The most common materials for wooden toys sold in the domestic market are: pine wood, schima superba wood, basswood, basswood plywood, MDF (medium-density fiberboard), beech wood, and rubber wood.
Pine Wood: Most affordable (imported pine is more expensive), lightweight, pale in color, with relatively large wood grains, and more prone to cracking when dropped compared to other woods.
Schima Superba Wood: Most commonly used for wooden toys, more expensive than pine wood, high in density, heavy, with uniform grains and shatter-resistant.
Basswood: Beige, lightweight, without visible grains, shatter-resistant, and more expensive than the above two woods.
Basswood Plywood: Easy to cut, often used for making wooden puzzles.
MDF (Medium-Density Fiberboard): Easy to cut, brown in color, commonly used for painted parts of wooden toys, and affordable.
Beech Wood: Uniform grains, with a cross-section resembling rice grains, more expensive than schima superba wood and also shatter-resistant.
Rubber Wood: Toys made from this wood are mostly for export, mainly designed for very young children, with an excellent hand feel and high safety.
In addition, imported wood is generally more expensive and of higher quality than domestic wood. Shatter resistance also depends on the drying process before processing—improper drying time often leads to wood cracking.
The above materials are the main ones used in wooden toys. Overall, wooden building blocks are quite shatter-resistant. Considering cost-effectiveness, schima superba wood is the best and most practical choice.