Forest Fridays: Wooden toys from Pennsylvania’s working forest
- by Guest Contributor
- January 10, 2025
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By Ryan Reed
Toys of long ago were commonly made of wood. Abundant and relatively cheap, wood as a raw material could be crafted into a variety of products. Toy and game classics like Lincoln logs, sleds, slingshots, pop guns, building blocks, sleds, cars, Jenga®, and Scrabble® come to mind.
Through the years, toys and games made of wood took a back seat to cheaper alternatives often made of plastic, much to a forester’s dismay. Although this trend has continued for decades, it seems that wood is making a comeback. Valued at roughly $29.4 billion in 2024, the global wooden toys market is expected to exceed $44 billion by 2032.
Image: Flexible Flyers in Snow, Kevin Jarrett from Northfield, NJ, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
In a world growing more conscious of plastic waste, sustainability, and toy safety, wood just makes sense. Some writers cite buyers’ preferences for simpler, quieter, and more durable toys for the growing market in wooden toys. Child psychologists also argue that wooden toys can stimulate more imagination and social play than their plastic counterparts. At risk of making a rather flimsy statement, I would argue that wooden toys just seem better (perhaps I’m biased). I think there’s just something purer about wooden toys, especially those that were hand made by a skilled craftsman.
Business success stories abound with wood as an essential component. The Flexible Flyer® sled, first manufactured over 100 years ago in Philadelphia, is still in production (albeit after several changes of rights over the years). Arising one year after the Flyer and inducted into the Toy Hall of Fame, Lincoln Logs® sets are still produced today. With its quintessential wooden tiles and tile board, the board game Scrabble® is still going strong. Invented in 1931, over 150 million sets have been sold in 121 countries. The Melissa and Doug LLC company based in Connecticut produces a vast array of wooden toys, some of which can be found in the basement playroom of yours truly.
Image: The ”Star Diner” toy restaurant by Melissa and Doug LLC, in the Reed family’s basement.
The timeless appeal of toys and games made of wood is proven in the facts above, and in the hearts and minds of countless kids and adults alike. Although Christmas has past, wooden toys make a great gift anytime, while providing a strong market value for our working forests.
About the Author: Ryan Reed
Ryan Reed is a Natural Resource Program Specialist in the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Forestry. He possesses degrees in Wildlife and Fisheries Science and Wildlife Technology, while currently pursuing a master’s degree in Environmental Pollution Control. He has also worked for the Pennsylvania Game Commission, and taught high school sciences for 11 years. He is especially interested in biodiversity and ecology. A lifelong hunting and fishing enthusiast, Ryan resides in Annville, PA.
