Wood Peg People Set (40 Piece)

Forty unfinished peg people turned from solid Baltic birch in five sizes: 7 dads at 2-3/8 inches, 7 moms at 2-1/4, 7 angels at 2, 9 children at 1-11/16, and 10 babies at 1-1/8. Because they arrive blank, the deciding comes first: a child works out who each figure is, paints or wraps it to match, and ends up with a cast to play out family scenes, nativities, or a chess set with. Painting something this small asks for a steady hand and a brush held near the tip, which is fine-motor practice in its own right. Pre-sanded and splinter-free, so they take paint, marker, felt, or yarn without priming. The wood is sustainably sourced.

Forty blanks, five sizes, and no faces. The kid decides who everyone is before a single brush comes out, which is most of the fun. Cheap enough that it doesn't matter if some get wrecked.