Years 1-2 are such a fun age and a pivotal point in development where they go from babies to powerful and competent little beings. They go from crawling to maybe saying a word here and there, to full-on running, jumping, speaking sentences, and asking big questions. This is where toys play a big part in helping them discover themselves and the world around them. I keep the following in mind when picking out toys for 1-2 yr olds.
open-ended
push and pull toys
toys they can load and tote around
encourage sorting, counting, and early language development
lightweight and stable
pieces big enough to avoid choking
- Dump Truck Happy Drivers – All of my kids love this truck, but especially Owen. It goes with us pretty much everywhere, and if we are headed to the beach or park you bet Owen has his truck handy.
- Surprise What’s Inside Box – With fun toys with various textures to stuff in and out of a little box is a dream for sensory play.
- Wooden Push and Pull Elephant – How cute is this little elephant? I dont have this exact toy, but we have a similar version in puppy form, and it’s a fan favorite in our home.
- Little Tikes Grocery Cart – This item has been used and loved by all my kids for the past five years. Great for imaginative play, but little ones love to fill and push around a bunch of stuff. It still stands strong and is used nearly every day.
- Activity Trunk – I love this item because it has a little of everything, so your child can explore various modes of play. If you have just had one child and are just starting with your toy collection, this may be an excellent place to start!
- Radio Flyer Classic Wagon Walker – Similar concept to the grocery cart, but with resistant clickers and a bumper, it’s a little more sturdy for little ones still learning to walk. It also makes for cute toy storage.
- Rainbow Wooden Stacker – These are great for play and color/size/comparison recognition. An enjoyable addition to a basic block set – arches can be used as bridges, tunnels, bikes, beds for little dolls-lots of room for creativity and imagination.
- Little People Farm Set – Even though I dont love big plastic items – my kids do, ha! And little people are those toys that ALL of my kids play with, ranging from 6 months – five years old. Kids love figurines, and little people are a safe size for all ages, and I admit, very cute.
- Skip Hop Modern Abc – Nesting Boxes – Fun nesting blocks on a larger scale encourages cognitive skills, object recognition, hand-eye coordination, and fine motor skills.
- Newborn Baby Doll – It always melts my heart when I watch my kid’s natural nurturing instincts kick in when they play with their baby dolls. Dolls are great to have on hand for pretend play as their social, emotional, and language skills develop. Also, if you’re adding another kid to the mix, baby dolls are a great way to prepare them for the transition.
- Mega Blocks – As stacking continues to be a common theme in this stage, these giant lego-like blocks are perfect for little hands that lack coordination.
- Radio Flyer Scoot 2 Scooter – This is a gift that will grow with your child as they work through the different stages of mastering their balance and other motor skills.
- Little People Big Yellow Bus – Another beloved Little People toy. This one we keep at Nana’s House, and bonus points because kids can push and pull it around.
- Activity Walker – A fun toy to keep your little one stay busy and aid in their motor development. Another toy we keep at my moms, and played a big role helping my kids learn how to walk.
And that’s it for ages 1-2! There are so many bright, shiny, and fun toys being thrown in every direction (especially this time of year), and sometimes it’s hard to lose sight of what will aid our kids in their play.
If you need ideas for stocking stuffers or want to see my other Holiday Gift Guides, check it all out here!
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