Do you know if there exists such a thing that is the perfect toy? If yes, then wooden toys might be closest. Maria Montessori loved “real” playthings made from natural materials, like wood, because they’re safe, healthy and uplifting for children. They’re also beautiful and long-lasting Some of the earliest toys discovered were made out of wood.

A basic, beautiful, and well-crafted wooden toy can captivate the attention of a child without overpowering them. It can also stimulate their imagination , without having to direct it.

Here are eight reasons to consider wooden educational toys:

They can help children concentrate.

Studies suggest that learning and playing spaces with natural elements like wood can help children focus and focus. They also relax more than other kinds of environments. In particular, the act of being physically near the wood can help children relax and makes it clear that the play with wood toys could affect the neuromuscular function of the brain of a child.

A study conducted in 2017 by The National Institutes of Health found that “contact with wood can trigger relaxation of the body.” In the midst of constant stimulation and overstimulation play, toys that encourage an unhurried and longer-lasting playing environment are beneficial to children’s development and the development of their brains.

A lot more uses = less toys

The less is usually more in the case of toys for toddlers and babies who may be overwhelmed by the sheer number of options. The minimalist rooms that are found in Montessori and Waldorf classrooms and homes illustrate this concept in action. They tend to have smaller selections of flexible wooden toys that are open-ended.

A study from 2018 gave an infant group two different play spaces that included 16 toys and one that had only four toys. The study concluded that “as measured by the amount of play and a variety of styles for play,” toddlers showed more enjoyable games when they played in this Four Toy condition compared to the Sixteen Toy condition.”

Children naturally develop closer relationships with their toys and become more involved in their play when there are fewer options to select from. The flexibility of wooden toys allow children to design their own methods of playing and also play longer playing with just one toy.

They encourage creativity and play, as well as teach causality and effect.

The market for toys is flooded with flashing lights, vibrant colors screens, loud sounds. These types of toys provide immediate satisfaction to children in the early years however they can also lead to limit the opportunities for creative thinking and problem-solving play.

Since wooden toys are generally less complicated, they also aid in developmental milestones that fancy toys aren’t able to. When they reach 9 months old at the earliest, children begin to comprehend the relationship between cause and effect. For instance, hitting a block on the ground creates a sound while dropping it makes it disappear. A wooden toy, such as an asymmetrical set of blocks or a simple puzzle, boils this idea down to its core: “when I do something and it causes something else to occur as a result.”

Wooden toys can also provide the most beautiful tactile, flexible “blank canvas” for children to play at their personal speed and according to their own preferences. The bells and whistles that help make different toys attractive tend to limit and dictate how children interact with them.

They’re an easy introduction to life in the real world

Toys, in a variety of ways can be a great introduction to how the physical world operates They’re one of the first things children come in contact with, eat as well as play with. Simple wooden toys help teach peaceful, calm lessons in Physics, cause and effects persistence of objects, imagination, problem-solving as well as many other fundamental topics.

They are a source of inspiration

Wooden toys are ideal to create new worlds out of scratch. The wooden blocks and toys are able to be transformed into whatever a child would like to make them, and will allow children to progress from simple play to up to more complex play. Montessori educators (as as other teachers and caregivers) believe that natural, simple materials are often the best for lasting and meaningful involvement.

If children are creating the city of their dreams, driving an old wooden car around or creating an entire train track that runs across the room, they are able to use their developing imaginations to construct and invent, create with their imagination, create, and make up.
They teach children about mathematics and physics

The first STEM toys, wooden blocks require dexterity and hand-eye coordination, and a lot of fine motor skill in order to balance and stack. They also help develop essential skills in math learning such as pattern matching and recognition.

There are no connecting mechanisms or magnets to ensure that blocks are locked Children must concentrate on the coordination of their hands and their eyes to construct and balance the various blocks. The children learn physics early when a tower falls after the sixth block is put on top, and when the ball flies down the ramp.

They’ve been there since

There’s a reason that wooden toys are often the ones that are most often given away, handed down and passed down. They’re not impervious to destruction but they’re extremely durable, as when you’re taking good care of them.

Montessori lets children explore playthings and toys according to their individual preferences for toddlers and babies this could mean throwing, mouthing, or rolling. This is why safety is crucial when selecting toys: which ones are going to be durable and in good condition as they grow older? It is among the most secure material that nature has to offer for children and babies.

They’re gorgeous

The aesthetics of a product might not be on every list of things to consider when making a toys, but it is true that beauty is essential when it comes to choosing toys that last. If stained, painted, or left unfinished, wooden furniture, toys, art and other items are generally attractive visually. The Montessori principle holds aesthetics in high regard clear lines, beautiful (but not excessively bright) colours, and precise arrangement all contribute to a peaceful learning atmosphere. Wooden toys are a perfect selection for these rooms as they’re usually easily stackable, simple to clean up and beautiful to exhibit.