Top Toys for Toddlers

Here is a list of the top toys for toddlers. Below is a list of the most educational, safe, innovative, and fun toys for toddlers. We create our list based on safety, educational value, and overall reviews. So if you want to find the best toddler toys and preschool toys, then take a look at our list below. Childhood can be hard work; for toddlers, playing is the most important job. Through play, they build their muscles, develop essential skills, practice social interaction, create different worlds, and stretch their minds. Toddlers are renowned for being non-stop action machines – they can be destructive, rough, sweet, and gentle all in the same play session. Their toys need to be able to keep up with these dynamic little kids and their changing moods and needs. The best toddler toys are versatile, durable, and ready for action

top toddler toys

Top 10 Toys for Toddlers

stack n suprise town my first kitchen wood blocks set percussion table ride and learn giraffe
leapfrog tag jr elmo live encore musical tea set learn and groove table laugh and learn farm

Best Dolls & Dollhouses for Toddlers

baby stella baby stella stroller warm and cozy set corolle suce pouce my first dollhouse

Top 10 Ride-on Toys for Toddlers

lil quad giddyupngo plan toy arabian wheely bug up and down coaster
bumblebee buggy mini kick scooter retro rocket walker wagon cozy coupe

Top 5 Musical Toys for Toddlers

counting miracas little tikes drum set plan toy xylophone deluxe band set percussion table

Best Arts & Crafts for Toddlers

step2 easel for two little tikes easel play doh easel companion set melissa and doug easel

Best Educational Toys for Toddlers

Educational Plush Toys

learn and sing teddy laugh and learn puppy musical learning cow my pal violet my pal scout

Fisher-Price Bestsellers

smart cycle extreme laugh and learn piggy fun 2 learn laughtop smart fit learning dj

vTech Bestsellers

smart seat 3-in-1 smart wheels gorilla pals light-up phone vtech bugsby

LeapFrog Bestsellers

learn and groove table text and learn fridge dj radio learn and groove radio leapfrog tag jr

NEW Fisher-Price Little People Playsets

animalville dance n twirl palace learn about town raceway happy sounds home

Top 10 Teddy Bears

jumbo brown bear paddington bear winnie the pooh sidney bear patchwork bear
corduroy gund bear webkinz polar bear manni bear goober bear

Top 10 Little Tikes Toys for Toddlers

Top 12 Classic Toys for Toddlers

Must-Have Pretend Play Toys

Best Electronic Toys for Toddlers

Best Toddler Bath Toys

Chunky Wooden Puzzles for Toddlers

Best Playhouses & Playsets for Toddlers

Best Toddler Sports Toys

Deals and Sales

What to Look for in Toddler Toys

So what are the best toddler toys to keep up with your energetic whirlwind of a child? When looking for toys for toddlers, keep the following qualities in mind:

Learning and Developmental Opportunities

The best toys for toddlers offer opportunities for them to expand their physical and/or mental skills. Toddlers need a great deal of stimulation. While they are capable of entertaining themselves with running around the yard or playing with dirt, they should also have access to toys that allow them to pretend, use their motor skills, develop better hand-eye coordination, practice socialization, learn independent play, develop pre-reading skills, and much more. It seems like a tall order, but many of today’s top toys for toddlers are geared specifically for providing your child with these important early learning opportunities.

Versatility

Your child is a master at making the most of each and every toy he has. With a simple set of blocks, he can build bridges, towers, or doghouses. He can build, create, knock down, and start again. The top toddler toys are versatile and allow your child to explore and find a bunch of fun uses for them. He can also use them at different stages of his development. Infants can learn to grasp them, look at the colors, and (inevitably) chew on them. Toddlers can advance their play with their newly developed skills. Toddler toy items should grow with your child as much as possible: you don’t want to have to run to the toy store every week as your child learns new skills!

Durability

Another indispensable quality in a toddler toy is durability. The best toddler toys must be able to withstand any rough, tough, destructive behavior your child can dish out. Even sweet, mild-mannered children will punch, hit, kick, throw, and jump on their beloved toys. Look for quality design and materials when selecting these items; it may mean paying a little more, but in the long-run it more than works out. You can even pass the best ones on to younger siblings, family members, or friends.

Safety

Safety is a must. All the great developmental features and fun designs don’t mean much if the toddler toy is unsafe to use. As you are well aware, toddlers inflict a lot of heavy usage on their toys. Not only must they stand up to the pressure, they have to remain safe while doing it. Again, quality materials and design are important. And as we hear more and more about toy recalls and live with the nightmare of choking, lead paint, and more, it can be hard to know what is safe. The vast majority of toys are safe, if you consider the safety precautions and age recommendations. Make sure to pick age appropriate toys for your toddler and always keep an eye on him as he plays.

Price

This is a concern for every family, and spending a lot on toys for toddlers may not be something your family budget will allow. There is no need to worry: you can get some of the best toddler toys for very reasonable prices. Quality, learning, and fun don’t have to be expensive. This also allows you to purchase a good variety of toys, which is important for every aspect of your child’s development.

The Most Important Quality…

From your toddler point of view anyway, is fun! Don’t forget the fun. The most scientifically-engineered, teacher-tested toys won’t mean much if they don’t attract your child’s interest and keep him engaged. Toddlers learn through play, and play absolutely needs to be fun. Toy shopping with a toddler may not be the most fun activity, but at least get his input before you make purchases.

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8 Comments For This Post

  1. Jess55 Says:

    Thank you so much for the great list. It has really helped me shop for Christmas toys for my little boy. It is nice to find a toy website that is actually helpful.

  2. MOMMYSHOPS Says:

    Wow, this is a great list for ride on toys for toddlers. Very complete, and a lot of good ones in there.

  3. Carmen Says:

    not enough books or things to get their minds working!

  4. Becky Says:

    I think that this list is a great help!!! I like the fact it tells about each toy and the age group for each toy. Thank you for the ideas!

  5. Heather Says:

    this list was very helpful to get great ideas for shopping for my little boys they are really going to like what i am going to get them for christmas this was the only website that i found helpful

  6. Suma Says:

    The list is very good. One suggestion would be to add - Best toys for travel. I guess all of us parents would like to keep our toddlers entertained and happy while travellign long distance.

  7. anita Says:

    Hi,

    Does anyone know of a “key block” toy? When my sons were toddlers, they loved a key block toy that had on each side a key that could be inserted, turned, and something would happen. Now my grandson loves keys, putting them into the lock on the door, ets., but I cannot find the toy anywhere.

    I did find an AMBI toy that would work, but I’m looking for alternatives. I would appreciate suggestions.

    Thanks so much.

  8. Supermom Says:

    This is an awesome list! I’m surprised that K’NEX Sesame Street toys aren’t on here, though. I just bought the Elmo Cowboy Adventure set for my toddler and he loves it.

    @anita I know what you’re talking about! I totally had one of those key toys as a kid. Granted, this would have been back in the late 70’s, so I probably had a pretty old version of it…

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