It’s fair to say that we’ve all become increasingly aware of the impact that plastic waste can have on future generations.
Many toy retailers are now introducing wooden or eco-versions of their bestselling toys and shifting to more sustainable packaging and it’s certainly a step in the right direction.
Whilst they may initially cost more than their plastic alternatives, wooden toys are a far more environmentally friendly and make for a sustainable choice for your children’s playtime.
When choosing toys made from high-quality and durable wood, gone are the days of a room full of garish, bright colours. Instead, many wooden toys are based on a neutral, colour palette that embraces Scandi and Montessori vibes.
Instead of battery-filled, noisy and heavily packaged toys based on popular trends and characters, most wooden toys will never really go ‘out of fashion’ and can easily be passed onto siblings and friends when outgrown. They also encourage children to use their imagination and embrace their creativity - crucial life skills for our children as they grow up.
What to consider when buying wooden toys
When it comes to choosing wooden toys for your children, here are some things you may want to bear in mind:
- Cost - How much are you willing to spend? Wooden toys can vary in price fairly significantly depending upon the type of wood used. Some smaller sets can start at around £15, whilst larger, more interactive playsets can set you back up to £100. If you have multiple children, a larger, double-sided playset may certainly be worth the investment, whilst a smaller, more budget-friendly option may be sufficient for an individual child.
- Quality - It’s important to consider the quality of the materials used. Some of the highest quality wooden toys will be made from beech, hardwood, maple or birch, whilst cheaper options may not be as hardwearing or durable. If you’re looking to purchase a truly sustainable toy, look out for FSC-certified wood which is ethically sourced and manufactured. It’s worth remembering that some playsets may not be entirely wood, so check the full specification if you want to avoid plastic entirely.
- Is it safe? - When buying wooden toys, it’s important you know what you’re getting to keep your children safe. Ensure you buy from respectable retailers and brands who have committed to conform to (or exceed) toy safety standards. This includes using non-toxic paints that are completely safe for children.
- Do they require assembly? - Some larger wooden playsets do require adult assembly, so take stock of both your flat pack and instruction-following skills as well as the time required to set them up, particularly if buying as a gift.
From wooden houses and wooden playsets, to wooden vehicles and wooden play food, here’s the ES Best round-up of the best wooden toys for kids.
Melissa & Doug Wooden Ice Cream Set
Age: 3+
If you’re seeking a wooden toy set that comes with educational benefits as well as entertainment, the Melissa & Doug Wooden Ice Cream set offers the ideal balance of both.
Excellent value for money, with the ability to hold your child’s attention for hours, this 28-piece role play set comes with everything your children need to create their very own ice cream stall, including a wipe-down menu and a small selection of play money notes.
Children can play alone or with friends, taking orders before using the mechanical scooper to select the correct flavour and toppings, easily clipping and releasing as they serve up their customer’s requests. Using the included play money, you can even encourage your child to work out some basic sums or combine them with additional coin and note sets to incorporate more complex sums as your child grows in confidence.
Whilst the set features some rubber and plastic as well as a perspex cover for the front of the stall, this is a high-quality wooden toy that can easily be passed down to future generations. (Spoiler alert, it’s also pretty good fun for the grown-ups too).
Buy now £31.99, Amazon
Peppa Pig
Age: 2+
For many children, Peppa Pig (as bossy as she may be) is a childhood right of passage, loved and adored by preschoolers nationwide. Whilst many of the original Peppa toys were heavily based on plastic, Character UK has recently added a beautiful Peppa wooden collection, featuring a variety of small and large playsets with the familiarity of the characters they know and love.
The Peppa Pig Wooden Family Home is made from chunky and durable FSC Certified wood and is perfectly sized as a portable take-along toy for children visiting family or friends.
Children will love twisting the button to release the front of the house, before folding it down to reveal the interior inside. With lots of accessories included, it instantly converts to a Peppa-themed playhouse with furniture including a bath, oven, fridge, TV and bench set and a wooden Peppa figure. With additional character sets available to purchase separately, the set can be grown and expanded as desired.
We love the fact the set can be easily packed away when not in use, reducing the risk of missing or discarded pieces. With easy-to-hold pieces for little hands, this playset encourages imagination and role-play whilst fine-tuning those motor skills too.
Buy now £24.99, Amazon
JoJo Maman Bebe Wooden High Tea Set
Age: 3+
There is something really precious about watching your child’s imagination come to life, spending time playing together and acting out scenes as they take on a new identity during play.
The ideal choice for the Jubilee year, this Wooden High Tea Set from JoJo Maman Bebe is ideal for siblings playing together, or when spending some quality time playing with your little ones.
Standing at 33cm tall and made from a mix of MDF, lotus wood and plywood, this 3-tier cake stand includes a variety of attractively designed cakes, scones and jam and cream pots, as well as a choice of sandwiches; making the ideal centrepiece for children as they prepare their ingredients and serve up a delicious feast for their friends.
Whilst we wished there had been some wooden plates included in the set, we loved the velcro sandwiches that children could take apart and pop back together with ease. At £28, it’s also a great price point for a reasonably sized playset.
Buy now £28.00, JoJo Maman Bebe
Le Toy Van Wooden Campervan
Age: 3+
Wooden vehicles are always a popular choice for interactive and imaginative playtime, but this wooden campervan from Le Toy Van is up there as one of the most beautiful we’ve seen.
Decorated using non-toxic water-based paints in a mint green pastel colour palette, the Le Toy Van Wooden Campervan gives family holidays in Cornwall vibes and will look stunning in any nursery or child’s bedroom.
Children will love lifting off the roof to reveal the padded gingham mattress inside - a cosy and comfortable place for their dolls to sleep after a busy day at the beach. They can then pop the roof back on and hook the surfboard through the small elastic loop to hold it securely in place.
Whilst it doesn’t come with any figurines included, it’s a great accompaniment to Le Toy Vans’ dolls house and fits any 10cm figures including the brand’s range of dolls and a great price at £29.95.
Buy now £30.00, Kidly
JoJo Maman Bebe Pizza Oven set
Age: 3+
With a huge rise in the sales of pizza ovens since lockdown, children will love this new addition to the JoJo wooden toy range, which looks just like the real thing.
Throwing their own pizza party with friends, budding chefs can dip into the contents of the topping station to customise their perfect pizzas, selecting from mushrooms, pepperoni, olives, onions, peppers and tomato, as well as pineapple (which we’re particularly pleased made the final cut!).
Once they’ve added all their ingredients and attached them to their base using the velcro tabs, they can slide their pizza onto the stone and pop it into the oven, before serving it up during imaginative play.
Made from MDF, beach and lotus wood, this set has great attention to detail, with a turnable temperature dial and the ability to write ‘today’s special’ on the side using chalk (sold separately).
Whilst the pizza cutter doesn’t actually enable individual pieces of pizza to be cut or split apart, it’s great that all the pieces can be stashed away inside when not in use. We would have loved to have seen a larger quantity of toppings pieces for variety.
Buy now £39.00, JoJo Maman Bebe
Tender Leaf Wheelbarrow
Age: 3+
If your child is a budding gardener or particularly green-fingered, this wooden wheelbarrow set from Tender Leaf will be right up their street.
It may come with a higher price point than some other wooden toys on this list, however, it’s clear to see why from the overall look and finish. Tender Leaf use top-quality reclaimed rubberwood in all of their wooden toys, which is not only solid, sturdy and smooth to the touch but looks stunning - hence why many of their designs showcase a natural wood grain effect.
This pick-up and roll-along wheelbarrow comes with three seed packets and three flower pots with a sunflower, carrot and tomato plant as well as a watering can, trowel and secateurs, all of which can be stored under the ‘lid’ of the barrow for safe keeping when not in use.
Children will love ‘potting’ and watering their plants, before slotting the petals and leaves into place to bring their sunflower to life. With a clever magnetic stem, they can also master using the secateurs to trim the sunflower down, perfecting their fine motor skills in the process.
A unique design which encourages an interest and respect for the great outdoors.
Buy now £69.95, Amazon
Hape Police Station Playset
Age: 3+
If you’re after a larger playset for siblings to share and something that will really hold their attention, the Hape Police Station playset ticks a lot of boxes.
Measuring a substantial 59.9 x 30 x 46 centimetres, this two-story police station playset offers double-sided play, meaning two (or more) children, can easily sit and play together as they bring their cops and robbers story to life.
The Hape Police Station Playset does require adult assembly and whilst the instructions are easy to follow with a combination of text and images, it’s worth noting that you will need a small handled screwdriver to secure the upper floor.
With two wooden vehicles included (a free wheeled police car and helicopter) as well as a cop, robber, police dog and a range of plastic accessories, this set is great value for money, even including a pair of clip-on handcuffs and a lockable jail cell to imprison your robber once he’s caught.
Whilst this was one of the longest to set up, it also held our kid’s attention for the longest, encouraging some really imaginative cops and robbers scenes between my girls. There’s also the option to add a police siren sound when the red button is pressed, but with batteries not included, you may prefer to go without.
Buy now £66.87, Amazon
Disney Princess Enchanted Princess Castle Playset
Age: 6 months+
Disney princess toys and dolls have traditionally come with copious amounts of plastic, so it’s really refreshing to see the introduction of a wooden range. If your child loves the magic of Disney and is a fan of Snow White, Jasmine, Aurora and Merida, they’re going to love this larger-than-life wooden playset.
Measuring a substantial 65cm tall, this chunky and durable playset is made from FSC-certified wood which has been beautifully decorated to resemble an enchanted castle - it even has a drawbridge-style front door!
With 10 pieces of furniture and six doubled-sided wooden figures included, children will love making the characters spin on the balcony ballroom dance floor, relax on the seashell boutique swing, or sit on their golden thrones, before whizzing them down the slide to the lower floor.
It does require adult assembly with the use of a screwdriver, and whilst the number of pieces may feel daunting at first, it’s relatively simple and easy to construct, even for the flatpackaphobes amongst us.
Buy now £69.97, Amazon
Jaques of London Wooden Bus
Age: 2+
For a traditional-style wooden toy similar to ones you may have played with in your youth, Jaques of London had a wide range of classic toys at really affordable prices. With over 220 years of making high-quality children’s toys, you can be confident that they know their stuff.
Made with 100 per cent FSC-approved wood and painted in non-toxic water-based paints, this authentic-style iconic London bus comes with smooth-running wheels that make it a joy for children to push along as they play.
The set comes complete with a variety of wooden passengers and a bus driver, each with their own unique outfits and personalities. Children will love removing and slotting the passengers back into their seats as they act out the bus’s journey, using their imagination, creativity and communication skills to create their very own play scenes and stories.
Entertaining and educational, the Jaques of London Wooden Bus is also a great conversation starter about British culture and popular London landmarks.
Buy now £32.99, Jaques of London
Bigjigs Noah’s Ark Wooden Toy
Age: 18 months+
Last but by no means least, no wooden toy selection would be complete without Noah’s Ark. The Bigjigs Noah’s Ark toy is simply adorable, opening up to unveil 12 wooden animals, Noah and his wife.
Made from FSC-certified wood and a subtle colour palette painted with non-toxic paints and lacquers, this wooden arc will look great in any nursery setting.
It has smooth chunky pieces that are easy to hold for small hands and a side ramp that children can use to help animals enter and leave the boat. A beautiful Montessori toy, it is ideal for enhancing fine motor skills, imagination and communication skills, as well as encouraging independent play.
Buy now £49.99, Amazon
Verdict
We love all the wooden toys featured on this list, but for us, there was one clear winner. Whilst it’s been around for a while, the novelty of the Melissa & Doug Ice Cream set shows no sign of wavering any time soon - a fact that’s reinforced by nearly 4000 five-star reviews on Amazon.
Something the whole family can enjoy together, educational and fun, the Melissa & Doug Ice Cream set offers endless opportunities for imaginative play, and whilst it does have some plastic parts, it’s a toy that can confidently be passed down and enjoyed for years to come.
