Why Choose Natural Toys?
Allan Alomes, father of 2, and co-founder of Natural Pod
Modern life provides endless opportunities for passive entertainment. Children can become detached from their own play, learning little about the word that surrounds them. By encouraging imaginative and dramatic play, parents can create a richer, deeper environment in which their child will thrive.
After our son was born, as parents, we both felt the need to give him a chance to discover and truly play. We were so overwhelmed by all the toys: pushing a button to make something walk, talk, or dance, instruments that played electronic songs automatically, large plastic toys that seemingly did nothing, highly marketing children's characters that would have the full suite of merchandise to follow (bedspreads, plates, cups, shirts...), the list goes on. We knew there had to be other options!.
Where to Start?
The first two years of life are key in a child's physical, emotional, and intellectual growth. Parents should consider products that are natural, environmentally friendly, and that are child-centred and encourage creative and dramatic play.
Simple Choices
Simple, open-ended, toys are the key. Toys that are not completely detailed allow children to use their imaginations. Creative play builds and nourishes this imagination as well as enhancing their cognitive, emotional and social development. By providing a few basic elements conducive to creative play into your home you will promote a healthy, natural early childhood education for your children.
Cloths and playsilks are one of the most useful toys in our home. Each day they are pulled from their basket to form play mats making fields, hills and rivers, to make into costumes, puppets, houses on playstands or tents; the uses and inventions are endless! You can swirl and fly playsilks in the wind. Just wonderful!
Dolls with simple features and classic design allow the child to decide if the baby is laughing, crying, or sleeping.
Children love to stack, sort, build, and count. Wooden building blocks and stacking toyshave a great deal of versatility. Children will bring them out over and over again creating everything from castle walls to towering structures.
Why Wood?
In our often disposable, throw-away society, wooden toys are a natural, environmentally friendly choice for parents. They are also a safe choice. Unlike plastic, bacterial cannot grow on wood. Unlike plastic, there is no off-gassing during the production or after the completion of making wooden toys. Furthermore, wooden toys are sturdy, well-crafted and have quality parts resulting in less breakage. If it were to break, it can be easily fixed and importantly, it is recyclable. You can't do that with plastic!
Natural Pod carries natural items for play and daily living that are mindful, creative and inviting for your family. You can visit them at www.naturalpod.com or via email at info@naturalpod.com.