Toys and equipment for toddlers

The best toddler toys get little bodies moving and little hands busy. Look for toys your child can push, pull, stack, fill, dump, climb on or pretend with. Skip toys and apps that do the playing for your child.

Big movement

• Soft playground balls to throw, catch and kick
• A toddler-size basketball hoop or soccer goal
• Push toys, wagons and doll strollers
• Ride-on toys and a tricycle
• A rocking horse
• A mini trampoline with a handle bar
• A crawl-through tunnel or pop-up tent
• A scooter board, used on the tummy or sitting only

Crawl, climb and push

Tunnels, couch cushions and a laundry basket full of toys to push across the floor all build strong arms, legs and core muscles.

Busy hands

• Chunky puzzles with knobs
• Big blocks for stacking and knocking down
• Large beads and laces for stringing
• Lacing cards
• Cause-and-effect toys: push a button and something pops up
• Thick crayons or markers for scribbling
• Paper to tear and crumple
• Play dough with a rolling pin and cookie cutters

String it

Stringing large beads uses both hands together and builds the finger control your child will later use for buttons, zippers and crayons.

Pretend play

• A play kitchen and toy food
• A toy grill or garden set
• Dolls, stuffed animals and a doll bed
• Dump trucks and shovels for sand or dirt
• Dress-up clothes and hats
• Toy phones, keys and a play doctor kit

Senses: touch, sound and mouth

• A water table, or a tub of water with cups to pour
• Bins of dry rice or sand with scoops
• Books with textures to touch
• Drums, shakers and bells
• A homemade shaker: a plastic bottle with rice inside, sealed tight
• Toys that vibrate
• Chew toys and teethers made for chewing
• Bubbles to blow and pop

Everyday activities to try

• Crawl over pillows and couch cushions
• Carry books or toys from room to room
• Push a laundry basket with toys inside
• Roll on the tummy over an exercise ball while you hold the hips
• Dance to songs with bending and reaching
• Animal walks, like bear walks and frog hops
• Go down slides and swing on a toddler swing
• Finger-paint with pudding or yogurt
• Walk a path of carpet squares, bubble wrap and soft fabric
• Big hugs and snuggles

Safety

• Always watch your toddler during play.
• Small parts, beads, dry beans and rice can cause choking. If a piece fits inside a toilet paper tube, it is too small for a child who still mouths toys.
• Seal homemade shakers with strong glue or tape.
• Never let your child stand on a scooter board. Keep one child at a time on the trampoline, with a grown-up close by.
• Spin and swing at your child's pace, and stop if they seem upset or dizzy.