We are huge fans of Little Sapling Toys, as is evidenced in an earlier post. They have recently launched their own website and store, so you can grab these great gifts and toys there or on their Etsy shop. Our newest purchase from them was for Tomato’s birthday last fall. When Tomato gets new things, we put them off to the side and take one new thing out each week. We got this tip from one of our friends at Building Cathedrals, and it works wonders to keep kids interested in their toys and not be overwhelmed. We recently got the Peg Puzzle (ages 12 months and up) out of the “new toy” area and it has been a huge hit!
At first glance, this toy looks like a great way to build small motor skills since the kids have to line up the pegs with the holes and get them to fit in properly, and that is definitely true. But, it also is a host to a ton of other activities to do with your child.
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| Sort by color |
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| Sort by size |
Sorting – We have definitely entered the toddler phase of taking an item and moving it to a new location and moving it back, and vice versa. It is amazing how that can occupy a kid for 30-45 minutes. This toy is perfect for kids who love to sort and transfer. It has 10 different parts, including the board, and comes in a soft cloth bag that our little one loves to tote around and fill and empty, empty and fill and then repeat the whole process. The children and you can sort by color (walnut, cherry and maple woods lend gorgeous tones to the toy) and size. It leads to good discussions about similarities and differences and by handling the pegs, the child builds his/her small motor skills. Be sure to do it in and out of the board to practice practical skills.
Counting – Count up to 9 and then back down again in order to go over numbers with your little one. Keep them close together and then space them out to help them to develop a good number sense.
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| Sizing practice |
Sizing – Organize the pegs in ascending and descending order both in and out of the board. Explore words like small, medium and large. This is a good spot to pull in a second language to play with as well.
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| ABAB pattern |
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| ABCABC pattern |
Patterning – Since there are three different colors and three different sizes, you can do a number of patterns. The above pictures show an ABAB pattern and an ABCABC pattern. Have a good time mixing it up and seeing what you can develop.
Little Sapling Toys has definitely struck gold again with this toy. It has a host of activities to explore, is beautifully made and will last a lifetime.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
this is a huge hit!! My kids played with these pegs and holes for hours….and created all kinds of things with the pegs…taught them many things. counting, shapes creativity etc..
i am your newer follower..pls follow back if you can.
My kids are a little old for this one now, but I have to say that I love wooden toys, especially ones that get back to basics. They are fabulous.
It’s best to start off with a smaller puzzle and work your way upwards, as your child feels more and more comfortable with the puzzle making process.