How do I care for wood toys?
As an adult, you’ll need to instruct children to pick up their toys and put them away in a special place. Those who have failed to caution their children have learned that blocks are no fun to step on.
Blocks aren’t missiles to hurl at the cat, either. If you fling a block and it hits someone, it’s going to hurt. Don’t do that.
Keep the blocks out of your mouth. They aren’t teething toys. If you lick or bite a block, you’ll be fine. So will your children.
However, untreated wood and drool don’t mix together well. Water warps wood. You can clean your blocks lightly with a damp cloth and mild detergent, but avoid getting the embossed sides wet. Moisture is more likely to cling to the crevices, making them more susceptible to damage.
As you might imagine, untreated wood blocks don’t make the best bath toys, either. Keep your wood toys clean but dry.
When you play with your blocks, keep them away from food. If you touch your blocks after eating, you may pass on a scent that seems irresistible to dogs. Your pets may start licking the blocks. You can imagine what happens next: licking leads to biting, and biting leads to gnawing. Dogs love to destroy any blocks you may leave laying around.
Take good care of your toys. Put them away when you aren’t playing with them. Keep them out of your mouth and away from food. Clean them only when absolutely necessary. They’ll last generations.