Best Wooden Toys of 2021

Updated August 17, 2021

WHY WOODEN TOYS?

PROMOTE IMAGINATION

Wooden toys have a certain charm that sparks a child’s imagination. And some are SO adorable you won’t care if they stay out. Happy momma and happy kiddo. It’s a win-win. So ditch the flashy lights and repetitive songs of plastic trinkets, and instead invest in some charming wooden toys for a more peaceful & imaginative home.

LASTING QUALITY

Now, I say invest because quality usually means higher price. But if the toys last longer, are display worthy, and have heirloom toy potential for your future grandchildren (or resale value), then it’s totally worth it! But there are inexpensive options, too. Some of my finds are even under $10!

LESS IS MORE

Another benefit of higher quality is, well, less junk. Before a new toy comes in, donate a few less played with toys. Points for teaching your little ones generosity, and getting a cleaner house too. By cutting back on the amount of toys a child has, clean up becomes easier because there isn’t so much stuff to clean. And this prevents “toy mountain” from ever forming in the first place.

Plus, children will usually play MORE with the toys they DO have when they’re not so overwhelmed. Toy minimalism is a beautiful contrast to our materialistic holiday culture. Our “please no plastic toys” rule has been a lifesaver around birthdays and Christmas. Instead of ten cheap plastic toys, our daughter will usually get one or two quality wooden ones or a single big ticket item that everyone pitches in to afford. This makes for a happier momma and a happier little one.

Alright, on to some adorable wooden toys for your littles (and for you!).

• Fine Motor Toys
• Puzzles and Stacking Toys
• Imaginative Play
• Musical Instruments
• Gross Motor Toys

(Some of the links below are affiliate links to products I genuinely recommend. Thanks for your support!)

Wooden Toys for Fine Motor Skills

Bee and Bear Track

A charming cause and effect toy made from solid cherry wood. Great for letting little ones practice inserting the rollers into the top.

Ramp Racer

This wooden toy won the prestigious Red Dot Award a couple years back. With it’s sleek, modern design I can see why! I’ve seen a similar track on Lovevery, but this doesn’t have subscription fees. Just make sure to not lose the cars.

*Garden Tap Tap Construction*

Perfect for ages 4 and up to practice hammering little pegs into wooden flower pieces. They can follow the cards or create their own garden scenes. Definitely on the Christmas list this year.

Fruit & Veggie Lacing Toy

I’ve admired Marina’s craftsmanship for a long time. Major woodworking crush over here. Anyway, we have the geometric version of this which our girls enjoy, but I love this fruit and veggie one! Too cute.

*Veggie Cutting Set*

I’ve looked at SO many veggie/fruit cutting sets and I finally found it! Gorgeous paint, darling detail inside, and has a nice amount of pieces (too many makes for overwhelming clean up). Overall, a great wooden toy! This option is my second choice.

Peg People in Cups

So you can spend around $60 for some Grimm’s figurines in cups, OR get these instead.

Soon we will be painting ours with a light coating of high quality food coloring (yay for baby safe paint options). If you’re not up for painting them, I like these colorful ones too.

Lacing Sheep

Pull apart to find a color matching surprise inside! Then put back together to play with the sweet wooden sheep.

Pop Up Toy

Both my girls LOVE pop up toys, espeically during the 6 month-1.5 year range. It starts out as a fine motor skill practice to place the pegs in the holes, then your child learns how to make them pop up, and then it finally becomes a color matching toy!

Puzzles and Stacking Toys

Garden Patch Puzzle

This sweet puzzle also doubles as a beginning block set. Watch as your children use this set as open-ended play.

Ice Cream Stacking Set

Colorful, educational, and so sweet! How could you not play with this as a kid? Boys and girls alike will love setting up their own little ice cream bistro.

Nesting Dolls (Matryoshka)

Paint these in an ombré of your favorite color, or go with a cute winter animal theme like this, or just leave them raw to let kids focus on the different shapes. Our little one has played with these since she was a year old. Plus, they’re great for object permanence!

Citrus Fraction Puzzle

What a fresh way to introduce fractions! And it doubles as a great regular puzzle for little ones too.

Stacking Bowls

An awesome open ended toy! While there are plenty of cute, but flimsy cardboard stacking cubes (although this one does tempt me), these little wooden stacking bowels win my vote for the blank canvas they provide. My toddler already has used them as soup bowls, stacked them upside down to make a cake, and used the smallest one as a cup.

Wooden Turtle Stacker

Many stacking toys are too complicated for kids. This one is so simple and sweet! Plus the feature of connecting the turtles adds even more fun.

Forest Animal Stack and Balance

How cute are these animal friends?! They could inhabit many a small world, but double as a stacking game.

Imaginative Play

Wooden Animals

Such a darling set of wooden animals! Oh my heart! Because of the little wooden details, I would wait to take this set off the shelf until your little one is past the putting everything in their mouth stage.

Wooden Camera

Calling all mini photographers! This cute wooden camera will have your kiddos snapping imaginary photos all over the place.

Other options to consider: these wood and white ones, this interactive camera, and this camera which comes with three different lens options.

Doctor Kit

What kid wouldn’t freak over fabric bandages? This kit has a good amount of pieces without being overwhelming, and has some cute details. Plus it comes with a nice case so you can store it all!

Doll House

Such a lovely neutral dollhouse! I’m all about toys that are beautiful enough to have out in the open. This definitely checks that box!

Wooden Train with Carriages

Knowing how much kids love to carry things around this train is perfect! The carriages open up so many possibilities. Gorgeous construction.

Pastel First Car

This sweet pastel car is a perfect first vehicle. The wooden disks move back and forth when touched, and the pastel colors are so pleasant.

*Service Station*

This one has crazy positive reviews on Amazon! It’s small and portable with thoughtful features like a shoestring gas nozzle that fits into the “gas tank” of the little cars, sliding garage doors, and a car wash in the back! I love the compact size and both my kids love when this comes out of toy rotation.

Wooden Unicorn

Any unicorn fans in the house? Here’s an extremely trendy piece of wood.

Mountain Spiral Track

Imagine coming down Christmas morning to this mountain spiral set up under the tree! Add this to a train track set for HOURS of play. And check out this express ramp for more train fun.

Wooden Barn

Perfect open ended play for boys and girls! Just add some Schliech farm animals like this baby cow–one of my exceptions to plastic toys thanks to the realistic detail–and you’re good to go!

Wooden Construction Toy

The perfect addition to a wooden vehicle collection. I LOVE the interactive crane and blocks.

Modern Parking Garage

If you’re looking for something larger than the portable Melissa & Doug service station, then this is sure to do the trick! I can just see a group of siblings having a blast with this wooden toy!

Musical Toys

Kala Ukulele

I’m all about musical instruments that are NOT obnoxious. I’m looking at you, recorder and whistle. So let your child experiment with this pleasant sounding ukulele instead. Kala is the standard in the Ukulele world, but if you’re looking for something cheaper try this mahogany ukulele.

*Xylophone*

Xylophones are one of the most delightful musical insturments for kids. The color palette on this one is particularly soothing, and there’s a pink version too.

Toy Grand Piano

This toy piano had the best reviews, and doesn’t have any batteries. It might be the only grand piano I’ll ever own, ha!

Musical Instrument Set

I always aim to have at least one musical instrument out every toy rotation. This set has a great selection of instruments with pleasant sounds. Since we already had a xylophone we were gifted this set which was so fun to use at our princess and knight birthday party.

Wooden Drum

Kids love to drum. And parents will love that this drum isn’t too loud. Plus, it has different sounds depending on where it’s hit. But two other drums to consider are this indestructible floor tom drum from the drum experts Remo, and this neutral version of the drum above.

Toys for Gross Motor Skills

Wishbone 3-in-1 Bike

This super sleek bike rides as early as 12 months, then transitions with your little one through the toddler years. This will be the coolest bike on the block!

Pikler Triangle

Another great way to burn off energy indoors, especially during the chilly months. The variety of possible shapes sets this pikler triangle apart. Compare to this option available on Amazon. And check out this extra large pikler for older children.

Scoot and Ride

This award-winning ride on toy is a big hit with kids. Plus, the rubberized wheels will be kind to your floors and help the toy last longer.

Kinderfeets Walker Pram

One of the cutest walkers I’ve found! It seems quite stable as opposed to the walkers that go way too fast, and I think any little one who is interested in walking would enjoy this a lot! I’ve also considered the Labebe’s elephant walker and Little Dutch’s block trolley.

Wooden Clamps

Calling all fort builders! Outfit your children with some play silks and wooden clamps and watch their imaginations go wild!

Flamingo Rocker

This rocking flamingo is plush and glamorous. Talk about rocking in style! And for another unique take on the classic rocking horse, check out this woolly mammoth rocker.

Over-Sized Hollow Wooden Toy Blocks

And finally, wooden blocks, the epitome of open-ended play–in extra large size! Sturdy, smooth, and just begging to be played with all year long.

Hope that made Christmas and birthday shopping easier for everyone! If you don’t have a tea set yet (boys included!), check out The Best Toy Tea Sets for Kids.

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