When choosing the toys for your kids, you need to look past their entertainment values. You also need to look for their didactic value, as well as what they represent. You see, the world that we’re raising our kids in is a hostile one, which is why we need to find a way to become a part of the solution and raise the next generation with these same values and principles in mind. That being said, here are the top five eco-friendly and educational toys that your kids could greatly benefit from using.

1. Eco-Dough

Playdough is an incredibly creative toy that has numerous positive benefits for your children. First of all, due to its unique texture, they get to develop their motor skills. Moreover, this concept is calming, therapeutic, and incredibly creative. This means that your kids get to exercise their imagination and have it translate into the real world. Other than this, due to the fact that it’s such a popular toy, they might even use it to play with other kids, thus exercising their social skills and getting accustomed to teamwork. When buying playdough, just make sure to pick an eco-dough option.

2. Wooden Blocks

Playing wooden blocks is in many ways similar to playing with eco-dough. However, it also gives your kid some variety, seeing as how they won’t get bored playing with the same toy all the time. Unlike eco-dough, block play improves one’s attention and focus due to the fact that the structure could otherwise collapse. Moreover, if children are playing within a group, this could foster responsibility and cooperation, seeing as how a larger playgroup may do more impressive work.

3. 3D Pen

While the concept of 3D printing may seem like something completely innovative and even Sci-Fi-like, the truth is that the same thing could be said for smartphones and tablets (yet the majority of kids nowadays own them/have access to them). This is why looking for some educational toys such as a 3D pen might be a great idea. Not only does it create figures and structures using sustainable and eco-friendly materials, but it also helps one develop their own creativity. The pen itself is used by a number of educational institutions, which means that instead of just outright buying one, you can first enlist your kid in one of them. Then, once you see the result, you can get one for your household.

4. Costumes

The best thing about buying your kid various costumes is the fact that it helps them with roleplaying. Now, roleplaying is essential for empathy seeing as how it may help your kids see the world through the eyes of others. By mimicking their behavior, voice, and even way of thinking, your kids will learn to understand the world around them far better. Who knows, this might even become a way for you to discover that your kid has a great aptitude for acting. All in all, in order to ensure that they’re eco-friendly, all you have to do is check the materials that they’re made of.

5. Wooden Toys (in general)

Lastly, it’s not just about the type of the toy in question, it’s also about the material that it’s made of. This is why a wooden tea time set is quite eco-friendly. The amount of energy and raw resources that are required to produce it is a lot lower than with a traditional set. Wood is also decomposable (unlike plastic), which means that if it gets broken or lost, it won’t add to the pollution of the planet. You can also get wooden furniture (like tea party chairs) for their room and get them a key rattle made of wood, instead of opting for a plastic one. Either way, you have so many options available.

As you can see, these five toys (or categories, to be somewhat more accurate) consist of all that you need to make your kid grow in an eco-friendly micro-environment. Keep in mind, though, that the list goes on and on. As long as you’re paying attention to the nature of the toy, the message that it sends, and the material that it is made of, you’re on the right track of picking an eco-friendly toy. Moreover, you would be surprised just how deeply-rooted this aptitude for organic materials can become in the mind of a young child.