Wooden or plastic: what actually lasts in an Indian home

People often ask which is better, wood or plastic. The honest answer is that it depends on the floor, the weather and how many children are in the room.

Where wood wins

Wooden stackers, balance games and puzzle boards survive being dropped on tile far better than thin moulded plastic. They also age well: a scratched wooden block still works. The catch is moisture — in a humid monsoon month, wood left on a damp floor can swell and stick.

Where plastic wins

Anything that needs to be wiped down, taken outdoors, or moved through water is better in plastic. Vehicles with wheels and moving axles are usually plastic for a reason: the tolerances survive rough use, and a rinse under the tap is not a problem.

What actually breaks

• Glued joints — the first thing to fail on a cheap toy, in either material.
• Thin shells around a battery compartment, which crack rather than dent.
• Friction motors pushed hard on carpet.
• Printed stickers rather than moulded or painted detail.

How we choose

We look at the joints before the material. If a toy is held together with glue where it should be screwed, or the shell flexes under a thumb, it does not go on the site regardless of what it is made of.