Holiday Gift Guide for Toddlers Ages 1 – 3
We know you’re busy getting a head-start on your holiday shopping, and so are we. Today’s post is a Holiday Gift Guide for Toddlers Ages 1 – 3 with some classic toys, Triad Moms on Main team member picks, and some newer popular toys. I searched various sites (Amazon, Target, and Walmart) to find out what they’re saying are the hot picks, and then I narrowed down their choices by what looked like the most unique gifts for todders. I also included tried ‘n true toddler toy picks from some of us on the TMoM team. Happy shopping!
Gift Guide for Toddlers that Encourage Physical Development
Melissa and Doug Blocks – Blocks should be a staple on every toddler wish list, and these were listed as a top pick. These Lovevery blocks are a splurge but so pretty.
Lego Duplo Number Train – This toy is a great introduction to Lego’s Duplo Bricks. Kids can learn to load the DUPLO number bricks onto the train toy in the correct order and unload them again to improve their fine motor skills.
Squigz – These bright and cheery suction cups can be used for entertaining and for building. Perfect for home, the bathtub, the stroller, and when traveling. This is a toy that they will continue to use as they grow!
Wooden Sensory Bin and Tools – We started playing with our sensory bin around age 1 and my daughter is still playing with it and she is almost 5. You can switch out the sensory material inside of it to keep making it exciting. Some of the things we use are rice, dried peas, beans, and water beads.
Tool Box Set
Garden Building Set – Another Gift enjoyed by both our girls. There are many different types of pieces. It also helps teach them the part of a flower/plant.
Activity Center – Activity tables are perfect for this age. This one has a ton of activities to engage your child when it’s out for play!
Gift Guide for Toddlers that Encourage Pretend Play
Costumes – Kelly says costumes never went out of style with her toddlers no matter the season! We also agree with that in our house. My girls love to play dress up. We play dress up so much we made a little station with this toddler rack to hang them and this bookcase for accessories. The bookcase could also double as a dollhouse!
Train Tables – All kids adored wooden train sets and table. It’s a great gift that you can keep adding to.
Doctor Kits – A variation of this gift was on multiple team members’ recommendations. Doctor, Dentist, and Vet kits are big hits with the kids. Not only are they fun for them, it also helps them to be more comfortable going to the doctor learning about the different tools and what they are used for.
Play Kitchen – This was a big hit for both my girls for years.
Anything with their Favorite Characters
TMOM team member Brooke is getting Disney Mickey Mouse Fire Engine & Friends for her son & Sarah is getting the new Bluey Video Game for her kids.
Gift Guide for Toddlers to Keep Them Active
Classic Balance Bike – This bike (and similar versions) always makes the top gift lists year after year, and it’s been widely popular in Dani’s home too!
Bubble Mower – This was a popular choice! We got a few of these from our daughters 2nd birthday. Both my 2 and 3 year olds loved running around the lawn with this or pretending to mow the lawn like Dad.
Elefun– This toy was always a big smile maker for both of my children. I still remember the hours of laughter & playing this as a kid!
Little Tykes Cozy Coupe – This Cozy Coupe is sturdy enough to last through the years, beginning with those who are just learning to walk. There are so many fun versions of this classic car from lady bugs to dinosaurs.
Tricycle– A tricycle is a must for kids this age, and this one helps take the strain off mom and dad’s back while they push their toddler around for hours. It worked great for us!
Playskool Sit and Spin Classic Spinner – Remember when you used to sit, spin, and giggle on this? Well, now it’s time for your little one to enjoy the spinning fun of this classic toy.
Push Toys – Melissa & Doug Toy Shopping Cart or Strollers are popular push toys for this age group.
Gift Guide for Toddlers to Encourage Creativity
- Crafts Kits– We always keep a variety of age-appropriate craft projects in our home. When I asked my 3 year old what she wants to do, the majority of the time the answer is arts and crafts!
- Instrument Set with Backpack– This is another gift we have had for years that both kids have kept playing with for years.
- Do A Dot Art Marker Rainbow 6-pack – Dani suggests this simple (and not-so-messy) craft set for the young ones! We also love dot markers and pairing it with this activity book with over 400 pages of activities. They are great for learning letters, number, colors, shapes, etc.
- Water Painting Books
- Playdoh – This can keep my toddlers busy for hours. Protip bring it outside & don’t watch them mix the colors so you can save yourself the stress. haha Some of our favorite Kits are the Dentist and Soft Serve Ice Cream. This Little Children’s Dough Play Book is really fun to pair and help them work on their fine motor skill filling in the shapes in the book.
- Nugget Couch or similar product. Fun fact, the original nugget brand is from Burlington, NC!
- Easel
Gift Guide for Toddlers to Encourage Play-Based Learning
- Lovevery Play Kits – Lovevery had 12 play kits for ages 1-3 and a variety of other toys they offer not sold-in kits. They are all stage-based play essentials that encourage brain-building fun.
- Think Fun Roll and Play Game – Players roll the soft cube, and depending on the color they rolled, they have to pick up the appropriate color card. They then have to perform one of six different silly categories on the card (such as “Rub your belly,” or “Moo like a cow.”)
- Montessori Screwdriver Board Set – A fun little toy with all types of tools and screws, because kids always want want what their parents have.
- LeapFrog Shapes and Sharing Picnic Basket
Ashleigh’s daughter got this gift at 1 and played with it for years. Leap frog is still making new versions of this toy 12 years later, so you know it’s a bestseller! - Kid O A to Z Magnatab – Learning letters has never been more fun for Dani’s kids!
- Wooden Puzzle Set & Storage – I love wooden puzzles. These help promote creating thinking, reasoning and problem solving at a young age.
- Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Products – Every website I researched for top toddler toys had at least one Laugh & Learn product on it’s list. They are all cute and I’m sure any one of these would be a big hit.
Gift Guide for Toddlers for Electronics
A lot of people have heard of Tonies, but after doing a lot of research we went with a similar company Yoto. It is a little player similar to Discmans a lot of you might have had as a kid. Instead of CDs, you use little cards the size of credit cards. You can buy prerecorded or make your own cards. They end up being a lot cheaper than Tonies and are much easier to transport. Not only do they have music, but they have activities such as meditation, yoga, recipes, riddles, and much more! This is a big hit with my girls. We use it at bedtime while traveling, or just at home playing. Tonies seem to be an easier option for younger toddlers to pop on and off the characters.
Play Phone – This isn’t just any ordinary play phone. It has a working camera, music, flashlight, games, stories, and more. This is have been enjoyed in our house hold from 1 to almost 4 and I don’t see them losing interest in it soon.
Drawing Tablet – These are perfect for at home or on the go!
Ideas that are not Toys
These not useful gifts for toddlers will hopefully prevent some of the sprinkling toys throughout the house that toddlers love to do.
The Cutest Toddler Level Bookshelf
College Fund
Books
Piggy bank with some coins
Gift Cards
Clothing
Experiences – get them passes or memberships to local kid’s museums trampoline parks, or play gyms.
Cardboard Box Crafts – Why do kids always go for the cardboard box? Here are some ideas from Artsy Craftsy Mom on fun-to-make crafts with leftover boxes. It’s also fun for the parent to use some of those creative talents – and did I mention this is about as inexpensive as it gets?
Local Businesses for Toddler Gifts
Toys and Co.
Bibs & Kids
Mcall’s
Polliwogs
Wynnie’s Boutique
Play! by Cone Health
Kaleideum
Greensboro Science Center
Miriam P. Brenner Children’s Museum
Nido & Mariana Qubein Children’s Museum
Once they start pulling themselves up and cruising around, your holiday shopping takes on a whole new direction. But since they’re not old enough to make a list, you still have a few years to be creative with the kinds of gifts you give. I hope this Holiday Gift Guide for Toddlers gave you a lot of ideas for things to add to your list. What other toys can you add to this list?
Past Posts You Might Also Want to Consider:
My Favorite Holiday Gift Personalized Gifts for Kids
Gift Ideas: Toddler Toys that Teach
Fun Learning Activities for Babies & Toddlers
Gift Ideas for Preschoolers
Gift Ideas for Ages 4-7
