No doubt when you’ve been out shopping for your little one you’ve noticed just how many toys contain some type of electronic devices. While some toys merely make sounds to entertain your little one, others offer simple computer games to stimulate problem solving skills. However, sometimes the original models are the best option. Classic wooden toys encourage a variety of important skills to support your child’s intellectual and physical development.
Every parent wants the best for their child – and here’s the secret:Â wooden toys provide intellectual stimulation without driving you crazy. Most wooden toys skip the inane, repetitive songs and encourage your little one to discover the world on his or her own terms. So what are the best wooden toys you ask? Good question. Here are three highly recommended toys that will not only keep your child engaged, but also stimulate their mental development.
Wooden Blocks
These never get old! Skip the modern plastic, interlocking blocks and go for the traditional wood blocks. Why? Because this toy not only encourages imagination, but also motor skill development as your child grasps and learns to balance the block to build higher and bigger structures. A variety of wooden blocks awaits your child, including EverEarth’s Wooden Block set as well as Fun Factory’s Wooden Block Castle. Whether you’re working on building a futuristic city or an ancient castle, these fun sets will provide afternoons filled with fun.
Wooden Stacking Toys
These classic toys not only encourage hand-eye coordination, but also logic development. In order to stack all of the rings, your child must be able to select the rings by size. The Rainbow Stacking Puzzle is a wonderful opportunity for your little one to not only learn about colors, but also about size. This is a great toy for travel too; it’s small and has fewer parts than a building block set.
Wooden Musical Instruments
What better way to introduce your little one to the world or music than through a traditional wooden instrument? Whether it’s a drum, flute, or castanets, these simple instruments can act as a gateway to developing a love of music. Musical toys are a great way to let your son or daughter learn about manipulation; in other words, if they hit the drum, blow into the flute, or shake the castanet, they learn that their actions can affect their environment. And they can have fun…what child doesn’t love making noise?
Wooden toys offer two additional benefits. First is their silence. The toy that laughs when you touch it may be cute the first ten times you hear it, but soon afterwards that laughter may very well grate on your last nerve! Second is their cost. The hidden cost of electronic toys exists in their battery consumption. And not only will you need to continually purchase batteries, but you’ll need to properly dispose of them once their time is up. So the next time you’re shopping, check out the wide variety of wooden toys-you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the colorful and imaginative toys available.
