Kiddipedia
Media brought to you by Le Toy Van
Toys assist children in their cognitive, emotional, and social development during the formative years of life. The provision of engaging, educational, and mentally stimulating toys is pivotal in supporting children to advance through educational pillars, whilst making learning fun.
We live in a technologically driven world, and many studies have shown 90% of toys are made of plastic such as polyethylene and polypropylene. Many parents are unsure how to best dispose of toys at the end of their play life. It can be challenging to locate sites that recycle hard plastics, as a result toys are incinerated or end up in landfill.
When choosing the most effective toys for your children, it is worthwhile to note the benefits of non-hazardous, sustainable toys for our children’s health and the health of our world.
To help, we talk with our friends at Le Toy Van who have been industry leaders in designing sustainable toys in England for over 25 years.
Top 5 reasons why sustainable toys are better for our children
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Encourage Growth and Creativity
Young children may become overstimulated by electronic or battery-operated toys with lights and noise. Sensory overload can present adverse behaviours that can test the patience of parents . The simplicity and naturalness of wooden toys allows children, especially those who are neurodiverse or sensitive to stimuli, to better focus on learning new fine-motor and problem-solving skills through play.
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Durable and Safe for your child
When choosing high-quality toys, it is worth noting wooden toys are more durable than plastic and are not broken as easily. Plastic toys will often break down and become unstable with exposure to sun and create a risk of injury to your child from sharp edges or small parts. Unlike plastic toys, wooden toys possess natural antibacterial properties that means that bacteria will die on the surface instead of multiply.
Toys made of plastic cannot be compared to the quality of those made of wood or recycled rubber wood. When your child plays with an eco-friendly toy, you can be assured that it will not break easily.
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Reduce your carbon footprint with non-toxic, sustainable wooden toys
When babies get their hands on anything, they frequently want to put it in their mouths. Many plastic-made goods also contain BPA which can be harmful to babies. The ideal toys for young children, especially mouthing babies, to play with are manufactured from natural materials such as wood, cotton or rubber that are safe for the child and the environment.
Most forms of plastic are not biodegradable and are unstable as they breakdown often releasing toxins into the environment. Many parents make the switch to eco-friendly playthings out of concern for their children’s impact on the environment. Products made of wood, rubber or cotton are recommended because they decompose naturally or may be recycled. Even if they break, there will be no ongoing issues with trash containment. In contrast, plastics accumulate in landfills.
Purchasing natural wooden toys for infants and toddlers is a great way to introduce children to the importance of being environmentally responsible and minimizing their carbon footprint.
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High Quality with a gorgeous and classic aesthetic
Each wooden toy is crafted with the same love and precision as a fine work of art. There is a pride in creating items that will be part of a family for generations. High quality wooden toys are designed in a classic style and often feature hand painted details. Manufacturers, like Le Toy Van take pride in using high quality timber from sustainable forestry. Timber toys remain a decorative statement piece even after the child has grown.
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Suitable for every playroom and budget
Whether you subscribe to a minimalist playroom, Montessori, toy rotation or a more eclectic style, timber toys are available to suit your playroom style and budget.
Many eco-friendly choices are created with extended playtime in mind so that a single toy can be used for multiple play schemas.
There are respected manufacturers that produce a wide range of premium, non-toxic toys for all budgets. Toys can be expensive, so it’s essential to do some research to find the best option for your needs and budget.
Le Toy Van – Your one-stop destination for sustainable toys
It’s a win-win situation all around if you can find toys that are safe for your child and good for the environment. Synonymous with nature at every touch point the Le Toy Van range is crafted from sustainably sourced materials, repurposed wood and ethical production materials and painted with water-based non-toxic paint.
Le Toy Van has pledged to be plastic-free by 2023. Their cardboard boxes often feature cutouts to be used in play and are recyclable and compostable.
Among toy manufacturers, nobody does it better than Le Toy Van regarding eco-friendly products for children. The plastic content of their toys is kept to a minimum, and they are actively seeking alternative biodegradable, plant-based materials to replace the tiny amount of plastic currently utilised in the production of their toys.
Non-toxic paint and glue are used to embellish the toys by hand. Le Toy Van is committed to minimizing its environmental impact and working towards its goal of zero waste.
