Safe, durable, easy to clean toys that are age-appropriate are best for toddlers. Consider your child’s interests and abilities, and look for toys that can be played outdoors or indoors. Look for a toy that will challenge your toddler, but ensure that the child feels confident in their ability to play with the item. To find the best active toys for toddlers, we considered age-appropriateness, entertainment value, safety, and design when reviewing products. Based on our reviews, these are the best active toys for toddlers on the market today. The Little Tikes T-Ball Set is our top pick because it’s adjustable, easy for toddlers to use, and can be played indoors or outdoors. This classic toy is suitable for toddlers 18 months old and up. They’ll learn to swing the bat and chase the ball in no time. The height of the ‘T’ is adjustable, so it will grow with your child. The set includes 5 plastic balls and a lightweight, oversized bat so they can play with comfortably and safely. When they’re finished playing, the pieces can all be neatly stored in the stand and hung on the wall out of the way. Price at time of publication: $20 Price at time of publication: $35 Price at time of publication: $45 Price at time of publication: $33 Price at time of publication: $48 Price at time of publication: $35 Price at time of publication: $180 Price at time of publication: $65 Price at time of publication: $37 Price at time of publication: $250
Age Appropriate
Purchasing active toys that are age-appropriate will ensure your toddler is learning at a pace designed for their age. You don’t want a toy that’s too little for their age or too advanced because then they may feel overwhelmed trying to use it or may not find it entertaining. You’ll want an age-appropriate toy for safety reasons as well. Many toys come with age recommendations that parents and caregivers should highly consider before making their final purchase. These age recommendations are a great guideline to follow, especially for little ones and if the toy comes with smaller pieces. Smaller pieces to an active toy can become choking hazards.
Entertainment Value
Whether you need to take a break or keep your toddler busy while you work, entertainment value is a necessity. No parent or caregiver has the time to play with their toddler every second of every day, so we rely on books, toys, and other items to keep them busy and still learning. Physical development is important for little ones, and active toys are no different.
Why Trust Verywell Family
Ashley Ziegler is a staff and freelance writer who covers lifestyle, home, parenting, and commerce content for a variety of platforms. She’s a mom to 1-year-old and 3-year-old daughters and an aunt to 3 nieces and 2 nephews ranging from 5 to 10 years old. In addition to regularly scouring the internet to find the best things for herself, Ashley spends multiple hours a week researching, comparing, and writing about products specifically for kids and families.
More Toys for Kids
When it comes to toys for kids, our team has you covered. The Verywell Family team of editors (who are parents or have nieces and nephews of their own) have tested, gifted, and personally recommend every item we feature. Find more of our top toy picks for every developmental stage and personality phase here:
The Best Christmas Gifts for Kids The Best Developmental Toys for Babies The Best Tummy Time Toys The Best Outdoor Toys for Toddlers The Best Toys for Toddlers The Best Educational Toys for Toddlers The Best Phonics Toys for Preschoolers The Best Toys for Learning Letters and Numbers The Best Construction and Building Block Toys The Best Musical Toys for Children of All Ages The Best Montessori Toys to Encourage Thoughtful Play The Best Sesame Street Toys The Best Outdoor Toys for Kids of All Ages The Best Dinosaur Toys The Best Toys for Fine Motor Skills Development The Best Toys for Independent Play The Best Indoor Toys and Games for Active Play The Best Snow Toys for Kids The Best STEM Toys for Kids Best Laptop Toys for Kids The Best Social Emotional Learning Toys The Best Robot Toys The Best Ride-On Toys The Best Cleaning Toy Sets The Black-Owned Gift Guide
