Children today are bombarded with plastic, limiting toys that do not expand their imagination or aid their development. Not only can plastic toys be harmful to children's health, but the production of plastic toys further increases our dependence upon petroleum and leaves a greater carbon footprint than natural, wooden toys. There are many companies that produce wooden toys; however, not all of these companies provide information about the kind of wood they use or their sustainability practices. In addition, many of these companies manufacture their toys in China, where constant monitoring is required to ensure dangerous substances, such as lead, do not accidentally enter into production, such as the recent recall of Thomas the Tank Engine wooden railway toys exemplifies. Plan Toys is a company you can trust!

Plan Toys motto is "Fundamentally Strong. It's fun to learn", as the company recognizes that children learn and develop cognitively, emotionally, and intelligently through play. Truly educational toys don't require children to press a button, require batteries, or read to your child with a computerized voice. Educational toys are open-ended and allow children to use their imagination in play. Natural, wooden toys, such as those made by Plan Toys, are perfect for children's development.

Rubber Wood: Photo Courtesy of Plan ToysPlan Toys uses chemical-free rubber wood to produce their toys. These trees are at least 25 years old, and thus have stopped producing latex. Rubber wood farmers traditionally fell these trees and burn them to produce charcoal, in order to clear the land for replanting. Plan Toys increases the value of these trees by using them to produce their beautiful line of wooden toys. The rubber wood is kiln-dried to avoid bacteria and pest infestation, thus making it naturally preservative free and safe for children. All paints are non-toxic, the glue used is latex-based, and all corners are rounded for safety; however, some toys do contain plywood. Plan Toys insures that their "plywood complies with E1 standards, thus ensuring emissions of urea formaldehyde at levels below those acceptable to the World Health Organization (WHO)". All packaging materials are recyclable and do not contain PVC.

Plan Toys Tractor and TrailerOur family has several Plan Toys wooden vehicles, and I have purchased many of these toys for my preschool program. Both my daughter and son play with these daily, and I feel good that they are playing with safe toys. The toys are durable, and unlike other wooden toys we own, I have never had to repair our Plan Toys. They are often spontaneously combined with other toys to create complex pretend situations. I highly recommend Plan Toys products and steer family members to this company at birthday time.

For 20 years, Plan Toys has been making quality wooden toys for children, in a socially responsible manner. They are manufactured in Thailand, so parents do not have to worry about the potential negative consequences of purchasing Chinese toys. In addition, Plan Toys provides a healthy, safe working environment for its employees. Parents can purchase Plan Toys with a clear, green conscious.