Toys for Toddlers

The toys suggested below are generally appropriate for typically developing toddlers. Many of these same toys are also suitable for kids who are not developing according to typical milestones, though they may need to be used differently. (For information on selecting or adapting toys for kids with disabilities, see Selecting Toys for Children with Disabilities or visit the National Lekotek Center at www.lekotek.org or www.ableplay.org.) Parents and caregivers must always ensure that any toy they let a child use is safe for that child.

Parents who sing, talk, and read to their child
Well-secured, full-length wall mirrors
Unbreakable hand mirrors
Large building blocks—cloth, molded, or wood
Fill and dump toys
Stacking rings and toys
Nesting toys
Toy telephones
Nonbreakable dishes and other simple housekeeping and work role-playing toys
Dolls and accessories (no parts that can detach)
Dressing, lacing, and zippering dolls
Peg people
Stuffed and molded animals
Play scenes
Pails and shovels
Funnels, colanders
Puzzles (3 to 5 pieces)
Pegboards with a few large pegs
Large, non-toxic crayons with large paper secured to surface
Sturdy picture and rhyming books
Activity boxes
Pop-up toys
Simple matching and lotto materials
Bells & rattles for making music
Lightweight banging toys (e.g. drum, xylophone, pots & pans, boxes with lids)
Music for bouncing and “dancing”
Music for finger-play games and songs
Ride-on vehicles with large wheels—even better with storage bins
Bouncing or rocking ride-ons
Tunnels to crawl through
Safe swings and climbing platforms
Balls, balls, balls—different sizes, different textures

Adapted from Martha B. Bronson: The Right Stuff for Children Birth to Eight; Theodosia Sideropoulos Spewock & Jean Warren: Play with Purpose; and other sources.

Provided By Susan J. Oliver, Tropomedia
This information is provided on behalf of the toy experts at your neighborhood toy store.