Last Updated on September 16, 2022 by Natalie

Toddlers are constantly reaching new milestones, learning new things and developing all kinds of skills. From cognitive or motor skills to social or language skills.

The best toys help them develop skills through play. 

The toys listed below help with developing a toddler’s impressive brain. Check out this list of great gifts for toddlers that you can buy on Amazon.

Simple Pleasures

Stacking Cups

This toy is under $5 and will provide endless entertainment for your toddler as they grow.

I bought this for my son when he was just 5 months old. The colors capture little ones’ attention and they interact with them differently as time goes on.

As a small baby, my son practiced holding the cups; when he got a little bigger he liked clacking them together; and now, at 18 months old, he loves to stack them. I use them to count with him and practice color recognition.

Skills promoted: Motor skills, counting and number recognition.

Ages: 6 months +

Little Kids Fubbles No-Spill Tumbler

Although it’s recommended for 18 months and up, I bought this for my son to introduce him to the magic of bubbles on his 1st birthday.

This is an affordable, classic means of fun that little ones will enjoy.

The bottle is great to avoid any large, messy spills.

Skills promoted: Motor skills and coordination

Ages: 18 months +

Emotional Development

VTech Kiss and Care Cows

This mama and baby cow duo roll on wheels. The mama cow sings and teaches about mornings or evenings.

When you put the cows nose to nose, they kiss and the mama cow says sweet phrases to her baby.

Skills promoted: nurturing

Ages: 9 months to 3 years

Fisher-Price Little People, Helping Others Fire Truck

This fire truck comes with two firefighters. It makes siren sounds and sings about working together and helping others.

My little guy loves this truck and has a fascination with the siren sound that he impersonates.

Skills promoted: relationship and care

Ages: 12 months to 5 years

Balls and Sports

VTech Baby Lil’ Critters Roll and Discover Ball

Little ones are attracted to this colorful ball that has a motion sensor that activates music and animal sounds when its thrown.

It tells you to throw, kick or bounce the ball.

Skills promoted: Tactile and Motor

Ages: 6 – 24 months

Smart Shots Sports Center

This set brings a basketball hoop and small basketball as well as a soccer goal and small soccer ball for kids to play with.

When a shot or goal is made, the scoreboard notes the point and praises are sung. It plays music and words of encouragement.

Skills promoted: Motor skills and coordination

Ages: 1 – 3 years

Classic

Playskool Busy Poppin’ Pals Pop-Up Activity 

The giraffe, elephant, monkey,  lion and panda pop up from their hiding spots when different actions are taken (i.e. slide the lever, turn the key, press the button).

Your little one will feel so proud when they successfully open the different pop up doors.

Skills promoted: Motor and cognitive

Ages: 9 months +

Melissa & Doug Farm Animals Jumbo Knob Wooden Puzzle

This is a great beginner puzzle with which your toddler can practice fitting together shapes and matching objects.

Skills promoted:  visual perception and hand-eye coordination

Ages: 12 months to 2 years

Fisher-Price See ‘n Say The Farmer Says

This classic toy teaches your little one the different sounds farm animals make.

There’s an interactive feature that asks you to identify the correct animal as well as another that plays “Old MacDonald” and “Farmer in the Dell.”

Skills promoted: Words and animal identification

Ages: 18 months – 5 years

Prextex My First Find and Match Eggs

This toy helps little ones to recognize and match up shapes and also gives you the opportunity to teach them colors.

Skills promoted: color and shape recognition.

Ages: 18 months +

Remote Control

Remote Control ABC Dancing Dino 

It engages in interactive learning. The remote control has a light bulb button that asks questions you can answer with the A, B or C buttons.

Skills promoted: Motor and Tactile

Ages: It’s promoted for ages 2+ but children younger will still enjoy it. My son got this when he was 9 months old and while he is still too young for the questions at 18 months, he thoroughly enjoys making the dino dance and walk with the remote control.

Pull Toys

VTech Drop and Go Dump Truck

Pull the truck around, pop in the boulders to watch them shoot into the bucket as they are counted and pull the lever to watch the truck dump out its contents.

This dump truck is tried and true in my home and my son still plays with it regularly.

Skills promoted: Motor skills

Ages: 6 months to 3 years

LeapFrog Lettersaurus Alphabet Pull Toy

This bright dinosaur sings the alphabet while you pull it around. The wheel on his tail counts and the buttons along its spine identify the different letters and the sounds they make.

Skills promoted: alphabet, counting and letter identification

Ages: 12 months to 3 years

Walker Activity Set

Little Tikes Light ‘n Go – 3-in-1 Activity Walker

This provides a variety of entertainment in one toy. Race around, play music, press buttons and more.

It’s called 3-in-1 because you can walk it around, use it as a standing activity table or sit and play. 

Skills promoted: coordination

Ages: 9 – 36 months

Fisher-Price Learn with Me Zebra Walker

This walker doesn’t have the same resistance as the formerly mentioned activity walker, so it’s earned the nickname “the race car” in our house.

It sings the alphabet, counts and has buttons and switches to play with.

Skills promoted: coordination, counting and alphabet

Ages: 6 months to 4 years

---

That’s a wrap!

Do you have an educational toddler toy that you strongly recommend? Let me know in the comments!