Wooden Shapes and Colours Learning Toy, Ages 3+

Shape sorting is one of the first real problem-solving tasks a child meets: this piece goes in that hole, and no amount of forcing changes it. Doing it in wood makes a difference, because each shape has enough weight and edge definition to be recognised by the hand before the eye catches up. The colours give a second way to sort, so the same set works for a child who is still matching red to red and for one who has moved on to triangles and hexagons. Expect it to be tipped out daily.

• Material: wood
• Colour: assorted
• Sort by shape or by colour
• Builds problem-solving, shape recognition and motor skills
• No batteries required
• Ages 3 and up