31 Best Wooden Toys: Popular and Unique Brands
Always something to do for the holidays or rainy day?
Play Choice now has the ultimate activity book collection, with over 60 pages of fun coloring pages and educational puzzles.
Wooden toys are wholly or mainly made of wood. This can be hardwood from one or a few pieces, but also MDF or other forms of pressed wood. Unlike plastic toys, wood offers a tactile play experience that stimulates children's creativity and skill development.
To determine the quality of wooden toys, look at the materials used such as wood, the finish and the sturdiness of the toy, but even more important are the play value and replayability. It's ultimately about the value you get for your money.
The best toys for this are these rainbow bows from Grimm's, a brand that has a colorful range of toys for babies to kindergartners for hours of fun. The arches provide endless open-ended play with natural wood for a good tactile experience.
But I know that a lot of you also come here for inspiration for fun and educational toys or for example Waldorf or Montessori. The list below has the best option for each theme.
Best overall wooden toy
Grimm's is the inventor and maker of the original rainbow stackers. It is made of very strong wood and you can feel it.
Best Educational Wooden Montessori Toy
If your little one is a math prodigy or has the ambition to perhaps become one, give him some math fun!
Best wooden toy truck
Made of beech wood in a workshop for people with disabilities. They are assembled without the use of nails, screws and staples.
Best wooden toy plane
The multi-functional aspect of this construction project makes it very versatile. You can build it and then play with it.
Best Wooden Pretend Play Toy
One of my favorite features is the spring-loaded cannonball cannon. It's great to play out imaginary naval battles and overpower other ships.
Best wooden toy animals
It doesn't get much better than Ostheimer's hand-carved animals. It is a Waldorf toy par excellence.
Best Wooden Horse Stable
Easy to play with, as the doors open and close easily, turning the stable into its own carrying case.
Best wooden toy train set
The train track is a fun challenge to assemble and with the help of support pillars the rails even go up in height. Very spectacular, the train travels through mountains, valleys and over bridges!
Best wooden toy castle
The castle also invites social interaction due to the large number of dolls. This leads to both cooperative and competitive play.
Best wooden sword
No difficult parts and hard play has been thought of because all corners are rounded and the materials used are sturdy.
Best Wooden Shop Toy
With a toy cash register you can learn to count very well, especially if you lend a hand with the fantasy game.
Best wooden toy house
The house has two floors and is painted in a delicate complexion. Very stylish and with many windows with shutters.
Best wooden toy tractor
The robust wood means that the next siblings can also play with it, and it will probably last for generations.
Best retro roleplay toy
The spinning gears and kaleidoscope lens are a nice addition.
Best wooden toy car ramp
This set is made for the little ones who are going to start with a marble run and with the cheerful colors and the racing theme you can't miss it.
Best wooden toy garage
But what makes this one especially nice are the doors with locks that you can open. This gives it an extra element of play that none of the other garages have.
Best wooden toy ice cream
Working in the ice cream parlor naturally creates a lot of open-ended play and appeals to the imagination.
Best wooden kitchen set
Great wood and sturdy oven knobs that actually click give it a very real feel.
Best wooden food toy
No play kitchen is complete without cut fruit. Some sets are held together with magnets, but I prefer this Velcro version.
Best wooden toy robot
Can be used as a puzzle, fidget toy and small robot, making this toy extremely versatile. In addition, it is also nice as room decoration.
Most creative hammer toy
Pirates and their wooden and cardboard accessories hammer on a cork board. Very nice to make creative scenes.
Best wooden walker
Very sturdy wood and the wheels even have metal axles with rubber surrounds so that it runs smoothly and does not damage your floor.
Best wooden toy workbench
This toy consists of many nuts, bolts, blocks and of course the workbench with which they can build a lot of things.
Best wooden excavator
The most environmentally friendly production I have come across. An extremely sturdy construction of rubber wood, real rubber tracks and strings for the shovel system.
Best wooden DIY toy
This is where it starts to get real. Real hammering with real nails and a very nice first start in handicraft.
Best Wooden Magnetic Toy
You spend a little more on these blocks, but playing with real wood gives a hand feel that plastic will never be able to give your child.
Best organic natural wood
Beautiful smooth finish and tangible natural wood for children's hands. This makes the construction vehicles indispensable for the nursery.
Best wooden shape sorter
Simple way to introduce your child to hand-eye coordination and shape recognition and a toy that can grow with their development into toddlerhood.
Best cheap wooden blocks
Let your child use their imagination with colorful wooden blocks in all kinds of shapes. Completely open-ended style.
Best wooden pop up toy
Every child should have a pop up toy for their development, but there aren't that many wooden options.
Best wooden ride-on toy
This is perfect to use as a first balance bike. Not only is it durable so it will last their toddler through toddlerhood, it is also just an AMAZING design!
Wooden toys also offer a wide variety of play options, from simple blocks to complex puzzles. In addition, they help children learn and play at their own pace, without the distraction of electronic functions. Wooden toys are also loved for their natural look and beautiful finish.
Moreover, they're suitable for children of all ages, from babies to big kids. They're a popular choice in Montessori-inspired play areas as they stimulate children's imagination and development.
In the list below you'll find the 31 best wooden toys in each major category.
From toddler to toddler activity book collection
Educational games and coloring pages for 3 to 6 years
Your toddler and preschooler will love this e-book, along with the accompanying printables. He or she can play with it at every stage of development, together with mom and dad.
Buy at Bol.comWhat we discuss in this comprehensive post:
- 1 #1 Grimm's Rainbow Arches - Best overall wooden toy
- 2 #2 Playos Math Sticks - Best Educational Wooden Montessori Toy
- 3 #3 Fagus Blank Wooden Forklift – Best wooden toy truck
- 4 #4 Stanley Jr. Plane Kit - Best wooden toy plane
- 5 #5 Le Toy Van Barbarossa Pirate Ship – Best wooden pretend play toy
- 6 #6 Ostheimer Wood Carved Waldorf Animals – Best wooden toy animals
- 7 #7 Melissa & Doug Take-Along Show-Horse Stable - Best Wooden Horse Stable
- 8 #8 BigJigs Alpine Train Set (BJT016) – Best Wooden Toy Train Set
- 9 #9 Tender Leaf Toys Royal Castle – Best wooden toy castle
- 10 #10 Janod Sword and Shield Wolf – Best wooden sword
- 11 #11 Hape Checkout Toy Cash Register – Best wooden shop toy
- 12 #12 Melissa & Doug Fold and Go Dollhouse – Best wooden toy house
- 13 #13 Small Foot Legler – Best Wooden Toy Tractor
- 14 #14 Le Toy Van Houten Hollywood Camera – Best retro roleplay toy
- 15 #15 Top Bright Racetrack – Best wooden toy car ramp
- 16 #16 Janod Bolid Key Box – Best wooden toy garage
- 17 #17 Melissa & Doug Scoop and Serve Ice Cream Counter – Best wooden toy ice cream
- 18 #18 New Classic Toys Bon Appetit Play Kitchen - Best wooden kitchen set
- 19 #19 Janod Vegetables And Sliced Fruits Maxi – Best wooden food toy
- 20 #20 Areaware Cubebot Micro Puzzle – Best wooden toy robot
- 21 #21 Small Foot Pirate Hammer Art – Most creative hammer game
- 22 #22 Janod Brico Magnetic Trolley - Best wooden walker
- 23 #23 Melissa & Doug Workbench - Best wooden toy workbench
- 24 #24 Pintoy Shovel Crane Excavator – Best Wood Excavator
- 25 #25 Kraftic Woodworking Set – Best Wooden DIY Toy
- 26 #26 Tegu 42 Wooden Set – Best Wooden Magnetic Toy
- 27 #27 Goki Nature Car – Best Organic Natural Wood
- 28 #28 Jouéco The Wildies Family Activity Cube – Best wooden shape sorter
- 29 #29 Melissa & Doug Building Blocks 100 Pieces – Best cheap wooden blocks
- 30 #30 Galt Pop Up Toy Best wooden pop up toy
- 31 #31 Wishbone Recycled Balance Bike – Best wooden ride-on toy
- 32 How do you determine the quality of wooden toys?
#1 Grimm's Rainbow Arches - Best overall wooden toy
- Great natural wood that you feel when playing
- Challenging toys that stimulate creativity
- Expensive, very very expensive
-
From: 3 years
-
Best: 4 – 7 years
-
Up to: 8 years
- Material: Wood, FSC Hardwood
- Learning objective: Cognitive development, pretend play
- Play Mode: Cooperative
- Price at time of writing: €69 – $61
- Sustainability: Sustainable production
- Production: Handmade
- Storage: Tricky
- Safety Components: Non-toxic material
- Playtime: Extended (30+ min)
- Gender inclusiveness: Gender neutral
Grimm's is the inventor and maker of the original rainbow stackers. It is made of very strong wood and you can feel it.
It is pricey though. Very pricey. But it's good wood and you can feel the wood and the grain through the paint. This helps with children's sensory experience.
In addition, the raw wood helps when stacking the bows, because that is still quite a challenge. It is also not immediately clear what you can do with it. However, the open-ended game is endless and the shapes and colors really appeal to the imagination.
There is also the possibility of social interaction because there are several arches, they are large and they can be combined with any kind of toy.
Due to these characteristics, the play value is very high. It is also an award winning toy as winners of the Spielgut seal for its educational value.
This is the kind of toy that gets picked up again and again and will last for generations.
#2 Playos Math Sticks - Best Educational Wooden Montessori Toy
- Great educational value and game all in one
- Wood is well rounded and storage compartments are useful
- No carrying case with lid
-
From: 3 years
-
Best: 4 – 5 years
-
Up to: 6 years
- Material: Wood, MDF
- Learning objective: STEM/ STEAM, Mathematics
- Play Mode: Solo
- Price at time of writing: €22,95 – $8,28
- Durability: None
- Production: Manufacturing
- Storage: Storage compartments
- Safety Components: Non-toxic material
- Playing Time: Longer (10 – 30 min)
- Gender inclusiveness: Gender neutral
Montessori toys are about stimulating the senses with natural products, and a lot of wood is used for that. They also look at real world experiences.
Because the Playos Math Sticks are made of bare wood and offer a tangible experience in learning math, this is our best wooden Montessori toy.
The combination of sticks and number blocks makes it very intuitive and easy to use and you can easily clean it up with the tray with storage compartments.
The use of MDF may make it less of a real wooden toy. Yet the durability is very good despite that and the price-quality ratio is therefore extremely high.
More open-ended play, opportunities to mix and match with other toys or social interaction could have increased the play value, but in the end it's a very educational toy that encourages enough play to ensure they enjoy it too.
#3 Fagus Blank Wooden Forklift – Best wooden toy truck
- Bare wood and no screws or other sharp material
- Unique look and simple design
- Lever and rope construction is somewhat difficult to operate
-
From: 3 years
-
Best: 4 – 6 years
-
Up to: 7 years
- Material: Wood, Hardwood
- Theme: Vehicles, Truck
- Play Mode: Solo
- Price at time of writing: €84 – $80
- Sustainability: Sustainable production
- Production: Handmade
- Storage: Normal
- Safety parts: Rounded corners
- Playing Time: Longer (10 – 30 min)
- Gender inclusiveness: Gender neutral
The Fagus wooden forklift is made of beech wood (fagus is Latin for beech) in a workshop for people with disabilities. The best part is that they are put together without the use of nails, screws and staples. Interlocking parts, dowels and glue are used with true manual labor.
The play value is reasonable with a high open-ended content due to the supplied dolls without details. Now they can be used for all sorts of imaginative play. The high-quality materials also contribute to the playing feeling. The play value could have been higher due to better ease of use and higher versatility. The handle and rope construction make it difficult to play with the toy.
Safety is extremely high with rounded corners, no paint or toxic glues and no nails or other sharp parts that could come loose.
Many of Fagus' vehicles have received "Spiel Gut" certification for toys with great educational and play value.
#4 Stanley Jr. Plane Kit - Best wooden toy plane
-
From: 4 years
-
Best: 5 – 7 years
-
Up to: 8 years
- Material: Wood, MDF
- Theme: Vehicles, Aircraft
- Play Mode: Solo
- Price at time of writing: €29,99 – $21,99
- Durability: None
- Production: Manufacturing
- Storage: Normal
- Safety Components: Non-toxic material
- Playtime: Extended (30+ min)
- Gender inclusiveness: Gender neutral
The multi-functional aspect of this construction project makes it very versatile. You can build it and then play with it. However, the play value could have been higher with more focus on a single aspect. For example, playing with the plane itself is not very good and there is little room for open-ended play, for example.
Security is decent. The wood has rounded corners and the paint is non-toxic. Sharp screws and sandpaper are included. It is therefore necessary to stay with it during construction.
The possibility to paint your own plane yourself is a nice addition that makes it possible to personalize the toy. This is probably not good for the aesthetics, but it is a project that they can be proud of.
#5 Le Toy Van Barbarossa Pirate Ship – Best wooden pretend play toy
- High-quality wood is very sturdy
- Working spring-loaded gun
- No accessories included
- Quite pricey
-
From: 3 years
-
Best: 3 – 5 years
-
Up to: 6 years
- Material: Wood, FSC Hardwood
- Theme: Vehicles, Boat
- Play Mode: Solo
- Price at time of writing: €91,03 – $74,99
- Sustainability: Environmentally friendly
- Production: Manufacturing
- Storage: Normal
- Safety parts: Rounded corners
- Playtime: Extended (30+ min)
- Gender inclusiveness: Gender neutral
This quaint wooden pirate ship looks great and is built to last, a deserved winner of the “right start toy Award”. There are interactive features such as a walk-the-plank function, allowing you to give your enemies a terrifying end!
The best interactive feature is the spring-loaded cannonball cannon. In addition, you can hoist the anchor with a simple twist!
The play value could be even higher if the boat had more versatile features. For example, it cannot really be used in the water and there are no playing figures.
These are for sale separately. The high price and this slightly lower play value ensure a lower price-quality ratio and therefore a low total "Toy score".
The boat is of extremely good quality and the wood is FSC certified. After six months of adventurous adventures, the ship is still in top condition. The wood is very sturdy and no cracks have occurred, even after intensive use.
However, if your child is looking for something with great aesthetic value that appeals to the imagination, this is a very good choice for endless imaginative play.
#6 Ostheimer Wood Carved Waldorf Animals – Best wooden toy animals
- Super durable wood will last a lifetime
- Very well finished and safe
- Super expensive
-
From: 1 years
-
Best: 2 – 5 years
-
Up to: 7 years
- Material: Wood, Hardwood
- Theme: Animals, Fox
- Play Mode: Solo
- Price at time of writing: €15,99 – $29,99
- Sustainability: Sustainable production
- Production: Handmade
- Storage: Compact
- Safety parts: Rounded corners
- Playing Time: Longer (10 – 30 min)
- Gender inclusiveness: Gender neutral
It doesn't get much better than Ostheimer's hand-carved animals. It is a Waldorf toy par excellence.
Very well finished and durable wood. These will last a lifetime. Well, several lives actually. The design is extremely simple and therefore easy to use. The simple rendering also greatly appeals to the imagination and leads to quality open-ended play.
All materials are safe and durable, the construction has strong and rounded corners and it is great to combine with other wooden animals or with other pretend play.
The play value could only be higher if it were a little more versatile. After all, it is only a wooden animal and if you want to buy several it is extremely expensive. The price-quality ratio is therefore slightly lower, but you get a unique and handmade heirloom toy for it.
#7 Melissa & Doug Take-Along Show-Horse Stable - Best Wooden Horse Stable
- Easy to carry because the stable converts into a carrying box
- Complete set with many horses
- No accessories
-
From: 2 years
-
Best: 3 – 5 years
-
Up to: 6 years
- Material: Wood, MDF
- Theme: Animals, Horse
- Play Mode: Solo
- Price at time of writing: €30,97 – $26,59
- Sustainability: Sustainable production
- Production: Manufacturing
- Storage: Collapsible
- Safety components: Non-toxic materials
- Playing Time: Longer (10 – 30 min)
- Gender inclusiveness: Gender neutral
Easy to play with, as the doors open and close easily, turning the stable into its own carrying case. The fact that you can take it with you also makes the replayability huge plus it is very sturdy.
The material is of nice quality, but MDF and no hardwood. This detracts a bit from the aesthetics and handfeel, but the construction is still quite sturdy.
The play value could have been a bit higher if it had been a bit more versatile. For example, there are no accessories. But the stable and horses are easy to combine with other toys and ensure good open-ended play.
#8 BigJigs Alpine Train Set (BJT016) – Best Wooden Toy Train Set
- The train has a steep slope to drive down
- Very nice landscape details
- Big set
- Pricey
- Higher rails on supports are not for little ones
-
From: 3 years
-
Best: 4 – 6 years
-
Up to: 7 years
- Material: Wood, MDF
- Theme: Vehicles, Train
- Play Mode: Cooperative
- Price at time of writing: €100,95 – $123,99
- Sustainability: Sustainable production
- Production: Manufacturing
- Storage: Tricky
- Safety parts: Rounded corners
- Playtime: Extended (30+ min)
- Gender inclusiveness: Gender neutral
The play value of this mountain set is extremely high. The degree of open end is enormous due to all the accessories supplied. You can build the train track, play with it, there are dolls for fantasy play and everything appeals to the imagination.
For example, there are children and a grandpa and grandma, and my son plays that the children go to visit by train. The possibilities with the set are endless, but it is also easy to combine with other train tracks. For example, I expanded it with a Brio track. In addition, a train set can also participate in almost any other fantasy game. That also makes the replayability high.
Only when the ease of use was higher could the set have an even higher play value. Building with the bridge pieces and the mountain is fun, but playing with it is difficult because the bridge often collapses. Sometimes this causes frustration, but luckily it usually becomes part of the game.
Social interaction is high. I like to play along and because it's such a big set, friends who come over can always join in without getting in each other's way. Furthermore, there are some interactive elements such as the crane that can hoist, and the figures have a nice appearance.
The crane construction is all wood with a simple turning knob that allows you to wind up the rope. It also has a small magnet that you can use to pick up the train's accessories.
The set comes with three train carriages with freight designations such as sugar, milk and grain. These can be lifted off the wagons with the magnet and swung aside.
It's not for nothing that they have already won the Independent Toy Awards, and with a versatile set like this you can't miss for hours of fun.
#9 Tender Leaf Toys Royal Castle – Best wooden toy castle
- Lots of pieces and a nice design
- Perfect for pretend play and team play
- Quite pricey
- No carrying case
-
From: 3 years
-
Best: 3 – 5 years
-
Up to: 6 years
- Material: Wood, MDF
- Theme: Building and construction, Castle
- Play Mode: Cooperative
- Price at time of writing: €121,50 – $114,99
- Sustainability: Sustainable production
- Production: Manufacturing
- Storage: Tricky
- Safety components: Non-toxic materials
- Playtime: Extended (30+ min)
- Gender inclusiveness: Gender stereotyping
This play set is easy to use because you simply click the parts together. This combination of building yourself and many parts and figures gives it a high play value with versatile play full of open-ended and imagination.
It is a fairly expensive set and that ultimately plays a role in our toy score, but with 100 pieces it is also a lot of parts.
The dragon that comes with it also gives it a fantasy look, which appeals even more to the imagination.
The castle also invites social interaction due to the large amount of soldiers that come with it and the different parts good against evil. This leads to both cooperative and competitive play.
The aesthetic is beautiful with fun design and cheerful colors, perfect for displaying in the nursery and the pieces and figures are made of sturdy pressed wood from a sustainable source.
The replayability could be higher if it came with a carrying case or bin, now it's a pain to carry and you have to put it in your own bin. Other than that you get a lot of value for your money.
#10 Janod Sword and Shield Wolf – Best wooden sword
- All natural materials such as wood, leather and cotton
- Very nice design
- Very expensive for a sword and shield
-
From: 3 years
-
Best: 3 – 5 years
-
Up to: 6 years
- Material: Wood, Hardwood
- Theme: Props, Weapons
- Play Mode: Solo
- Price at time of writing: €40 – $34,99
- Sustainability: Environmentally friendly
- Production: Manufacturing
- Storage: Normal
- Safety parts: Rounded corners
- Playing Time: Longer (10 – 30 min)
- Gender inclusiveness: Gender neutral
You pick up the sword and shield and you can play with them right away. No difficult parts and hard play has been thought of because all corners are rounded and the materials used are sturdy.
Due to the white wooden appearance, the lifespan also remains quite long, but it is mainly made to last. The paint on the shield may come off with rough use. A very nice design with all natural materials such as hardwood, leather for the shield handle and cotton for the handle of the sword.
The play value is high due to a high degree of open-ended play and imagination, and social interaction can also be high if another child has their own sword or if a game is played in another way that appeals to the imagination.
The play value could have been higher if it was something easy to combine with other types of toys. This would have made it more versatile, but in the end it is also a prop that is used for dressing up and pretend play.
The price is high, so the price-quality ratio is slightly lower and so is the total toy score. Quite expensive for a sword and shield toy set, but the materials are excellent.
#11 Hape Checkout Toy Cash Register – Best wooden shop toy
- Made from sustainable wood
- Lots of accessories
- Doesn't really count and makes few sounds
-
From: 2 years
-
Best: 3 – 5 years
-
Up to: 5 years
- Material: Wood, MDF
- Theme: Props, Store
- Play Mode: Cooperative
- Price at time of writing: €30,99 – $31,66
- Sustainability: Sustainable production
- Production: Manufacturing
- Storage: Normal
- Safety Components: Non-toxic material
- Playing Time: Longer (10 – 30 min)
- Gender inclusiveness: Gender neutral
I am a huge supporter of toys with less noise and flashing lights and this cash register from Hape fits in perfectly. It gives a little less interactivity than push buttons that do something, but it ultimately increases the educational value and play value enormously. It is made of sustainable wood and even the fabric threads are biodegradable.
The degree of open-ended play and imagination are much greater, making the set more versatile for all kinds of play and combining with other food or shopping toys. With a toy cash register you can learn to count very well, especially if you lend a hand with the pretend play.
It is not a toy that they will play with much themselves, so you will have to work yourself or with friends. This does provide plenty of opportunities for cooperative social interaction.
The portability is a bit lower because it is quite a bulky thing, with wires connected to the accessories. That might make the replayability just a bit lower than it could be, but the durability is great. The lifespan is slightly lower, the loose threads will die first and some paint may wear off here and there from frequent use.
#12 Melissa & Doug Fold and Go Dollhouse – Best wooden toy house
- Many accessories in a handy carrying format
- Sturdy wooden construction
- No closure on the house so that it falls open
-
From: 3 years
-
Best: 4 – 5 years
-
Up to: 6 years
- Material: Wood, MDF
- Theme: Nurturing play, Dolls
- Play Mode: Solo
- Price at time of writing: €51,38 – $48,99
- Sustainability: Sustainable production
- Production: Manufacturing
- Storage: Compact
- Safety Components: Non-toxic material
- Playing Time: Longer (10 – 30 min)
- Gender inclusiveness: Gender stereotyping
There are a lot of accessories such as a sofa, easy chair, cupboard, bed and a TV furniture. Plus 2 dolls to play with. The dolls are very neutral and can be used for anything, which makes the open-ended game high and appeals to the imagination.
The folding construction and the sturdy carrying handle make it a very handy set to take with you. Only a closure is missing from the house so that it remains closed.
Now you have to wear it very hard or make a closure on it yourself.
The house is a bit small to play with several at once and you can only reach it from one side, one of the few reasons that the play value is a bit lower than it could have been. Furthermore, both the house and the figures can be combined with a variety of other toys for even more replayable value.
#13 Small Foot Legler – Best Wooden Toy Tractor
- Very very sturdy wood
- Good wheels make it perfect for indoor and outdoor use
- He can't do much other than drive
-
From: 1 years
-
Best: 2 – 4 years
-
Up to: 5 years
- Material: Wood, FSC Hardwood
- Theme: Vehicles, Tractor
- Play Mode: Solo
- Price at time of writing: €17,19 – $19,63
- Sustainability: Environmentally friendly
- Production: Manufacturing
- Storage: Normal
- Safety parts: Rounded corners
- Playtime: Short (<10 min)
- Gender inclusiveness: Gender neutral
It is very simple and the ease of use is therefore high. Consideration has been given to the large openings so that small hands can also grasp it. The simple design also encourages open-ended play.
The interactivity is not very high except that it can roll, and also the social interaction is low from a toy like this unless it is combined with other cars or farming toys. That makes it versatile, also considering that it can also be used outside due to the large wheels.
The design is completely aimed at small children, but still looks very nice and perhaps even timeless due to its sturdy wooden construction. It is certainly sustainable and also produced in an environmentally friendly way with FSC-certified wood and rubber tires.
Small Foot has won several awards, including the Spiel Gut and the Toy Award from the Toy Fair in Nuremberg.
#14 Le Toy Van Houten Hollywood Camera – Best retro roleplay toy
- Sturdy wooden design
- Gears and kaleidoscope lens are very nice
- Pretty small, it's not a big hollywood camera for your kid
-
From: 3 years
-
Best: 3 – 4 years
-
Up to: 5 years
- Material: Rubberwood
- Theme: Props, Camera
- Play Mode: Cooperative
- Price at time of writing: €28,69 – $22,80
- Sustainability: Sustainable production
- Production: Manufacturing
- Storage: Compact
- Safety parts: Rounded corners
- Playing Time: Longer (10 – 30 min)
- Gender inclusiveness: Gender neutral
What great play value you get here. Easy to use, high open-ended game and appeals to the imagination. In addition, it is designed to stimulate social interaction because you, brothers or sisters or boyfriends and girlfriends will surely want to be in front of the camera.
It also has quite a bit of interactivity with a push button and a jog wheel and a kaleidoscopic lens. The fact that it doesn't make any noise and doesn't need batteries is actually an advantage.
The replayability only suffers from the lack of versatility and possibilities to combine it with other toys, although it can also be used well with dress-up clothes.
With the sturdy rubberwood construction (also very durable) and the great timeless look, that is actually the only point where the toy score could have been higher.
#15 Top Bright Racetrack – Best wooden toy car ramp
- Very very sturdy
- Nice first introduction to marble tracks and self-rolling cars
- You can't put anything together, but it's also for your toddler
- Cars often get stuck
-
From: 1 years
-
Best: 2 – 3 years
-
Up to: 4 years
- Material: Wood, MDF
- Theme: Vehicles, Car
- Play Mode: Solo
- Price at time of writing: €19,99 – $19,99
- Durability: None
- Production: Manufacturing
- Storage: Normal
- Safety parts: Rounded corners
- Playtime: Short (<10 min)
- Gender inclusiveness: Gender neutral
Top Bright won't award for design, but it is a very functional and well-priced car ramp that children from 1 year old can enjoy. The ease of use could have been a bit higher because the cars often get stuck in the track, which can lead to the necessary frustration.
It also doesn't really appeal to the imagination and won't encourage a whole lot of social interaction.
But you shouldn't judge this toy on its play value alone. Thanks to the small wooden cars, it is also versatile, easy to combine and the construction is well put together. All of these things add up to tremendous replayability.
You don't need much for your toddler yet. A row of cars whizzing off a race track is actually enough. They can't yet think of a game where the cars have to go through the car wash, or where they have to be parked neatly.
And as soon as they get older, the supplied cars are a nice small size to participate in many fantasy games.
At least that was the case with us. Also, the racetrack often joined other pretend play and was often at the start of other road sections we had.
#16 Janod Bolid Key Box – Best wooden toy garage
- Lockable doors provide an extra play element
- Sturdy wooden construction
- Cheerful light colors
- Theme maybe a bit simple for children from toddler
-
From: 2 years
-
Best: 2 – 4 years
-
Up to: 4 years
- Material: Wood, MDF
- Theme: Vehicles, Car
- Play Mode: Cooperative
- Price at time of writing: €59 – $84,99
- Sustainability: Sustainable production
- Production: Manufacturing
- Storage: Tricky
- Safety components: Non-toxic materials
- Playing Time: Longer (10 – 30 min)
- Gender inclusiveness: Gender neutral
It's really robust and sturdy, with ramps wide enough for larger cars. This makes it easy to combine with more toy cars and other fantasy materials. It is also very versatile due to a multi-functional design with keys.
The design has been kept simple and therefore the appearance has remained very calm. This simple design also appeals to the imagination and helps open-ended play. The combination of simple design and the keys with doors makes the set suitable up to about 4 years old. After that, toddlers will get bored of it.
The toy score could have been slightly higher if the set could have appealed to a wider audience and perhaps used better quality wood. Now the price-quality ratio is on the low side. However, you will not find a set where the small cars also have rubber wheels. So they can also be used outside.
#17 Melissa & Doug Scoop and Serve Ice Cream Counter – Best wooden toy ice cream
- Shovel, money and menu strongly encourage open-ended play
- Scooping ice balls is fun
- Harder to combine than other wooden eating toys
-
From: 2 years
-
Best: 3 – 5 years
-
Up to: 6 years
- Material: Wood, MDF
- Theme: Food and food related, Ice cream
- Play Mode: Cooperative
- Price at time of writing: €49,79 – $54,99
- Sustainability: Sustainable production
- Production: Manufacturing
- Storage: Normal
- Safety components: Non-toxic materials
- Playing Time: Longer (10 – 30 min)
- Gender inclusiveness: Gender neutral
The set is easy to use, the ice balls are easy to stack on top of each other and the scoop works quite intuitively. There are also handy handles on the tray so that you can take it with you. Working in the ice cream parlor naturally creates a lot of open-ended play and appeals to the imagination.
What flavors do you want, how do you want to pay? These are aspects of the educational game that Melissa & Doug make clever use of by adding money and a reusable menu card. Good for speech development, social interaction and fine motor skills.
The ice cream set is a bit trickier to combine than other food toys like sliced fruit, so the replayability is a bit lower than it could have been, though that's more down to the theme than the design.
In the end, there is still quite a bit of plastic in it, which means that it scores slightly lower on materials used, but it is a set that will last a long time and is safe to play with.
#18 New Classic Toys Bon Appetit Play Kitchen - Best wooden kitchen set
- Solid wood construction, not laminate
- Oven knobs really click and feel very solid
- Rotary knob microwave does not click and tap is also less sturdy
-
From: 2 years
-
Best: 2 – 5 years
-
Up to: 6 years
- Material: Wood, MDF
- Theme: Food and dining related, Kitchen
- Play Mode: Solo
- Price at time of writing: €105,99 – $114,99
- Durability: None
- Production: Manufacturing
- Storage: Tricky
- Safety parts: No small parts
- Playtime: Extended (30+ min)
- Gender inclusiveness: Gender neutral
Extremely easy to use with no complicated functions but still some nice interactive things that increase the play value. For example, the rotary knobs of the oven give a real click, as if you were actually choosing a setting, which appeals to the imagination. The hobs light up and make a bubbling sound, but batteries are required for this and the hob is therefore plastic.
The chosen material is therefore not very good, with MDF wood from an apparently non-sustainable source and still some plastic.
There is plenty to play with the included pans, ladle, spatulas, pepper pot and salt set and even plates. A whole lot of accessories that you don't see in every kitchen, and all made of wood (except for the removable metal sink). This also makes it versatile.
With the many accessories and saving on material, the set is not that expensive at all, which makes it a good value for money choice.
Not too big, fits in a corner of the room like ours against the couch. This way it gives your child a lot of fun.
It also doesn't take too much space around it because everything happens at the front of the kitchen. You just need some space to open the oven, which folds down.
Thanks to all the accessories, it can also be combined with other toys, which improves the replayability. With us, the removable sink and pans always participate in games with color sorting and playing with sensory toys such as dried beans or corn.
The longevity is also very high, nothing has peeled off the verg in the 3 years we have had it and the durability is also high.
#19 Janod Vegetables And Sliced Fruits Maxi – Best wooden food toy
- Complete set with lots of cut fruit
- Colander is a nice addition
- solid wood
- Wooden cutting set is a lot more expensive than plastic
-
From: 2 years
-
Best: 3 – 5 years
-
Up to: 6 years
- Material: Wood, MDF
- Theme: Food and food related, Vegetables
- Play Mode: Solo
- Price at time of writing: €43,99 – $34,99
- Sustainability: Sustainable production
- Production: Manufacturing
- Storage: Compact
- Safety components: Non-toxic materials
- Playing Time: Longer (10 – 30 min)
- Gender inclusiveness: Gender neutral
The cut vegetables and fruit are incredibly easy to use. Some sets are held together with magnets, but I prefer this Velcro version. It gives a little more resistance when cutting, so your child really has to learn how to hold the knife. This appeals even more to the imagination, plus the texture of the inside gives a different sensory experience.
Toys like this are also extremely versatile, they can participate in all kinds of cooking and shopping games and with us it often joins in with farm toys. This makes it very versatile and easy to combine.
The play value could have been even higher if it encouraged more social interaction. For example, there is only one blade. Yet it is also educational for vocabulary learning and interaction.
What makes the set completely replayable is the fact that everything fits in the handy carrying crate. So you can take it with you wherever you go, combine it, and then store it within reach.
The food is firmly put together and there is even a metal colander. This allows them to have extra fantasy play so that it is just real. I used to let my son play with our colander but it didn't fit in the play kitchen so this is a better solution.
#20 Areaware Cubebot Micro Puzzle – Best wooden toy robot
- Great puzzle to do
- Nice as a toy robot and also a fidget toy
- After all, it's just a little wooden robot
-
From: 3 years
-
Best: 4 – 8 years
-
Up to: 14 years
- Material: Wood, Hardwood
- Theme: Fidget, Robot
- Play Mode: Solo
- Price at time of writing: €18,95 – $11,71
- Sustainability: Environmentally friendly
- Production: Manufacturing
- Storage: Compact
- Safety components: Non-toxic materials
- Playtime: Short (<10 min)
- Gender inclusiveness: Stereotype-breaking
Can be used as a puzzle, fidget toy and small robot, making this toy extremely versatile. In addition, it is also fun for a long time because it is a good room decoration for children of all ages.
It can be a bit difficult to play with in the beginning, if the strings are still a bit stiff and you don't know how the puzzle works. This could have given it a slightly higher play score. But the open-ended character more than makes up for it.
The replayability is even higher, due to the compact size and excellent longevity. As a cheap toy, this makes for the best value for money wooden toy I've seen.
In addition, it is one of the few robot toys that breaks gender stereotypes with a neutral look and design that could be male, female or non-binary. It is made of sustainably harvested wood with elastic connections without plastic or metal.
It is not for nothing that award-winning designer David Weeks has worked on this.
#21 Small Foot Pirate Hammer Art – Most creative hammer game
- Hammering is done nicely and the wood is sturdy
- Many objects to come up with creative things
- Plate is very small
-
From: 5 years
-
Best: 6 – 7 years
-
Up to: 8 years
- Material: Wood, FSC Hardwood
- Theme: Arts and crafts, Tools
- Play Mode: Solo
- Price at time of writing: €29,95 – $23,99
- Sustainability: Sustainable production
- Production: Manufacturing
- Storage: Storage compartments
- Safety components: Non-toxic materials
- Playing Time: Longer (10 – 30 min)
- Gender inclusiveness: Gender stereotyping
ease of use, degree of open-endedness, imagination, social interaction, interactivity, versatility, aesthetics, ability to combine, portability, longevity, durability, safety, materials. Educational: +awards and educational value
More of a creative game than a hammer game, but it's a lot of fun to do and hammering straight is fun and good for fine motor skills. You have to hammer pirates and their accessories from wood and cardboard onto a cork board. There are many pieces that really appeal to the imagination.
It is really hammering and therefore best for children from 6 years. The play value is somewhat lower because these types of toys do not really encourage social interaction and are not as versatile. The replayability is also somewhat lower because the game has to do it on its own, after all it is not very easy to combine with other toys.
Still, it's a game most kids will return to time and time again.
A big minus is the cork board. Not really big enough to lay out everything you can think of and even making the examples is very difficult. This makes it easy to store and the carrying case still ensures a higher total play score, because you can play it anywhere.
#22 Janod Brico Magnetic Trolley - Best wooden walker
- Many activities in one walker
- Wheels drive very well
- Magnet could have been stronger
- Wheels can fall off
- Quality tools are disappointing
-
From: 1 years
-
Best: 1 – 4 years
-
Up to: 5 years
- Material: Wood, MDF
- Theme: Building and construction, Walker
- Play Mode: Solo
- Price at time of writing: €75,75 – $104,86
- Sustainability: Sustainable production
- Production: Manufacturing
- Storage: Storage compartments
- Safety components: Non-toxic materials
- Playing Time: Longer (10 – 30 min)
- Gender inclusiveness: Gender neutral
Very handy to use because of the magnetic suspension points and the box to store everything. The magnets could have been a bit stronger, but with the storage compartments and anti-fall system, the set ultimately scores high on ease of use.
The walker is also extremely versatile, you can walk, build and hammer in one. There are also enough pieces and tools to enable social interaction, which adds to the play value. The set does not really appeal to the imagination and there are also no accessories to immediately look up social interaction.
It's nice to have a little bit of everything. That also makes it a bit of a shame because you can't really build anything nice with the set. It's really more about exploring and hammering and screwing things into the car.
It is made of sturdy wood and the wheels even have metal axles with rubber surrounds so that it rolls smoothly and does not damage your floor. The durability is therefore high, although the lifespan is somewhat less. The paint quickly showed some scratches with us.
#23 Melissa & Doug Workbench - Best wooden toy workbench
- Complete set with tools, bolts, nuts and screws
- Good wooden set where many of this kind are made of plastic
- Pushing too hard quickly leads to screw threads becoming paralyzed
-
From: 2 years
-
Best: 3 – 5 years
-
Up to: 5 years
- Material: Wood, MDF
- Theme: Building and construction, Tools
- Play Mode: Solo
- Price at time of writing: €69,62 – $99
- Sustainability: Sustainable production
- Production: Manufacturing
- Storage: Storage compartments
- Safety components: Non-toxic materials
- Playing Time: Longer (10 – 30 min)
- Gender inclusiveness: Gender neutral
This toy consists of nuts, bolts, blocks and of course the workbench that gives your child a variety of items they can build things with. Due to the open-ended game and the different ways to use it, the play value is very high.
My son was the first to build robots from it…
sigh.
With the vise you can clamp the wooden pieces to attach nuts or pretend you are sawing a piece of wood with notches.
There are holes on top of the worktop where you can hammer wooden nails in and then loosen them with the back of the hammer.
The replayability could have been higher if it had been easier to combine. For example, the creations made are not very sturdy and cannot be played with properly. Despite that, the hammer, screwdriver and saw are often involved in other imaginative play when we have another imaginative job in and around the house.
The lifespan is decent, the white wood keeps it looking good as new, but the durability could have been a little better. The build quality makes it really only suitable for up to 5 years. For example, a slightly older neighbor boy came by and turned the vise so far that it burst off. My son also tried to hammer the bolts into the wooden blocks instead of turning them, which caused the screw thread to break.
#24 Pintoy Shovel Crane Excavator – Best Wood Excavator
- Extremely durable made of rubber wood and rubber tires
- Sturdy construction and good for outdoor use
- Difficult to drive
-
From: 3 years
-
Best: 4 – 6 years
-
Up to: 7 years
- Material: Wood, Rubberwood
- Theme: Vehicles, Excavator
- Play Mode: Solo
- Price at time of writing: €39,95 – $43,35
- Sustainability: Environmentally friendly
- Production: Manufacturing
- Storage: Normal
- Safety components: Non-toxic materials
- Playtime: Short (<10 min)
- Gender inclusiveness: Gender neutral
The most environmentally friendly production I have come across. An extremely sturdy construction of rubber wood, real rubber tracks and strings for the shovel system. It is not for nothing that Pintoy has won awards such as the Right Start Best Toy Award 2003 and the Silver Practical Pre-School Award.
The wood and string make it more educational than other excavators and also gives it more open-ended play. However, the play value is somewhat inferior to the design. The ease of use is not very high and difficult to control, especially for smaller children, the largest target group for excavators.
The replayability is again very good. A good size to combine easily. It is sturdy and fairly easy to carry on the cage and perfectly suited for outdoor use.
#25 Kraftic Woodworking Set – Best Wooden DIY Toy
- Real hammering and building with nails and glue
- Good first hobby project
- Not all projects are equally good
-
From: 4 years
-
Best: 8 – 10 years
-
Up to: 12 years
- Material: Wood, MDF
- Theme: Building and Construction, Woodworking
- Play Mode: Cooperative
- Price at time of writing: €39,95 – $43,35
- Durability: None
- Production: Manufacturing
- Storage: Normal
- Safety components: Non-toxic materials
- Playtime: Extended (30+ min)
- Gender inclusiveness: Gender neutral
This is where it starts to get real. Real hammering with real nails and a very nice first start in handicraft. There are 80 wooden pieces included to make a few different constructions. This makes it versatile, and there are also plenty of possibilities to eventually combine the created with other toys. Also good for replayability.
The ease of use could have been a little better. It is a pity that not all projects are equally well developed. The truck was a lot of fun to do but the plane wasn't very clear. Also, the pieces are not labeled, but I think this is on purpose and part of the job so they have to measure and select the correct pieces.
The social interaction in building is good for the play value, and it's probably a project you'll do with your kids.
#26 Tegu 42 Wooden Set – Best Wooden Magnetic Toy
- Sustainable wooden toys
- Sturdy magnets
- Wheels in the set give more to do
- Very pricey
-
From: 3 years
-
Best: 5 – 8 years
-
Up to: 10 years
- Material: Wood, Hardwood
- Theme: Building and construction, Blocks
- Play Mode: Solo
- Price at time of writing: €129,27 – $116,23
- Sustainability: Sustainable production
- Production: Manufacturing
- Storage: Storage compartments
- Safety parts: Rounded corners
- Playing Time: Longer (10 – 30 min)
- Gender inclusiveness: Gender neutral
Tegu is a responsible brand that makes its wooden toys in Honduras from sustainable wood. The quality is therefore excellent. Apart from the fact that the paint flakes off easily, we have not seen a splinter in 3 years. This quality also comes at a price, perhaps even a little too high, because the price-quality ratio is the only thing that prevents the toy from getting a play score above 9.
This is a toy that really appeals to the imagination. You can really make anything with it and it also ensures a lot of open-ended play. In addition, the magnets are strong enough to actually play with what has been built, so that the possibilities to combine it with other toys are endless. All this benefits both the play value and the replayability.
This set has blocks in different shapes and the slats also ensure that you can do a lot more.
For example, you can make perfect house constructions, or a real race car:
Because of the magnets in the wood you really hear a click when 2 "stick" against each other. Together with the sensory experience of the natural wood, this provides good feedback, which encourages more play.
Is that worth the extra money than plastic magnetic blocks, for example? I think so. It is good for your child to play closer to nature.
#27 Goki Nature Car – Best Organic Natural Wood
- Very sustainable and responsible brand
- Sturdy wooden cars
- Very pricey
-
From: 1 years
-
Best: 2 – 4 years
-
Up to: 5 years
- Material: Wood, Hardwood
- Theme: Vehicles, Truck
- Play Mode: Solo
- Price at time of writing: €27,40 – $40,65
- Sustainability: Environmentally friendly
- Production: Manufacturing
- Storage: Compact
- Safety components: Non-toxic materials
- Playtime: Short (<10 min)
- Gender inclusiveness: Gender neutral
ease of use, degree of open-endedness, imagination, social interaction, interactivity, versatility, aesthetics, ability to combine, portability, longevity, durability, safety, materials. Educational: +awards and educational value
Beautiful smooth finish and tangible wood for children's hands and 100% natural. It cannot be broken and due to the natural finish (the nature series is colored by means of an ecological heat treatment) the car remains beautiful and the lifespan is extremely high. Goki has won the Golden Rocking Horse prize for their designs, among other things.
It is a great way to develop imagination and role play and provides a channel for children to understand and express their feelings through reenactment of everyday experiences. This can easily be combined with a few more cars and encourages social interaction. All this ensures high play value and replayability.
Only the price-quality ratio could be a bit higher, one of the few reasons for a slightly lower play score. But you do get a car that will last for years.
#28 Jouéco The Wildies Family Activity Cube – Best wooden shape sorter
- Can grow with your baby into toddlerhood
- Nice colors and shapes
- Quite big for really young 1 year olds
-
From: 1 years
-
Best: 2 – 3 years
-
Up to: 3 years
- Material: Wood, FSC Hardwood
- Theme: Games and puzzles, Shape sorter
- Play Mode: Solo
- Price at time of writing: €34,24 – $91,34
- Sustainability: Sustainable production
- Production: Manufacturing
- Storage: Compact
- Safety components: Non-toxic materials
- Playing Time: Longer (10 – 30 min)
- Gender inclusiveness: Gender neutral
A simple way to introduce your child to hand-eye coordination and shape recognition and a toy that can grow nicely with their development into toddlerhood. The multi-functional cube provides high play value and great value for money.
The cube is also easy to close so you can take it with you, plus it's big enough to fit all sorts of other toys too, which my son found amusing. This way it can be used and combined anywhere, which ensures high replayability.
It is durable enough to take a beating and has survived 3 years of toddlerhood with us. From shape sorter to bead maze and puzzles and even a wooden abacus. This way he can enjoy a versatile playing experience for a while.
#29 Melissa & Doug Building Blocks 100 Pieces – Best cheap wooden blocks
- Sturdy wooden blocks
- Can participate in many open-ended games
- A lot for little money
- Quickly falls over during intense fantasy play
-
From: 1 years
-
Best: 2 – 3 years
-
Up to: 4 years
- Material: Wood, MDF
- Theme: Building and construction, Blocks
- Play Mode: Cooperative
- Price at time of writing: €21,99 – $21,99
- Sustainability: Sustainable production
- Production: Manufacturing
- Storage: Tricky
- Safety parts: Rounded corners
- Playing Time: Longer (10 – 30 min)
- Gender inclusiveness: Gender neutral
A cheap set with an extremely high play value that you can build anything with. The durability does not suffer at all under the materials used, but the lifespan could be a bit higher as paint does wear off during the game.
The colorful wooden blocks come in all kinds of shapes and have different colors. Completely open-ended style. The play value could only have been higher with a better choice of wood so that gripping offers a more interactive play experience. However, the total play score does not suffer because the price-quality ratio is excellent.
The replayability could have been a bit higher if it had been easier to carry as well. The supplied box does not survive long enough to use it as a take-away box, then you will have to buy a container yourself.
#30 Galt Pop Up Toy Best wooden pop up toy
- Fun pop up game and color sorting
- Very sturdy and durable wood
- Dolls are narrow so you don't want to leave them alone with it
-
From: 0 years
-
Best: 1 – 2 years
-
Up to: 3 years
- Material: Wood, MDF
- Theme: Games and puzzles, Pop-up
- Play Mode: Cooperative
- Price at time of writing: €18,99 – $17,23
- Sustainability: Sustainable production
- Production: Manufacturing
- Storage: Compact
- Safety parts: Rounded corners
- Playtime: Short (<10 min)
- Gender inclusiveness: Gender neutral
Every child should have a pop up toy for their development, but there aren't that many wooden options. The social interaction you can have together with your child is great, which greatly enhances the play value. The price-quality ratio is also excellent because the material is sturdy and with us the toy has lasted all through toddlerhood.
When you push a doll down, he will jump up again.
The dolls are a bit narrow so it is good to always stay with them when they play with them.
Swallowing is not easy, but when they walk around with it in their mouth and fall it can be a bit dangerous.
The play value is also a bit disappointing, not because it's not a fun toy, but you can really only use it on its own and it's a bit too difficult for babies to play alone. The fact that you can't combine it is also not very good for its replayability. It really is a stand alone toy which is great for learning cause and effect.
#31 Wishbone Recycled Balance Bike – Best wooden ride-on toy
- Sustainably recycled wood
- Easily adjustable from 1 to 5 years
- Very pricey
-
From: 2 years
-
Best: 2 – 4 years
-
Up to: 5 years
- Material: Wood, Hardwood
- Theme: Sports and outdoor toys, balance bike
- Play Mode: Solo
- Price at time of writing: €229 – $279,99
- Sustainability: Recycled material
- Production: Manufacturing
- Storage: Normal
- Safety parts: Safety certificates
- Playtime: Extended (30+ min)
- Gender inclusiveness: Gender neutral
- Seat height: 28 - 46 cm
- Loadable weight40 kg
This is perfect to use as a first balance bike. Not only is it durable to last their entire toddler through toddlerhood, it's also simply GREAT design. and has won several prizes such as the European Product Design Award for good reason.
With such a first balance bike, a whole new world suddenly opens up for them full of discovery and for the first time a little further away from mom and dad. Social interaction is also stimulated with other children driving around or chasing after everyone.
The price-quality ratio is also enormous because they cannot be broken and you know for sure that you only have to buy one balance bike because it grows with them. In addition, it is an extremely environmentally friendly product made from recycled material.
How do you determine the quality of wooden toys?
Wooden toys withstand a lot of rough and intense play, often from a whole host of siblings to last for years and years.
When ranking the toys on this list, we use our “Toy score”. It's based on the following components, each with its own weight.
- Play value (30%)
- Price/ quality (30%)
- Replayability (20%)
- Safety (10%)
- Sustainability (5%)
- Materials (5%)
The play value, together with the price-quality ratio, is the most important thing. After all, the toy must be fun to play with and when it's too expensive, no one can afford it.
The play value assesses the product on the features that make it fun to play with. These are ease of use, degree of open-endedness, imagination, social interaction, interactivity, versatility and aesthetics. When a toy is easy to use and understand, is attractive to the child and there are many opportunities to make up your own play with it with open end and imagination, it will be played longer with a higher quality of play.
The value for money is a score based on the ratio of the quality of the toy to the price of the item. This ratio determines how much value you get for your money, in play value and in the intrinsic quality of the item such as the materials used.
Replayability rates the product for features that will ensure it's used again and again. These are ability to combine, portability, longevity, durability and versatility. When the toy can be used everywhere, can also be combined with other toys and lasts a long time, its replayability is high.
The safety assesses the extent to which children can play with it unsupervised. Safety features such as rounded corners, toys that are not too heavy, no small parts, no parts that can easily come loose and non-toxic materials are important here.
Durability scores the toy on how well it can last through play sessions. Sturdy material, but also sturdy connections and fastenings are decisive here.
Materials are understood to mean all the material that is processed in the product. These are the main components, such as the type of wood in wooden toys. Other materials are also included here, such as the type of paint. The environmental friendliness of the materials is also taken into account in this score.
With wooden toys, the type of wood is very important for the quality. MDF is of lower quality and although some consider it more environmentally friendly, toxic glues are used during production. It's often a lot cheaper than hardwood. MDF is good for value for money, while hardwood is good for durability, safety and play value.
There are many great brands of wooden toys to choose from. Wooden toys fit well with the Montessori method and are perfect for preschoolers. They offer many benefits and will last for years.
What are the best wooden toy brands?
The best wooden toy brands are those that produce in a sustainable way and have an educational and safe design, such as the brands in the list below.
- Grimm's
- Fagus
- Stanley Jr.
- Le Toy Van
- Ostheimer
- Melissa & Doug
- Bigjigs
- Tender Leaf Toys
- Janod
- Hape
- Small foot
- New Classic Toys
- Areaware
- Pintoy
- Kraftic
- Tegu
- Goki
- Joueco
- Galt
- Wishbone
Quality wooden toy brands mainly come from Europe, especially from Germany and Scandinavia. There are also great wooden toy brands that are completely made in America.
More and more brands are striving for sustainable and non-toxic production methods, and that's paying off for brands that have kept their production in their own country.
How do green wooden toy brands view sustainability?
Green wooden toy brands are increasingly looking at sustainable production methods. They use non-toxic materials and wood that's harvested in a sustainable way. Examples of brands that focus on this are Fagus and Grimm's.
These brands use sustainable and renewable sources in toy making, such as wood from well-managed forests in the Balkan region and Sweden. The wood they use is robust and long lasting, making the toys easy to repair. This ensures a longer lifespan of the toys and reduces the need for new raw materials.
What are the advantages of wooden toys?
The advantages of wooden toys are many. They last a long time and are of high quality. They're even educational because children can play open-ended and develop their creativity. Wooden toys do not contain harmful substances like plastic does.
Unlike similar plastic toy fads, wooden toys never go out of fashion and one of the main advantages of wooden toys it is precisely the lack of batteries and electronic elements that leads to more educational experiences.
What is the best wood for toys?
The best wood for toys is hardwood. Hardwood is generally stronger and more durable than softwood. Examples of hardwoods often used for toys are oak, beech and maple. These types of wood are less likely to break and splinter less than softwood.
How do plastic toys compare to wooden toys?
Plastic toys offer many types of simple gadgets that attract children. They're often cheaper than wooden toys. However, wooden toys do not contain harmful substances and the natural structure is better for the sensory experience.
That's why more and more parents choose wooden toys instead of plastic ones, despite the higher price.
Are Montessori toys always made of wood?
No, Montessori toys are not always made of wood. Montessori practices and educators favor natural materials and wood fits well with the philosophy. In Montessori classrooms, wooden toys are considered safe and appropriate for the age and developmental stage of children.
They encourage exploration and concentration while also being environmentally friendly.
Are old-fashioned wooden toy train sets better than modern ones?
Yes, old fashioned wooden toy train sets are better than modern sets. This depends on personal preference and various factors, but many people prefer the nostalgic designs of old-fashioned train sets and consider them well-made, durable and collectible items.
While modern sets are more realistic and have advantages such as easy repair and more features, old-fashioned wooden train sets better because of their personality and durability.
Are wooden toys suitable for preschool?
Yes, wooden toys are perfect for preschool. They're unique and different from plastic toys. They stimulate the development of skills such as learning, shaping and playing. They're designed specifically to promote children's development and therefore fit perfectly as a preschool toy.
Always something to do for the holidays or rainy day?
Play Choice now has the ultimate activity book collection, with over 60 pages of fun coloring pages and educational puzzles.
Joost Nusselder, the founder of Speelkeuze.nl is a content marketer, father and loves trying out new toys. As a child he came into contact with everything related to games when his mother started the Tinnen Soldaat in Ede. Now he and his team create helpful blog articles to help loyal readers with fun play ideas.