendly toys are 100% safe for everyone, including kids and the environment. Their natural ingredients cause no harm to anyone. They age naturally and can be recycled when they lose their value. However, safety isn’t the only benefit of investing in wooden toys. They are durable and mimic the objects they represent.
· Safe: Natural ingredients, paint, and polish are safe for kids. They neither decay nor produce toxic waste.
· Child-friendly Design: Wooden toys feature rounded corners and have no pointed or sharp edges that can harm children.
· Interaction: Eco-friendly toys, especially those made of wood, interact with children.
· Long-lasting: Wooden toys are built to last longer. They don’t break into pieces or are damaged beyond repair.
Eco-friendly toys look natural. They are a part of the environment. Children feel a natural connection to nature when playing with wooden toys. They know the wood comes from plants and respect the plant world. Similarly, they learn about other natural, eco-friendly materials.
Benefits for Conscious Parents and the Planet
Parents invest money in toys. If they buy plastic toys, their money is wasted. Plastic products have little educational value. For example, plastic doesn’t feel real or natural. It is slippery and quite sensitive to temperature changes. For example, it feels cold in winter and warm in summer. Plastic toys often break when they fall and sometimes injure kids.
Advantages of investing in eco-friendly toys:
· Increased return on investment and safety for the environment
· Supporting sustainable business practices, often in rural areas
· Setting examples for children to follow
· Encouraging children to accept recycled products
Parents can use eco-friendly toys to teach environmental protection to children. For example, they can describe the process of sourcing wood from nature and making toys from the wood. In this way, they can make children curious about environmental science. Eco-friendly toys can also double as decorative pieces. For example, a wooden pencil box is both a toy and an accessory.
Popular Types of Eco-Friendly Learning Toys
Eco-friendly toys are available in an exciting range of colours, features, functions, and educational value. The good thing is that manufacturers are continuously evolving their designs with new shades, patterns, and materials. Wood isn’t the only eco-friendly material used for toys. Manufacturers are experimenting with recycled wood and other materials. However, some toys are more popular. They are as follows:
1. Wooden Educational Toys
When it comes to buying eco-friendly toys, the first thing that comes to mind is building blocks, jigsaw puzzles, stacking rings, and shape sorters. Children love building activities. They try different designs, such as homes, bridges, and cars. Similarly, jigsaw puzzles help improve problem-solving skills. They create designs joining different pieces. Sometimes, they challenge each other in completing jigsaw designs in record time. These toys have one thing in common: they all are made of wood, preferably recycled wood. The reason behind choosing wood for these toys is its strength and safety features. Only lightweight wooden pieces are used, and the corners are rounded to prevent injuries.
2. Montessori & Open-Ended Toys
There is little need to introduce Montessori toys to children or parents. They are already popular as educational toys. Their open-ended design allows children to explore their features and functions. It fuels curiosity and makes kids more intelligent. Activity boards, sorting trays, and counting tools are prominent examples of Montessori toys. They are independent gaming. Children can learn many things, from the alphabet to numbers, shapes, and signs, when playing with these educational toys. They are so popular that even preschools have Montessori toys for students. The biggest highlight of Montessori design is that children don’t require assistance. They can learn to play the game on their own.
3. STEM-Based Eco Toys
STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Toys that strengthen the knowledge of basic science and math are called STEM-based toys. They are both entertaining and educational. However, it will be better to say that they introduce basic science and math skills to kids. The objective of these toys is to provide hands-on experience in science experiments and math problems. The latest toys also educate children on climate change and environmental protection. Playing with STEM toys is like trying scientific experiments or solving math puzzles. They help children become independent in thinking and approach. They start forming opinions on different topics.
4. Creative & Pretend Play Toys
Eco-friendly toys not only teach language, science, technology, and math, but also develop creativity. You will agree that not all children are equally interested in learning basic science. Your kid may be more interested in the art of roleplaying or storytelling. Such children find pretend play toys more interesting. For example, girls love spending time with dolls. They learn fashion, dressing, and beauty care while caring for their dolls. Similarly, foodie children play with kitchen sets. They learn to cook foods they like most. Parents should buy toys that interest their kids the most. The creative field is as wide and rewarding as science and technology.
5. Sensory and Motor Skill Toys
Educational toys address each area of development, including the mind and senses. Sensory and motor skill toys are designed to improve the basic senses of touch, sight, sound, and movement. Balance boards, bead mazes, and lacing activities improve coordination, muscle control, and spatial awareness. These toys are necessary for sensory and motor skills. Parents should know that digital games don’t have any activity that can help develop senses and motor movements. Eco-friendly toys are therapeutic in nature. They develop focus, balance, and a sense of measurement. Children learn to measure the size and weight of various objects with their hands.
Conclusion: Small Toy Choices, Big Impact
Children who spend their free time playing games achieve developmental milestones more quickly than their peers. Paediatricians also recommend educational games for kids. However, child specialists recommend manual toys and not digital games. They even alert parents to the health hazards associated with increased screen time among kids.
Eco-friendly toys provide a healthy alternative to harmful digital games. Wooden toys are both safe and durable. They have more educational value than mobile apps. Digital games may be more interesting, but they lack educational value. Eco-friendly toys are not only educational but also entertaining. They don’t contribute to toxic waste but protect the planet.
