These toys for toddlers are some your toddler will actually play with! Help them use their imagination and develop strong gross motor skills, fine motor skills, and use their creative energy with these top 5 toys for toddlers.
This post was updated December 2020.
The holidays are here!
This is my most favorite time of year, but it can also be the most stressful. There’s parties, baking, visitors, decorating, and presents to buy and wrap – it can all be very overwhelming!
When my oldest daughter was 2 she was at a tough age with toys. She has a need and desire to learn, make messes, and use her creative and imaginative side.
I paid close attention to the toys she plays with when we go to friends/family member’s houses, play groups, and the gym’s daycare center. I had noticed she gravitates towards toys that allow her to play pretend, use fine and gross motor skills, and allow her to be messy and creative.
I realized that while these toys don’t advertise themselves as being “learning toys,” there was so much she discovered from playing with them!
Now that we’ve had these toys for the past year, I can tell you that these are toys we actually play with every single day.
If you are looking just to buy a few special gifts this year, these toys might be just what you’re looking for!
This post contains affiliate links, meaning if a purchased is made using the links on this page I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend toys and products that I know and love, and these are toys my kids actually use and play with!
Looking for more gift ideas for your toddler? Check out my list of 20 Toys for Less than $20.
1. Play Kitchen
This is my daughters’ FAVORITE thing to play with. Both my 3 year old and 21 month old get daily use from it. I would argue that the play kitchen is our girls’ favorite toy!
They make food for baby dolls, cook, clean, organize, and do everything they see me do in the kitchen. It’s so sweet!
They typically run $65-200, so it’s a more costly present. In addition, you’ll probably need to get some play food, unless you’re OK with your real food becoming a toy.
You can save cereal/pasta boxes and milk/juice cartons to play with, and you can even make fake food using felt pieces from the craft store. However, play food is pretty inexpensive, so we have a few kits we purchased. I have a few old aprons and dish towels set aside for use as well!
Personally, I was OK with spending a little more money for a nice play kitchen because I know it’s something that all three of my girls will play with for years and years.
There are also tons of accessories you can purchase. There’s toasters, coffee pots, dish racks, shopping carts…you name it! We asked family and friends to get some accessories for Christmas last year, and the kits they bought were so cute!
I personally like the KidKraft brand. I love how aesthetically pleasing they are and they are super detailed and realistic. It’s extremely durable and still looks brand new a year later after daily use.
We’ve used the plastic Step2 one, too, and it’s a great option for a little less money. However, I’ve noticed on other people’s plastic kitchens that the plastic begins to dent over time and the stickers peel away and fade.
In addition to playing kitchen, your toddler can also use this to play restaurant! Add a table and chairs for a new way to play. I’ve included a menu printable in this post. Your toddler will LOVE playing waiter/waitress and chef in their very own restaurant!
Here are some of my favorite play kitchens:
- KidKraft Uptown Pastel Kitchen **my favorite**
- KidKraft Vintage Kitchen(available in Pink and White)
- KidKraft Ultimate Corner Play Kitchen (available in espresso and white)
- Step2 Best Chef’s Kitchen (comes with accessories) **most affordable option**
2. Mini Trampoline
My in-laws bought my daughter this trampoline last Christmas! Then, this summer my husband found one for free in our neighborhood. My two older girls (3 years old and 21 months) get a lot of energy out on those trampolines!
It’s pretty small and comfortably fits one toddler. That’s not to say they haven’t jumped side-by-side on one, but it definitely is meant for one child.
Both of our trampolines have held up great against very aggressive jumping!
It’s also designed to fold up nicely so that you can put it away when not in use. I can’t comment to how easy that would be since ours have stayed out since we received it.
3. Aqua Doodle Mat
I’ve posted about these before, but I LOVE the Aqua Doodle Mat. We actually own two of them!
We use them often as it’s one of my favorite mess-free art activities. I love how easy it is to use and clean! My daughter currently uses it to practice writing and tracing letters.
We also use to for when they want to practice pouring and dumping water. It absorbs a lot of the liquid and changes colors which is super exciting to my little loves.
PLUS, it’s cheap! They are typically around $20 to purchase from Amazon.
4. Little Tykes Cozy Coupe
We LOVE this product. It makes me nostalgic, I had one just like it as a kid! I have many fond memories of playing with my brothers on the driveway in this car.
We had ours in our living room last winter, and it’ll go into the basement this winter.
My kids really play with it all year round! Our daughter rode it around the living room, watched movies in it, pushed her dollies in it..it was so much fun! Once the weather warmed up, we decorated the sides with chalk followed by a “car wash” and road trips on the driveway.
They come in so many shapes and sizes now. There is something for every little one!
Our favorite cozy coupes:
- Classic Cozy Coupe
- Princess Cozy Coupe
- Dino Cozy Coupe
- Truck Cozy Coupe
- Fairy Cozy Coupe
- Ladybug Cozy Coupe
- Police Car Cozy Coupe
- Princess Truck Cozy Coupe
5. Tool Bench
We got a tool bench for our girls this summer since they would not stay out of my husband’s tools! They love fixing their toys, and they even pretend to use the hammer and screwdriver when they build towers with blocks.
This tool bench is awesome. They can build, bang, and drill with the play tools. If your child loves to build and create, this tool bench is a great way to feed that need!
I hope this list gave you a few good ideas for gifts your toddler will love! Save this page to reference for birthdays, holidays, or to send to family and friends for ideas! Happy shopping 🙂
