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The Best Gifts for Toddlers To Support Their Growing Brains and Bodies
Children aged 1 to 3 years old are considered toddlers because of their cute, toddling, unsteady walk. This age range achieves many milestones from new skills and interests to new behaviors and words. The number of novel experiences and shaky beginnings can bring about jumpy excitement and minor fear of new stuff in kids. But, life is all about exploration, and toddlers explore the world by interacting with it and playing out the roles they see around them. Cuddling a favorite teddy and pushing the buttons on the remote control helps young kids act out these roles for themselves. Their interests can change as they master a new skill though. This leaves you with the task of keeping track of all their curiosities. Before these little humans learn to count and sing educational songs, playing around is the main thing that helps them connect with the world. Toys that allow them to explore their senses in a fun way are great tools to pique their interest and expose them to new things. Buying a gift for a preschooler is particularly hard because every child has their own growth path. Kids can try out skills at their own pace and move from one thing to the next before they know it. For this reason, it can be difficult to choose a gift that will be enjoyed, ideally for quite some time. Going through this buying guide, you’ll find many fantastic options handpicked by our team as well as useful tips to help you shop the most engaging gifts for toddlers in 2023.
Buying Guide: Gifts for Toddlers
Kids love new things, but they can also be afraid of them from time to time. Sometimes the toy that gave them a good scare at first sight becomes their dearest later on. Studies suggest that most toddlers lose interest in a toy in almost a month. So, it’s safe to assume that only a handful of toys will succeed at being their favorite. For this reason, if you want to buy a great gift for a toddler, you should focus on their needs for development and exploration instead of their likes and dislikes.
As toddlers grow, they are more interested in toys that pique their imagination rather than flashy lights, squishy feelings, and noisy sounds. Toys that offer many creative possibilities are far better for their development than a pony with a single trick. If you’re perplexed by the wide variety of toys for toddlers, here is a brief overview of some types and how they help a child grow up. We also covered the most popular toys in each category.
Building and Stacking
According to experts, toddlers love building and creating things, and then taking them apart. You can find these items in every household with young kids because they always attract toddlers’ attention and keep them engaged. For example, kids can use interlocking blocks to build roads, cars, or spaceships.
When toddlers play different games with these toys, it sparks their imagination and helps them develop logical thinking and problem-solving skills. They’re usually available in wood, foam, or plastic material, depending on the size and function. Here are a few examples of toys that promote building:
Building toys
- Stacking rings and logs
- Building blocks
- Interlocking blocks
Physical Activity
As they start feeling confident about using their body, toddlers like to engage in all sorts of physical activities. When they get a little adventurous in the playing area, it is okay to let them take risks and learn from their mistakes. Outdoor play is important to let kids explore nature and be adventurous. Protective gear, equipment, and toys that make these physical activities safe for children can be a great gift idea. Here are a few examples of toys and gear that promote fun and safe physical development:
Outdoor play equipment
- Swings seats with adjustable belt
- Slides
- Play tent
Protective gear
- Colorful knee and elbow pads
- Safety helmet
- Gloves
Sports
- Roller skates
- Mini soccer goal post and ball
- Basketball hoop with ball
Tricycles, bowling sets, scooters with three wheels, plastic ball pits balls, mock tools for gardening, and a toy wagon with a tailback are also great for outdoor fun.
Toys That Grow With the Toddler
Little tots love comforting themselves with soft and furry stuffed animals. Your gift could become their favorite toy for when they need familiarity and security. These personable options are a great choice as a gift if the toddler knows you well because they may associate the toy with your presence.
Some of these toys have a real potential to grow with the kid. A doll can be just a tiny person for a 2-year-old, but as they grow, they might love to buy a dollhouse to play with it in. If it is an action figure, they might enjoy a series of TV shows and movies featuring that character as they grow. Dolls help kids develop emotional and social skills by making an imaginary world around them and experimenting with ideas. Here are a few examples of these toys:
Stuffed toys
- Stuffed animals
- Plush playsets
Plastic dolls
- Barbie doll
- Infant baby doll with a soft body
- Action figures
- Talking cars
Problem-solving
Toddlers are always learning something new with their toys. Spending more time with intelligently designed toys helps them build focus and attention. Exploring the toys from different angles builds problem-solving skills. Toys that give toddlers a chance to figure out trial and error help build logical thinking patterns. Seemingly simple abilities learned at this age, with the help of a little coaching, can turn into practical real-life skills during teenage years.
Other benefits that toddlers can receive from this type of toy include improved spatial thinking ability, better coordination of hands and eye movements, and precision in fine motor skills. Here are different types of toys that promote problem-solving:
Toddler puzzles
- Tile letters and numbers
- Wooden tangram
- Match-and-fit toddler puzzles
Art and Creativity
Toddlerhood is an age in which you prepare a kid to explore their interests and develop crucial skills before beginning preschool. It is very important to look for things that help grow the imagination of toddlers. Toys that promote pretend play are great gifts as they help develop language and communication. Toys in this category can be very messy, so you should always look for washable and mess-free options. Examples of such toys include:
Hands-on play
- Playdough
- Construction paper
- Craft kits and sticker pads
Writing and drawing
- Colorful chalks
- Coloring books and stickers
- Magnetic drawing board
- Palm grip crayons
- Washable paint
Pretend Play
Toys that look like real things around the house are always a safe bet for entertaining little ones. They help toddlers connect with the world in a meaningful way as they are always motivated to use everything that grown-ups frequently use. For example, toddlers often pick up the TV remote and want to press the buttons just like adults do to see what happens. They also love helping out in the kitchen or with chores around the house.
While some toys are made to keep kids away from the real thing, such as toy cooking utensils and toy remotes, some help tots act out the meaningful roles they see around them. The key is to keep this playtime unstructured and promote make-believe. Some good options in this category include:
Playing house and work
- Kitchen playsets
- Toy vegetables and fruits
- Mock cleaning sets
- Doll and dollhouses
- Train sets, fire trucks, and police cars with stations
Language Development
Helping your toddler build language skills and reading abilities is always a priority along with their basic life skills. Many toys help toddlers learn their first letters, numbers, prepositions, and names. These initial language skills cannot be separated from conversational skills. Toddlers can master correct pronunciation and enunciation as well. Leave them with a toy mic, and they can surprise you by singing a song or repeating what you would’ve said earlier. The following chatty toys can help your little ones build impressive language skills.
Language development toys
- Word books
- Touch and learn electronic picture books
- Echo microphones
- Flash cards with pictures, sounds, and story cues
Interactive Play
While you can play with toddlers and show them how to interact with their toys, some are made for quiet learning time. These days, interactive toys are synonymous with electronic gadgets made for developing brains. Kids can interact with these toys to learn cause-and-effect and prepare themselves for the electronic age. They can learn basic counting, letters, and names of objects, and develop spatial abilities. Matching similar objects, identifying colors, and learning patterns improve their focus and attention. Toddlers need to learn self-control, so taking turns with an electronic interactive toy helps them learn to wait for their turn. Here are some great options:
Toy phones and laptops
- Toy laptop with a monochrome screen, sturdy keyboard and joystick, and an on-screen character
- Phones and remotes with numpads, music buttons, and interesting sounds
Sensory Development
Toddlers generally like motorized toys that make musical sounds and flash colorful lights. But, not all musical toys are entertaining for toddlers; in fact, some types of sound can be disturbing to little ears. Soft, mellow music pleases the ears and keeps the toddler calmer while exploring the toy.
You can get a toy that focuses on other senses as well. Sensory play builds strong nerve connections, improves motor skills, promotes exploration, and reduces anxiety in their little brains. Here are a few examples of sensory toys your can get your dear child:
Squishy and tactile play
- Water squirting toys
- Pop balls and pop pads
- Fidget spinners
- Squeezable stress balls
- Whistles and bubbles
- Play sand
Reviewing the Finest Gifts for Toddlers in 2023
Prextex Gift for Toddler – Best Overall
1
The Prextex Gift for Toddlers is the perfect gift for toddlers ages 2-3 years old. It features two cartoon remote control cars, an entertaining police car, and a speedy race car, with realistic sirens, honking sounds, and flashing headlights. Both vehicles come with an easy-to-use, steering wheel-shaped controller with two buttons for simple forward or reverse left motions.
Set up is a breeze as the cars require three AA batteries and the remotes require two AA batteries. Although they are not included, once you add them you’re ready for playtime! Whether racing with a sibling or friend on the desk or on the ground, your little one will have hours of imaginative and interactive fun. The unique design makes it ideal for a child’s first remote control toy car. As an added bonus each car contains two removable action figures! The Prextex remote control cars are child-safe and provide plenty of entertainment.
Pros
- Simple control buttons
- Cars have lights and sing a song
- Range is good for small kids
- Durable enough to withstand rough play
Cons
- Must have a screwdriver handy to access batteries
Playskool Sit ‘n Spin Activity Toy – Best Design
2
The Playskool Sit ‘n Spin is a great toy for kids ages 18 months and older. Little tots can sit on it and safely spin around in circles for fun. It can provide hours of entertainment that will keep them coming back to it week after week. One nice feature of this product is that toddlers can control their speed while spinning, helping them decide what play style is most enjoyable. The stationary wheel in the center stays in their control so they can push it down or pull it up to adjust the momentum.
This option looks great, fits nicely in the corner, and takes up very little space. The minimalist and colorful design is very easy to clean as well. It is made using high-quality plastic and is safe to play with, requiring little to no adult supervision.
Pros
- Helps build coordinated movements
- Improves motor skills and balance
- Good indoor activity
Cons
- Only suitable for kids under 42 pounds
Franklin Sports Tee Ball Set – Most Lightweight
3
The Franklin Sports Tee Ball Tee is the perfect set for kids and toddlers who want to grow their baseball skills. This two-in-one set comes with a traditional tee attachment for practice and the Pop-a-Pitch pitching machine to practice hitting a moving ball. The Pop-a-Pitch works for both left and right-handed hitters with pitch buttons on both sides of the plate and it can easily be adjusted in height to accommodate all sizes of hitters. This set also comes with a collapsible 22-inch plastic baseball bat, and three plastic AERO-STRIKE baseballs so you have everything you need for hours of fun.
This product is an officially licensed product of the MLB, and it helps young kids learn to hit and play like their favorite MLB pros. Its two-in-one setup makes it especially convenient as kids can start out using the tee attachment to practice and learn to swing, and then switch to Pop-a-Pitch when they are more comfortable. This way kids can progress as they are ready, making it much easier for them to hone their skills.
Pros
- Lightweight and easy to carry
- Comes with a tee and pop-up function
- Includes two pieces for adjustable height
Cons
- Bat slides up and down
Melissa & Doug Dust! Sweep! Mop! – Best for Pretend Play
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Melissa & Doug’s six-piece toy cleaning set is a great option from their Let’s Play House series of interactive toys. It is an amazing pretend-play toy for toddlers that love watching house cleaning and want to do it themselves. Toddlers can imitate adults and learn to be rewarded for completing tasks. Playing house is one of the most effective games that kids play to master social skills and personal responsibility. With this toy, you can help them learn to clean up after themselves from an early age.
This carefully designed gift for toddlers gives the feeling of real cleaning equipment without the bulk or wieldy shapes. The wooden sticks of mops and brooms are lightweight and can be easily grabbed with small hands. All the fibers in the duster and mop are also reinforced to prevent falling out, ensuring this toy can withstand lots of use.
Pros
- Builds independence in personality
- Fosters imagination and roleplay
- Improves confidence in motor skills
Cons
- Requires frequent cleaning
LeapFrog 100 Words Book – Best for Language Development
5
The LeapFrog 100 Words Book is the perfect gift for toddlers to work on language building. It lists the names of the most used everyday items accompanied by pictures and sounds. Leave a little one with this book for a few days, and they will surprise everyone with new words. The age-appropriate words are presented in 12 categories, including names of animals, common food items, and colors. It also includes fun activities to identify simple opposites and understand different meal times.
The body and pages of the toy are made of hardened plastic with touch controls that only need a gentle tap to use. By changing the mode on this product, you can set it to explain the function of the tapped item. This pick is programmed in two languages, English and Spanish, to support kids in bilingual families.
Pros
- Increases vocabulary knowledge
- Words with sounds for understanding
- Easy push buttons for interactive operation
- Fosters language skills
Cons
- Needs a battery to function
Nutty Toys Sensory Pop Tubes – Great Sensory Toy
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Sensory learning is a crucial part of a child’s development right from birth. Some toddlers struggle more than others in this developmental milestone. This set of eight sensory pop tubes from Nutty Toys is a solid stimulating option to help little ones build their sensory skills. This toy can be especially fun for kids on the autism spectrum or who have ADHD to enjoy a validating, calming sensory experience.
All the pop tubes can stretch, pull, and bend easily to make different shapes and patterns. They are connectable to each other to make long chains. You can even make letters and shapes with your toddler to help them express their feelings and creativity.
Pros
- Stimulating for kids with autism or ADHD
- Helps explore the senses in a fun way
- BPA and lead-free construction
Cons
- The tubes can become twisted easily
Learning Resources Spike Hedgehog – Best for Fine Motor Skills
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The Learning Resources Spike Hedgehog is a fantastic hands-on toy that helps toddlers playfully build fine motor skills. Grabbing the peg-shaped pieces in their little fingers helps them strengthen their grip and improve their dexterity. Kids can pull the spikes out and rearrange the color-coded spikes back in the toy hedgehog’s shell. This keeps them engaged and helps them learn sorting, counting, and recognizing colors.
Playing with this toy requires pulling and pushing at many different angles. This pick ensures that kids master their hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills at all these angles. There are no sharp edges, snapping parts, or alarming sounds in this option, so it’s safe and not scary. Made completely out of durable plastic, this gift for toddlers will surely outlast their childhood.
Pros
- Perfect for developing fine motor skills
- Builds hand-eye coordination
- Helps kids learn colors and counting
Cons
- Pegs may not fit in easily
8
This PAW Patrol Gifts For Toddlers is impressive, with fun play areas and hidden surprises for young children. You get a Chase cruiser, a clip-on bag, and six pup action figures. Several effects play when you press the button, and you can use the pup selection in the control room to illuminate the map, the tower’s badge, the launch ramp, and other areas. You can extend the tower’s ramp by pulling the lever down. The ramp lights up when you send vehicles down, just like in the Paw Patrol movie, and it comes with Chase (additional toy cars which you buy separately).
Collecting PAW Patrol toys, such as the Big Truck Pup, PAW Patrol movie toys, stuffed animals, dragon toys, toy figures, and playsets, is a lot of fun (each sold separately). It’s a must-have for boys and girls who want to construct plush toys and toy cars.
Pros
- Has realistic lighting and sounds
- Comes with six pup figures and a cruiser
- Fantastic toy with excellent quality
Cons
- Children may have trouble assembling pieces
People Also Asked
Q: How can I get a personalized gift for a toddler?
A: The finest kind of personalization is printing or engraving a toy, board, or book with the toddler’s name on it. Memory books, keepsake boxes, and piggy banks are a few examples of gifts for toddlers that can be personalized.
Q: What kinds of toys should I avoid giving toddlers?
A: Since toddlers are very young children, they must play with safe toys. It’s generally a good idea to avoid buying gifts for toddlers that could be choking hazards, such as small marbles, coins, and balls.
Q: How can I find a gift for a toddler who has everything?
A: Toddlers can have several toys of many toy categories, but they cannot really have everything. You can explore different sets and styles of Lego sets, superhero action figures, and art supplies. If nothing else works, you can get them a subscription box or sign them up for a service, such as music lessons, a movie, or a live show in town, with their parent's permission.
Q: What types of gifts are good for 3-year-olds?
A: Before they enter preschool age, the most important skills that toddlers should learn are social ones. Though this skill is refined as they grow, gifts that can help them develop social skills are very valuable at this age.
Q: What sorts of toys are toddlers most interested in?
A: Toddlers in particular are sensory learners who learn about the world through touch, smell, and taste, so toys that appeal to these senses make great gifts. Some popular options include play sand, playdough, and bubbles.
