Have any gifts for toddlers on your shopping list this year?
It can be tough to know what to buy as gifts for toddlers that will keep them both entertained and engaged. After all, they are learning so quickly that what entertains them today may not keep their interest in a few months, right? Of course, sometimes what you need are quiet toys for toddlers, but other times you simply need gifts for toddlers that keep them busy and happy!
Well, after raising four toddlers and spending years in a pre-k classroom, I’ve learned there are some tried and true gifts for toddlers that are kid favorites. Truly, these are the best gifts for toddlers that will keep them plugged-in, happy, and learning!
Have a toddler between the ages of 18 months to three years? Reach for one of these toys to keep them busy, happy, and learning.
Gifts for Toddlers to Keep Them Busy and Happy
1. Melissa & Doug Take-Along Wooden Doorbell Dollhouse
What toddler doesn’t love to push buttons and play with keys? This adorable little house has been a crowd favorite in our home for years. It has buttons and doors for the young toddler, and tiny people to manipulate with keys to fit into keyholes as your child grows and can do more.
2. Magnetic Building Tiles
These are just plain fun! With endless possibilities for building, these magnetic tiles make it fun and easy. Little ones will find these easy to manipulate and they will stick together without much effort. There are many brands for these magnetic tiles and some also include animals or other fun shapes, too.
3. Little People Bus
I’ve never yet met a toddler who doesn’t love Little People and the bus is a classic that appeals to both boys and girls! Just right for tiny hands to hold and move, you can’t go wrong with any Little People purchase as gifts for toddlers.
4. Create-a-Scene Magnetic Playsets
Playing with magnets is so much fun! Little ones can use their imaginations while learning about new settings such as zoo animals, people in a home, farm animals, community helpers, dinosaurs, and more. These sets are a fun way to teach toddlers new vocabulary and understanding.
5. Ride-on Toys
Toddlers love to move so a fun riding toy is a must! Our pick is this class Radio Flyer buggy, but there are lots of options in every style, animal, and color. Whatever you choose, your toddler will love zooming around for endless fun!
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6. Dolls
There’s nothing more classic than giving dolls as gifts for toddlers. Little children delight in loving and caring for dolls, especially small ones just right for them to hold. For extra fun, include a stroller and bottle, too! There are so many dolls on the market, but this Mine to Love Jenna Doll by Melissa and Doug is a great first doll for toddlers due to its smaller size and cuddly body.
7. Balls
From tiny footballs and soccer balls to big rubber bouncing balls, most toddlers find balls to be endlessly delightful and engaging! If you’re looking for gifts for toddlers, you can never go wrong with a ball!
8. Mr. Potato Head
Another classic toddler toy is Mr. Potato Head. Little kids can learn about basic body parts and practice hand-eye coordination by fitting the pieces into the holes. With so many fun combinations, Mr. or Mrs. Potato Head or the whole potato family make fun gifts for toddlers.
9. Grocery Shopping Cart
Toddlers are active so pushing around a doll in a stroller or a cart full of groceries is right up their alley! Trust me, every toddler in the room will immediately find whatever push toy is available and they will all want it at the same time. (Ask me how I know!) An added plus with the grocery cart is helping kids learn names of fruits, veggies, and other foods, too!
10. Little Cars, Trucks, Vehicles
If you’ve been noticing a theme of toys that involve motion, you are correct! Toddlers love little cars, trucks, and vehicles. Add in a fun street mat for driving and you will have endless hours of play!
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11. Trains
Another popular gift for toddlers is trains! Similar to cars, trains offer toddlers another chance to build, move, and imagine. Trains are usually a big hit with toddlers and preschoolers, both boys and girls alike.
12. Classic Wooden Blocks in Wagon
Building with blocks is lots of fun! Most toddlers enjoy stacking and building so a set of blocks is a must on any list of gifts for toddlers. There are many varieties of these toys, some with alphabet blocks and others with colors and shapes.
13. Wooden Puzzles
Simple puzzles are always an educational and engaging option for toddlers. Young toddlers will need chunky puzzles with pieces that fit into one space. They’re not ready yet for jigsaw, interlocking puzzles, but just wait! They will be soon!
14. Shape Sorting Cube
Learning to sort is an important math and logic skill plus a task that most toddlers find intriguing. Most toddlers enjoy using sorting cubes to learn to fit the pieces into the spaces and sort. There are many varieties of these available, but the Melissa and Dough Wooden Shape Sorting Cube is a good option.
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15. SmartFelt My Little Farm
If you’re looking for a toy to develop language skills, this one should top your list of gifts for toddlers. Available as a house, zoo, or farm, the super soft felt pieces stick easily and help little ones learn new vocabulary in an engaging way.
16. Peg Board
Toddler love to stick pegs into holes! I’m not sure why, but they find it really fun. In this peg board, you can also stack the pegs, sort by color, and make patterns, too!
17. Wooden Sorting & Stacking Toys
It may not seem very exciting to you, but for a toddler placing the shapes onto the wooden pegs can be quite an accomplishment! This activity will help toddlers practice their counting, fine-motor skills, and develop concentration, too. There are many similar versions you can find in stores.
18. Jumbo Nuts & Bolts Skoolzy
Toddlers are naturally inquisitive so they automatically turn every knob and push every button, right? Why not give them a gift made especially for turning? This set will keep them busy screwing nuts and bolts while practicing the fine motor skills they will need for writing in a few years.
19. Busy Board Montessori Toy
This toddler Busyboard is perfect as a sensory activity to keep little fingers busy and little minds engaged. It has lots of buttons, zippers, buckles, flaps, and more, helping your little one naturally learn dressing skills and fine motors through play and exploration.
20. Play Kitchen
There is much little boys and girls can learn by playing house in a play kitchen. Little ones absolutely love imitating their parents by cooking, cleaning, shopping, and eating! This is a toy that will provide lots of fun for years and years, even as kids grow out of the toddler years into preschool and beyond.
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21. Dress-Up
Playing dress-up is always fun and especially when combined with imagination! Boys and girls alike enjoy dressing up and literally trying on new hats. What a fun way to learn about workers in our community and practice the vocabulary that goes along with each career!
22. Toy Puppy Dog and Carrier
Taking care of a pet is a fun way to imitate the adults in a toddler’s life and pretend a little responsibility, too! Not to mention, toddlers often enjoy carrying (or dragging) around bags and purses, so combining the two ideas equals a really fun gift for toddlers that the little one in your life is sure to love.
23. Play-Doh
For older toddlers, playing with Play-Doh is a classic rite-of-passage. Of course, you will want to wait until your toddler is past the put-everything-in-my-mouth phase to introduce this gift for toddlers. Hands-down (pun intended), playing with Play-Doh is probably one of the absolute best things you can do to build muscle coordination and strength in tiny hands before introducing crayons and pencils for handwriting.
24. Cocomelon Deluxe Family Fun Car
Toddlers all love Cocomelon! If you haven’t heard of it, head over to Netflix and you’ll be singing along to JJ and friends in no time! I promise your kids will be delighted to meet all of JJ’s family and push them around in the family car. Then stop and listen…I guarantee your toddler will start singing, too!
25. Piano Keyboard for Toddlers
Since little ones greatly enjoy pushing buttons and making noise, a little keyboard makes a wonderful gift for toddlers! Look for a small, sturdy one that can withstand being dragged around and banged on! No need for anything fancy, here. Your little Mozart is just getting started!
These 25 gifts for toddlers are the clear winners!
Young learners won’t tire easily with these toys but are sure to bring a smile! In addition to being kid-approved, these toys are all educational, too, and will keep your toddler busy and engaged throughout the day. Happy shopping!
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