Award-Winning Wooden Toys for Toddlers (UK)

Each year, panels of parents, designers and reviewers sit down with piles of toys and decide which ones earn a place in the house. The toddler category is a hard one to win. A toy has to survive dropping, chewing, stacking and the sort of enthusiasm that only a two-year-old brings.

Between 2023 and 2026, several Jaques toys were picked out by independent judges across the Junior Design Awards, the BlogOn Toy Awards and the Loved By Parents Awards. The pieces they chose share a few things: FSC-certified timber, finishes tested to UKCA and CE standards, and shapes sized for small hands.

What follows is a plain account of which toys the judges picked, and why a wooden toy tends to suit the youngest players. You can browse the full range of our wooden toys alongside.

The award winners for under twos

The under-twos are the toughest crowd of all. They test a toy with their mouths before their hands, so the finish matters as much as the design.

At the Junior Design Awards 2026, The Friendly Farm received Silver in the Best Toy Design 0-2 Years category. The judges liked the wooden design, the safely painted finish and the storage barn, with a carry handle so children can take it anywhere without losing pieces.

That last detail is the sort of thing a parent notices only after the third lost animal under the sofa. A farm that packs itself away is a farm that gets played with again the next morning.

The Friendly Farm sits within our educational toys for toddlers, where the emphasis is on naming, sorting and simple pretend play. For a baby still working out cause and effect, moving a wooden cow in and out of a barn is a complete activity in itself.

We have written more widely about the pieces that suit this age in our guide to award winning wooden toys for toddlers uk, which covers how a toy earns its keep in the first two years.

The 0-2 bracket rewards restraint. A toy with fewer, larger parts and a clear single purpose will hold a young baby's attention far longer than one crowded with features. The farm's success at Junior comes down to that clarity, paired with a barn that tidies up after itself.

The award winners for one to three year olds

Once a child is walking, their taste in toys changes fast. They want to pull things along, post shapes through holes and fish for ducks that bob out of reach.

At the BlogOn Toy Awards 2025, the Wooden London Bus received 1st in the Toddler Toys category. In the same awards, Hook a Duck received 1st in the Preschool category and 2nd in Toddler Toys, which is a rare double across two age brackets.

The Magnetic Fishing Game received 2nd in Preschool and 3rd in Toddler Toys, while the Wooden Aeroplane received 2nd in Toddler Toys and Dylan the Dinosaur Pull Along Toy received 3rd in Preschool.

At the Loved By Parents Awards 2024, the Shape Sorter received Platinum twice over, in both the Best Activity Toy 1-3 Years and the Best Wooden Toy 1-3 Years categories.

These toys do different jobs. The bus and the aeroplane invite movement and storytelling. Hook a Duck and the fishing game build the hand-eye control a toddler needs. The Shape Sorter teaches matching and persistence in equal measure.

Many of these pieces follow a Montessori spirit of self-correction, where the child sees for themselves whether the shape fits. You can explore that approach further through our montessori toys and our guide to the best montessori toys for toddlers uk 2026 wooden educati.

Together these results span judging panels across two years, covering both the toddler and preschool stages. The breadth is the point: no single toy suits every one to three year old, which is why the range is built around different kinds of play.

What judges look for in a toddler toy

Awards are judging, not safety testing. The two are separate: a toy is tested to UKCA and CE standards before it reaches a shelf, and only then does a panel decide whether it deserves a medal.

So what do judges actually weigh? The Junior Design Awards notes for The Friendly Farm give a useful window. They praised the wooden design, the safely painted finish and the storage barn with its carry handle.

Read those remarks closely and you find three recurring themes. First, materials: judges respond to honest timber and considered finishes. Second, play value: does the toy do something a child returns to? Third, the parent's experience, which is where storage and portability come in.

A toy that scatters forty pieces across a floor rarely wins favour, however clever it is. One that tidies itself into a barn does.

Panels also look for longevity. A toy that grows with a child, from first grasp to imaginative play, earns higher marks than one outgrown in a month. The Shape Sorter's double Platinum rests partly on that: it starts as a posting game and becomes a sorting and counting tool.

Design coherence matters too. Judges notice when colour, scale and weight are matched to the age group rather than borrowed from an older child's toy.

None of this replaces the standards work that happens first. We cover how the two fit together in our writing on award winning sustainable wooden toys uk, which looks at materials and judging side by side. The full catalogue lives within our children toys.

Why wood suits the youngest players

Wood is a forgiving material for the youngest players, and there are practical reasons for it.

It has weight. A toddler learns about the world partly through how heavy things feel, and a wooden animal gives honest feedback in the hand that a hollow plastic one does not.

It is quiet. A wooden bus rolled across the floor makes a soft, pleasant sound, which matters in a home where the toy will be played with for hours.

It also ages well. A wooden toy that is knocked and dropped develops a patina rather than a crack, and tends to pass down through a family. Jaques has been making toys in London since 1795, run by the same family today, and that long view shapes what we build.

The timber we use is FSC-certified, so the forests it comes from are managed responsibly. The finishes are tested to UKCA and CE standards, which matters for an age group that explores with the mouth.

There is an open-ended quality to wood as well. A set of wooden shapes can be a sorter one day and a tower the next, without the toy telling the child what to do. We have gathered our thinking on that in our guide to the best open ended wooden toys for toddlers uk 2026 jaques of.

Across the toys covered here, Jaques of London holds 1,556 verified Reviews.io reviews averaging 4.8 out of 5, as of 15 October 2026. That is the sort of record that only accumulates when a material lasts.

Choosing by age and stage

The simplest way to choose is to start with what the child is doing right now, rather than what they might do next.

For a baby under two, look for fewer, larger parts and a single clear purpose. The Friendly Farm, with its Junior Design Awards Silver in the 0-2 category, fits here, as do the first-grasp pieces within our educational toys for toddlers.

For a child between one and three, movement and matching come to the fore. A pull-along like Dylan the Dinosaur suits a new walker who wants something to lead around the room. A posting toy like the Shape Sorter suits the child who has started to notice that shapes fit holes.

Between those stages, fishing and hooking games bridge the gap. Hook a Duck and the Magnetic Fishing Game both ask for the kind of controlled reach that develops naturally around this age.

If a child is close to a boundary, it is usually safer to choose the younger option. A toy that feels a touch simple is still played with; one that frustrates is set aside.

Think, too, about where the toy will live. A piece that packs away, like the farm with its barn and handle, is more likely to stay in circulation than one that sprawls.

Beyond that, trust the child's own interest. A toddler drawn to vehicles will take to the Wooden London Bus or the Wooden Aeroplane long before any chart suggests. You can see the range by stage across our wooden toys, or read our fuller guide to the best educational wooden toys for toddlers uk 2026 jaques o.

Meet the award winners

Dylan the Dinosaur Pull Along Toy

The Friendly Farm
Read its award story

Hook a Duck
Read its award story

Wooden London Bus
Read its award story

Magnetic Fishing Game
Read its award story

Shape Sorter
Read its award story

Wooden Aeroplane
Read its award story

The full story behind each award

• The Friendly Farm Wins Silver for Best Toy Design 0-2 Years at the Junior Design Awards 2026
• Hook a Duck: Three First Places at the BlogOn Toy Awards 2025
• The Wooden London Bus: First Place in Seven Categories at the BlogOn Toy Awards 2025
• The Magnetic Fishing Game: Placed in Eight Categories at the BlogOn Toy Awards 2025
• The Shape Sorter: Two Platinums and a Gold at the Loved By Parents Awards 2024
• The Wooden Aeroplane: Seven Placings at the BlogOn Toy Awards 2025
• Every Jaques of London award, 2023 to 2026

What parents say about these toys

4.8 out of 5 from 1,556 verified Reviews.io reviews across the award-winning toys on this page (as of 15 October 2026). Real buyers, quoted word for word.

Dylan the Dinosaur Pull Along Toy (4.9 out of 5, 32 reviews)

“The toy is very well made, sturdy and has a lovely finish with lovely colours. Perhaps more suitable for one to two years rather than two to three years. My granddaughter was very happy with it and really enjoyed pulling it round after her. It of course comes beautifully packaged, as all Jaques toys do. I would recommend for one to two years and also it would make a lovely gift.”

★★★★★ &Amp;Quot;Gillian&Amp;Quot;, verified buyer, 2025-05-29

The Friendly Farm (4.9 out of 5, 64 reviews)

“My boys have loved carrying around the farm opening it and getting out the animals and the farmers. I like that you can close it to store everything inside so it is easy to keep the pieces together and the pieces are all of good quality. This feels like a toy that will last well and we will continue to use for a long time.”

★★★★★ Katherine, verified buyer, 2025-09-12

Hook a Duck (4.8 out of 5, 201 reviews)

“The duck game was my free gift and I'm delighted with it. I run the Christmas tombola stall for my local church and I'm always on the lookout for nice toys for the children's tombola. The duck game will have pride of place to attract children to play, they have better odds of winning than the adult tombola.”

★★★★★ Ms, verified buyer, 2026-08-09

Wooden London Bus (4.8 out of 5, 275 reviews)

“This is the 3rd London Bus I have ordered. Unfortunately the last one arrived damaged.I was at first very disappointed but contacted the company and they sent out a replacement immediately, exceptional customer service.The first one I bought was for my grandsons 2nd birthday and he is now 4 and it's still a very well played with and very loved toy.Would definitely recommend the toy and the company”

★★★★★ Lesley B., verified buyer, 2023-11-05

Magnetic Fishing Game (4.8 out of 5, 487 reviews)

“Love this fishing game. It was a gift for a nephew aged 4 and was a great choice. The ‘fish bowl’ container works great to hold all the sea creatures for catching, it was soon discarded as the fishing game was extended to the floor and at one point pieces were ‘hidden’ amongst wooden building blocks. A great family game Quality product, colourful pieces Promising lots of fun Recommend”

★★★★★ Carol, verified buyer, 2024-10-17

Shape Sorter (4.8 out of 5, 311 reviews)

“Beautifully wrapped and delivered had a slight smudge on it so I contacted customer service it was replaced and delivered within days excellent customer service thank you Each block has the shape written on it so as well as shape shape detection and colours parents will know what to call the more unusual shapes!!!!?”

★★★★★ Debbie, verified buyer, 2025-01-30

Frequently Asked Questions About Award Winning Toddler Toys

What are the best award-winning wooden toys for toddlers?

Several Jaques of London wooden toys have earned recognition from independent judges between 2023 and 2026. The Wooden London Bus placed 1st in the Toddler Toys category at the BlogOn Toy Awards 2025. Hook a Duck placed 2nd and the Magnetic Fishing Game placed 3rd in the same category. The Wooden Aeroplane placed 2nd in Toddler Toys at the same awards. The Shape Sorter received Platinum at the Loved By Parents Awards 2024 in both the Best Activity Toy 1–3 Years and Best Wooden Toy 1–3 Years categories. Jaques of London has been making wooden toys since 1795.

What is a good award-winning toy for a 1 year old?

The Jaques of London Shape Sorter is a strong choice for a one-year-old, having received Platinum at the Loved By Parents Awards 2024 in both the Best Activity Toy 1–3 Years and Best Wooden Toy 1–3 Years categories. The Friendly Farm also merits consideration: it received Silver at the Junior Design Awards 2026 in the Best Toy Design 0–2 Years category. Judges noted its wooden design, safely painted finish, and storage barn with a carry handle, making it easy to transport without losing pieces.

What is a good award-winning toy for a 2 year old?

The Jaques of London Friendly Farm received Silver at the Junior Design Awards 2026 in the Best Toy Design 0–2 Years category. Independent judges highlighted its wooden construction, safely painted finish, and storage barn with carry handle, so pieces stay together. The Shape Sorter also suits this age group, having earned Platinum at the Loved By Parents Awards 2024 in both the Best Activity Toy 1–3 Years and Best Wooden Toy 1–3 Years categories. Both toys come from Jaques of London, a family-run business founded in London in 1795.

Are wooden toys good for toddlers?

Wooden toys are widely favoured for toddlers because they tend to be durable, tactile, and open-ended. Independent judges have repeatedly recognised Jaques of London wooden toys for toddlers: the Shape Sorter earned Platinum at the Loved By Parents Awards 2024 in the Best Wooden Toy 1–3 Years category, and the Friendly Farm received Silver at the Junior Design Awards 2026 in the Best Toy Design 0–2 Years category. Judges praised the Friendly Farm's wooden design and safely painted finish specifically. Jaques of London has crafted wooden toys since the company was founded in London in 1795.

Which Jaques toys won toddler awards?

At the BlogOn Toy Awards 2025, the Wooden London Bus placed 1st in the Toddler Toys category, Hook a Duck placed 2nd, the Wooden Aeroplane placed 2nd, and the Magnetic Fishing Game placed 3rd in the same category. The Shape Sorter received Platinum at the Loved By Parents Awards 2024 in the Best Activity Toy 1–3 Years and Best Wooden Toy 1–3 Years categories. The Friendly Farm received Silver at the Junior Design Awards 2026 in the Best Toy Design 0–2 Years category. All are made by Jaques of London, founded in 1795.

Are award-winning toys safer?

Award recognition and safety testing are separate processes. Independent toy awards — such as the BlogOn Toy Awards, Loved By Parents Awards, and Junior Design Awards — involve judges evaluating design, play value, and quality, not conducting safety assessments. Safety compliance is determined through separate, regulated testing. That said, judges at the Junior Design Awards 2026 did specifically note the safely painted finish of the Jaques of London Friendly Farm when awarding it Silver in the Best Toy Design 0–2 Years category. Always check that any toy meets current safety standards, regardless of award status.

What is the best first birthday present?

The Jaques of London Friendly Farm received Silver at the Junior Design Awards 2026 in the Best Toy Design 0–2 Years category — making it a judge-recognised option for a first birthday. Judges praised its wooden design, safely painted finish, and storage barn with carry handle, which keeps pieces together on the move. The Shape Sorter is another recognised choice, earning Platinum at the Loved By Parents Awards 2024 in the Best Activity Toy 1–3 Years and Best Wooden Toy 1–3 Years categories. Both are made by Jaques of London, a family-run maker founded in 1795.

What toys help toddler development?

Toys that encourage sorting, matching, imaginative play, and hand-eye coordination are commonly associated with toddler development. Among Jaques of London's award-recognised range, the Shape Sorter — which earned Platinum at the Loved By Parents Awards 2024 in the Best Activity Toy 1–3 Years category — supports sorting and problem-solving. The Friendly Farm, Silver at the Junior Design Awards 2026 in Best Toy Design 0–2 Years, encourages imaginative play. Hook a Duck and the Magnetic Fishing Game, both placed at the BlogOn Toy Awards 2025, build hand-eye coordination. Jaques of London has been making developmental toys since 1795.

Sources

Every award on this page links to the organiser's own results page. Checked 2026-10-14.

• BlogOn Winter Toy Award Winners 2025 (BlogOn Toy Awards)
• Best Toy Design 0-2 Years, Junior Design Awards 2026 (Junior Design Awards)
• Loved By Parents Awards 2024 Winners (Loved By Parents Awards)
• Verified customer reviews: Reviews.io, Jaques of London store (live feed, 15 October 2026)