• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Artisan Life
  • Dot Marker Pages
  • Learning Center
  • Seasonal Printables
    • Winter Printables
    • Valentine's Day printables
    • St. Patrick's Day printables
    • Earth Day
    • Easter printables
    • Mother's Day
    • Fall printables
    • Thanksgiving Printables
    • Christmas Printables
  • Printable Calendars
  • Preschool + K
    • Alphabet Tracing Worksheets
    • Dot Marker Pages
    • Cut & Paste Crafts
    • Preschool Math
    • Fine Motor Practice Pages
    • Spanish Preschool Pages
  • Coloring Pages
  • Shop
  • Recipes
    • Healthy dessert recipes
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Dot Marker Pages
  • Free Printables
    • Preschool worksheets
    • Free Printable Coloring Pages
    • Printable journals & planners
  • Learning Center
  • Shape Templates
  • Coloring Pages
  • St Pat's Printables
  • Desserts
  • Dot Marker Bundle
  • Shop
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Dot Marker Pages
    • Free Printables
      • Preschool worksheets
      • Free Printable Coloring Pages
      • Printable journals & planners
    • Learning Center
    • Shape Templates
    • Coloring Pages
    • St Pat's Printables
    • Desserts
    • Dot Marker Bundle
    • Shop
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Toddler Toys

    The Best Non-Toxic Wood Toys for Toddlers

    Published: Nov 25, 2018 · Modified: Feb 4, 2025

    229 shares
    • Share

    The amount of plastic toddler toys on the market can be overwhelming. When you want low-tech, classic wood toys for your toddler they can be hard to find! That's why I put together this list of the best non-toxic wood toys for toddler.

    This guide is broken into sections to help you discover why wood toys are the best choice for toddlers (especially young toddlers who still mouth!), how to avoid toxic toys, and age-appropriate wood toys for younger and older toddlers. Lastly, there's an FAQ about wood toys and low-tech toys, in general.

    You can jump to each section using the table of contents below for easy navigation, or just scroll down to take it all in!

    The best wood toys for toddlers - discover the best non-toxic wood toys for your toddler!

    This post may include affiliate links, which means I may make a commission on purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you. 

    Why it's important to buy wood toys for toddlers

    I recently had a little bout of doubting myself and how strict I am about toys.

    I've always preferred to provide natural material toys for LG and have a deep aversion to anything that lights up, makes noise, or generally plays with itself. (Basically anything with batteries!) 

    After LG was gifted some battery-containing plastic toys, I decided to do a little research. I thought maybe I was being too paranoid abbot plastic/electronic toys. Instead, I ended up becoming even more passionate about wood toys! Wood toys are best for babies and toddlers for several reasons.

    Since electronic toys are a relatively new creation, their long term impacts haven't really been studied yet. However, one study suggested that talking toys may hinder language development!

    This happens because both children and caregivers interact less while using electronic toys. Obviously a few minutes a day isn't a huge concern, but so many toys on the market today talk that it can be hard to avoid electronic toy overload!

    Many plastic toys today contain at least some recycled content, which sounds great. Unfortunately, studies have shown that the majority of toy plastic is at risk for contamination from flame retardants, chemicals from metalworking, and other hazardous chemicals. Some pediatricians have even gone so far as to recommend against giving any plastic toys to babies and toddlers who might place things in their mouths! Yikes!

    Wood toys are more environmentally friendly than their plastic counterparts. Wood is a renewable resource, and many of the major wood toy companies use responsibly sourced woods.

    For example, PlanToys uses old rubber trees that no longer produce latex and make sure not to apply fertilizer to the soil for at least three years before harvesting the trees. How cool is that?

    Additionally, wood will decompose if a toy eventually makes its way to the trash. (Unlike most plastic toys which will, presumably, be there for approximately forever.)

    Wood toys are more durable than plastic toys. While they are not completely indestructible, wood toys do tend to last longer. Unlike old plastic toys that become brittle and leak toxins, wood toys can stay usable and in great condition for decades.

    If you have children, you may also enjoy this free printable woodland animal activity pack with low-prep activities for children of all ages!

    How to avoid toxic toys

    Unfortunately, not all wood toys are created equal. Some natural material toys can have toxins. Eeek! Here are some general guidelines to help you avoid toxic wood toys:

    Try to only purchase painted wood toys made in the US, Canada, or Europe. Tests have shown that approximately ⅓ of Chinese made toys contain dangerous levels of heavy metals. (source) Many Chinese toys contain excessive amounts of lead, which can be in paint if you chose a painted wood toy.

    • If you do buy wood toys manufactured in Asia, make sure they're from a reputable brand like Hape or PlanToys that maintain high standards and accountability.
    • Unfortunately, Mellissa & Doug toys may not be safe, which is why I haven't included any in this post. They've had some recall issues in the past, and one of their dolls made the top 10 toys to avoid list in 2017 due to safety concerns.

    Opt for unfinished wood toys or ones finished with something mouthing safe like mineral oil or beeswax.

    a toddler playing with wood blocks

    The best non-toxic wood toys for young toddlers or "tabies"

    Tabies are a challenging age group to shop for! I know because that's what my girl is at the time of writing.

    Young toddlers from about 12 months until 18 months definitely are not infants any more. They desperately want to be toddlers, but they don't have things quite figured out yet. They may or may not be walking and you have to be very careful not to give them choking hazards because they still like to mouth.

    These toys are based on what our young toddler loves and uses most and what I know to be beneficial based on my childhood development education. (If you're new here, I have a Master's of the Arts in Teaching!)

    Toddlers love making noise! There are sound blocks, drums, xylophones, and more from nontoxic toy manufacturers. Unlike their electronic counterparts, wood instruments and sound toys promote interaction and are good for development. Here are a few of our favorites!

    HABA Fun with Sounds Wooden Discovery Blocks for Toddlers with Acoustic...
    Hape Small Wooden Handheld Mr. Tambourine Early Melodies Kid Toy Musical...
    Hape Tab Along Mr. Tambourine | Kid's Wooden Drum Musical Instrument
    PlanToys Solid Drum Toddler Musical Instrument - Sustainably Made from...
    HABA Fun with Sounds Wooden Discovery Blocks for Toddlers with Acoustic...
    Hape Small Wooden Handheld Mr. Tambourine Early Melodies Kid Toy Musical...
    Hape Tab Along Mr. Tambourine | Kid's Wooden Drum Musical Instrument
    PlanToys Solid Drum Toddler Musical Instrument - Sustainably Made from...
    Amazon Prime
    -
    -
    -
    HABA Fun with Sounds Wooden Discovery Blocks for Toddlers with Acoustic...
    HABA Fun with Sounds Wooden Discovery Blocks for Toddlers with Acoustic...
    Amazon Prime
    Hape Small Wooden Handheld Mr. Tambourine Early Melodies Kid Toy Musical...
    Hape Small Wooden Handheld Mr. Tambourine Early Melodies Kid Toy Musical...
    -
    Hape Tab Along Mr. Tambourine | Kid's Wooden Drum Musical Instrument
    Hape Tab Along Mr. Tambourine | Kid's Wooden Drum Musical Instrument
    -
    PlanToys Solid Drum Toddler Musical Instrument - Sustainably Made from...
    PlanToys Solid Drum Toddler Musical Instrument - Sustainably Made from...
    -

    Wood blocks are always a great toy! A high quality set of wood blocks can be a favorite for years to come.

    Uncle Goose blocks are a fantastic choice if you want something with a 'classic' appearance but lots of options. They have traditional alphabet blocks, sign language blocks, Spanish blocks, and even periodic table blocks!

    For more colorful wood blocks and whimsical sets, look at Haba or Hape blocks. We own toys from both companies and are very satisfied with their quality!

    Uncle Goose Classic ABC Blocks - Made in The USA
    HABA Baby's First Basic Block Set - 12 Colorful Wooden Cubes (Made in...
    HABA Eeny, Meeny, Miny Zoo! 25 Piece Mix & Match Animal Blocks (Made in...
    Hape Maple Wood Kids Building Blocks Stacking Wooden Block Educational Toy...
    Uncle Goose Classic ABC Blocks - Made in The USA
    HABA Baby's First Basic Block Set - 12 Colorful Wooden Cubes (Made in...
    HABA Eeny, Meeny, Miny Zoo! 25 Piece Mix & Match Animal Blocks (Made in...
    Hape Maple Wood Kids Building Blocks Stacking Wooden Block Educational Toy...
    Amazon Prime
    -
    -
    Amazon Prime
    Uncle Goose Classic ABC Blocks - Made in The USA
    Uncle Goose Classic ABC Blocks - Made in The USA
    Amazon Prime
    HABA Baby's First Basic Block Set - 12 Colorful Wooden Cubes (Made in...
    HABA Baby's First Basic Block Set - 12 Colorful Wooden Cubes (Made in...
    -
    HABA Eeny, Meeny, Miny Zoo! 25 Piece Mix & Match Animal Blocks (Made in...
    HABA Eeny, Meeny, Miny Zoo! 25 Piece Mix & Match Animal Blocks (Made in...
    -
    Hape Maple Wood Kids Building Blocks Stacking Wooden Block Educational Toy...
    Hape Maple Wood Kids Building Blocks Stacking Wooden Block Educational Toy...
    Amazon Prime

    We've had a Manhattan Skwish since LG was an infant and she still loves it. It can be shaken, flattened, tossed, rolled, you name it! It even makes a good travel toy because it's easy to clip on with a toy leash like this beautiful wood clip from Haba.

    Sale
    Manhattan Toy Skwish Natural Rattle and Teether Grasping Activity Toy
    Manhattan Toy Skwish Natural Rattle and Teether Grasping Activity Toy
    • MULTI-SENSORY WOODEN BABY RATTLE: Classic, multi-sensory wooden rattle encourages reaching and holding activity which are important for gross motor...
    • CAUSE AND EFFECT WOODEN TOY: The Skwish is surprisingly lightweight, allowing little ones the ease of sliding the wooden pieces back and forth on...
    • DEVELOPMENTAL BABY TOY: Skwish may not turn every baby into a mathematical genius, but every baby can joyfully benefit from its unique developmental...
    Check current price

    Ball drop and pounding toys are favorites with our LG. They're fantastic for promoting fine motor skills and learning cause & effect. This toy from Hape combines a ball drop with pounding and a removable xylophone! (For the record, she also has a wood xylophone and it's quite popular both with LG and her Papa.)

    Sale
    Hape Pound & Tap Bench with Slide Out Xylophone - Award Winning Durable...
    Hape Pound & Tap Bench with Slide Out Xylophone - Award Winning Durable...
    • Pound the balls and they will drop on the xylophone, tinkling out a pleasant scale of notes
    • Pull out the xylophone and play a tune directly on the keys
    • Great fun exploring rhythm and melodies
    Amazon Prime
    Check current price

    Wood peg pounding benches are also a great choice. This one from Plan Toys is my top choice because it has a sturdy base and Plan is an ecologically friendly company that's committed to using safe materials.

    No products found.

    LG loves her ball drop toy so much that we've decided to get her this marble race track, too. After debating several different options with cars that flip and zig-zag down the track, we decided on this version because of how the ball moves from side to side. It gives her more opportunities to interact with the ball and place it at different points along the track.

    Update: She loves this toy! She practices placing the marble at different places along the track, plays with the balls separately, and loves hitting the bell at the end with her hand. She got it at 14 months and is still playing with it regularly at 22 months.

    Sale
    Hape Roller Derby Wooden Marble Racing Toy | Award Winning Marble Run...
    Hape Roller Derby Wooden Marble Racing Toy | Award Winning Marble Run...
    • DOUBLE SIDED FUN: Colorful wooden balls, peek-a-boo holes and fast tracks create a dual-sided mountain of fun that helps learn about momentum and...
    • BELL CHIMES INSTRUMENT: When the colorful wooden marble balls reach the finish line a bell chimes to celebrate the end of the race
    • DEVELOPMENTAL SKILLS: Encourages parents to talk with their children about the different concepts (fast, slow, back and forth) as the balls roll down...
    Amazon Prime
    Check current price

    Shape sorters are fun and great for development, but you need to make sure to select a comparatively simple one for young toddlers. If you go with a complex one your child may become frustrated and give up!

    If you'd like a more difficult shape sorter, I've linked up my top picks in the section for older toddlers below. This sorter from Plan has basic shapes that are easiest for young toddlers. (Your little one may amaze you - our girl was able to place the circles, squares, and hexagons on a shape sorter recently!)

    PlanToys Shape & Sort It Out
    PlanToys Shape & Sort It Out
    • Encourages recognition of colors and shapes as well as the development of hand-eye coordination.
    • All colors are made from vegetable dye.
    • For ages 12 months and up.
    Check current price

    Stacker toys are also popular with toddlers. There are so many options available today! You can go for nesting/stacking cups or pieces that slide onto a dowel.

    PlanToys Wooden 8 Piece Sorting and Stacking Ring Toy (5124) | Rainbow...
    HABA Wooden Stacking Toy Rainbow Lighthouse, 8-Piece Building Blocks Set...
    Award Winning Hape Clown Stacker Toddler Wooden Ring Toy
    HABA Frido Frog Stacker - 8 Piece First Wooden Pegging Game for Ages 18...
    PlanToys Wooden 8 Piece Sorting and Stacking Ring Toy (5124) | Rainbow...
    HABA Wooden Stacking Toy Rainbow Lighthouse, 8-Piece Building Blocks Set...
    Award Winning Hape Clown Stacker Toddler Wooden Ring Toy
    HABA Frido Frog Stacker - 8 Piece First Wooden Pegging Game for Ages 18...
    -
    Amazon Prime
    -
    -
    PlanToys Wooden 8 Piece Sorting and Stacking Ring Toy (5124) | Rainbow...
    PlanToys Wooden 8 Piece Sorting and Stacking Ring Toy (5124) | Rainbow...
    -
    HABA Wooden Stacking Toy Rainbow Lighthouse, 8-Piece Building Blocks Set...
    HABA Wooden Stacking Toy Rainbow Lighthouse, 8-Piece Building Blocks Set...
    Amazon Prime
    Award Winning Hape Clown Stacker Toddler Wooden Ring Toy
    Award Winning Hape Clown Stacker Toddler Wooden Ring Toy
    -
    HABA Frido Frog Stacker - 8 Piece First Wooden Pegging Game for Ages 18...
    HABA Frido Frog Stacker - 8 Piece First Wooden Pegging Game for Ages 18...
    -

    Depending on your tabie's fine motor skills, she may enjoy something like these Hape Twist & Turnables. Our LG loves unscrewing larger lids and pet food containers, so we just purchased her one of these for Christmas (sshhh! Don't tell her please!). They say they're for 24+ months, but the pieces are large enough to be safe for mouthing.

    Update: LG loves these! They're definitely large enough to be safe. Screwing them back in is a challenge for her, but she started un-screwing them immediately.

    Sale
    Hape Twist and Turnables Wooden Building Block Learning Set
    Hape Twist and Turnables Wooden Building Block Learning Set
    • 8 basic nuts and bolts in four bright colors and shapes
    • Mix and match creating endless possible combinations
    • Develops motor skills and stimulates imagination
    Amazon Prime
    Check current price

    If you're looking for something larger, a wood toddler activity center is just the thing! This one from Hape comes with a built-in shape sorter and ball pounder!

    Sale
    Hape Country Critters Play Cube| Wooden Learning Puzzle Toy for Toddlers,...
    Hape Country Critters Play Cube| Wooden Learning Puzzle Toy for Toddlers,...
    • See what antics the little friends of the Animal Adventure Play Center can get into
    • Keeps kids busy and loving it with four activities and a bevy of small animal friends
    • Consists of ten pieces, including three wooden balls, six wooden shapes and the Play Center itself
    Amazon Prime
    Check current price

    And, of course, I can't write about the best wood toddler toys without including the perennial favorite Grimm's wood rainbow! (There is also a smaller, six piece Grimm's rainbow.)

    No products found.

    older toddlers playing with wood toys

    The best wood toys for older toddlers

    There are so many fantastic wood toys for older toddlers! They still enjoy staples like blocks and instruments, but are ready to move on to more complex toys.

    More complex shape sorters are perfect for older toddlers:

    Hape Wooden Shape Sorter Toys| Montessori Educational Learning Toys for...
    HABA Zookeeper Wooden Shape Sorting Box with a Twist - Explore Whole and...
    Shape Sorter Bench - Made in USA
    Hape Wooden Shape Sorter Toys| Montessori Educational Learning Toys for...
    HABA Zookeeper Wooden Shape Sorting Box with a Twist - Explore Whole and...
    Shape Sorter Bench - Made in USA
    -
    -
    Amazon Prime
    Hape Wooden Shape Sorter Toys| Montessori Educational Learning Toys for...
    Hape Wooden Shape Sorter Toys| Montessori Educational Learning Toys for...
    -
    HABA Zookeeper Wooden Shape Sorting Box with a Twist - Explore Whole and...
    HABA Zookeeper Wooden Shape Sorting Box with a Twist - Explore Whole and...
    -
    Shape Sorter Bench - Made in USA
    Shape Sorter Bench - Made in USA
    Amazon Prime

    Puzzle sorters that encourage classification improve dexterity, spatial relations, and hand-eye coordination. This one from Hape is on our list once LG's ready for it!

    Hape Wooden Color and Shape Sorter Toy| Puzzle Board Montessori Preschool...
    Hape Wooden Color and Shape Sorter Toy| Puzzle Board Montessori Preschool...
    • SHAPES & COLORS PUZZLE: Make learning powerful and fun through every stage of life. Includes 9 different pegs with 3 distinct basic shapes
    • ENDLESS EDUCATIONAL FUN: Colorful blocks puzzle allows them to learn while having fun
    • DEVELOP KEY LITERACY SKILLS: Build on and improve your child's natural ability to recognize shapes and colors using brightly colored wooden blocks....
    Amazon Prime
    Check current price

    Older toddlers are also ready for more challenging stackers and geometric sorting boards!

    HABA Rainbow Whirls Wooden Sorting & Stacking Rings Shape Sorter,...
    Hape Wooden Creative Peg Puzzle| Shape Sorter Stacking Peg Puzzle|...
    Hape Wooden Counting Stacker Block Set| Number Puzzles Counting Stacking...
    PlanToys (2403 Wooden Geometric Sorting Board Sustainably Made from...
    HABA Rainbow Whirls Wooden Sorting & Stacking Rings Shape Sorter,...
    Hape Wooden Creative Peg Puzzle| Shape Sorter Stacking Peg Puzzle|...
    Hape Wooden Counting Stacker Block Set| Number Puzzles Counting Stacking...
    PlanToys (2403 Wooden Geometric Sorting Board Sustainably Made from...
    Amazon Prime
    Amazon Prime
    Amazon Prime
    Amazon Prime
    HABA Rainbow Whirls Wooden Sorting & Stacking Rings Shape Sorter,...
    HABA Rainbow Whirls Wooden Sorting & Stacking Rings Shape Sorter,...
    Amazon Prime
    Hape Wooden Creative Peg Puzzle| Shape Sorter Stacking Peg Puzzle|...
    Hape Wooden Creative Peg Puzzle| Shape Sorter Stacking Peg Puzzle|...
    Amazon Prime
    Hape Wooden Counting Stacker Block Set| Number Puzzles Counting Stacking...
    Hape Wooden Counting Stacker Block Set| Number Puzzles Counting Stacking...
    Amazon Prime
    PlanToys (2403 Wooden Geometric Sorting Board Sustainably Made from...
    PlanToys (2403 Wooden Geometric Sorting Board Sustainably Made from...
    Amazon Prime

    They also appreciate more complex puzzles. LG has been rocking her single shape puzzles - I know she'll be ready for one of these before we know it!

    HABA Perfect Pairs - Chunky 18 Piece Wooden Sorting Game - Which Two Halves...
    HABA Baby Farm Animals Clutching Puzzle - 4 Piece Jumbo Knob Wooden Puzzle...
    HABA Perfect Pairs - Chunky 18 Piece Wooden Sorting Game - Which Two Halves...
    HABA Baby Farm Animals Clutching Puzzle - 4 Piece Jumbo Knob Wooden Puzzle...
    -
    -
    HABA Perfect Pairs - Chunky 18 Piece Wooden Sorting Game - Which Two Halves...
    HABA Perfect Pairs - Chunky 18 Piece Wooden Sorting Game - Which Two Halves...
    -
    HABA Baby Farm Animals Clutching Puzzle - 4 Piece Jumbo Knob Wooden Puzzle...
    HABA Baby Farm Animals Clutching Puzzle - 4 Piece Jumbo Knob Wooden Puzzle...
    -

    Haba has a delightful line of marble runs. Since this is a post about wood toys, I feel compelled to mention there are a few plastic parts in this one, but it's predominantly wood!)

    HABA Kullerbu Spiral Track - 26 Piece Wood & Plastic Ball Track Set with...
    HABA Kullerbu Spiral Track - 26 Piece Wood & Plastic Ball Track Set with...
    • This adaptable and expandable ball track is a great introduction to the Kullerbu Play World with crazy curves for Paul the ball to speed around and...
    • Insert, click, done assembling a play world could hardly be easier. Nothing can easily shake the Kullerbü tracks even when the overly eager little...
    • Kullerbü is the perfect combination of wood and plastic parts and highlights the advantages of each material making this sturdy play system from HABA...
    Check current price

    The older toddler on your list would love zooming around on her own set of wheels!

    Sale
    Hape Scoot Around Ride On Wood Bike | Award Winning Four Wheeled Wooden...
    Hape Scoot Around Ride On Wood Bike | Award Winning Four Wheeled Wooden...
    • RUBBERIZED WHEELS: The push bike’s four wheels are rubberized to protect your floors and ensure that the wheels last longer while your little one...
    • MOTOR SKILLS DEVELOPMENT: Perfect for kids beginning to test their mobility and develop active motor skills
    • IMPROVES STRENGTH: Short rides develop muscle strength as well as balance
    Amazon Prime
    Check current price

    Plastic and vinyl fake food is at particularly high risk for toxins. Luckily, there are many lovely wood play food options available! Fake food that "cuts" apart with a wood knife is helpful for developing practical life skills, fine motor skills, and imaginative play.

    Hape Wooden Pop up Toaster Set| Pretend Play Kitchen Playset with Toast,...
    Hape Fresh Fruit Kitchen Playset | Velcro Fruit Slices with Play Knife for...
    Hape Garden Vegetables
    Hape Wooden Pop up Toaster Set| Pretend Play Kitchen Playset with Toast,...
    Hape Fresh Fruit Kitchen Playset | Velcro Fruit Slices with Play Knife for...
    Hape Garden Vegetables
    -
    Amazon Prime
    -
    Hape Wooden Pop up Toaster Set| Pretend Play Kitchen Playset with Toast,...
    Hape Wooden Pop up Toaster Set| Pretend Play Kitchen Playset with Toast,...
    -
    Hape Fresh Fruit Kitchen Playset | Velcro Fruit Slices with Play Knife for...
    Hape Fresh Fruit Kitchen Playset | Velcro Fruit Slices with Play Knife for...
    Amazon Prime
    Hape Garden Vegetables
    Hape Garden Vegetables
    -

    A magnetic maze/game is another great way for older toddlers to practice fine motor skills.

    No products found.

    Toddlers are very into gross motor skills. They literally need to keep moving! A rocking toy can be a great way to channel this energy and promote motor development while providing vestibular input.

    Hape Wooden High Seas Toddler Rocking Ride-On| Early Explorer Wooden Rocker...
    Hape Wooden High Seas Toddler Rocking Ride-On| Early Explorer Wooden Rocker...
    • STYLISH RIDE-ON: This High Seas rocker not only can be used as a rocker or as a stylish seat, but also compliments your child's playroom.
    • STURDY & COMFORT: Solid wood is used to make the boat sturdy but not too heavy to rock. With a bench-style seat and supportive back piece for added...
    • DEVELOPMENT OF MOTOR SKILLS: This high-quality wooden ride-on toy will help develop your little one's motor skills and also improve eye-hand...
    Check current price
    the best wood toys for toddlers sorted by age

    FAQ's about wood toys

    But all these modern/electronic toys say they're educational! Are wood toys educational, too?

    First, a lot of the "educational" lingo on toy packaging is just marketing! This marketing plays to our parental fears that our children will be missing out without the latest electronic doo-dad. These educational claims are just marketing claims, not regulated or proven. As mentioned above, research indicates that toys that talk may actually hinder language development instead of promote it.

    Second, developmental psychologist say that basic, low-tech toys are actually better for development than 'fancy' electronic toys. Children are naturally creative explorers. More basic toys allow for children to explore, create, and direct play. It's also easier for children to share low-tech toys, which can lead to better social skill development. (source)

    Third, low-tech, wood toddler toys give children something incredibly valuable: the opportunity to concentrate.

    As I've written in other posts, we have a Montessori-inspired parenting philosophy. Dr. Maria Montessori believed strongly in protected a child's concentration by not interrupting her while she plays (or "works" with materials in Montessori lingo). We've practiced this from birth with LG and it is amazing to watch her play on her own for ages!

    Are blocks actually that good for development?

    Yes! Blocks improve motor skills, hand-eye coordination, spatial awareness, creativity, language skills, math abilities, and more! (source)

    Are wood toys eco friendly?

    With talk of deforestation, it's understandable to be concerned about how sustainable and eco friendly wood toys are. Luckily, there are many reputable wood toy manufacturers that use renewable resources and eco friendly practices. For example, Plan Toys even uses solar energy and participates in a reforestation program! (source)

    I truly hope you have enjoyed this guide to the best wood toys for toddlers!

    I had such delightful time putting it together and sharing my passion as an educator and a parent for wood toys.

    Remember to Pin this now to your favorite kiddo Pinterst board so you don't lose track of it!

    the best wood toys for toddlers

    More Books and Toys for Toddlers

    Non-Toy Gifts for Two Year Olds

    non-toy gift ideas for two year olds

    If you have a toddler at home, you may also enjoy this list of 17+ gross motor toys for young toddlers with all the energy!

    17+ gross motor goys for toddler with all the energy

    Bath toys for toddlers

    Photo of toddler in tub with caption "super fun bath toys for toddlers"

    Climbing toys for toddlers

    The best toys for toddlers who won't stop climbing

    Frog toys for toddlers

    awesome, toddler-approved frog books and toys

    Gymnastics toys for toddlers

    More Related Parenting Posts

    [catlist search="parenting" numberposts=4 orderby=rand excludeposts=this]

    safe and nontoxic wood toys for toddlers
    developmental wood toys for toddlers
    must know nontoxic wood toys

    More Toddler Toys

    • text "the best frog toys for toddlers" overlay on an image of a little girl in a blue and white dress kissing a toy frog
      Super Cool Frog Toys for Toddlers (& Awesome Gifts for Toddlers who Love Frogs!)
    • Text "The best dinosaur toys for toddlers" with an image of a toddler sitting at a white table playing with two plastic toy dinosaurs
      The Best Dinosaur Toys for Toddlers for Dino-Obsessed Tots
    • 20+ Fun Easter Basket Stuffers for Toddlers (that aren't candy)
    • The best toys for toddlers who love to climb
      The Best Toys for Toddlers who Like to Climb - finally tire out your toddler! (updated for 2021)
    229 shares
    • Share
    text "access hundreds of printables now"

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Wooden Shape Sorter

      December 26, 2018 at 2:59 am

      Thanks for the post Dear.
      The wooden sorting toys help to develop color and shape recognition, as well as hand-eye coordination in kids. Kids learn innovative and unique ways with these toys.

      Reply
    2. Pamela Baker

      November 25, 2018 at 8:32 am

      Wonderful article! You really did your research. I would always worry about the toxins in lead toys, and toys from China. I found many baby consignment Shops in my area where one could find well made, vintage wood toys. Another possibly in shopping! Better than toys, books are the best gift for infants and toddlers even if they can’t read. Just looking at the pictures help expand their imaginations! Love!

      Reply
      • Natasha

        November 25, 2018 at 5:32 pm

        Yes, books are the absolute best toys for toddlers! It's actually been shown in research that they're even better than traditional low-tech toys like blocks.

        Reply
    Newer Comments »

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Text "Hello! I'm Natasha!" with an image of a woman a blue shirt

    Hi, I’m Natasha! I'm so glad you're here.

    I'm a former classroom teacher with a Masters of the Arts in Teaching turned homeschooler. I share educational & planner printables for busy parents and teachers. Simplify your life when you discover how to instantly access 700+ printables here!

    More about me →

    Popular

    • text "free printable reading log trackers for kids" with a preview of two reading tracker printables
      Free Printable Reading Logs
    • text "free printable reading coloring pages" with a preview of three reading coloring pages for kids
      Free Printable Reading Coloring Pages
    • text "free printable reading log bookmarks' with a preview of two pages of printable reading bookmark
      Free Printable Reading Tracker Bookmarks
    • text "free printable emotions coloring pages for kids" with a preview of three emotions and feelings coloring pages
      Free Printable Emotions and Feelings Coloring Pages

    The Artisan Life is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

    The Artisan Life also uses affiliate links for other sites. For a full look at my policy, please visit its page here.

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer

    Save Time

    • Join the Learning Center for quick & easy access to hundreds of printables

    Contact

    • Contact

    If you have any questions feel free to contact me directly here: natashalh(at)stalkingthewildsnark(dot)com. I do not accept guest posts and will not respond to unsolicited requests for guest posts or links. Stock images by Depositphotos

    COPYRIGHT © 2012 – 2025 The Artisan Life · ALL RIGHTS RESERVED