Wooden Shape Puzzle Boards — 3 Graded Levels

Three wooden boards, each a harder version of the same idea. Coloured pieces have to be joined together to complete a geometric shape — a circle, a square, a hexagon — and the finished shape then fits into its slot on the board. The three boards step up in difficulty as your child gets it.

How you play

1. Start with the easiest board and tip its pieces out.
2. Look at the part-shapes and find two or three of the same colour that go together.
3. Join them to complete one whole shape.
4. Fit that shape into its matching slot on the board.
5. When the board is full, move up to the next one.

What it builds

• Seeing that a whole shape can be split into parts and rebuilt
• Colour and shape matching at the same time
• Fine motor control from seating pieces accurately
• Working up a difficulty ladder without changing toy

Three ways to play it

• Stay on one board until it is easy, rather than mixing all three
• Mix two boards' pieces once both are mastered
• Name each shape aloud as it goes into its slot

The details

• Ages: 1–3 years
• Material: wood