All children develop at their own pace, however, parents play a major role in how fast and properly they’ll develop. By working with them, investing in creative toys, and helping them with some creative projects, you’ll help your little ones have a new experience while improving their skills. Out of all the toys and activities they can do, it seems that pretend play tends to be the most popular as it can help children develop properly.
Pretend play is beneficial for children as it can help them develop their behaviour, communication, social, visual and problem-solving skills. They can also help them improve their strategic thinking while also helping them explore and try new ideas. Trying out new roles is just another thing they can try and learn to get into the role to feel realistic. All in all, these things can help them develop some essential skills which are important to be learned from an early age to become better people.
Why Pretend Play Felt Toys?
Well, the truth is that food is one of the first things children play with, so they would love to pretend-play with food toys. And while plastic food toys were the most commonly used over the past few years, this has changed. A lot of people have become aware of the plastic toxicity and chemicals, so more and more people are relying on the use of toys made from more quality materials. One of the most common materials used for food toys is felt.
Felt food play is a king of play that uses soft textures, lifelike food designs and colours to make everything look realistic. Unlike plastic food play toys, realistic and engaging felt food play can encourage imagination and tactile exploration while stimulating the senses. This mainly goes to wool felt toys, which are antimicrobial, durable and eco-friendly types of toys that are here to stand the test of time.
Given the fact that these toys are made from felt and some other accessories to make them more realistic, this means that they will give children a more sensory-rich experience while enhancing their imagination and engagement.
Finding such toys these days isn’t difficult at all, especially if you know where to look. There’s an assortment of options to choose from, ranging from fruit and veggies to a large selection of bakery delights and pantry products. Aside from being sold separately, you can buy them in a set, which makes everything more appealing and realistic-looking.
For instance, if your little one is into veggies, aside from finding them sold separately, you can find them in a set of a felt planter box with soil, sprouts and vegetables. These planter boxes usually feature different-sized holes, which allows children to sort and plant their own vegetables. This not only encourages their creative side but also their fine motor skills and problem-solving through play. To make everything more realistic, you can make your own or find a set of felt seeds that your little one can use to “plant” his/her seeds and watch the garden grow. How cool is that, don’t you think?!
All of these felt toys can even serve to teach smaller children (little siblings or cousins) about veggies and food. The chances of learning through pretend play are huge, so investing in different food sets will only come in handy to help them learn more about food variety while keeping them occupied for hours.
Things to Look for in Felt Play Food Toys
Aside from choosing toys that are age appropriate and ones that will meet your child’s taste, you really shouldn’t forget to check on the felt’s quality. Just like plastic, felt toys can also be made from a felt of a suspicious origin and quality, which is why you should make sure to check its origin before investing in anything.
When in the search for wool felt toys, you should choose ones made from materials that meet the OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 certification. Every item bearing the STANDARD 100 label means that it is certified and has passed all safety tests for the presence of harmful substances.
How to Care for Them?
Given the fact that you have invested in quality wool felt toys, you should know that they need special care. The main reason is that wool is a natural and biodegradable material that has unique properties for which you should care carefully.
Spot Clean It for Minor Stains
When it comes to cleaning smaller stains and spots, you should try to clean it with a mild soap wash like a baby shampoo or a milder wool wash. Cleaning it with cool water is just another important thing you should know, as hot or warm water can damage the wool fibre.
To clean the stain, gently blot it with a damp and clean cloth, apply a small amount of soap in cool water, dip the cloth and gently dab the stained area. By all means, you shouldn’t rub the area. Just dab it gently until there’s no stain and gently clean it with a damp and clean cloth to remove the soap. Remove excess water with a dry cloth and let it air dry.
Deep Cleaning
For those times when you need ot clean the entire toy, you should fill a basin with cool water and a small amount of mild soap, submerge the toy, and let it soak for a few minutes to loosen the stain. Dab a little with a cloth or with your hands and rinse thoroughly in clean and cool water. Press water out of the felt as much as you can with the help of two dry towels while avoiding twisting and wringing the felt. Once done, lay the toy flat and let it air dry.