Wild Wonders Animal Kids' Wooden Shape Sorter

This wooden shape sorter turns a simple game of posting into a bright little lesson in shapes and colours. The long plywood box is printed along one side with our Wild Wonders animals: a spotted yellow leopard, a curled-up orange lion, a pink and yellow butterfly and a turquoise elephant, set among leaves and dots. Its top has four cut-outs, a triangle, a circle, a butterfly and a square, with four solid wooden shapes to match: an orange triangle, a turquoise cylinder, a mustard yellow butterfly and a blue cube. It measures 19.5cm long, 5.5cm wide and 5.5cm tall, a neat size for a playroom shelf.

It is a toy for little ones learning to match one thing to another, and we like how much play it packs into a small box. Finding the right hole for each piece helps develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination, while the four colours and four shapes give plenty to name and talk about together. The butterfly piece adds a playful twist to the usual triangle and square. It sits happily in a nursery, playroom or living room toy basket, and it is compact enough to take along on a family visit.

The box is made from plywood and the shapes from wood, with the pale layered grain showing at the open end. That open end is handy: once every piece has dropped through, small hands can reach in, tip them out and start again. It is light enough to carry from room to room. To keep it looking its best, wipe the box and shapes with a slightly damp cloth and dry them straight away rather than soaking the wood. Wrapped with a bow, it makes a cheerful gift for a little one who loves animals, and the illustrations look lovely left out on a low shelf between games.

How big is the shape sorter?

The box is 19.5cm long, 5.5cm wide and 5.5cm tall, so it fits easily on a shelf or in a toy basket.

What is the shape sorter made from?

The box is made from plywood and the four shapes are wood. The Wild Wonders animals are printed along one side of the box.

Which shapes come with it?

There are four wooden shapes: an orange triangle, a turquoise cylinder, a mustard yellow butterfly and a blue cube. Each shape has its own matching hole in the top.

How do you get the shapes back out of the box?

One end of the box is open. Once the pieces have been posted through the top, they can be reached or tipped out to play again.

How should I clean the wooden shape sorter?

Wipe the box and shapes with a slightly damp cloth and dry them straight away. As with most wooden toys, we would not soak them.

What skills does a shape sorter help with?

Matching each piece to its hole helps with fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. It is also a good way to practise naming shapes and colours together.