15 Best Wooden Puzzles For Kids To Improve Motor Skills In 2022

Keep your children away from screens and video games with our list of the best wooden puzzles. These puzzles make them productive and improve fine motor skills, shape recognition, memory, and hand-eye coordination. Compared to cardboard ones, wooden puzzles are designed to be lightweight, sturdy, and child-friendly with their round edges. They vary in shapes, sizes, and the number of pieces in a set. However, choosing the right puzzle for your child can be confusing. So, take a look at the options and themes to find one that suits your child’s interests.

If your child is an animal lover, this puzzle is for them. It helps them recognize everyday pets such as a bird, fish, cat, and dog. The pack includes four puzzles, with each having 12 pieces. These puzzles could be a cool gift idea for children aged three to six years. Pros

Comes in a durable wooden storage box Helps develop fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and problem-solving abilities Lightweight set that is easy for carrying around Color-coded puzzles that create no confusion

Cons

Puzzle pieces are too small and may be difficult to handle for younger children Pieces may be hard to put together

The Rolimate educational toy for sorting and stacking helps your child learn about shapes and colors. It is unlike a cutout board and uses pegs and holes to match the pairs. The package includes one cylindrical framework, four of each round, square, triangle, and rectangular wooden blocks. Pros

Improves the child’s imagination and color-recognition skills Made of high-quality rubberwood and chemical-free materials Smooth surface and rounded corners of the blocks protect the kid from hurts and bumps Useful for developing the baby’s grasping ability Suitable for children aged from two to eight years

Cons

Too small and may become a choking hazard for toddlers Paint may come off the surfaces

The Disney wooden puzzles feature Disney characters such as Finding Dory, Hello Kitty, Minions, Trolls, Sophia The First, and more. They are recommended for children aged three to nine years. This Disney’s Frozen set has seven packs of puzzles that have one 24-piece, three 16-piece, and three 12-piece puzzles. Pros

Comes in a sturdy storage box Improves hand-eye coordination Compartments for easy storage of the puzzles. Made of high-quality wood Bright and beautiful color graphics

Cons

May be confusing since all the pieces are of same size and shape Paper film on the top begins to peel off after several uses

The Cardinal Industries’ wooden puzzle plays the Baby Shark song offering additional fun to the children. The puzzle board includes five shark-shaped puzzle pieces, which are the Mommy, Daddy, Grandma, Grandpa, and the Baby Sharks. Pros

Engages children, helps them identify sounds, and learn shapes Requires two alkaline AAA batteries Thick and significant pieces that fit easily into the board Song plays repeatedly Great toy for toddlers and babies who love the shark song

Cons

Sound may not always work properly Does not include batteries

Burr puzzles are interlocking puzzles consisting of notched sticks to make a 3D symmetrical unit. This KINGOU magic ball is one such burr puzzle that entertains children of all ages. It comes with paper instructions and video link QR code to understand assembling. Pros

Mind puzzle that exercises the brain, improves problem-solving ability, and develops intelligence Good quality wood, smooth, and no splinters Fun and challenging brain teaser Recommended for children aged above four years

Cons

Parts may fit tightly sometimes, making it difficult to dismantle May look smaller than the display picture

The BeginAgain Animal Parade Puzzle set is an ABC learning game that features fun animal pieces that should be stacked. They are made of sustainable rubberwood and have a non-toxic water-based finishing. The puzzle is colorful and challenging. Pros

Encourages the child to learn alphabets, and improve problem-solving skills Each piece has a lowercase letter on one side and uppercase on the other All corresponding animal pieces are in their respective shape Easy for storage and travel Suitable for kids aged from four to ten years

Cons

Paint used on the pieces may chip away easily Letter and placing the puzzle do not fall in line

The wooden peg puzzle from Hape features grooved shapes and pegged posts that offer hours of entertainment to the children. All it needs is to join the four puzzle bases and stack the colorful shapes on the posts. It is a suitable wooden puzzle for kids aged from 18 months to four years. Pros

Helps the child identify basic shapes, improve fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination Base made of sustainable wood with a non-toxic finish Shapes are of different colors, ranging from light to dark Pieces fit and stack together easily

Cons

Bottom pieces are usually unstable and could be fit only on a hard and flat surface Pegs and posts are not 100% wood

The WOOD CITY set includes four-pack peg puzzles, which make it one of the best wooden puzzles for toddlers prepping for school. It has a 20-piece number puzzle, a 26-piece alphabet puzzle, an 11-piece animal puzzle, and an 11-piece vehicle puzzle. These matching puzzle activities impart fun and learning. Pros

Made of 100% natural wood and non-toxic water-based paint finishing Easy-to-grasp pegs sized to let little hands hold them with ease Has no rough or sharp edges and no odor

Cons

Smaller pieces may cause a choking hazard Compartment depths may be thin for the pieces to fit incorrectly

The wooden jigsaw puzzle is suitable for children above one year and works well as an educational toy. It is an interactive puzzle made of bright colors and could be used in kindergartens and preschools. The pack has six puzzles that include owl, crab, bears, frog, ladybug, and butterfly. Pros

Helps the child with hand-eye coordination and color recognition Made of eco-friendly wood, and is durable Contains big and smooth polished blocks that are easy-to-grasp Present in beautiful colors and prints

Cons

Pieces may not stay in place since the base is not deep enough

The hexagon puzzle is both a brain teaser and a geometric IQ game offering endless possibilities for parents and their children to play together. It comes with seven colors and 14 pieces of differently shaped blocks that provide around 60 challenges. Pros

Contains pictorial instructions that may help the new player Made of natural basswood, with a non-toxic finish Good alternative to computer games Bright colors that spark creativity and imagination Helps improve fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination Suitable for small hands, ideal for children over three years old

Cons

Pictures on the hint cards may not be clear No written instructions

Tetris puzzle is another brain teaser toy that comes with 40 pieces of colorful 3D Russian blocks. Your child may try a variety of eye-catching combinations such as a classical Tetris design, robot, human, flower, umbrella, and airplane. It is suitable for children over three years. Pros

Combines the advantages of jigsaw and tangram Alternative to computer games Lightweight and comes with a storage pack that is easy to carry Improves fine motor skills, and basic cognitive abilities Wooden pieces are easy to clean

Cons

Product may give a peculiar smell Small pieces may be a choking hazard

If your child is bilingual and speaks English and Spanish, then this counting chameleon puzzle is helpful. It is a 15-piece colorful puzzle with Roman numerals on one side and Spanish numbers on the other side. The puzzle also features a tray measuring seven inches wide and ten inches long. Pros

Made of sustainable rubberwood, and aesthetically pleasing design Teaches numbers in English and Spanish Hones the child’s skills in number identification, number sequencing, and problem-solving Lightweight and durable Easy to clean and store

Cons

Pieces could fit better Letters are not in line

If your child shows a keen interest in solving mazes, then this magnetic wooden maze puzzle would be a good pick. The magnetic bead maze comes with a carrying handle and a clear fixed plastic cover. The beads have to be guided to move around in the maze. Pros

Sturdy board and durable Improves logic and problem-solving skills of the child Made of child-safe and non-toxic material Mess-free activity to engage your kid in play Suitable for children aged over two years

Cons

Magnet may not work sometimes Smaller than expected

Here is another wooden jigsaw puzzle to keep your children away from electronic gadgets. This Dinosaur egg puzzle has 60 pieces and comes in two packs. It is recommended for children aged over three years and could be a great gift idea for birthday, Christmas, or Easter. Pros

Good for hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and constructive thinking Could help learn about prehistoric times when dinosaurs lived Made of durable compressed wood, and quality print Comes with 12-month quality assurance Ideal for indoor and outdoor activities

Cons

Reference picture may not be clear Colors in the puzzle may seem dull

The 3D brain teaser Tetris fit puzzle comes with a special design for problem solvers and puzzle enthusiasts. There are 55 individual wooden pieces made of high-class natural wood and are smooth and sturdy with precision cuts. Pros

Releases stress, motivates the child to be creative Improves problem-solving and spatial intelligence Could be used at home, in the classroom, or during travel Sturdy and compact Recommended for children aged over five years

Cons

Does not include instructions Blocks are smaller than expected

Here is a checklist you can use when buying a wooden puzzle for your child.

The child’s age: Puzzles are made for different age groups, and the difficulty level increases with age. Check for puzzles that are appropriate for your child’s age and buy accordingly. Usually, a child around the age of 12 months may start learning about placing things such as blocks. As they grow, they learn to do more than that and eventually solve puzzles.

Choking hazard: While puzzles are manufactured keeping the child’s safety in mind, children less than three years may be at risk of choking on small pieces. Read the specifications to know if the particular wooden puzzle is safe for the child.

Theme: It depends on your child’s age and interests. Younger children show interest in animals, whereas elderly children show interest in favorite cartoons or fairy tales. Also, consider puzzles in vivid and bright color themes as they are easy to depict. You could also go for the educational puzzles with the alphabet, numbers, shapes, and so on.

Number of pieces: A puzzle with few pieces is made for babies and toddlers and can be solved in just a few minutes, whereas a larger-piece set takes more time. Younger children find enjoyment in puzzles with fewer pieces. Also, more significant pieces are easy to hold and put in place for a younger kid.

Types: There are different types available such as jigsaw, alphabets, numbers, blocks, 3D, brainteasers, and more. Know what your child loves the most, and buy a puzzle accordingly

Priti Bose is a writer for kids’ toys, products, and gifts. She is skilled in product analysis and reviews, understanding children’s ever-growing and changing requirements. She went through many websites and reviews to bring you this list of the best wooden puzzles for kids. These puzzles are both engaging and productive. She has also included a pros and cons section for each product and a buying guide at the end to help you make an informed decision.

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