I focused on wooden playthings that encourage open-ended play, as both experts I spoke with — pediatrician and author Dr. Dana Suskind and Bright Horizons Senior Manager of Family Claire Goss ...

Wooden toys, which include blocks, puzzles, trains and educational tools, only account for 5.6 percent of China's toy market in 2023, according to Zhiyan Consulting, a Chinese market research company.

Ye Chen, a 37-year-old Yunhe native, exemplifies this transformation. Growing up surrounded by relatives who ran wooden toy factories, Ye initially viewed the industry as low-end manufacturing.