Wooden Road Maze Board — Slide the Cars Home

A wooden board with maze tracks cut into it and coloured cars and animals that slide along them on strings. Your child draws a card showing where everything should end up, then works out how to move each piece there — the paths cross, so one car often has to move out of the way before another can pass.

How you play

1. Draw a card and see where each car or animal has to end up.
2. Look at the maze and trace the route each one has to take.
3. Work out which piece has to move first to clear the way.
4. Slide the pieces along the tracks until the board matches the card.
5. Check every piece is in its right place before drawing the next card.

What it builds

• Route planning where paths cross and interfere
• Working out an order of operations, not just a destination
• Fine motor control, sliding a piece along a narrow track
• Reading a target state and working backwards to reach it

Three ways to play it

• Solve one card, then try it again in fewer moves
• Take one piece out and see whether the card is easier or harder
• Let your child set the target positions for you to solve

The details

• Ages: 3–6 years
• Material: wood