Toddler Gift Ideas {Ages 1-3}

These Toddler Gift Ideas make perfect birthday presents, Christmas gifts or everyday surprises. Grab one for your son or daughter or one of their friends!

*Originally published 11/2017. Updated 11/2023*

Hi Friends!

Need some toddler gift ideas? I’ve got you covered! I first wrote this post when my oldest turned 3. Since then I’ve had 2 more kids and all 3 of them are out of the toddler years so we’ve had some experience with toddler toys 🙂

This is a round-up of some of our favorite toys for the toddler years. You can also check out my Kid Gift Ideas {Ages 4-7} and  Best Toys For Multiple Ages post for more ideas!

It can be easy to accumulate a lot of toys so one thing I’ve really tried to do, especially with my second and third kids after learning my lesson with the first, is focus on keeping things that have multiple uses and encourage imagination.

Things like blocks, trains, play kitchen etc that he can use every day but use in different ways! I love it when they get into their own little world talking and playing by themselves and I can just sit back and quietly watch and listen.

So, if you have a toddler of your own or are looking for gift ideas, I hope this post is helpful!

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If you have anyone besides toddlers on your list, maybe one of these gift guides will be helpful:

• 50+ Small Businesses To Support
• Kids Gift Ideas {ages 4-7}
• Toddler Gift Ideas {ages 1-3}
• Best Toys for Multiple Ages
• Best Gifts for Husbands
• Best Gifts for In-laws & Parents
• Gift Ideas for Busy Moms

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All the links below are Amazon affiliate links which means I make a small amount of money if you purchase using them, at no additional cost to you.

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Arts and Crafts Ideas for Toddlers

I’m a huge fan of having a robust arts and crafts station. Use Pinterest to find some fun, simple project ideas or just take a bunch of stuff out and let them go to town!

• Pipe cleaners
• Clothespins
• Straws
• Pom poms
• Washable paint
• Balloons
• Popsicle sticks
• Paint Brushes  
• Kwik Stix Solid Tempera Paints – perfect for when you need something bolder than a marker but want it to dry quicker than regular paint
• Do A Dot Art! Markers
• Glue Sticks – I like the disappearing purple ones because they can easily see where they’ve spread the glue
• Markers
• Crayons
• Butcher Paper – for me this is so much easier than single sheets of paper because you can tear off as much or as little as you want each time
• Construction paper
• Scissors
• Hole punches
• Hot Glue Gun – to be used by parents of course
• Stamps

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Physical Activity Toys for Toddlers

• Bounce House  – great for hot summer days or long winters indoors
• Radio Flyer Tricycle 
• Strider Balance Bike
• Little Tikes Trampoline 
• Styrofoam Glider Plane – they will run and retrieve this time after time after time
• Wod Toys Barbell
• Balls
• Bubble mower
• Traffic cones – great for obstacle courses, races, etc
• Y Glider Deluxe – my daughter really mastered this at about 2.5 years old

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Imagination & Creative Play Toys for Toddlers

• Monster Hunting Kit – {Net +Flashlight + Spray Bottle}
• Sensory Table – use for water, sand, dirt, etc
• Play Kitchen – buy play food, a mini grocery cart, save product packages and make your own grocery store!
• Camera – Save your old digital cameras you don’t use anymore. Also check garage sales, etc!
• Sidewalk Chalk
• Tools – we have about 3 different sets!
• Doctor Kit or Vet Set
• Dinosaurs
• Baby dolls/stuffed animals/baby stroller
• Cars/Trucks/Fire engines
• Guitar/Keyboard – anything that encourages music is fun (drums, maracas…)
• Air Fort – easy to setup and easy to store
• Nugget – one of the best things we’ve ever bought for our kids
• Tea Set or Ice Cream Set
• Cleaning Tools

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Trains for Toddlers

Trains get their own separate category because they’re such an obsession in our house

• Brio (or Orbium) Train Track Pack   – We set these up on the floor usually but also have a train table. Get a crane! They were my oldest’s fav train accessory.
• Train table – Look for these tables and train sets secondhand on FB selling groups, garage sales etc.
• Wooden Trains  – you can never have too many
• Road tape – Also fun for train cars, hot wheels, cars etc

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Fine Motor Skills Toys For Toddlers

• Wooden Blocks
• Duplos – I used to recommend megablocks but after my second kid, I think Duplos are a better option because they’re easy for toddlers but also fun for older siblings
• Lacing beads – We love th alphabet ones but regular ones are fun too!
• Playdough
• Water Wow Activity Books
• Mr. Potato Head
• Magna-Tiles – my older two mastered these around 2.5 years but my youngest was building at 18 months
• Remote control car
• Puzzles
• Spike the Hedgehog
• Plus Plus Big Blocks – fun for building
• Popular Play Things – fun to mix and match to make vehicles

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Toddler Gift Ideas

• Hiccapop Foam Bed Bumpers – if they’re transitioning to a big kid bed soon, we love these instead of the big tall bed rails
• Pottery Barn Kids Sheets – there are plenty of places to get sheets but they have some of the cutest ones!
• Reusable Sticker Pads
• Water Bottle – toddlers love anything that’s “specifically theirs” so their very own watter bottle, lunchbox, backpack etc are always a hit
• Backpack
• Books – When in doubt, get books. Here are some of the Best Toddler Books.

If you’re looking for something more branded, here are some TV shows that are popular with toddlers. Any merchandise, games, etc featuring these characters would probably be a hit as well:

• Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
• Doc McStuffins
• PJ Masks
• Paw Patrol
• Anything on PBS – Curious George, Nature Cat, Daniel Tiger, etc

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Whew! Ok well hopefully this gave you some fun new ideas. If your toddlers or toddlers you know have other favorites, let me know in the comments and I’ll add them to the list!

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If you’re looking for baby gift ideas, check out by Baby’s First Year Gift Guide!

And if you’re a toddler parent looking for new ways to keep them entertained, be sure to check out this post full of Indoor Activities for Toddlers.

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–