Number Puzzle

There is nothing more impactful on a growing mind than to make a discovery by playing, and this number puzzle provides the ideal environment for that to occur. Handmade out of pure Canadian maple and walnut, this toy fosters the development of number sense, hand eye coordination, and of course the imagination.

As adults we take for granted that numbers look a certain way, and that our minds have memorized the sequence of numbers. To us, this puzzle is unbelievably easy. If we dumped all the numbers on a table or floor, we would most likely begin to "sort" without even thinking. We'd naturally pluck the 0 from the pile, place it upright in its space in the puzzle, then move to the 1, the 2, and so on.

This approach does not come instinctively to kids. Very little ones will delight in the mere task of shape matching, as they strive to differentiate between 2 and 5, 1 and 7, 6 and 9, or 3 and 8. They'll place the numbers upside down, sideways, or even on end, until they begin to match the shapes.

Preschoolers will begin to recognize the proper shapes and connect them with a name as they begin to memorize the order of numbers and the placement of each number.

Kindergarteners will master the sequence of numbers, demonstrating their understanding of the order by doing what we would do as adults, and putting the numbers back into the puzzle in proper order (starting with 0, then 1, then 2, and so on).

And all along you can blossom these early math skills by pulling out any toy and counting them together, then putting the correct number beside the grouping. Whether the toys are our stacking bears (which match oh so well), stuffies, trains, cars, or loose parts found in nature like pine cones, shells, sticks, leaves, or rocks, counting together and matching becomes fun.

Use the numbers with our ten frame to help quantify the balls or other loose parts that are in the divots, or fill the grooves with rainbow rice, play dough, or any other dry sensory material that you have on hand.

No matter how you play, early math skills will flourish.

THE DETAILS

The base of the puzzle is made of pure Canadian maple and is 13" x 8.5". Each number is 3" high and made of locally sourced walnut.

Please note that because wood is a natural material with different grains, your base will most likely look different from the one pictured. We do our best to make each board similar but the beauty of nature is that it is wonderfully unique.

CLEANING

We recommend using only dry sensory materials with this board. The finish is resistant to mild liquid, but is not meant for intense dunking. Spot clean with a damp cloth and let air dry. Markers and crayons are not recommended.

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A note about wooden toys: Wood is a natural material and as such, has various unique markings. Variations in wood grain, colour, knots, or texture are all natural occurrences in these hand-crafted wooden products. These unique variations and markings are proof of quality, not defects. Enjoy the markings that make your toy unique!

There may be a difference in colour between what you see on your screen and what you receive in real life. This is due to different monitors and displays, and while we wish there was just one universal monitor for everyone, that isn't the case.

If you have any concerns or problems with any of our products, please do not hesitate to contact us. We want you to be entirely satisfied with what you have received and will do everything possible to make it right.