Should plastic toys be banned? WOW!
Some people say toys should be made from traditional materials.
Toys are often made of plastic because it is sturdy, easy to clean and cheap to make compared with most other materials. However, most forms of plastic are not biodegradable (break down naturally) and old toys often end up in rubbish dumps or washed up on beaches, polluting the planet and harming wildlife. Some toy companies are looking for more eco-friendly materials to use. Single-use plastic toys that come free with fast-food meals or on magazine covers are gradually being stopped. Some people think that even good-quality plastic toys should be banned and that children should play with more traditional toys that are made from recyclable materials like wood, metal and fabric. What do you think? Should plastic toys be banned?
Yes – plastic toys harm the planet
Plastic toys damage the environment so we must stop making them. The cheap toys that come with some magazines and fast food are really harmful because children usually only play with them for a short time. Other plastic toys use batteries to power them, which also harm the environment and are expensive to replace. Wooden, metal and fabric toys can be recycled when they are thrown away but they are also sturdy and durable and can be given to other children later. Sometimes they are beautifully made items that can be passed on from generation to generation. It has special meaning to play with a toy that an older relative once played with, and it gives young people a sense of history.
No – plastic toys are great fun
Plastic toys are brightly coloured and look cool. They are often electronic or battery-powered so they can light up, make noises and have modern interactive elements. This is fun but can also be educational – for example, some toys teach maths, music skills or spelling. Some parents like traditional wooden toys because they think they are more wholesome and look nicer – but it is children that have to play with them, not adults. Plastic toys are usually more affordable than wooden ones, which is good for parents. They are long-lasting, too, so you get lots of use out of them and can then pass them on to other children or a toy library. Then you could go and buy some different second-hand plastic toys for yourself.