Pebble Post

• Six shapes, each in its own colour, every one larger than 4.5 cm
• The lid lifts off, so a frustrated toddler can always get the shapes back
• The front of the box is open at the bottom so shapes roll out on their own
• Birch-ply box with solid beech shapes

Pebble Post is a small wooden post box with six slots in the lid and six shapes to fit through them: a circle, a square, a triangle, a star, a heart and a half-moon. The shapes are solid beech, each painted in its own colour, and every one is at least 4.5 cm across so none of them is a choking risk.

Why a shape sorter works

Fitting a shape through a hole means turning it until the outline matches. That is a hard puzzle for a one-year-old’s hand and eyes to solve together. The circle goes in from any angle, so it is the first success. The star and the heart come months later. Children also practise the idea that something can disappear and still exist, which is why they love opening the lid to check.

Designed to avoid tears

Most shape sorters end with a crying toddler and a box that won’t give the shapes back. Pebble Post has two answers to that. The lid lifts straight off, and there is a low opening at the front where the posted shapes roll out by themselves. Once a child discovers the opening, the game turns into a loop: post, roll, post again.

Playing on

From two, the shapes are useful for colour and shape names. Use them to sort, line them up, or as pretend biscuits in the Little Larder play kitchen.

What’s in the box

• Post box with lift-off lid
• 6 shapes: circle, square, triangle, star, heart, half-moon

Size, materials and care

Size: 14 × 14 × 18 cm (W × D × H), 0.9 kg. Materials: FSC birch plywood, beech wood, water-based paint. Recommended age: 12 months and up.

Wipe with a damp cloth. The lid lifts off for cleaning inside.

Safety

Tested to EN 71-1, EN 71-2, EN 71-3 and CE marked.

Questions about Pebble Post

At what age can a toddler use a shape sorter?

Most children post a circle around 12 to 14 months and manage four or more shapes between 18 and 24 months. Pebble Post’s easiest shape, the circle, fits from any angle so there is always a first success.

Are the shapes big enough to be safe?

Yes. The smallest shape is 4.5 cm across, well above the small-parts cylinder used in EN 71-1 to test choking risk for under-threes.

How do the shapes come back out?

Lift the lid, or let them roll out of the low opening at the front of the box. Children usually discover the opening on their own.