The Best Puzzles for Toddlers

Melissa & Doug Wooden Jigsaw Puzzles

Lifelike Designs

These quality jigsaw puzzles are perfect for keeping your toddler interested.

Best Overall

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Are you frustrated with lightweight puzzles that rip easily and get hard to store? So are we. That’s why we love these sturdy wooden jigsaw puzzles from Melissa & Doug. They come in a heavy-duty wooden box with a sliding lid, so you don’t need to worry about cardboard breaking or tearing. It has separate storage compartments for each of the four included puzzles to make it easy for you to keep them all in order when they’re not in use.

Pros:

• There are several designs to ensure you find the right one for your child
• Sturdy design can hold up to years of play
• Four 12-piece puzzles are included, making it a great value for the money

Cons:

• Made for toddlers 3 and up, these puzzles aren’t ideal for the littlest puzzlers
• Reference pictures on box are very small

Skyfield Wooden Animal Puzzles

All-Day Excitement

Bright colors and adorable characters are delightful for young puzzlers.

Best Multi-Pack

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Quality is key when it comes to toys for toddlers, especially since they often end up using their favorite playthings as impromptu teethers. Skyfield’s animal puzzles are made from high-quality wood and thoroughly tested using rigorous safety standards, making them a safe and healthy choice for a child’s first puzzle. Their adorable designs are brought to life with vibrant non-toxic stains. These block-style puzzles are appropriate for kids as young as 1 year old, and their durability ensures they’ll hold up for years to come.

Pros:

• Each multi-pack comes with four different puzzles
• Animal- and vehicle-themed sets provide plenty of options to catch kids’ interest
• Free of BPA, lead, and phthalates

Cons:

• A bit pricey, but we think their quality and safety are worth it
• Fairly small, so they’re best for younger toddlers

Melissa & Doug Farm Animals Sound Puzzle

Farmhouse Fun

Little ones can learn all about the sights and sounds of a farm in the comfort of their own home.

Best Sound Puzzle

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This handcrafted sound puzzle from Melissa & Doug introduces youngsters to the sights and sounds of farm animals for engaging sensory play.  Toddlers can fit the eight barnyard friends into their corresponding spaces to hear their sounds, providing a great opportunity to learn about animals while puzzling at home. It’s easy to use, thanks to matching images of each animal in each slot, so even young toddlers can get in on the farm-friendly fun.

Pros:

• Appropriate for ages 2 and up, making it a suitable choice for most toddlers
• The fun sounds help motivate your child to use it more
• Affordable option for sensory play

Cons:

• Batteries not included
• Sensors may need to be reset occasionally

Aywewii 3D Wooden Dinosaur Puzzles

Prehistoric Puzzling

Little paleontologists are sure to be fascinated by these three-dimensional dinos.

Best 3D Puzzle

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For older toddlers who need an extra challenge, 3D puzzles are a great way to mix it up. These wooden dinosaur puzzles from Aywewii can be assembled in their plates like a traditional puzzle, put together without the plates for additional memory engagement, or built up into 3D dinos that stand on their own. This set is a great choice to keep kids interested while they play and a fun way to introduce toddlers to the wonderful world of dinosaurs.

Pros:

• Six dinosaur puzzles included
• We love the bright colors and cute faces
• Versatile enough for kids from 1 – 5 years old

Cons:

• Need to be handled more carefully when assembling the 3D option
• Sometimes the paint sticks when you remove them from the packaging for the first time

Asher and Olivia Educational Puzzle Rack Set

Organized Play

Give toddlers a head start with this exciting set of educational puzzles.

Most Educational

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This Asher and Olivia puzzle set is an excellent way to get your toddler learning early and having fun doing it. This set comes with six different puzzles, each with its own theme to introduce youngsters to important concepts that can help them in school later on. Between their bright colors, fun shapes, and variety, these puzzles are an entertaining way for any toddler to develop their cognitive skills in a safe and healthy way.

Pros:

• Includes a rack to keep them all put away neatly while remaining accessible
• Themes include numbers, letters, time, shapes, colors, vehicles, and fruits
• Perfect for toddlers of any age

Cons:

• We wish they were a bit more durable
• This set is a bit pricey, but the educational value is impressive

Frequently Asked Questions

How do puzzles help my child?

Puzzles exercise your toddler’s brain in several ways. First, the simple act of connecting two pieces takes concentration and coordination. Secondly, it takes concentration, spatial reasoning, and problem-solving to figure out where each piece goes. Finally, assembling a puzzle can boost children’s self-esteem and encourage them to do more.

Are puzzles a good option for quiet play?

Puzzles are the perfect choice for quiet play. If you have more than one child or need a quiet alternative to nap time for older kids, puzzles are awesome. The level of concentration they need to work out colors, shapes, and edges is often enough to occupy our kids for hours. The more variety they have, the more interested they will remain.