These classic toys aren?t just for the ?gram. Often more durable and safer, wooden toys encourage creative play, promote sensory development, and give kids a tie to the natural world. Our child-tested list of the best wooden toys kids:
Photo: Hape
1. Rainbow bead abacus
How many ways can your little one count with ten rows of ten beads" This brightly coloured abacus is a great tactile toy for a toddler, an introduction to counting and grouping for a preschooler, and even a fun way for older kids to solve simple addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division problems. $32, indigo.ca
Photo: Rock Blocks
2. Rock blocks
Wooden blocks may seem obvious, but these eco-friendly, naturally dyed (using cranberries, blueberries, wild indigo and beans) wooden blocks come in organic shapes that are perfect for building, balancing, stacking, and sorting. Choose from an array of palettes like rainbow, blue, pink & green, and natural, or mix and match your favorite sets to create your own multicolour collection of handcrafted “stones.” Set of 8 in Rainbow, $39, rockblockshop.etsy.com Photo: Julie Morton, Stepping Stones
3. Customizable wooden family
Two moms" Single dad" Triplets" Young kids will love seeing their family reflected in their own unique wooden family set. These adorable peg dolls are built to last, with woodburned faces and a beeswax finish. Choose natural wood or coloured (non-toxic acrylic) for a keepsake item that’s plenty of ...