7 Best Toddler Toys 2022 (2024)

For 30 years, small children have loved taking a spin in the Cozy Coupe, because it's sturdy, easy to pilot, and fires up their imagination with realistic features. This ride-on toy has a handle on the back for parents to push their small rider when necessary, and a removable floorboard so kids can use their feet to scoot or ride comfortably when being pushed. There's storage in the rear for your child's important cargo, and the front wheel spins 360 degrees for easy riding.

Heads up

Though parents back in the day were able to buy the Coupe fully assembled, now they say the assembly process can be demanding, so give yourself plenty of time to get the Coupe together, and gather your patience; fellow adherents say you'll need it. The Coupe is also not the smallest of toys; make sure you have space in your garage, closets, or basem*nt for it.

Parents say

"My son just turned 4. He still loves his Cozy Coupe and squeezes himself into it."

"My son got one for his first birthday and still likes to play with his Cozy Coupe in the house. He 'drives' from room to room, goes in circles, puts 'gas' into it, loves to open and close the door, and get in and out. When it's not in use, we store it in his closet or in the garage and pull it out when he asks for his car."

"My little one still loves it. He can roll it backwards, he loves to open the door, get in and get out, honk the horn, etc. Now the door has broken off thanks to superhuman toddler strength, but he still plays with it. He's gotten a lot of use out of a toy I figured would be pretty useless."

"My little one rides in her Cozy Coupe almost every day. She loves it. Other kids love to play with it when they come over, too."

Specs

• Suitable for 18 months to 5 years
• Weight limit 50 pounds
• Ignition switch moves and clicks
• Gas cap opens and closes

Toddlers gravitate to the VTech Sit-to-Stand like it's casting a magic spell, and once they discover it, you can expect them to keep playing with it for a long, long time. Before your baby can walk, he'll sit in front of the Sit-to-Stand playing with the piano keys, spinning rollers, telephone handset, and light-up buttons. As he gets more mobile, he'll grab onto the comfortable push handle and use it to support his first faltering steps. Before long, he'll be zooming across the living room.

Heads up

Parents appreciate that the Sit-to-Stand's interactive panel has a volume control or can be turned off entirely, but worry that the sounds and flashing lights are overstimulating. They also complain that the Sit-to-Stand isn't weighted properly for a child to use it to pull up to standing; the toy can tip and land on top of a child. Finally, the included phone handset is detachable and toddlers love detaching it but not reattaching it, so it can get lost in the house too easily.

Parents say

"The Vtech Sit-to-Stand is 100 percent better than a walker! It has a beginners' speed, so it goes at his pace. He loves it, and has become more confident standing on his own without mama! Now he's taking four steps on his own and can stand for seconds at a time without me assisting. He'll be walking in no time!"

"My little one got it for Christmas! She wasn't really interested in walking with us holding her hands, but loved to stand. After a day or two of her just playing with it she got right up behind it and now walks all over with it!"

Specs

• Suitable for 9 to 36 months
• Working piano keys play notes and music; spinning rollers, shape-sorters, and light-up buttons develop motor skills
• Removable early-learning center can be used anywhere
• Interactive toy plays sing-along songs, music, sound effects, and phrases

Children love making music, and this set gives them the chance to make so many different types of sounds. With 15 different instruments to shake, blow, beat, or tap, your child can hit just the right note, and can use this set for many years beyond toddlerhood. It comes with its own backpack storage bag, so you can keep the set together, or your child can tote it wherever he likes.

Heads up

This set doesn't contain anything with strings that can be plucked or strummed; you may want to supplement it with a small guitar, ukulele, or other stringed instruments. Parents love that it comes with its own storage bag, but some complained that the bag ripped quickly, rendering it less than useful. A few instruments and their parts are made of metal, such as the triangle and its striker; parents may want to consider putting these pieces out of sight until children can be trusted not to hit themselves or others.

Specs

• Suitable for 12 months and up
• 15 instruments; 22 pieces total
• High-quality, nontoxic wood, plastic, and metal materials

Toddlers love to sort, stack, unsort, unstack, and organize, and sorting and nesting toys help encourage all these early problem-solving skills. This sturdy wooden cube sparks recognition of colors and shapes, and fascinates children who are newly skilled at using their hands. It also stores nicely: Slide out the top with its shaped holes, then keep all the shapes inside for tomorrow's playtime.

Heads up

Some parents complain that the sliding top of the box slides off too easily and can fall off when rotating the box, which frustrates players. The variety of shapes in this toy is advanced and may frustrate younger toddlers – squares, circles, and triangles are easy enough for them, but octagons, hexagons, and parallelogram pieces may confuse. It's worth noting that there are sharp corners on the toy's edges, lid, and on some pieces; younger babies and toddlers may get scrapes.

Specs

• Suitable for 24 months to 2 years
• 12 brightly colored, easy-to-grip shapes
• Natural wood construction

When toys with electronic beeps and boops annoy, parents go running for the shelter of this activity cube, which mesmerizes toddlers for long moments with the many activities crammed into its small footprint. Young players can spin wooden blocks to reveal new animal friends, open doors to see what's behind, push beads from side to side on twisting metal loops, "drive" the wooden tractor on the box's top – and more, all while developing fine motor control and their senses.

Heads up

There are less expensive activity cubes on the market that your child may get just as much use from; but note, they tend to be plastic rather than wood. Still, also note that this cube is about 18 inches high, which some parents find too short for their sitting toddler. It's also heavy for the size and a bit bulky – however, many parents appreciate the rounded corners that forestall scrapes and scratches.

Specs

• Suitable for 12 months and up
• Solid wood cube with rounded corners
• Cube stands 18 inches tall
• Gender neutral colors and design

Small children love stacking and sorting, and these chunky blocks are easy for small hands to hold and manipulate. Your toddler can now likely turn blocks into a wall, a house, or any other creation of his choosing, but for a while, expect your child to be most interested in making a small stack and then gleefully knocking it down. Parents also appreciate that these Mega Bloks come with a reusable duffle storage bag to help keep the set tidy in between building sessions.

Heads up

Some users wish that this set came with more of the large-size blocks and three or four accompanying pegs and holes instead of "singles," which some players think make it harder to make bigger structures. Some parents also complain that the blocks don't stay together well, though toddlers do enjoy the ability to easily destroy whatever they build.

Parents say

"My daughter is 5 and STILL loves playing with her Mega Bloks! She will build houses with the 1-year-old all the time, both girls love them so much!"

"My son has LOVED his Mega Bloks for the past year. Plays with them just about every day and sometimes multiple times per day."

Specs

• Suitable for ages 1 to 5
• Set contains 150 plastic blocks
• Plastic with a reusable vinyl storage bag

Toddlers are interested in color and in getting their hands into everything, so finger-painting is perfect. Try putting blobs of paint on the paper and then showing your child how to stroke and pat the paper so the color spreads. Crayola's specially designed paper won't bleed through to surfaces underneath, and the nontoxic paints are smooth and brightly colored.

Heads up

Some parents don't appreciate that the paper in this cut comes prefolded into fourths, making it harder for children to use and parents from framing their children's first masterpieces. The paint in this kit takes a long time to dry, too; better keep it out of sight while it's drying or your child may be tempted to do further painting, on the paper or off.

Specs

• Contains four paint tubes and 10 sheets of 13-by-19-inch paper
• Nontoxic
• Washable paint

Play is the work of toddlers, developmentally speaking. While your toddler plays, she's developing her physical, emotional, and cognitive abilities, along with her senses and imagination. Giving her toys that take advantage of her fresh skills and encourage the next new ones is key – and a lot of fun for both of you.

So, what toys are best for this age? Simply put: Toddlers are active. Therefore, toys and games that allow them to use their blossoming gross motor skills – that is, their whole bodies – are key. This is the time for balls, climbing gyms, and ride-on toys that allow them to scoot with their feet and push or pull.

But importantly, a toddler's fine motor control is becoming more sophisticated, too, so things like blocks, shape sorters, art supplies, and other toys that take advantage of these emerging skills are perfect. Kids at this stage love turning knobs, opening and shutting doors, flipping switches on and off, and anything that spins, so they'll love any toy that allows them to practice these enticing new abilities.

Here are some other things toddlers love:

• Toys that let kids pretend or imitate adult activities, like play vacuums, grocery carts, miniature brooms, toy dishes and food, dress-up clothing, trucks and cars, and dolls and doll strollers, cradles, and highchairs
• Toys that require hand manipulation, like blocks, building brocks, shape sorters, nesting toys, stacking toys, and dolls with clothing that can be changed
• Action toys like ride-on vehicles, wagons, balls, climbing structures, and play gyms
• Musical toys like drums, tambourines, xylophones, bells, and percussion instruments

When buying toys, you may notice that a surprising number of toys are marketed for ages 3 and up – that's because any toy with small parts brings with it a choking hazard. Make sure that whatever toy you're buying is safe for your child's age. This type of information can be tough to find online, but it's almost always found on the front of the toy's box, so check boxes and don't be afraid to check out the manufacturer's web page or call for more information.

Toddlers are still not experts at operating their bodies, so they may misuse toys in ways you don't expect. Look for rounded (not sharp) corners, nontoxic paints or other decoration, toys without small parts that can detach and become a choking hazard, and toys that don't tip over easily.

Toys that are beyond a child's developmental capabilities may frustrate players, even if they are within the age recommended by the manufacturer. If you notice your child crying or otherwise showing distress while playing, consider trading out that toy for one your child (or the child you are buying a gift for) can use smoothly and putting away the distressing toy until your child's a bit older.