Best Wooden Puzzles that Will Stretch Their Minds

Best Wooden Puzzles that Will Stretch Their Minds

Designed for developing minds and tiny hands, many of the best wooden puzzles for kids available today can give your child hours of enjoyment. Puzzles of all kinds are a great way for young children and older kids to increase their learning potential. There are many benefits to starting your kid off working on the large wooden ones that are easy to fit together. Their little hands can handle the larger pieces much easier than other types of puzzles.

The more you engage your kids, the more the hand-eye coordination will take control and before you know it, they’ll be putting the pieces right into place. The best part is watching the smile on their face. Being patient helping them with puzzles may be as frustrating as finding the best puzzles. Here is a review of some of the best wooden puzzles for kids available on the market today.

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Top 30 Best Wooden Puzzles for Kids 2023

1. Melissa & Doug Mix ‘n Match Wooden Peg Puzzles

Melissa & Doug Mix ‘n Match Wooden Peg Puzzles

Why we like it: The 3-puzzle board set has been beautifully designed in rich and vibrant colors with happy animal faces on an equally colorful background.

Editor’s Rating:

The Deluxe Mix ‘n Match Peg Puzzle Bundle is a 3-puzzle board set that introduces your toddler to the wonderful world of animals and vehicles. The wooden peg puzzles are a time-honored tradition that never grows old. This type of puzzle is ideal for kids at an early age. While using peg puzzles, kids can learn to identify certain shapes. The 3 puzzles are also interchangeable to stimulate a child’s imagination. Each puzzle is comprised of at least 8 puzzle pieces with the vehicle board containing 9. The bundle comes with a durable and safe wooden tray. This is an excellent toy for developing simple problem-solving skills, enhancing fine motor skills, and reinforcing pattern and shape recognition.

Pros

  • This toy includes all 3 puzzles.
  • It comes with interchangeable shapes.
  • It has large wooden pieces.
  • It features 3 sturdy wooden frames.
  • It's a great toy for enhancing fine motor skills and developing simple problem-solving skills.

Cons

  • The puzzle pieces can get lost.
  • Only half of each car or animal is removable.

2. Melissa & Doug Vehicles Jigsaw Puzzles in a Box

Melissa & Doug Vehicles Jigsaw Puzzles in a Box

Why we like it: This puzzle gives kids a chance to build their own vehicles such as trucks and cars. It also teaches young kids about what a fire truck is and a steam engine is. They can be kept by a child after they finish completing each model.

Editor’s Rating:

At an early age, kids seem to draw to vehicles such as cars and trucks. The Melissa & Doug Vehicles Jigsaw Puzzles is a great option because it’s sturdy and durable. It’ll hold up extremely well to kids who are still learning not to put things in their mouths, band them on the table. It’s toddler-proof. When all the pieces are fit together these puzzles form a firetruck, a school bus, a train, and a race car. Each puzzle fits neatly into a strong wooden box which makes travel a breeze if your child wants to take his to school, on vacation, or to a friend’s house. The puzzle designs come in very interesting scenes that you can frame them and hang on your kid’s wall in his bedroom. It’s also great for developing and enhancing his or her fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, problem-solving skills, and spatial intelligence.

Pros

  • There are 4 different puzzles with 12 pieces each.
  • The pieces are large and durable.
  • The wooden box doubles as a frame.
  • It’s portable enough for travel.

Cons

  • The pieces can be lost over time.
  • Only one model can be framed in the box frame for display.

3. Melissa & Doug African Plains Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle

Melissa & Doug African Plains Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle

Why we like it: The option to add a personal touch to this puzzle is unique and special and adds another level to this gift. This is something your child will hold onto for a long time and want to play with simply because their name is on it.

Editor’s Rating:

The Melissa & Doug African Plains Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle is handcrafted making it perfect for kids who love animals. The safari is mysterious and interesting and this puzzle does it justice with a beautiful and artfully created safari scene that’ll motivate your kids. The scene depicts classic safari animals such as a lion, flamingo, elephant, zebra, giraffe, and hippo. They’re adorable yet still realistic and make for the perfect educational tool to teach your kids about wildlife. For a few more dollars you can even have your child’s name engraved on the top for a perfect personal gift. With 24 pieces it’s perfect for anyone in elementary school and functions as a great first jigsaw puzzle. They’ll have the chance to figure it out and use critical thinking to do so, but it’s not overwhelming to the point where they’d have trouble with it.

Pros

  • The puzzle has beautiful artwork.
  • It features fun and whimsical animal expressions which make the puzzle engaging.
  • It’s perfect for elementary school kids.
  • It’s great for group play.
  • One can personally engrave this puzzle.

Cons

  • The puzzle pieces may easily fall out if not being carried carefully.

4. Melissa & Doug Farm, Pets, and Ocean Puzzles Set

Melissa & Doug Farm, Pets, and Ocean Puzzles Set

Why we like it: The colorful pieces and background of these puzzles are almost like looking at a painted picture and we love that it'll draw your child right in. Having a fun interactive puzzle is one thing, but having one that resembles art is even better.

Editor’s Rating:

The Melissa & Doug Farm, Pet, and Ocean Puzzles Set is a great option for younger ages such as two. It’s also a wonderful learning guide for ages three and four as well. You can teach your kids about farm life with horses, cows, and chicken, or engage them in underwater learning with whales, dolphins, and sharks. These puzzles will have a long-term place on your child’s shelves as they get older and the puzzles become less of a sensory game, and more of a learning game when they begin to identify specific animals. Each of the puzzles making this set is colorful and bright, filled with vibrant scenes and expressive animals. Moreover, this set offers motor skill improvement as well as sensory memorization. Your child will improve their coordination but also have the chance to learn about the animal pieces they’re taking out and fitting back in.

Pros

  • It has six large and durable wooden pieces per puzzle.
  • The peg handles make it easy for kids to grab hold of.
  • It has colorful fully illustrated puzzle boards.
  • The set has been individually wrapped making it ideal for giving as gifts.

Cons

  • The animal illustrations have laminated stickers instead of being painted onto pieces.
  • Some pieces can get lost.

5. Fat Brain Toys Personalized Name Puzzle

Fat Brain Toys Personalized Name Puzzle

Why we like it: There’s a fun aspect to a puzzle that’s been personalized and made especially for you. Kids will love the sentimental value of this puzzle as well as the extra help learning their names.

Editor’s Rating:

The Fat Brains Toys Personalized Name Puzzle makes a great gift for holidays and birthdays. It’ll become a toy that they’ll hold onto long after they’ve already learned to spell their name. Each letter in your child’s name has been uniquely designed with a different bright color for each, along with a puzzle board that will fit all the letters perfectly. Furthermore, the puzzles are a great way to learn how to spell and even more fun when what your child is learning, is their own name. Phonetics and letter placement are equally important when your child is learning how to spell and this puzzle can help with both as well as motor development.

Pros

  • It’s an interactive way for kids to learn their name.
  • The pieces have fun and bright colors.
  • It’s a personalized gift that makes this puzzle special.
  • The high-quality wood ensures it will last.

Cons

  • There are only nine letters that can be used, including spaces.
  • No punctuation marks can be added.

6. Gybber & Mumu Wooden Preschool Colorful Shape Puzzle

Gybber & Mumu Wooden Preschool Colorful Shape Puzzle

Why we like it: Teaching children their shapes and colors can be a challenge. This puzzle takes the challenge and makes it a fun activity. The puzzle pieces are brightly colored and easy to identify.

Editor’s Rating:

The Gybber&Mumu Wooden Preschool Shape Puzzle is a learning tool constructed from wood and offers multiple play-based learning activities. It’s an overall great learning tool that’ll provide toddlers and kids with the ability to learn how to stack and match, along with encouraging them to identify shapes and colors. The kid-friendly paints on the wooden pieces are water-based and are extremely durable. Each puzzle piece and the board have been created and constructed from high-quality materials and are safe for everyone in the family. Included with each puzzle are nine different coloreds shapes that each has a piece on the wooden board. This colorful shape puzzle promotes recognition of shapes while also enhancing dexterity and motor skills. Parents are able to work with children using this puzzle to help learn their colors and shapes easily.

Pros

  • It has kid-friendly shapes and color wooden puzzles.
  • Each puzzle features nine different shapes and colors.
  • It’s been constructed from high-quality materials with kid-safe paints.
  • The shapes can be used on board or stacked on the side.
  • It boosts color and shape recognition.

Cons

  • The water-based paints used and ca chip easily.
  • The puzzle shape pieces are thin and hard for the small hands to grip.

7. Melissa & Doug See & Spell Learning Toy

Melissa & Doug See & Spell Learning Toy

Why we like it: The See & Spell Learning Toy is a unique way for your kid to learn about things, their names, and their spelling. Once completed, each puzzle panel can be a great addition to your kid’s wall décor.

Editor’s Rating:

Without the use of a hands-on product or a game to make things fun and exciting, learning words can be difficult. This learning toy offers both entertainment and educational value in the form of eight different learning games. There are eight double-sided boards and over 50 puzzle piece letters that’ll give kids the freedom to piece together their own words according to the letter outlines and accompanying picture. The artistic details in these puzzles are classic of Melissa & Doug and make these educational puzzles fun and entertaining. To help kids figure out each puzzle word, there’s a matching animal that’s depicted in detail so they know exactly what they’re meant to figure out. Besides, each letter is color coordinated so they’ll know which letters go to which words.

Pros

  • It includes four wooden puzzles.
  • It features 50 bright and colorful pieces.
  • The letters can be used to form other words as well.
  • It has a sturdy wooden storage box.

Cons

  • It's not suitable for kids under the age of four. It has a choking hazard warning.
  • Some pieces can easily get lost.

8. Melissa & Doug Space Voyage Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle

Melissa & Doug Space Voyage Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle

Why we like it: The Space Voyage Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle is stellar in terms of quality and look and will be a huge hit for any kid that loves outer space.

Editor’s Rating:

Melissa & Doug are known for their handcrafted toys and the artwork that goes on them. This Space Voyage Puzzle is the perfect guide to open up a world of science and anatomy to your kids. You can help them learn about the sun, moon, planets, and galaxies with each part of the puzzle they complete. With 24 pieces, this jigsaw puzzle will present somewhat of a challenge but will engage kids’ critical thinking skills. Besides, it’ll help stimulate them with the motivation to see what picture they’re creating. The detailed galaxy background is the perfect setting for the 9 planets and stars that are in focus in the completed pictures and will inspire kids to learn more about the world around and above them. Moreover, this jigsaw puzzle will help kids develop physical skills like hand-eye coordination.

Pros

  • The artwork is excellent.
  • It’s somewhat challenging.
  • The pieces fit together snugly.
  • It’s great for kids who love space.

Cons

  • Some of the painted pieces may chip over time.

9. BeginAgain Animal Parade A to Z

BeginAgain Animal Parade A to Z

Why we like it: This board-less wooden puzzle allows children to build, create, and learn. With each completed puzzle, little ones learn and improve their problem-solving skills on so many different levels. Learning their letters and animals will be super-fun with this puzzle.

Editor’s Rating:

The BeginAgain Animal Parade A to Z is a great way to improve the problem-solving skills within children. This learning puzzle features letters and animals, but the real skill-building comes when they start to put it together. It can be stacked together in many ways, but getting them together is challenging and very rewarding at the same time. It features animals from A to Z in an educations puzzle game. All of the pieces of this puzzle feature a lowercase letter on one side and an uppercase letter on the other side then a corresponding animal is the shape. The wood used in creating the pieces is from sustainably harvested rubber trees. The animals and letters are very cute and boosts their imagination. Putting the puzzle together is fund and with no board it makes them work to place the pieces together.

Pros

  • The board-less wooden puzzle features letters and animals.
  • Each piece features a lowercase and uppercase letter.
  • All pieces have corresponding animals and are cut into that shape.
  • It’s been constructed from rubber trees that have been sustainably harvested.
  • It improves problem-solving skills.

Cons

  • The paint used on the pieces has been applied thinly and chips easily.
  • The letters and placing the puzzle together doesn’t flow left to right.

10. Melissa & Doug Farm Wooden Cube Puzzle

Melissa & Doug Farm Wooden Cube Puzzle

Why we like it: This Farm Wooden Cube Puzzle introduces kids to animal recognition in a fun way. Besides, the pieces can be easily stored inside a tray once the toddler is done playing with them.

Editor’s Rating:

The Melissa & Doug Farm Wooden Cube Puzzle comes with the wooden puzzle for toddlers. There are 16 pieces and 6 puzzles included. It’s easy to store these pieces in the tray after the toddler is done playing. This affordable wooden cube puzzle has pieces made out of sturdy wooden pieces. Your child will be tasked to match the picture clues to complete 6 farm animals. This introduces animal recognition in a very fun way. This puzzle will also help your toddler with developing visual and cognitive skills at a young age. It comes equipped with elegantly crafted 16 wooden cubes which are enough for a 3-year old toddler to play with. These cubes are 1.75-inches in size, which is a perfect size to grab with ease.

Pros

  • It has six puzzles in one.
  • There are 16 durable wooden cubes.
  • It’s quite affordable.
  • The wooden pieces can be easily stored inside the tray.
  • The pieces are sturdy.
  • The pieces are small enough for kids to grab with ease.

Cons

  • There’s a limit of 6 farm animals which is too little for a 3-year old.

11. Melissa & Doug Classic Wooden Peg Puzzles

Melissa & Doug Classic Wooden Peg Puzzles

Why we like it: The Melissa & Doug Classic Wooden Peg Puzzle will make your kid stand out above the rest. It helps kids with the development of hand-eye coordination skills, visual skills, and fine motor skills.

Editor’s Rating:

Melissa & Doug are a renowned manufacturer of kids’ play toys. This Classic Wooden Peg Puzzle offers toddlers an opportunity to learn about numbers, colors, and letters. By engaging in this puzzle, your toddler will gain hand-eye coordination skills, visual skills, and fine motor skills. These are the skills that Grade 1 teachers struggle to equip kids with. To learn about colors, your kid will be challenged to match the correct colored fish together.

For help with learning their alphabet, a colorful picture is placed under each piece showing an image beginning with the same letter. Last, counting is made easy with the 0-9 puzzle. The wooden construction makes it a durable educational tool every parent should consider. Not only is the wooden construction colorful but also intuitive in skills acquisition.

Pros

  • Kids can learn numbers, colors, and alphabets.
  • It’s an affordable puzzle.
  • It features a solid and smooth wooden construction.

Cons

  • It’s a bit bulky at 3-pounds for a 2-year old.

12. Melissa & Doug Animals 4-in-1 Wooden Jigsaw Puzzles Set

Melissa & Doug Animals 4-in-1 Wooden Jigsaw Puzzles Set

Why we like it: This lightweight puzzle comes with a four-slot carrying case that makes it easy to organize the pieces and travel with.

Editor’s Rating:

The Melissa & Doug 4-in-1 Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle Set is a pet puzzle with lots of fun for kids. As in the description, it’s a 4-in-1 puzzle with a four-slot carrying case to help keep the pieces organized. All in all, there are 12 pieces in this wooden puzzle. There’s no confusion about placing the pieces because they’re color-coded. This puzzle set can significantly enhance the motor skills and hand-eye coordination skills of your kids. It’ll also help them recognize everyday pets such as dogs, cats, and bird with vibrant colors.

The puzzle is recommended for kids over the age of 3 years. This is the ideal age since the place placement and the learning of colors requires a certain degree of judgment. Your kid will have lots of fun playing with these color-coded pieces. Once they appear to be bored or tired of one set of puzzles, you can present them with the other. The carrying case that comes with this puzzle makes it the ideal puzzle for traveling.

Pros

  • It’s a lightweight puzzle.
  • It’s quite affordable.
  • It comes with a four-slot carrying case to help keep the pieces organized.
  • This is a 4-in-1 puzzle with colorful pieces.
  • It has a durable wooden construction.

Cons

  • The number of animals to learn is insufficient.

13. BeginAgain Counting Chameleon Wooden Number Puzzle

BeginAgain Counting Chameleon Wooden Number Puzzle

Why we like it: This Wooden Number Puzzle features an aesthetically pleasing design. It's also great in helping kids develop problem-solving skills and identifying number sequences.

Editor’s Rating:

The BeginAgain Chameleon Wooden Number Puzzle is a 19-piece puzzle designed to make your toddlers unique in their early ages. If your child is bilingual in Spanish and English, this educational tool will be very helpful. Toddlers can count up to 15 on one side of the puzzle while the other side helps them know the numbers in Spanish. The puzzle is fun-sized, coming with a tray that measures 7-inches wide and 10-inches long.

It becomes easy to store the pieces without them getting lost. A variety of colors are used to help your child recognize the colors and patterns. Furthermore, it hones their skills in problem-solving, identifying the number of sequences and mastering two languages at the same time. The puzzle has been made of long-lasting rubberwood and features a design that’s aesthetically pleasing and smooth. It also weighs 1.4-pounds, which is lightweight for kids as young as 2-years to hold it.

Pros

  • It’s a lightweight 19-piece puzzle.
  • It’s an affordable puzzle for toddlers.
  • It has durable rubber-wood construction.
  • It has colorful pieces.

Cons

  • The 19-pieces are insufficient especially if you have twins.

14. Melissa & Doug Shapes Peg Puzzle

Melissa & Doug Shapes Peg Puzzle

Why we like it: Each pegged puzzle piece is in a different color so it boosts the learning your kid can enjoy.

Editor’s Rating:

The Melissa & Doug Shapes Peg Puzzle is a great and simple toy that you can use to teach kids basic shapes and colors. This is mainly because they can play with these toys over and over again. This Peg Puzzle is a board with cutouts that match the different shapes of the pegged pieces. Your child will find shape-matching thrilling and challenging while learning different colors and even the spelling of the shapes’ names. Working with the pegged pieces is also great for refining their motor skills.

Pros

  • It greatly aids in the development of a kid’s motor skills.
  • It offers a challenge to kids when matching shapes and learning different colors.
  • It’s a great and simple toy.
  • It’s a fun puzzle for kids to play with.

Cons

  • It hasn’t been made well and some come with cracks at the corners.

15. Hape Alphabet Wooden Stand Up Puzzle

Hape Alphabet Wooden Stand Up Puzzle

Why we like it: Combining puzzle and sensory play, this toy offers a very tactile approach to learning the alphabet.

Editor’s Rating:

The Hape Alphabet Wooden Stand Up Puzzle comes with 26 different wooden pieces shaped after each letter of the alphabet in different colors. It features a cutout board wherein your little one can match the letters with the blank slots. It’ll help your child learn about letters, their shapes, and colors. Small kids will also have a blast trying to figure out which letter goes to which slot. This is great for their problem-solving and motor skills as well as spatial intelligence. Moreover, this puzzle has been nicely sized and won’t have a hard time standing up. They can also double up as the cutest props for your little one’s social media entries.

Pros

  • It’s a great toy for helping kids develop problem-solving skills, motor skills, and spatial intelligence.
  • Kids can learn about a different letter of the alphabet, and different shapes and colors.
  • It’s a nicely sized puzzle that can stand on its own.
  • It’s been designed to fit small hands.

Cons

  • The quality of the letters is questionable.

16. Melissa & Doug Deluxe Wooden 48-Piece Jigsaw Puzzle

Melissa & Doug Deluxe Wooden 48-Piece Jigsaw Puzzle

Why we like it: This set is a nice introduction to more serious puzzles as its design is more complicated and detailed than ones meant for younger users.

Editor’s Rating:

The Melissa & Doug Deluxe Wooden 48-Piece Jigsaw Puzzle is a great choice for those looking for a more challenging jigsaw puzzle. Composed of 48 puzzle pieces, it will get a school-aged child engaged and entertained. If they love pirates, this will even be a more exciting toy for them to play with. Besides, jigsaw puzzles are the most fun when they pose a challenge. This is why by the time your child will be turning four, they’ll already be bored with peg puzzles. The Deluxe is, therefore, a great introduction to more serious puzzles since it has a more complicated and detailed design.

Pros

  • It’s an exciting and entertaining toy for kids to play with.
  • It’s a challenging puzzle.
  • It has a complicated and detailed design meant for younger users.

Cons

  • Some users have questioned the quality of the puzzle pieces.

17. Melissa & Doug Shape Sorting Cube

Melissa & Doug Shape Sorting Cube

Why we like it: This Shape Sorting Cube from Melissa & Doug features three-dimensional shape pieces that add some sensory play to the toy.

Editor’s Rating:

The Melissa & Doug Shape Sorting Cube is among one of the most common and traditional toys available. Almost every child has used a shape sorting cube and many have learned shapes with its help. This cube has been made of wood making it an even more nostalgic pick for most parents. Besides adding some sensory play to the toy, these three-dimensional shape pieces offer a shape-matching challenge. Each shape comes in a different color. This helps in the development of a child’s ability to recognize different colors.

Pros

  • Kids can learn to differentiate shapes and colors using this cube.
  • It’s been made of wood making it durable and sturdy.
  • The three-dimensional shapes add some sensory play to the toy.

Cons

  • The quality of the cube is not that great.

18. Melissa & Doug Tools Wooden Chunky Puzzle

Melissa & Doug Tools Wooden Chunky Puzzle

Why we like it: Aside from fun shape-matching games, this set will also teach a few real-life skills to your kid.

Editor’s Rating:

The Melissa & Doug Tools Wooden Chunky Puzzle offer cute and safe representations of everyday work tools. Any parent who’s quite handy will love this puzzle. It comes with a cutout board with identical drawings of what’s on the puzzle pieces. Kids can easily match them and complete the puzzle. By creating kiddie versions of construction tools, you can introduce your child to how your house was built and the various practical uses the puzzle’s pieces. They can also utilize the different pieces for their pretend play, making the very basic concept of wooden toys more versatile.

Pros

  • It offers safe representations of everyday work tools.
  • It comes with a cutout board with identical drawings.
  • It’s colorful and attractive.
  • It encourages pretend play aiding in the development of a child’s creativity.

Cons

  • The pieces have paper stuck on them instead of paint. The paper comes off easily.

19. Melissa & Doug Vehicles Chunky Wooden Puzzle

Melissa & Doug Vehicles Chunky Wooden Puzzle

Why we like it: The cutout board and pieces will give your child a nice feel and understanding of its shape and the basic concept behind each vehicle.

Editor’s Rating:

The Melissa & Doug Vehicles Chunky Wooden Puzzle will enable kids to differentiate land vehicles from cars to buses and trucks. This set features different water and air vehicles as well. Even if your child hasn’t seen one in person just yet, you’ll be amazed at how they’ll recognize it the moment that they do. What makes this puzzle even better is that each piece is chunky so they can also be used for pretend play. With this product, you not only get a nice puzzle, but you can also help diversify your child’s toy figures collection.

Pros

  • It helps kids in differentiating land, water, and air vehicles.
  • Each puzzle piece is chunky so kids can enjoy pretend play.
  • Pretend plays encourage the development of a child’s imagination.

Cons

  • It’s not of great quality.

20. Melissa & Doug Deluxe Wooden USA Map Puzzle

Melissa & Doug Deluxe Wooden USA Map Puzzle

Why we like it: This easy-to-assemble map puzzle is great to help kids learn about different states and important information associated with them.

Editor’s Rating:

Geography can be pretty tricky to learn, so incorporating them into a puzzle game can be a nice way for your child to get to know the different states of the US. The Melissa & Doug Deluxe Wooden USA Map Puzzle is a nice choice as each puzzle piece represents the different states (with the exception of small New England ones). It may not exactly be a jigsaw puzzle, but it’ll still be very fun to piece together. Besides, this puzzle piece notes the state’s nicknames and other important information, so your child can get to know more about their country.

Pros

  • It's easy to assemble.
  • Kids get to develop their geographical knowledge.
  • It helps to develop hand-eye coordination and problem-solving skills.

Cons

  • There have been issues with the product’s quality with some users complaining of sharp unfinished corners on the puzzle pieces.

21. Rolimate Wooden Educational Preschool Geometric Sorter

Rolimate Wooden Educational Preschool Geometric Sorter

Why we like it: This toy’s design is not only for puzzle play but also involves some building as well. This makes it an even more engaging and exciting toy for growing children.

Editor’s Rating:

The Rolimate Wooden Educational Preschool Geometric Sorter is a great wooden puzzle for kids to learn about shapes and colors uniquely. This shape sorter toy is unlike others available in the market since it doesn’t employ a cutout board to familiarize your child with different shapes. It uses pegs and holes on each piece instead to secure and differentiate each shape. Besides being used for puzzle play, kids can engage in building play as well.

Pros

  • This is an engaging and exciting toy for growing kids.
  • It can be used for puzzles and building play as well.
  • It helps in the development of a child's fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
  • Kids can be able to differentiate between shapes.

Cons

  • It’s too small for toddlers and this may be a choking hazard.

22. Melissa & Doug Dinosaur Chunky Puzzle

Melissa & Doug Dinosaur Chunky Puzzle

Why we like it: Aside from shape-sorting, the chunky dinosaur figures this set has, can be played with separately.

Editor’s Rating:

The Melissa & Doug Dinosaur Chunky Puzzle can be used to further hone your child’s shape-matching abilities. It features seven different chunky dinosaur pieces with a matching cutout board. This versatile toy will let your child play with dinosaurs in more ways than one. So if your little one doesn’t find the puzzle challenging, they can use the pieces for some pretend play. This extends the value and usability of the product. Besides, the easy-grasp dinosaur pieces are colorful and come with matching pictures underneath. The pieces can stand upright for pretend play.

Pros

  • It encourages the development of hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and creative expression skills.
  • It’s a versatile toy that can be used as a puzzle or the pieces can be played with separately.
  • The product can be used for long due to its versatility.

Cons

  • The quality isn’t that great.

23. Hape Choo Choo Tracks Kid’s Magnetic Wooden Maze Puzzle

Hape Choo Choo Tracks Kid’s Magnetic Wooden Maze Puzzle

Why we like it: The magnetic track-tracing toy will challenge your little one in moving the balls from one spot to another without any pressure.

Editor’s Rating:

The Hape Choo Choo Tracks Kid’s Magnetic Wooden Maze Puzzle offers a mess-free way to engage your child in play. It makes the use of magnets to move the balls around in a maze, engaging children to concentrate on a single task of controlling the direction of the balls to get them to different areas of the puzzle. There isn’t an end goal so your child can explore the maze and call it a day. However, this toy will be great for their motor and problem-solving skills.

Pros

  • It’s great for the development of kid’s motor and problem-solving skills.
  • It’s quite engaging as kids focus on a single task of controlling the balls’ direction.
  • It’s a mess-free way to engage your child in play.

Cons

  • It’s a bit smaller than expected.

24. Melissa & Doug Self-Correcting Letter

Melissa & Doug Self-Correcting Letter

Why we like it: This toy can easily double as a teaching tool as it doesn’t just teach kids about the alphabet. It encourages them to find the right object that has the same starting letter as the featured letter.

Editor’s Rating:

As confusing as the name might be, the Melissa & Doug Self-Correcting Letter will teach your kid the alphabet with the help of wooden jigsaw pieces. These pieces have letters on them that they’ll need to attach to other jigsaw pieces with corresponding illustrations of objects and animals that start with the letter they match with. It’s called self-correcting because of the unique cuts on each piece. Your child won’t incorrectly match illustrations with non-corresponding letters.

Pros

  • It’s a great way for kids to learn about letters and their sounds.
  • There’s only one match for each letter because of the unique cuts on each piece.
  • It comes with wooden storage boxes with slide-in lids.

Cons

  • The wood peels and splinters and the printing aren't well done.

25. Paw Patrol 5 Wood Jigsaw Puzzles in Wood Storage Box

Paw Patrol 5 Wood Jigsaw Puzzles in Wood Storage Box

Why we like it: The Paw Patrol 5 Wood Jigsaw Puzzle has puzzles that are easy to solve for kids and fit neatly into the included storage box.

Editor’s Rating:

If you are a fan of Paw Patrol, then you will surely love this pack of 5 wood puzzles. It has puzzles that are easy to solve for kids. Besides, it comes with a wooden storage box that the puzzles can neatly fit in. This makes it easy to travel with. The first puzzles are two 12-piece puzzles, which are for beginners or those who want it easy. The second puzzle set contains two 16-piece puzzles so they are ideal for the intermediate players. Furthermore, there’s a 24-piece puzzle that’s a little more challenging than the others.

Pros

  • It develops kids’ hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.
  • It has easy to solve puzzles for kids.
  • It’s easy to travel with because of the storage box.

Cons

  • It’s not very durable.

26. Hape Go-Fish-Go Magnetic Wooden Toddler Maze Puzzle

Hape Go-Fish-Go Magnetic Wooden Toddler Maze Puzzle

Why we like it: As a unique magnetic puzzle for kids aged 2-years and above, this maze is lightweight making it easy to carry around.

Editor’s Rating:

The Hape Go-Fish-Go is a wooden maze puzzle shaped like a fish with a bead maze. It’s portable so you can easily travel with it. Besides, it features a carrying handle. This wooden puzzle has been made of wood so it’s non-toxic for kids to enjoy. It’s great for exercising your child’s thinking and puzzle solving skills.

Pros

  • It’s portable since it features a handle and is light.
  • It’s made of non-toxic material.
  • It aids in developing a child’s thinking and puzzle-solving skills.

Cons

  • The magnetic pen is weak, making the product hard to use.

27. Tidlo Touch and Feel Shape Matching Wooden Bugs

Tidlo Touch and Feel Shape Matching Wooden Bugs

Why we like it: This wooden puzzle has easy-to-lift chunky pieces that will help in stimulating a child’s senses and encourage early shape recognition.

Editor’s Rating:

It’ll be easy for kids to fall in love with this wooden ‘Touch and Feel’ puzzle. You get four easy-to-lift chunky pieces combined with bright colors to stimulate the senses. Being of excellent quality, it encourages early shape recognition as little ones explore the different textures hiding underneath each animal. It’s recommended for kids 12-months and above.

Pros

  • It has easy-to-lift pieces.
  • The bright colors stimulate the senses.
  • It encourages early shape recognition in kids.
  • It’s made of high-quality materials.

Cons

  • It’s smaller than expected.

28. SainSmart Jr. Wooden Tetris Puzzle

SainSmart Jr. Wooden Tetris Puzzle

Why we like it: If your child is a fan of computer games, then this puzzle may be the right one for them. The Tetris design of this puzzle is meant to be stimulating and a major booster for critical thinking and problem-solving.

Editor’s Rating:

The SainSmart Jr. is a Tetris-inspired game designed to get kids away from gaming screens and focused on something hands-on. By trying to fit all the pieces back together, they’ll be learning significant problem-solving skills and also exercising muscle memory. This is a real-life Tetris that will provide a challenge for the whole family whether this is after school, rainy day, or week game night fun. The box and pieces are made out of natural beech and maple wood as well as non-toxic paints, making it safe for any and all ages. Besides, this game will help kids in developing both their coordination as well as problem-solving skills.

Pros

  • It’s a good replacement for computer games.
  • It’s great for all ages.
  • It has non-toxic and safe paints.
  • It’s made of all-natural wooden materials.
  • It’s great fun for the entire family.

Cons

  • The wooden pieces may swell in humid temperatures and may not fit together correctly.

29. Professor Poplar’s Puzzle Bundle

Professor Poplar’s Puzzle Bundle

Why we like it: The design of this Puzzle Bundle embraces a durable natural wood with a smooth finish and the shapes have been designed with entertaining colors and patterns.

Editor’s Rating:

Professor Poplar’s Puzzle Bundle has a weight that’s ideal for toddlers around 3-years of age. With this educational tool, your kid can gain tremendous knowledge in letter recognition, numbers recognition up to 20 and boost mental development early. They’ll also become more familiar with barnyard helpers and people movers. Its design embraces natural wood with a smooth finish whereas all the shapes have been designed with entertaining colors and patterns.

The learning outcomes of this puzzle include motor skills improvement, creativity and shape orientation. The bundle contains 4 puzzles each with dimensions 11.75-inches long and 9-inches wide. All the puzzles can be stored upright after the toddler has played. If you want to prepare your kids aged 3-years and up for the first grade, these puzzles can be a good consideration.

Pros

  • There are 4 puzzles in a bundle.
  • It doesn’t require any tools to assemble.
  • Your kid can learn alphabets and numbers up to 20.
  • It features smooth wooden cubes.
  • It aids in the development of a child’s motor skills, creativity, and shape orientation.

Cons

  • It’s a bit bulky.
  • It’s quite expensive.

30. Melissa & Doug Deluxe Mix ‘n Match Peg Puzzle 3 Pack Bundle

Melissa & Doug Deluxe Mix ‘n Match Peg Puzzle 3 Pack Bundle

Why we like it: This 3-Pack Bundle has been designed to teach kids about different animals and vehicles while training their different developmental skills.

Editor’s Rating:

The Melissa & Doug Deluxe Mix ‘n Match Peg Puzzle is composed of three boards that depict photos of animals and vehicles. Your child will need to match the shape and design of each cut-out with a pegged piece. The design ensures that your kids learn of different animals and vehicles while training their different developmental skills. Kids can also mix and match the pieces to encourage some imagination. These peg puzzles are great for smaller kids who may still have a hard time putting a jigsaw puzzle together. With these, they only have to match the shape of the cut out with a puzzle piece, helping refine their problem-solving skills and spatial intelligence. The pegs help with handling, promoting fine motor skills and dexterity.

Pros

  • It promotes fine motor skills and dexterity.
  • It helps kid refine their problem-solving skills and spatial intelligence.
  • It comes with 3 boards that help kids learn of different animals and vehicles.
  • It encourages creativity spurring a kids imagination.

Cons

  • It can be a bit bulky for kids.

Final Words

Wooden puzzles offer a wide range of benefits for children, most of which are even difficult to replicate with other toys. Our review above has covered the top 30 best wooden puzzles for kids available in the market today. However, you should note that purchasing these puzzles is a challenge that requires not only price consideration but other factors such as the number of pieces and color varieties.

Having many pieces is helpful to know because kids get to spend hours honing their skills. The age factor is also important since most of these puzzles are meant for kids 3 years or older. The above best wooden puzzles for kids will not only help kids activate and practice their hand-eye coordination, but can also be enjoyable.