November is Neighborhood Toy Store Month, and as an organization that recognizes the importance of play for healthy child development and that is invested in bringing you sustainable, earth-friendly options, we'd like to take a moment to focus on Elou, new at Natural Resources!
Made in Portugal where there is a deeply rooted tradition of cork harvesting and transformation, these toys take advantage of the sustainable nature of cork and its wonderful, warm properties that are perfect for toymaking!
Cork is the outer layer of the bark of the cork oak tree, Quercus suber. Because it can be harvested without killing the tree, cork production does not contribute to deforestation, making it much more sustainable than traditional lumber.
In addition, because cork is much lighter than wood, it requires less fuel to transport, reducing down-stream ecological impacts. And, it is fully biodegradable and recyclable.
Other advantages of cork for children's toys include:
- Softer than wood
- Shock absorbing (this means QUIETER - go ahead and bang those blocks or cars together, kiddo!)
- Lightweight - easy for small children to lift and play with
- Waterproof
- Fireproof
- Buoyant - they float in a water play table or bath
- Naturally antimicrobial
- Hypoallergenic
We are proud to be offering a fun selection of less common play vehicles, such as helicopters, cement mixer trucks, space rockets, and passenger planes, as well as a cork building blocks set.
There's good reason that young children have been playing with toy vehicles for more than 7500 years! (Check out this example from about 3000 BCE!)
Their timeless fascination with these toys is wonderful for their world of pretend, as well as supporting them in physical development of motor skills by maneuvering wheeled vehicles around.
We hope you enjoy these beautiful toys as much as we do! Check them out today!