The little ABC of wood species

Wooden toys are natural, sustainable and educationally valuable. However, there are differences in quality. These are often due to the type of wood used. Because not all wood is the same.

Which wood for which toy?

In wood processing, a distinction is made between hardwood and softwood. Belong to the local hardwood Oak, beech, ash, pear, cherry and walnut. Soft woods are spruce, fir, larch and pine.

Depending on what you want to make out of wood, hardwood is suitable in some cases and softwood is better in others.

When is hardwood the best choice for wooden toys

All wooden toys that have to be particularly robust should be made of hardwood. These are, for example, rocking horses, vehicles, Building blocks or Board games. However, hardwoods are usually heavier than softwoods. This has advantages and disadvantages: Toys are more difficult to carry around with the child, but they are also much more stable and stable. A rocking horse, for example, no longer falls over so easily.

Which toys are made of softwood?

Softwoods are often cheaper than hardwoods. Therefore, many think that something is made out of hardwood as a sign of quality. 

However, softwood also has its place in toy manufacturing. It can be processed very well in furniture making and is therefore ideal for children's furniture or play furniture, such as a shop or children's kitchen. Even Role play elements cash registers, vacuum cleaners or blackboards are mostly made of softwood.

For special requirements: hard, light woods

The wood of the walnut and the cherry is well suited for all toy applications where it is a matter of using a light, yet robust wood. However, the wood color of the cherry and the American walnut is reddish dark. If light, light wood is desired, exotic varieties such as bamboo can be used.