So many children's toys are likes miniature beeping and talking light shows, and these might overstimulate sensitive kids. Sometimes old-fashioned playthings are best, and toys created using simple wood are ideal, and less likely to contain toxic colors or synthetic substances. There are many varieties of wooden puzzle game. Descriptions of some of the most common follow.

A timeless puzzle, which involves fitting jigsaw pieces together so that they recreate a specific image, can easily take up hours of time. Puzzles for young kids are not as involved. A design might feature a wooden slab out of which shapes have been cut. To solve the challenge, the right shape must simply be slotted into the right groove in the slab. This is good to give to a toddler, as it assists in improving hand-eye coordination and keeps the brain active.

While most puzzles are two-dimensional, enterprising toy-makers also use wood to create three-dimensional puzzles that are both fun to play with and beautiful to behold. A toy in the shape of a complex polygon or fish that has to be assembled in the right way to form the complete object might provide hours of fun. Because these are slightly more complex, they are better suited for older children.

Natural wood is a good choice of material for toys as it lasts well and is also less damaging to the environment than the production of plastic. Many parents who are environmentally conscious prefer wooden toys for this reason.

While the simplest puzzles are suited to young children and toddlers who are not yet able to solve more complex tasks, older kids are able to enjoy more advanced toys. A game in which pieces have to be removed one by one from a tower of blocks, and stacked on top without the structure crashing down, provides an adrenalin rush. Games like this are good for improving patience as well as strategic focus. The suitability of these toys for group play is an added plus.

Some wooden puzzles borrow the format of classic games that have long provided entertainment for young people. The famous toy, 'Jacob's ladder', is one classic. This consists of a chain of blocks that are connected together by pieces of ribbon in such a way that turning one block over appears to make the next block in line tumble down the chain to the bottom of the row. The puzzling aspect of this is that the movement of the block is an optical illusion, created through the way the blocks are connected.

Another classic game sometimes made of wood that requires mental agility is The Tower of Hanoi. The person solving the puzzle has to move 8 discs stacked on a wooden pole in the order of largest to smallest across two other poles, by moving one disc at a time. Discs may be stacked on one another only if the bottom one is larger, and the aim is to recreate the first tower on the furthest pole (there are three poles).

Outlined are just a few of the many choices for the ideal wooden puzzle game. If you order a wood toy gift online, be sure that the item you obtain is suitable for the age of the recipient.