You’ll want to make sure the toy you choose is safe, durable, easy to clean, and age-appropriate. It also helps to look for toys with different colors, textures, and sounds to engage all of their senses. Any toy you choose should be challenging enough for your toddler to learn something new without leaving them frustrated and wanting to give up. We researched popular options from trusted brands with these helpful features in mind. Here are our picks for the best toys for toddlers. It features 18 beads of different textures and shapes, including spheres, cubes, and more. They are painted in bright colors and made from durable wood and plastic, so you know it’s built to last. Each bead is easy for little hands to grasp, spin, and push along the soft-coated wires. It’s also lightweight and compact, making it ideal to travel with to keep your kids occupied screen-free. Those tend to be a hit because toddlers love imaginative play, especially if it mimics real life. These kinds of toys are also good for providing teaching moments when you are playing with your toddler. North Carolina-based occupational therapist Meredith Soucie says adults can help kids learn about the things around them by “identifying and labeling objects and asking/answering questions related to their environment” while you’re playing together.
Milestones
It’s important for caregivers to support little ones as they continue to master and strengthen their skills. Toys are an excellent, fun way to do this because they offer toddlers opportunities to practice skills and learn concepts in an engaging way.
Entertainment Value
Toddlers are curious, they have a lot of energy, and they often have little regard for their own safety, which means the most entertaining toys will allow them to explore and move around, but will also keep them safe. Look for toys that get them running and/or jumping around, like a soccer ball or trike, as well as some that allow them to get creative and think critically (in a fun way).
Why Trust Verywell Family
Ashley Ziegler is a staff and freelance writer who covers lifestyle, home, parenting, and commerce for a variety of platforms. She’s a wife to a public school administrator and mom to 1-year-old and 3-year-old daughters. 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 Active Toys for Toddlers The Best Outdoor 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
