The 10 Best Simple Toys for Toddlers
Is anyone else tired of bringing clutter into their homes? This year I am on a mission to only bring toys into our home that are long-lasting, meaningful, and well thought out. If this sounds like something you can get on board with, you’re going to love this list of the best simple toys for toddlers!
I’ve pored over this list over and over again to make sure I’m only sharing toys that have proven to be long-lasting winners in our home. These simple toys for toddlers will spark creativity, encourage problem-solving, and build essential skills.
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1. Blocks and Building Toys
The gold standard of open-ended play. Blocks and tiles are perfect for young toddlers all the way up through big kids! This is a purchase you won’t regret!
- Wooden Blocks: Promote motor skills and spatial awareness. We have these by Melissa & Doug.
- Mega Bloks or Duplo: Safe and easy to stack for little hands. I’m planning on getting my almost-two-year-old this Minnie and Mickey Duplo set for Christmas.
- Magnetic Tiles: Simple to start with and grow with your toddler. My little one loves playing with our Picasso Tiles, sticking them together, and looking through them. My almost-six-year-old loves building all kinds of cool structures with them!
2. Board Games
- Not all board games are toddler-appropriate, but for older toddlers, you can start with games like Hoot Owl Hoot! and First Orchard (First Orchard in particular is for ages 2 and up!).
—> Shopping for a preschooler and want even more board game suggestions? This list has the best ones!
3. Stacking Toys
- Nesting cups: Great for developing spatial awareness and are versatile for water play. These ones get pulled out and played with in our house over and over again!
4. Simple Puzzles
- Wooden puzzles with large, easy-to-grasp pieces help develop problem-solving skills. We love this farm animal puzzle, among others.
5. Musical Instruments
- Shakers, drums, or xylophones: Encourage rhythm and sensory exploration with musical instruments. You never know when a full-blown concert will break out in our home. 😉
6. Pretend Play Toys
This category really could use a post of its own (I’ll work on that). My girls, who are almost two and almost six, both LOVE all of our pretend play toys. They get more use than any other toys in our home!
- Play kitchen accessories: Inspire creativity and role-playing. If you don’t have a play kitchen yet, check out this one! And make sure to grab some play food here.
- Stuffed animals or dolls: Dolls like this one are perfect for fostering empathy and imagination. I will say, we have to work hard to NOT end up with way too many stuffies in our home. But they are well loved and played with!
- Doll accessories: Level up your pretend play with some fun accessories. We have a doll stroller and high chair, and Ruthie will be getting this doll bed for Christmas this year.
- Small plastic toys/figurines: Paw Patrol toys are LIFE in our house. And recently, Elmo and Cookie Monster go everywhere with us. There is something about these little plastic figurines that is pure magic for my girls.
7. Art Supplies
Okay, maybe THIS category is the most-loved in our home. I also need a full post for this one.
- Large crayons: Easy to grip and ideal for scribbling. Ruthie and Ella both LOVE to draw and color, and I have crayons and paper available pretty much all of the time.
- Washable paints or paint sticks: Introduce creativity safely. It takes a little more bravery to hand a paint brush to a toddler, but it’s so worth it! And washable paints make it not so scary.
8. Vehicles
- Chunky cars or trucks: Easy to hold and fun to zoom around. Pair these with those little plastic figurines we talked about and you’ve got hours of play!
- Toy trains: Encourage imaginative play and coordination. This set looks so fun.
9. Sensory Toys
- Water or sand toys: Ideal for outdoor sensory play, or bath time. My Florida girls get lots of use out of these.
- Play dough: Again, I know you have to be a little bit brave to hand play dough to a young toddler. But as long as you supervise carefully, play dough is such a fun sensory experience. And it is definitely a hit with big kids and little kids alike.
—> Want to make your own play dough instead? I’ve got you! Click here to steal my recipe!
10. Books
- Board books: Durable and perfect for little hands. And so many of our favorite books come as board books!
- Touch-and-feel books: Add an engaging sensory element. These are always so popular in our house.
—> Click here to read my list of The Best Books for One Year Olds!
Other Great Gifts for Kids
Looking for even more great gift ideas for kids? Be sure to check out my list of The Best Outdoor Toys for Toddlers!
Which of these toys do you KNOW would be a hit with your toddler? Comment below or message me on Instagram and let me know! I can’t wait to hear from you!
