Navigating the vast world of toddler toys can be overwhelming, especially when aiming for the best. Choosing the best toddler toys is more than just a shopping decision; it’s about nurturing their ever-growing curiosity.
As they approach their toddler years, the world becomes a playground of sounds, movements, and wonders. You toys that mirror this world, especially if they’re beginning to take those first wobbly steps.
You have lots of options to choose from, so we’ll help you narrow it down. Our curated list prioritizes your child’s developmental needs, ensuring you find the perfect match.
- Social and interactive play
- Sand & water features
- Includes a sunshade
- Improve hand dexterity
- Child-safe materials
- Quick & easy storage
- Stimulates creativity
- Promotes focus
- Eco-friendly
- Plays realistic sounds
- Stimulates imagination
- Strengthens dexterity
- Indoor & outdoor play
- Develop motor skills
- Develop balance & coordination
- Helpful for Autism & ADHD
- Fun & educational
- Solid construction
- Develop color recognition
- Interactive game
- Eco-friendly materials
- Develop sensory skills
- Sparks creativity
- Develop communication skills
- Develop language skills
- Builds vocabulary
- Exciting sound effects
Are Toys Good for Toddlers?
Playtime is a crucial part of childhood — it’s one way that children learn. While toys aren’t always necessary, they often spark the imagination. Finding the right toys can aid a child’s development, help them improve their speech, and better their understanding of the world.
Toddlers need opportunities to play with different types of toys. They must be made of suitable materials and should promote imagination. Since children this age like to put things in their mouths, you must ensure the toys you choose are free from choking hazards (1).
What Kind of Toys Do Toddlers Play With?
Toddlers will play with almost anything, often unaware of a toy’s safety, so it’s essential to pay attention to potential hazards.
The best toddler toys are those that let them discover the world. Here are a few examples:
- Puzzles.
- Shape sorters.
- Push or pull toys.
- Books.
- Toy vehicles.
- Water and sand toys such as buckets and shovels.
- Playsets, such as dollhouses and miniature kitchens.
- Blocks and other building toys.
- Balls.
- Stuffed animals.
- Ride-on toys.
How to Choose Toys for Toddlers
Need a cheat sheet on picking the best toddler toys? Follow these tips, and you’ll be in the clear.
Choose Something Flexible
Try to pick an open-ended toy — one they can play with in various ways.
Encourage Problem-Solving and Exploration
Toys that give children a chance to figure something out will promote their development. Such toys include puzzles and building blocks.
No Choking Hazards
With toddlers, you want to ensure that everything is large enough so it won’t be a choking hazard (2). Tug on the toy’s pieces to verify they don’t come loose. A general rule of thumb is that you shouldn’t give a toddler under the age of three a toy with parts that are small enough to fit through a toilet roll tube.
Spark Imagination
In their second and third years, a child’s imagination truly takes off. Choose something your little one seems interested in, such as toy cars or dress-up costumes.
Product Reviews
Fisher-Price Little People Travel Together Friend Ship
Best Figurine Toy for Toddlers
Your toddler can set sail on the seven seas with Little People from Fisher-Price. The Friend Ship is full of treasures that will keep your little one busy — there are realistic sounds and songs, plus fun figurines. All pieces are large and suitable for ages 1 to 5 years.
LeapFrog Learning Friends 100 Words Book
Best Digital Word Book
Dive into a world of discovery with the LeapFrog Learning Friends 100 Words Book. Guided by endearing characters, Tiger, Turtle, and Monkey, toddlers will encounter 100 relevant words spread across diverse categories like animals, colors, meals, and activities.
This educational treasure is crafted for children 18 months to 4 years.
Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Pull & Play Learning Wagon
Best Play Wagon for Toddlers
This Pull & Play toy wagon from Fisher-Price is a good pick for children aged 6 to 36 months. The cart has educational and hands-on play content, including ABCs, shapes, sounds, and light-up buttons. The pull-along wagon can even speak Spanish for bilingual children.
VTech Touch and Learn Activity Desk Deluxe
Best Toddler Activity Desk
The Touch and Learn activity desk from VTech is amazing. It includes the desk and stool. Your toddler can sit and draw, learn words, and engage in 20 activities and songs.
Under the desk is a hidden chalkboard that flips up when needed. The activity desk will suit children aged 2 and up.
Munchkin Fishin’ Bath Toy
Best Bathtime Toy for Toddlers
Turn bath time into a fishing expedition with Munchkin’s Fishin’ Bath Toy. This beloved bath accessory set for toddlers includes a magnetic fishing rod and three aquatic friends that float with the magnet pointing upwards for an easy catch.
The toy is suitable for ages 24 months and up. However, remember to air dry the rod to prevent rust in the screw.
Munchkin Mozart Magic Cube
Best Magic Cube for Toddlers
The Mozart Magic Cube is excellent for music-loving parents. It consists of eight sides, each representing a musical instrument, including a French horn, harp, piano, and violin. It will play up to eight Mozart masterpieces for the user to enjoy while it lights up in bright colors.
Wooden Race Track Car Ramp
Best Toddler Racetrack
This wooden ramp race track stands out from the other toys on today’s list. It consists of four brightly-colored ramps that the included cars must race down. At the top, there’s a parking lot to gather the vehicles.
It’s a high-quality wood and BPA-free toy that uses non-toxic paint. The cars are sturdy enough to withstand the rough-and-tumble nature of toddlers.
Blue Horse Hopper
Best Bouncer for Toddlers
This Blue Horse Hopper from AppleRound is terrific for toddlers who have some extra energy to burn off.
It measures about 11 inches in height and 23 inches in length. It’s stable, and parents praise how much fun it is. The toy includes a pump for inflation.
VTech Touch & Teach Word Book
Best Activity Book for Toddlers
With this activity book from VTech, your little one can learn about words and the alphabet. It includes touch-sensitive pages and six categories of words, making it a fantastic introduction to early education.
Cody and Cora, two tech-smart cubs, guide the reader through the book.
Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Light-up Learning Vacuum
Best Vacuum Toy for Toddlers
Getting toddlers interested in vacuuming is the dream for any busy parent. Who doesn’t want a child who pitches in with the cleaning around the house?
Fisher-Price has the toy for that — this learning vacuum is vibrant and fun. It includes an “on/off” switch and canister just like a real vacuum, but this one will play music and sounds.
Toddler Toys FAQs
What are the Best Toys For a Toddler to Play With?
Toddlers enjoy toys that stimulate their imagination and help develop motor skills, like building blocks, shape sorters, and simple puzzles.
For outside play, try the Step2 Naturally Playful Sand & Water Activity Center and to keep them busy while travelling, try the Esjay Toddler Busy Board.
What Toys Increase Children’s Social Development?
Toys that encourage role-playing, sharing, and interaction, like play kitchens, dolls, and board games, are great for social development.
What Toys Help With Cognitive Development?
Cognitive development is fostered through toys that challenge problem-solving and reasoning skills, such as puzzles, memory games, and interactive electronic toys.
Why Do Toddlers Get Bored of Toys?
Toddlers get bored of toys when they no longer present a challenge or newness. Rotating toys and introducing new play concepts can keep their interest.
What Toys Will Calm Toddlers Down?
Calming toys for toddlers include sensory toys like squishy balls, quiet books, or musical toys that provide gentle stimulation.
