When it comes to toddlers and playtime, you’re going to want to have the best of everything in your arsenal. After all, it’s no secret that their attention span and curiosity often lead them from one thing to the next at a moment’s notice. And while you should have toys for a toddler that will not only engage but also help them develop everything from their imagination to motor skills, this doesn’t necessarily mean you need to fill your home with every available product on the market.
In fact, according to Cassidy Anderson, a speech and language pathologist and mom of two toddlers, it’s about quality over quantity. In a recent TikTok, Anderson broke down the different types of toys for toddlers from ages two to four, and also recommended her family’s favorites. It’s a “get this, not that,” she says.
@cassidyandkids We’re back with a round of best toddler toys!! Quite possibly my favorite topic as a mom and SLP 😂 🧸 #creatorsearchinsights #toddlertoys #developmentaltoys #toddlerplay #independentplay #speechtherapy #languagedevelopment #toddlertips #parentsoftiktok #toddlergifts #besttoys #sensoryactivities
♬ original sound – Cassidy Anderson & kids
Related: Simple Ways to Upgrade Your Toddler’s Outdoor Toys This Summer
The Best Toys for Toddler Play
Blocks
A good set of blocks can go a long way with a toddler. The possibilities are endless—you can make towers, patterns, cities, and more. Plus, according to Happiest Baby, building toys help toddlers work on motor development, promote creativity, build math skills, and more. Anderson’s favorite find is the one from LOVEVERY. It’s a colorful 70-piece set that works in over 20 stage-based activities.
She also mentions DUPLO as a great option for building: “There are so many fun themes and characters you can choose from.” Like the classic brick box building set, a set from the Disney line, or one from the Town line.
Things That Go
Toddlers love motion, so Anderson says to consider toys for a toddler that move. A set with cars or balls and ramps, like this Wood City Car Ramp Racer Toy or the popular Fun Little Toys Ball Drop Toy, is sure to be a hit. “You can practice Ready, Set, Go! with these types of toys,” she says. She also loves the Melissa & Doug PAW Patrol Mission Rescue Board. “This is like a busy board for toddlers on steroids. It is so much fun; the steering wheel moves. There are so many different things that your toddler can play with, especially if they are a car lover.”
Physical Play Toys
Among the many benefits of allowing toddlers to move their bodies, as mentioned in a study by the American Academy of Pediatrics, physical play “decreases stress, fatigue, injury, and depression and increases range of motion, agility, coordination, balance, and flexibility.” Anderson also mentions that physical play helps toddlers regulate both their bodies and emotions. Her toy recommendations include stepping stones, slides, a ball pit, and a Pikler Triangle.
Play Kitchen and Food
Every parent should have a full pretend play kitchen set up at home since it’s the one type of toy we can guarantee will be worth every penny. Anderson agrees. “Play kitchens and play food will always be some of my favorite toys to invest in early on, because they will last you for so long and are amazing for development,” she says. What are her favorites? The Learning Resources Prep N’ Store Kitchen Island, because it’s great for small spaces; the Melissa & Doug Scoop and Serve Ice Cream Counter; and a wooden fruit kabobs set with pattern cards, so kids can engage in pretend play while working on logic, visual, and spatial skills.
Household Chores Toys
This is one of Anderson’s favorite categories of toys for a toddler. “I said it once, and I will say it again: getting your toddlers involved in everyday activities from the very beginning is one of the best versions of play. I love this little cooking set [WeeSprout Little Cooking Kitchen Materials] that my toddlers will climb up in their towers and help me prep snacks or dinner,” she says.
Sensory Toys
Allowing toddlers time for sensory play can help develop language and motor skills, and is simply fun! If you’re up for it, you can create your own sensory bins, stations, and activities, but if you’re like most busy parents, finding pre-made kits is a better route. Anderson recommends Creativity for Kids, as they offer bins with various sensory materials and have a top so you can stash it away when playtime is over. She also loves Goliath JellyBlox. “They squish and turn and have little sensory items in them, like beads, Kinetic Sand, and stars,” she says.
Cause and Effect Toys
Toddlers love to push boundaries, so toys that have a cause and an effect are perfect outlets. Anderson loves this Melissa & Doug toy because when they push it, it spins on the boom.
Open-Ended Toys
There’s nothing better than a toy that can go the extra mile. An open-ended toy can be used in more than one play scenario, whether that’s indoors, outdoors, in the bathtub, in the car, or just about anywhere, and is worth every penny. Anderson loves the Green Toys Scooper Construction Truck, but toys like animal figurines, MAGNA-TILES, and play silks are also good investments.
So, do you need ALL these toddler toys? No, says Anderson. “Again, it’s all about quality over quantity, and these are some of our favorites we’ve used for a long time.” Find your go-tos and watch the fun unfold!
