16 Fun and Educational Puzzles for Toddlers
High-tech gadgets and interactive toys are great and all—but when it comes to educational play, puzzles are hard to beat. Why? A humble wooden puzzle helps develop children’s fine-motor skills, while encouraging them to problem-solve and think creatively.
Ready to start your search for the best options? Here, you’ll find the best brain-boosting puzzles for toddlers, from simple wooden shapes to animal-themed activities and more.
“The learning benefits of puzzles are seemingly endless, as they touch on many developmental skills,” says Jana Sarno, BCBA, a board-certified behavior analyst and the chief clinical officer of Hopebridge Autism Therapy Centers. If you’re looking for educational toys that encourage concentration, problem-solving and tactile learning, you can’t go wrong with a puzzle. But that’s not all they offer—toddler and baby puzzles can introduce your little one to colors, shapes, numbers and everyday vocabulary, preparing them for preschool down the line. What’s more, they can help kids advance hand-eye coordination and other fine motor skills, Sarno adds. They also make for a fantastic rainy-day activity for the whole family, but don’t be tempted to intervene too much—kids will get a greater sense of accomplishment from solving a puzzle solo.
The best puzzles for toddlers are age-appropriate, educational and, most importantly, fun! Look for colorful picks that introduce your child to early learning STEM concepts like numbers, letters and shapes. While shopping, consider your child’s developmental level to find a puzzle that’ll stimulate their growing mind and motor skills, advises Sarno. She suggests beginning with puzzles with pieces that are chunky and easy to grasp; some may even have pegs to help little hands hold onto them. If that’s the case, start your child off with jumbo pegs before advancing to small peg puzzles.
Has your tot mastered baby puzzles? Move on to beginner jigsaw puzzles. As your kiddo’s skills progress, graduate to options with more pieces. “By increasing the number of pieces per puzzle, a child is able to achieve success before challenging them again,” explains Sarno.
Remember, babies and toddlers have a natural tendency to put things in their mouths, so always choose puzzles with large pieces to reduce the risk of choking.
Whether you’re looking for a big out-of-this-world floor puzzle, a chic personalized wooden design or something in between, we’ve got you covered. Below, shop our favorite puzzles for toddlers at any developmental level.
Best puzzle for one-year-olds
Puzzles for toddlers should have chunky pieces that are easy for little hands to manage. Case in point: the Zoo Park Pals puzzle for babies 12 months and up. It has eight grabbable pieces that stand upright to encourage imaginative play. The colorful park scene features an array of animals that’ll excite and delight your tot. Plus, drawings etched on the board help kids in need of some extra clues.
Specs at a glance:
- Age rating: 12+ months
Best puzzle for 2-year-olds
Next up is one of the most whimsical puzzles for 2-year-olds by Wee Gallery. The cute set includes six characters inspired by pets of all shapes and sizes. Each critter is made up of two large jigsaw pieces, so your little one can complete the puzzles with confidence.
Specs at a glance:
- Age rating: 2 to 4 years old
Best puzzle for 3-year-olds
The best puzzles for 3-year-olds are those that allow them to build on their blossoming cognitive and motor skills. Take this set, for instance. It comes with four colorful dino-themed puzzles, each made up of 12 pieces. Better yet, the wooden storage box makes cleanup a breeze, and even doubles as a tray where your tot can lay pieces as they put pictures together.
Specs at a glance:
- Age rating: 3+ years
Most unique wooden puzzle for toddlers
Looking for standout wooden puzzles for toddlers? You can’t go wrong with this unique pick. Each pizza-shaped design is handcrafted by artisans in Mexico, resulting in a high-quality toy that’s sure to be a playtime staple for years to come. If your tot isn’t a pizza lover—don’t fret. This cool toddler puzzle also comes in the shape of a taxi, a hot dog and a watermelon.
Specs at a glance:
- Age rating: 3+ years
Best alphabet puzzle for toddlers
It’s never too early to practice your ABC’s! This top-rated wooden puzzle for toddlers has colorful, easy-to-grab letters that fit into grooves illustrated with friendly characters. Call out each letter as they play to help them grow familiar with the alphabet. Your little scholar can use this puzzle from 18 months on.
Specs at a glance:
- Age rating: 18+ months
Best toddler puzzle with shapes
We’re big fans of Lovevery—a play company that creates thoughtful toys for every stage of baby’s development. Designed for littles 16 months and up, this wooden puzzle appeals to a child’s love of repetition. Pictures of real people hidden behind each piece will help your kiddo recognize faces, while matching the correct shape to each slot on the board. Plus, you can download a free play guide to get the most fun from this toy.
Specs at a glance:
- Age rating: 16+ months
Best toddler puzzle for counting
Made from sustainable rubberwood, this cute puzzle offers a fun way to build math skills. Help the squirrel count his acorns by matching the correct piece to each segment of the board. The corresponding colors and dots will help kids crack the code. If you’re searching for a gift for an 18-month-old, this option is a surefire winner.
Specs at a glance:
- Age rating: 18+ months
Best animal puzzle for toddlers
There are plenty of animal-themed puzzles for toddlers on the market, but this option takes the cake. The unique design doubles as an alphabet puzzle, and is made up of 25 vibrant wooden animals which can be played with individually, stacked into a tower or connected together—the opportunities for open-ended play are limitless! Parents will also love how each is made from all-natural rubberwood and finished with non-toxic water-based stains.
Specs at a glance:
- Age rating: 2+ years
Best personalized puzzle for toddlers
Gifting for little ones isn’t always a piece of cake, but personalized toddler puzzles are surefire winners. This sweet design from Etsy features several smiling animals and can be customized with your kiddo’s name. Not only will this toy improve their motor skills and hand-eye coordination, but it will also help them learn the letters of their name!
Specs at a glance:
- Age rating: 1+ years
Best STEM puzzle for toddlers
Get their gears turning with this STEM puzzle toy. Just choose one of the 40 picture cards provided to solve. It's then up to your mini-engineer to fit the right pieces into the smiling bug-shaped board to create a matching pattern. Your little one may find it challenging at first, but with a little help along the way it’s sure to delight them in no time.
Specs at a glance:
- Age rating: 3+ years
Best floor puzzle for toddlers
Older toddlers will love this large floor puzzle. Made up of 48 pieces, it will offer an age-appropriate challenge that further nurtures problem-solving skills and hand-eye coordination. When put together, the thick, sturdy pieces will reveal an out-of-this-world image of the solar system. Watch your kiddo’s face light up as they show you what they’ve accomplished!
Specs at a glance:
- Age rating: 3 to 6 years old
Best magnetic puzzle for toddlers
Searching for travel toys your little one can take on the go? Look no further than this magnetic puzzle for toddlers. The double-sided design features two puzzles for your kiddo to complete that are full of beautiful animal illustrations. Better yet, pieces stick to the magnetic portfolio provided, reducing the chance of anything getting lost in transit.
Specs at a glance:
- Age rating: 4 to 8 years old
Best sensory puzzle for toddlers
Designed with newly minted tots in mind, this touch-and-feel wooden puzzle features several sensory elements for little ones to explore. It’s made up of four easy-to-grasp, animal-shaped pieces and a brightly colored board. Watch your kiddo smile as they discover the different textures, engage in pretend play and recognize themselves in the center mirror.
Specs at a glance:
- Age rating: 12+ months
Best geometric puzzle for toddlers
A puzzle with endless options, little ones can arrange the triangular pieces into prearranged patterns or create their own designs. This wooden puzzle for toddlers encourages hand-eye coordination and is a great way to introduce shapes and colors. Plus, it’s suitable for kids ages 2 to 6, so it’ll grow with them.
Specs at a glance:
- Age rating: 2 to 6 years
Best musical puzzle for toddlers
This musical puzzle for toddlers is inspired by classic nursery rhymes. Sing along as your tot lifts each piece to trigger the music and reveal the pictures underneath. If you need a refresher—flip over the board and read the lyrics on the reverse side. Each wooden piece also has a plastic peg that’s easy for 2-year-olds to grasp as they play.
Specs at a glance:
- Age rating: 2+ years
Best Montessori puzzle for toddlers
Last but not least is a Montessori toy designed to introduce tots to mathematical concepts at an early age. With this wooden puzzle, your toddler will learn about counting and fractions, giving them a jumpstart on topics they’ll learn about in preschool.
Specs at a glance:
- Age rating: 34+ months
To help you find the best toddler puzzles for your kiddo, we browsed options from an array of trusted retailers and chose our top picks for every chosen category. When sourcing items, we kept several aspects in mind, including quality and durability, age-appropriateness, style and, of course, safety. We read user reviews to understand what parents loved (and didn’t love) about each puzzle, and didn’t consider anything with less than an average four-star rating. To make sure we highlighted products that are safe, educational and fun, we chatted with a behavior analyst to understand essential features for parents to keep top of mind.
Interested in learning more about our editorial process? Read about how our team develops and reviews all articles here.
About the experts:
Jana Sarno, BCBA, is a board-certified behavior analyst and the chief clinical officer of Hopebridge Autism Therapy Centers. She has worked as the vice president of applied behavior analysis at North Shore Pediatric Therapy and as an infant development program administrator at Coyne & Associates Education Corp.
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