Are wooden toys worth the price tag?

In an age of talking dolls, blinking robots and toys that seem to require software updates, the humble wooden figurine might seem... quaint. A relic from a slower time. But beyond their strong sustainability credentials, what is it that makes them truly worth the price?

Quite simply, they do less and ask more of the child. And that’s precisely where the magic lies.

A feast for the senses…
Plastic toys tend to feel much the same - light, hollow, and often suspiciously sticky. Wooden toys, by contrast, offer warmth, weight, and texture. There’s a certain quiet satisfaction to the feel of smooth wood in the hand, the soft grain under the fingers, even the faint smell of timber that reminds you of school classrooms or your grandfather’s shed. For children, it’s a more grounded, sensorially rich experience. 

Let’s talk about durability
Durability is one of wooden toys’ most redeeming features. While many plastic toys are prone to snapping, shedding wheels, or mysteriously losing their heads, wooden toys are made of sterner stuff. They’re not indestructible—no toy is entirely childproof—but they do hold their own remarkably well. They also age with grace. A few scuffs, a chewed corner here or there—they wear it all like badges of honour. Many families find that wooden toys become heirlooms, passed down from one generation to the next.

They spark creativity
Wooden toys are, in the best possible way, quite uneventful. They just sit there.
Without all the bells and whistles, children are free to bring their own imagination to the play. A block becomes a castle tower. A wooden horse becomes a unicorn. A set of rings becomes a stack of doughnuts, a steering wheel, or a crown. Simplicity invites invention.

The aesthetic and timeless charm
Let’s be honest—plastic toys can be, well… an eyesore. Wooden toys, on the other hand, tend to come in soft colours and elegant shapes that blend into your home. They’re the kind of toys you don’t mind leaving out on the coffee table.

Then there’s the crux of the matter…
The world is drowning in plastic pollution, and we need to find ways to do things differently. Plastic pollution is a huge global issue—and toys are part of the problem. In the UK alone, we throw away millions of toys each year, most of which can’t be recycled. Wooden toys, especially when made from sustainably sourced and certified wood, are a gentler option for the environment. They can be reused, repurposed, and eventually returned to the earth.

In a culture of disposability, wooden toys offer a quiet resistance. They last. They invite imagination. They’re gentler on the planet. And they look rather nice while doing so. Yes, they often cost more up front but over time, they tend to prove their worth. Some things are worth paying for. Invest now and you're likely to end up feeling rather pleased with your own good judgement— especially when you find yourself arranging them just so on the shelf, long after the children have gone to bed.

 Discover our range of wooden toys in our StoryBoxes.