Looking to upgrade your kid’s toy collection? Consider going back to the basics. In a world full of screens and plastic, wooden toys make a refreshing addition to any playroom or nursery. First of all, they’re totally retro-chic—who knew playthings could make your home more stylish? And since wooden toys are made from natural materials, they’re also non-toxic and more eco-friendly. Plus, buying handmade wooden toys supports small businesses—and it turns out they might be better for your child developmentally. Keep reading to learn the benefits of wooden toys before shopping some of our favorite picks.

In this article:
Benefits of wooden toys
Wooden baby toys
Wooden toys for toddlers
Wooden toys for kids
How we chose the best wooden toys

Benefits of Wooden Toys

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), simpler, hands-on toys like building blocks and puzzles promote more parent-child interaction than electronic toys—and playing with your child will further their overall growth and learning.

While many parents may think they need to go out and buy the newest toys with all their gizmos and gadgets, the AAP’s evidence suggests that all those sounds, flashing lights or buttons may actually “detract from social engagement that might otherwise take place through facial expressions, gestures and vocalizations and that may be important for social development.”

Playing with toys is a huge part of your child’s cognitive development when it comes to problem solving, social interactions, self regulation, fine motor skills and so much more. But the AAP says that “electronic toys by themselves will not provide children with the interaction and parental engagement that are critical for the healthy development.”

Enter: wooden toys like the ones you played with when you were a child. The benefits of wood toys are even more pronounced when you play alongside your little one, so it’s lucky the toys available will stir up all that sweet nostalgia.

Ready to shop for toys made of wood? We’ve found options for all ages, from simple wooden baby toys like a wooden rattle to complex wooden toys for older kids like a decked-out wooden toy kitchen.

Wooden Baby Toys

The best wooden baby toys (or should we say the best toys, period) factor in your child’s developmental stage. Items like rattles, grabbers and play gyms suit babies ages 0 to 12 months. That being said, the following playthings don’t just serve learning purposes—they’re also just plain cute!

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How We Chose the Best Wooden Toys

Your child’s room is probably filled with more toys than you’d like to admit, but how many of them do they actually play with? It’s not easy knowing what will click with your kid, so we decided to do some research to find the best wood toys on the market that your child will love and learn from. We narrowed down some of the best wooden toys for kids that’ll be welcome additions to any nursery (and make great presents too!). When selecting the children’s wooden toys, we considered their design, the materials, the size and shapes. We also made sure to read user reviews to see what real consumers have experienced when buying these toys, and didn’t consider anything with less than an average four-star rating.

Interested in learning more about our editorial process? Read about how our team develops and reviews all articles here.

Plus, more from The Bump:

21 Amazing Montessori Toys for Babies and Toddlers

20 Classic Toys Kids Still Love Playing With

15 Best Toys for 6-Month-Olds to Support Their Development

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