Why are wooden toys the perfect playthings
Why are wooden toys the perfect playthings
Does there exist a thing that is the perfect toy? If yes, wooden toys might be closest. Maria Montessori was a fan of real Montessori wooden toys toy made from natural materials, like wood, since they're safe, healthy and stimulating for children. They're also durable and beautiful Some of the oldest toys found were made from wood.
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A basic, beautiful wooden toy is able to captivate the attention of a child without causing them to panic and can spark the child's imagination without direct.
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Here are eight reasons to consider wooden toys:
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Helps children concentrate
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Research indicates that learning and play spaces that contain natural elements such as wood can help children focus on their task, concentrate, and relax more than other kinds of environments. In particular, the act of playing with wood physically calms children, so the play with wood toys could affect the neuromuscular function of the brain of children.
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A study conducted in 2017 by The National Institutes of Health found that "contact with wood can trigger psychological relaxing." In a time of constant stimulation and overstimulation toys that create an unhurried and longer-lasting playing environment are beneficial for children as they begin develop their cognition.
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A lot more uses means less toys
There is a tendency to be less in the case of toys for toddlers and infants who may be overwhelmed by a myriad of choices. The minimalist rooms created by Montessori and Waldorf classrooms and homes illustrate this concept in action. they typically have smaller selections of flexible and open-ended wooden toys.
A study from 2018 gave the toddlers different play areas that had 16 toys, and the other with just four toys. It was concluded that "as determined by their sustained play and the variety for play," toddlers enjoyed an improved quality of games with this Four Toy condition compared to the Sixteen Toy condition."
Children naturally develop relationships with their toys -- and become more involved in their play when there are less options to pick from. The wide-ranging nature of wooden toys enables children to develop their own play styles and to spend longer with one toy.
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They encourage play and creativity and educate about the concept of cause and effect.
The market for toys is flooded with flashing lights and vivid colors screens, and loud sounds. Features like these provide immediate satisfaction to children of all ages However, they also tend 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. In the 9th month baby, for instance, they begin to comprehend the relationship between cause and effect. For instance, hitting a block on the ground creates a sound and dropping it makes it disappear. A wooden toy like the blocks set or a simple game can distill this idea down to its core: "when I do something that causes something else to occur as a result."
Wooden toys can also provide an exquisite tactile, open-ended "blank canvas" for children to discover at their own speed and according to their own preferences. The additional bells and whistles that can help make different toys attractive tend to limit and dictate how children interact with them.
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They're a calm beginning to real-life
Toys, from a variety of angles, provide a glimpse into the way that physical systems work They're among the first things kids touch, chew or play with. Simple wooden toys help teach the basics of the quiet, peaceful science of physics, cause and effect, and object permanence, as well as thinking, problem-solving, and many more fundamental subjects.
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They are a source of inspiration
Wooden toys are ideal for building new worlds right out of scratch. Blocks as well as others made of wood can be transformed into whatever the child desires to become and can be used to guide a child's growth from simple, symbolic play up to more complex play. Montessori teachers (like a lot of other teachers and caregivers) believe that natural, simple materials are often the best for engaging and long-lasting involvement.
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When children build an entire city, racing an old wooden car around or creating trains that stretch across the room, they are able to use their developing imaginations to build or invent, play with their imagination, create, and make.
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The children are introduced to physics and math
The first STEM toy wood blocks demand dexterity hand-eye coordination and a great deal of fine motor control in order to balance and stack. They also help develop essential skills in maths, like the ability to recognize patterns and pattern matches.
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There aren't any magnetics or linking systems to lock blocks together, children are required to focus on the coordination of their hands and eyes to build and balance various components. Early physics lessons are taught to children when a tower falls after the 6th block is put on top, and when the ball flies down an incline.
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They are the last
There's a reason why wooden toys are often the most frequently donated, passed down, and passed down. They're not impervious to destruction however, they're durable as they're taken good care of.
Montessori lets children explore playthings and toys in their own ways for toddlers and babies this could mean throwing, mouthing, or rolling. Safety is therefore crucial when selecting toys: which ones are going to be durable and secure as they grow older? The wood is one of the most secure materials that nature has to offer for children and babies.
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They're gorgeous
The aesthetics of a product may be a distant second on everyone's list of requirements when it comes to choosing toys However, it is important to consider beauty when selecting toys that will last. No matter if they're stained, painted or left as natural, wood furniture, toys, art, and other things are often visually appealing. The Montessori principle holds aesthetics in high regard clear lines, beautiful (but not excessively bright) colors, and precise organization all help create a tranquil learning atmosphere. Wooden toys are an ideal selection for these rooms as they're usually easily stackable, simple to clean up, and appealing to display.
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Read: Get the Best Montessori Wooden Gaby Toys
Best Things About Montessori Wooden Toys