Inside: Are you looking for the best educational wooden toys for toddlers? Here are the top wooden toys that are perfect for birthdays, holidays and special occasions. Bonus: These toys are durable, educational and will stand the test of time.

No one wants to spend money on something that won’t get played with or that will break after a few uses. With my third child, I am determined to be intentional about each item I bring into our home for her.

I want to choose quality over quantity, simplicity over stimulation. I want my children to experience toys that reflect an object’s natural weight. Toys that are durable and enriching.

How to Find Toys That Will Become Favorites

I’ve had three children, so friends and family often ask me for advice on what’s the best gift to get for a toddler: clothes, books, the newest trendy toy, or…?

After much research and child-testing, I was lucky enough to discover that the toys that made the most impact were durable, open-ended, and enriching.

Those were the toys that got played with again and again. They weren’t the typical toddler gifts you hear about, so I wanted to pay it forward by sharing them here.

After hand-selecting the best toys, I reached out to each shop. In return for featuring each toy, I was given the items within this list.

I have included an affiliate link to the product and the shop for each item at no extra cost to you.

The Best Educational Wooden Toys for Toddlers

In this list, you’ll find the best educational wooden toys for toddlers arranged by four key attributes:

Gross Motor Wooden Toys
Open-ended Play Wooden Toys
Fine Motor Wooden Toys
Musical Wooden Toys

Tap to see the wooden climbing set.

Gross Motor Wooden Toys

Toys that encourage children to jump, bend, climb, hop, and twist help develop critical gross motor skills. 1

Children go through a sensitive period for this kind of movement as toddlers. They crave the opportunity to discover how their bodies can move and test their strength and physical capabilities.

Wooden toys such as a climbing triangle, climbing arch, and a ramp allow children the chance to explore their bodies and practice these developmental skills.

I selected this wooden climbing set from WOODandHEARTS because it’s stable and beautiful. And it did not disappoint. The moment I put it together, my kids couldn’t keep off of it. They were like little monkeys, climbing and jumping.

Open-Ended Wooden Play Toys

Open-ended play encourages a child’s ability to use their imagination. There is no right or wrong way to play. “Children have the ability to make their own decisions and fully engage their creativity and imagination.” 2

Tap to see the wooden loose parts set.

This Woodland Montessori Toys Loose Parts Set by PlayfulPetalzBtq is a sensory experience for kids: little crocheted acorns and leaves, smooth wooden bowls and figures, and rough pinecones. There are a few beads in this set for children three and older, so I set those aside for my older kids to use.

Tap to see the wooden kitchen set.

Another open-ended option is this wooden kitchen playset by EcoMagicDesign. My toddler is fascinated with placing the small smooth wooden eggs into the bowl and pretending to cook with the utensils and crocheted food. Every piece is meticulously crafted.

Fine Motor Wooden Toys

Toys that develop fine motor skills help prepare toddlers for important daily tasks like eating, hygiene, and dressing. Purposeful movements such as pinching, threading, cutting, and rolling are examples of fine motor skills, ideal for tiny hands practicing essential skills. 3

Tap to see the wooden name puzzle.

This personalized name puzzle by RikisToys is perfect for little ones to practice grip and moving pieces while also offering the educational benefit of learning the letters of their name.

Tap to see wooden lacing toys.

These wooden lacing animals from bytinymoon are irresistible. We have the hippo, the dino, and the whale. Not only are they beautifully made and smooth, they even smell heavenly like wood and tea tree oil. And the little wooden needle and thread are the perfect size for my toddler’s small hands.

Tap to see the Montessori gift box.

Plus, this toddler Montessori gift box by MamaPsPlace comes with three wooden toys, optimal for developing fine motor skills. Because of the small pieces, this toy is better suited for older toddlers.

With that said, the gift box comes with a wooden Montessori screw board, a hammer pounding toy, and a geoboard. Each toy is thoughtfully crafted and holds my toddler’s attention, all while teaching her a critical skill.

Tap to see the wooden peg box toy.

Also, I love these two toys from WoodenToysFromYou that are must-haves. One is the peg box, which is one of my toddler’s favorites. It’s so simple, but she adores setting the little wooden pegs in each hole.

Tap to see the box with returning discs.

The other is the box with returning discs. This educational toy helps toddlers practice hand-eye coordination and object permanence.

Wooden Musical Toys

Musical toys are such a fun way for toddlers to explore their world and experiment with sound.

Is there anything that brings a smile to a toddler’s face faster than discovering how an object can make noise? If I close my eyes, I can picture my toddler clutching her maracas in each hand, stomping around, shaking them over and over.

Tap to see the wooden musical instruments.

This set of musical instruments includes a wide variety of instruments made of high-quality natural wood. Plus, they are an excellent way of introducing children to different cultures.

Tap to see the shape sorter xylophone.

Last but not least, I love this wooden shape sorter xylophone and piano. Toddlers can discover colors and shapes, all while making music.

Wrap Up

I’ve found that when I’m intentional about the toys I bring into our home, I feel less overwhelmed by the clutter because each piece serves a purpose. I hope you, too, will enjoy the benefits of including high-quality wooden toys in your home.

Your Turn

What toys does your toddler enjoy the most?

Resources

Gross Motor Skills {and why they are important!}. Thayer, Angela. Accessed November 4, 2020. https://teachingmama.org/gross-motor-skills-why-they-are-important/
Open-Ended Play: What it is and How it Benefits Your Child. Semling, Brian. (2018). Accessed November 4, 2020. https://strictlybriks.com/blog/open-ended-play-what-it-is-and-how-it-benefits-your-child
Help Your Child Build Fine Motor Skills. Accessed November 4, 2020. https://www.naeyc.org/our-work/families/help-your-child-build-fine-motor-skills

The Best Educational Wooden Toys for Toddlers That Will Become Favorites