16 Wooden Educational Toys For Babies & Older Kids

Are Wooden Toys Better For Development?

Wooden educational toys can be valuable for children because they can promote focus and creativity.

A 2017 International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health study showed that touching wood with the palm can have positive effects, such as inducing physiological relaxation. (1)

Aside from helping promote calmness, wood can also help with cognitive development. As a bonus, wooden toys usually last longer than plastic or silicone.

These are also among the reasons why Maria Montessori chose wood for Montessori toys instead of other materials.

We’ve prepared this list of 16 educational wooden toys to help you choose the best for your little one.

The 16 Best Wooden Educational Toys

Wooden Toys By Age Group

Wooden Baby Toys

Templeton Educational Wooden Montessori Shape Sorter & Object Permanence Learning Toy (newborns & older)

Pros & Best Features: Versatile object permanence box with puzzle pieces

Product Safety: Sturdy wood and non-toxic paint

Materials: Wood

Age Range: Birth to elementary age (as rated by the manufacturer)

Educational Value: Fine motor skills, STEM learning (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), color and shape recognition, problem-solving, and logical thinking

Extra Features: Interchangeable top that converts the toy into a shape sorter

Certification: US standards

Made In: Imported (exact country of origin not indicated, according to Target)

Product Recall: None

Cons: No reviews yet to check before buying

Customer Reviews: None yet

Wooden Toddler Toys

Hape Fantasia Blocks Train (18+ months)

Pros & Best Features: Wooden train and stacking toy

Product Safety: Water-based, non-toxic paint

Materials: Wood

Age Range: 18+ months

Educational Value: Problem-solving, fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and logical thinking

Extra Features: Train can also separate into three individual cars with peg stackers

Certification: Passes toy safety tests

Made In: Not indicated

Product Recall: None

Cons: No reviews yet to check before buying

Customer Reviews: None yet

B. toys Wooden Activity Cube – Zany Zoo (1+ years old)

Pros & Best Features: Wooden activity center with different learning activities

Product Safety: Smooth and sturdy surface

Materials: Wood toy

Age Range: 1+ years old

Educational Value: Fine motor skills, cognitive learning, alphabet recognition

Extra Features: Includes five activity sides

Certification: US, Canadian, and European standards; CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission)

Made In: Imported (exact country of origin not indicated, according to Target)

Product Recall: None

Cons: Some safety concerns

Customer Reviews:

“Was pleasantly surprised at how big it was, my now 1 year old absolutely loves it!” – reviewer on B. toys

“My 11 month old not only got bored of this thing in the first day, he hurt himself multiple times on this toy.” – reviewer on Amazon

Wooden Toys For Preschoolers

Plan Toys Build-A-Robot (3+ years)

Pros & Best Features: Wooden robot with interchangeable head

Product Safety: Formaldehyde-free glue, water-based dyes, and organic pigments

Materials: Solid wood

Age Range: 3+ years

Educational Value: Imaginative play, fine motor skills, emotion recognition, and creativity

Extra Features: The different heads show varied emotions

Certification: ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) and EN71 (European toy standard)

Made In: Thailand

Product Recall: None

Cons: No reviews yet to check before buying

Customer Reviews: None yet

Wooden Toys For Older Kids

Elm + Otter Gnomes – Rainbow Colors (4+ years old)

Pros & Best Features: Peg doll set with gnome theme

Product Safety: Non-toxic, water-based paint and sealed with 100% natural beeswax finish

Materials: Natural solid beech wood

Age Range: 4+ years old

Educational Value: Open-ended play and sensory activities

Extra Features: Includes a pouch to keep the gnomes in

Certification: Not indicated

Made In: Not indicated

Product Recall: None

Cons: Can be pricey

Customer Reviews: None yet

Wooden Toys By Category

Montessori-Inspired Wooden Toys

Melissa & Doug Food Groups – Wooden Play Food (2+ years)

Pros & Best Features: Wooden food toys

Product Safety: Free from lead (a heavy metal) and other toxic materials

Materials: Solid wood

Age Range: 2+ years

Educational Value: Pretend play, creativity, and fine motor skills

Extra Features: Includes boxes to keep the toy food

Certification: US and EU safety standards, FSC-certified (Forest Stewardship Council), and CPSIA (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act)

Made In: China (according to Amazon)

Product Recall: None

Cons: Some concerns about safety and quality

Customer Reviews:

“I love the aesthetic of wooden toys, and this set has been a big hit with my toddler! Great variety of foods from different food groups, cute in the play kitchen, and fun for lots of types of play – pretend play, sorting, etc.” – reviewer on Amazon

“Shocked to find the paint is CHIPPING off of some of the painted wooden fruit! This cannot be safe for young children!” – reviewer on Amazon

Wonder & Wise Path To Math (2+ years old)

Pros & Best Features: Peg-style Math activity set with different colors and parts

Product Safety: Free from heavy metals (such as lead and cadmium), phthalates, BPA (bisphenol-A), BPS (bisphenol-S), PVC (polyvinyl chloride), and formaldehyde

Materials: Solid hardwood with non-toxic, water-based inks

Age Range: 2+ years old

Educational Value: Fine motor skills, coordination, hand-eye coordination, and learning STEM concepts

Extra Features: Includes 80 pcs of sticks for counting and 48 pcs color rings for stacking

Certification: Not indicated

Made In: Not indicated

Product Recall: None

Cons: Can be pricey; some complaints about quality

Customer Reviews:

“This is a great toy for toddlers. They love the pieces and it provides a good toy for parents to teach kids to do math. My 3 year old nephew liked playing stacking with the pieces, little by little, he understood that it was a math toy and smiles when he gets the addition correct. The pieces are a good weight and well constructed.” – reviewer on Bloomingdales

“A good math set conceptually; however, there’s a manufacturing error as the 5-ring stackers/slots aren’t made consistently. Only 3 of the rods fit and the other two are too wide for the pre-made holes.” – reviewer on Saks Fifth Avenue

STEM Toys Made Of Wood

Petit Collage Wooden Apple Run Play Set (3+ years old)

Pros & Best Features: Wooden roller and track set

Product Safety: Water-based inks

Materials: Wood

Age Range: 3-year-olds and above

Educational Value: Hand-eye coordination skills

Extra Features: Includes rollers and a bell at the bottom

Certification: FSC

Made In: Not indicated

Product Recall: None

Cons: Can be pricey

Customer Reviews:

“The game design, the packing, the material used… all make me feel this toy is overpriced.” – reviewer on Amazon

Montessori & Me Wooden Number Tracing Board (3+ years old)

Pros & Best Features: Montessori toy for learning about numbers and shapes

Product Safety: 100% non-toxic safety

Materials: Solid rubberwood

Age Range: 3+ years

Educational Value: STEM learning, fine motor skills, and cognitive development

Extra Features: Reversible kids toy (numbers or shapes)

Certification: Not indicated

Made In: Vietnam

Product Recall: None

Cons: Some complaints about the size

Customer Reviews:

“I love the simplicity of this tracing board not to mention the durability.” – reviewer on Amazon

“Smaller than expected.” – reviewer on Amazon

Wooden Toys For Cognitive Learning

Quercetti Farm Wooden Puzzle (2+ years old)

Pros & Best Features: Unique tubular wooden puzzle

Product Safety: Smooth wood

Materials: Wood

Age Range: 2+ years old

Educational Value: Fine motor skills, sensory and cognitive development, hand-eye coordination, imagination, storytelling, STEM learning, logical thinking, and problem-solving skills

Extra Features: Puzzle pieces create four different animals

Certification: Not indicated

Made In: Italy

Product Recall: None

Cons: No reviews yet to check before buying

Customer Reviews: None yet

Uncle Goose Classic Wooden Alphabet Blocks With Canvas Bag (2+ years old)

Pros & Best Features: Wooden block set for learning the ABCs

Product Safety: Child-safe, toxin-free inks

Materials: Wood

Age Range: 2+ years old

Educational Value: Learning ABCs, numbers, and some common words

Extra Features: Stacking blocks can be used for spelling words; also includes a bag

Certification: Not indicated

Made In: USA

Product Recall: None

Cons: Letters are only in uppercase, not lowercase; also, some complaints about the drawstring bag not being included in their order

Customer Reviews:

“These blocks are Heirloom quality and will definitely be enjoyed for generations!!!” – reviewer on Oompa

“I got the blocks but not the canvas bag I paid extra for! Disappointed.” – reviewer on Amazon

Wooden Toys For Balancing, Stacking, & Sequencing

HABA Creative Stones 3D Wooden Arranging & Building Blocks (3-7 years old)

Pros & Best Features: Rainbow stackers and wooden building blocks

Product Safety: Water-based, solvent-free stains

Materials: Wood

Age Range: 3-7 years old

Educational Value: Problem-solving skills, STEM learning, and spatial understanding

Extra Features: Includes sturdy, double-sided cardboard template cards

Certificate: PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification)

Made In: Germany

Product Recall: None

Cons: Some complaints about quality; can be pricey

Customer Reviews:

“These may seem pricey but are very well built and finished; they feel like they’ll last for generations.” – reviewer on Amazon

“A piece of the game is damaged. It’s a manufacturing problem. I want a game that is not damaged.” – reviewer on Amazon

Wooden Toys For Imagination & Pretend Play

Miniland Doll Wooden Medical Set (3-6 years old)

Pros & Best Features: Pastel-colored wooden medical-themed play set

Product Safety: Free from heavy metals (such as lead), phthalates, BPS, BPA, PVC, and formaldehyde

Materials: Solid hardwood with cloth and non-toxic, water-based inks

Age Range: 3-6 years old

Educational Value: Social skills, pretend play and imagination, role playing, and talking skills

Extra Features: Includes a bag

Certification: Meets formaldehyde emission standards: TSCA Title VI (Toxic Substances Control Act)

Made In: Not indicated

Product Recall: China (according to Amazon)

Cons: Can be pricey; contains small parts that can be choking risks to smaller or younger children

Customer Reviews:

“Delighted with this doctor’s kit!! Wooden utensils with good finish.” – reviewer on Amazon

“The elements are quite small, but made very solidly.” – reviewer on Google Shopping

Grimm’s Seven Friends in Bowls (1+ years old)

Pros & Best Features: Multicolored peg color sorter and stacking toy

Product Safety: Non-toxic, water-based color stain

Materials: Wood play toys

Age Range: 1+ years old

Educational Value: Pretend play (also ideal as a Waldorf toy) and color recognition

Extra Features: Includes cups and a tray

Certification: Not indicated

Made In: Europe

Product Recall: None

Cons: Can be pricey; some complaints about the quality

Customer Reviews:

“My 1.5 year old loves this toy! It’s super simple and a little smaller than I was expecting, but he plays with it truly every day in a variety of ways.” – reviewer on Amazon

“For the price, I am very disappointed in the quality of the material. The wood is incredibly light weight and the dye used is already fading.” – reviewer on Amazon

Wooden Toys For Gross Motor Skills

LOVEVERY The Pull Pup (18+ months)

Pros & Best Features: Wooden pull toy

Product Safety: Free from heavy metals and phthalates

Materials: Wooden blocks and strings

Age Range: 18+ months

Educational Value: Imaginative play and gross motor skills

Extra Features: Toys and tails can be moved

Certification: Meets global regulatory safety standards; FSC

Made In: Suppliers in Asia (specific countries not indicated)

Product Recall: None

Cons: Can be pricey

Customer Reviews:

“The quality of the Pull Pup is superb!” – reviewer on LOVEVERY

“We bought this for our 15 month granddaughter because she is into pull toys…especially dogs. She does not care for it because it topples over a lot and does not right itself like her other pull toys. Well made and looks cute but is not functional.” – reviewer on LOVEVERY

Coco Village NANO – Balance Bike (1+ years old)

Pros & Best Features: 2-in-1 balance bike

Product Safety: Child-safe materials that meet safety standards

Materials: Premium birch plywood

Age Range: 1+ years old

Educational Value: Mobility, pretend play, and gross motor skills

Extra Features: Suitable for indoor and outdoor use

Certification: ASTM

Made In: Not indicated

Product Recall: None

Cons: Can be pricey

Customer Reviews: None yet

FAQs

Are Wooden Toys Safe For Toddlers?

Yes, wooden toys can be safe for toddlers as long as they are rated for this age group. Always check the manufacturer’s instructions.

Be wary of huge, heavy toys that might topple over and injure your little one.

If you’re getting musical instruments and jigsaw puzzles or creating DIY wooden toys, always check that the edges and different parts are smooth and don’t have splinters.

Which Is Famous For Wooden Toys?

The Montessori method is famous for wooden toys and natural materials.

Why Does Montessori Use Wooden Toys?

Montessori toys are made of wood because these toys are based on the real world and are designed for repetitive play.

Other Learning Toys For Different Age Groups

Toy Recalls To Monitor

References

(1) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5551239/