Wooden toys and puzzles are a great choice for toddlers. Toys made from wood are really strong and durable, so it doesn’t matter if your little one still likes to chew on their toys from time to time, or if they like to throw things around! Toddlers of all ages love puzzles and games, so here we have reviewed a range of different styles of puzzles and brain teasers suitable for children over one year old.
Considerations When Choosing Wooden Puzzles for Toddlers
The most important thing when choosing children’s puzzles is to make sure it’s aimed at the right age range. Some puzzles have small parts, therefore aren’t recommended for children under the age of three years old. You should also be sure to choose something which isn’t too simple or babyish for your little one, as they might then get bored quickly.
Ideally, you should choose a puzzle which can help your child learn something new. Good choices are puzzles showing animals, colors, different shapes or you could choose a puzzle which helps young children recognize different letters and numbers. If you don’t have much space for toys lying around, it might be a good idea to choose a puzzle which stores away neatly. Some come with racks whilst others have their own boxes so they can easily be stacked away after use.
The Reviews: Best Wooden Puzzles
Below, you will find reviews of different types and styles of wood puzzles, aimed at children between the ages of around 1 – 4 years old. We’ve included puzzles which teach preschoolers about animals, shapes, colors and many more, so there’s sure to be something to catch your little one’s interest here.
Kleeger 6 in 1 Wooden Peg Puzzles
This pack of six toddler puzzles is great for teaching children new vocabulary. There are loads of different themes, including letters, numbers, shapes and colors. The pegs make it easy for kids to pick up the pieces, and it’s also a great way for them to develop fine motor skills, such as the pincer grip.
The peg puzzles come with a useful wire storage rack, so they can be kept flat and the pieces won’t get lost. The puzzles are aimed at children over three years old, however with parental help and supervision, they are perfect for younger toddlers too.
Melissa & Doug Chunky Wooden Puzzle
This chunky wooden puzzle is ideal for younger toddlers. It has eight pieces, each of which features a different farmyard animal. This is great for helping children learn the names of different animals, and you could also help tell them the sounds the animals make. The pieces of the puzzle stand up, meaning they can be used as play figures as part of a farm set, meaning you get great value for money!
The Melissa & Doug puzzle has the colored pictures of the animals printed on the correct space, so it’s easier for young children to match them up. The pieces don’t have pegs, but they are thick and chunky meaning it’s not too difficult for little ones to grab them. The puzzle can be used to help develop important skills, such as hand-eye co-ordination, and can also be used to develop your little one’s imagination.
Melissa & Doug Wooden Puzzles with Storage Box
These Melissa and Doug wooden puzzles come in a set of four, with each puzzle featuring 12 pieces. The puzzles come with a neat wood storage box, meaning the pieces are sure to stay together between uses. These jigsaw puzzles are ideal for children over the age of around three years old, as the pieces are somewhat small and fiddly. On the back of each puzzle piece there is a small shape, so you can easily see which puzzle it belongs to. This is great for when your little one decides to throw all the pieces together then asks you to sort them out!
There are two choices for the images on the jigsaw puzzles. There’s the pet option pictured above, which features a dog, cat, fish and bird. There’s also the farm set which has pictures of a cow, horse, pig and hen. The puzzle set is ideal for traveling, as the top of the box can be used as a place to securely build the puzzle.
Joyin Toy Wooden Shape Sorter
These wooden stacking toys are ideal for helping young children work on their problem solving skills. It features four different activities, so it’s sure to keep toddlers entertained for hours. Parents can use the toy to help teach their child about shapes, colors and counting. It can also be used to help develop various skills, including sorting, co-ordination and fine motor skills.
The wooden sorting toy is ideal for children over the age of 18 months, and it is sure to keep them entertained for years to come. The pieces can also be used on their own as building blocks, making it even better value for money! The pieces are large enough not to be a choking hazard to babies, and each puzzle board is around 5 x 5 inches, so it’s just the right size for toddlers to sit and play with.
Classic Wooden Peg Puzzles
These wooden jigsaw puzzles come in a pack of three, featuring numbers, letters and colors. They are perfect for preschoolers to start learning to recognize different letters and numbers – putting the puzzles together is a great activity for parents and children to do together. Under each number, there are different objects which correspond to the number on the puzzle piece. Similarly, the color puzzle has the color written under each piece, and it is also colored the same as the piece, to make matching a little easier for children who can’t yet read. The letter puzzle has an object beginning with each letter under the piece, so kids can learn some new vocabulary too.
The wood puzzles are great quality, and are sure to provide hours of educational fun. They are great for developing fine motor skills and hand-eye co-ordination, as some of the parts are a little small. For this reason, the puzzles are recommended for children over the age of three. However, the number and color puzzles have slightly larger pieces so they are suitable for children younger than this.
Our Pick: Best Wooden Puzzle for Preschoolers
The Kleeger 6 in 1 set is the best choice for parents looking for plenty of variety to keep their little one entertained for hours. The storage rack is a nice touch, as it saves lots of mess and tidying up once play time is over. Kids will learn a lot with these great, educational puzzles.