Looking for the perfect gift for a 1-, 2- or 3-year-old? Instead of dropping a chunk of change on the year’s hottest toddler toy of the year, consider giving a gift that will delight them now and for years to come.
As you shop for the best gifts for toddlers, it’s important to consider several aspects of each toy. As Sarah Baldwin, owner of Bella Luna Toys and author of “Nurturing Children and Families,” explains, “A young child really experiences the world with all of their senses.” It’s important to factor in the colors, textures and even the smell of a toy. Versatility and longevity are also critical to selecting the most interesting options. “Ask yourself if it can be played with in a wide variety of ways,” says Baldwin.
To get you started on picking the perfect present, consider some of these gift ideas for toddlers, according to Baldwin and others:
1. Tools
In addition to developing fine motor skills, pounding tools and toy tool sets can help build logic skills, such as the understanding of cause and effect. They can also be used for open-ended pretend play and for making plenty of noise, a favorite toddler activity.
Where to buy: Wooden Toy Tool Box ($39, Crate&kids)
2. Dress-ups
For an endless variety of creative play options, try adding some dress-up items to the mix. Taking costumes on and off is a great way to help prepare toddlers for learning to dress themselves. Colorful silk squares are also an excellent option. They can be wrapped into skirts or tied into capes, says Baldwin. “They can be played with in so many ways, and they can continue to be used as they grow older,” she notes.
Where to buy: Playsilks ($18, Bella Luna Toys)
3. Bubbles
Bubbles are fun, but bubbles without the mess are better. No-spill bubbles are a great choice for toddlers to help develop hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills, says Christie Kiley, a licensed occupational therapist and creator of MamaOT. Toddler-friendly bubbles, like these ones in an easy-carry bucket, let little ones play independently without grown-ups worrying about a big spill. Toddlers can practice blowing bubbles and have fun running and popping the ones you make.
Where to buy: Fubbles No-Spill Big Bubble Bucket ($18, Amazon)
4. Kitchen toys
Play kitchens are another fun gift idea for toddlers. They set the stage for many pretend-play scenarios, from shopping and cooking to running a restaurant. “Encourage imaginary play with goodies such as pretend food, especially the kind you can ‘cut’ apart with a plastic or wooden knife,” suggests Kiley.
Where to buy: B. toys Wooden Play Kitchen – Mini Chef Kitchenette ($100, Target)
5. Play tables
Save the kitchen table from messes by getting kids a table of their own. Play tables are a great way to provide toddlers with sensory play and let them have fun getting messy. As Kiley explains, you can also get creative with other messy materials, like dried beans or shaving cream, in a toddler-appropriate sensory table.
Where to buy: Spill & Splash Seaway Water Table ($100, Step 2)
6. Musical instruments
Want to inspire a little rockstar in the making? Musical instruments like guitars, drums or echo mics are a fun way to develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination, learn about rhythm and music and — most importantly — make some noise.
Where to buy: Loog Mini Acoustic Guitar ($98+, Uncommon Goods)
7. Building toys
Wooden blocks, Duplo sets and stacking or nesting toys are fun for a variety of different types of play, and they can basically provide “early physics lessons,” explains Baldwin. Look for larger, chunkier blocks and materials, says Baldwin, which are easier for small hands to manipulate.
Where to buy: Uncle Goose Sight Word Blocks ($47, Uncle Goose)
8. Push toys
For little ones still mastering their walking, push toys are an excellent choice for working on gross motor skills, as toddlers are learning to balance, says Baldwin. Look for options that double as open-ended pretend toys, like cars or shopping carts, so that they will continue to be engaging even after the toddler has grown steady on their feet.
Where to buy: Wooden Shopping Cart ($99, Pottery Barn Kids)
9. Ride-on toys
Ride-on toys offer toddlers craving more mobility the chance to go for a roll. They are also great for developing balance and gross motor skills and for encouraging independence and confidence.
Where to buy: Lil’ Rider 3-Wheel Scooter ($49, Walmart)
10. Swings
You love a hammock — kids, similarly, love a swing. “Swinging is so important for children,” says Baldwin. Adjustable swings help develop gross motor skills like kicking and will continue to be a favorite even as children get older.
Where to buy: Step2 Infant-to-Toddler Swing Seat ($43, Amazon)
When it comes to best gift ideas for toddlers, the coolest new gadget isn’t always the best option. Look for toddler toys that can be played with in a variety of different ways and kids are sure to be interested and engaged.