Here are our gift ideas for one year old toddlers based on typical development and the way children this age generally explore the world through play.
At one children are very much into their own world and enjoying lots of solitary play. They start watching and playing alongside others without interacting, but pick up all sorts of new skills just by looking and listening. You'll see them engaging in physical play as they discover what their bodies can do, sensory play as they continue using their senses to experience the world around them, and constructive play as they develop more confidence playing with objects.
Ways to Play: Breaking down the big categories of play by the types of activities children engage in
Here are our 2021 top toy picks for 1 year olds (not in any particular order). Scroll down for more on each recommendation and the associated developmental benefits:
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*Products mentioned on this page are meant for toddlers under adult supervision.. (Manufacturer's age recommendations are noted when available)
Stacker with a SPIN
Fat Brain Toys SpinAgain Kids Stacking Toy. Click the photo to see the price on Amazon
We first laid eyes on this at my little one's Montessori school. To play, kiddos drop one of the chunky discs onto the threaded corkscrew pole and as gravity takes over the disc spins around and around down the pole until it lands on the base.
BENEFITS:
Hand-eye coordination
Sorting practice by size, color, shape
Focus and concentration
Engages the senses: visually appealing, different textures for tactile fun
Learns cause-and-effect
Develops physical strength; engaging gross motor (big muscles like arms, trunks, and legs) and fine motor (small muscles like fingers, and hands) movements
Encourages communication and language development
1st Puzzles
Melissa & Doug Jumbo Knob Wooden Puzzles. Click the photo to see the price on Amazon
This is where we started our puzzle journey. Simple 2-3 piece puzzles with large chunky pieces and easy grip knobs. The colorful matching pictures underneath each piece were helpful visual hints and made this a great first puzzle.
BENEFITS:
Hand-eye coordination
Visual perception skills
Focus and concentration
Encourages communication and language development
Problem Solving
Develops physical strength; engaging fine motor (small muscles like fingers, and hands) movements
Pop-up Fun
Pop Up Toy Click the photo to see the price on Amazon
Some toys are classics for a reason. This wooden spring loaded pop-up toy is so simple and so much fun. It comes with four friends little ones post in the slots. The pieces bounce up and down when pressed lightly and spring up and out after being pushed down with greater force.
BENEFITS:
Hand-eye coordination
Sorting practice by color
Focus and concentration
Learns cause-and-effect
Develops physical strength; engaging fine motor (small muscles like fingers, and hands) movements
Encourages communication and language development
Pushing it
Kinderfeets 2-in-1 Wooden Cargo Walker/Wagon. Click the photo to see the price on Amazon
Push toys are amazing for young toddlers! They are so helpful for encouraging little ones to stand and walk and building up confidence in new walkers. This particular push toy functions as both a walker and a wagon, has adjustable rubber wheels, a removable crate, and gorgeously simple design.
BENEFITS:
Develops physical strength; engaging gross motor (big muscles like arms, trunks, and legs) and fine motor (small muscles like fingers, and hands) movements
Coordination and balancing skills
Spatial skills (where objects are in relation to each other)
Builds confidence
Encourages communication and language development
Pulling it
Hape Walk-A-Long Puppy. Click the photo to see the price on Amazon
Pull toys are equally amazing for young toddlers! They are so helpful for building up confidence and independence in new walkers. Little ones get to take control and lead the way. This particular pull toy is Pepe the pup. He wags his tail as he's getting pulled along and has rubber-rimmed wheels for quieter "walks" on wooden floors.
BENEFITS:
Develops physical strength; engaging gross motor (big muscles like arms, trunks, and legs) and fine motor (small muscles like fingers, and hands) movements
Coordination and balancing skills
Spatial skills (where objects are in relation to each other)
Builds confidence
Encourages communication and language development
Sort and Simple
PlanToys Wooden Shape & Sort Bench. Click the photo to see the price on Amazon
PlanToys Wooden Shape & Sort Shape Sorting Bench (5398) | Sustainably Made from Rubberwood and Non-Toxic Paints and Dye (12 months & up)
Simple shape sorters are wonderful for little ones this age. We've owned and played with various versions and learned the simpler the better. This particular shape sorter has a great open design that allows children to watch the shapes slide out the side of the bench after pushing the matching shapes through.
BENEFITS:
Strengthens problem solving
Visual perception skills
Hand-eye coordination
Focus and concentration
Learns shapes, colors, cause-and-effect
Develops physical strength; engaging fine motor (small muscles like fingers, and hands) movements
Encourages communication and language development
Magnetic Stacker that Floats & Lasts
Tegu Magnetic Floating Stacker. Click the photo to see the price on Amazon
We've had this stacker before our kiddo was 12 months old. It's great for young toddlers and the magnets add a cool gravity defying element to the toy. We're still rotating our floating stacker in and out of our toy rotation. These days our preschooler is using the open ended pieces in her constructive and pretend play.
BENEFITS:
Strengthens problem solving
Visual perception skills
Focus and concentration
Hand-eye coordination
Develops physical strength; engaging fine motor (small muscles like fingers, and hands) movements
Encourages communication and language development
Sensory Ball
Edushape See-Me Sensory Ball. Click the photo to see the price on Amazon
Soft lightweight rubber balls are great and highly recommended for toddler play. Sensory balls, covered in textured rubber nubs, are rubber balls taken to the next level. Along with providing all the same fun as a normal ball, they are fantastic for engaging and developing the senses.
BENEFITS:
Hand-eye coordination
Engages the senses: enhances tactile and visual sensory development
Develops physical strength; engaging gross motor(big muscles like arms, trunks, and legs) and fine motor (small muscles like fingers, and hands) movements
Coordination and balancing skills
Spatial skills (where objects are in relation to each other)
Encourages communication and language development
Posting Box
Adena Montessori Object Permanence Box. Click the photo to see the price on Amazon
This simple box based on classic Montessori materials helps little ones understand how objects continue to exist even when it can't be perceived (seen, heard, touch, smelled, or sensed in anyway). This particular box is similar to the materials available to the children in our daughter's school.
BENEFITS:
Strengthens problem solving
Hand-eye coordination
Focus and concentration
Learns cause-and-effect, object permanence
Develops physical strength; engaging fine motor (small muscles like fingers, and hands) movements
Encourages communication and language development
1st Ball Run
Hape Roller Derby Wooden Marble Racing . Click the photo to see the price on Amazon
This one was a hit in our nursery. Little ones send large colorful wooden balls down the double sided ball run track and hear a bell chime when they hit the bottom.
BENEFITS:
Strengthens problem solving
Visual perception skills
Hand-eye coordination
Focus and concentration
Learns colors, cause-and-effect
Develops physical strength; engaging gross motor (big muscles like arms, trunks, and legs) and fine motor (small muscles like fingers, and hands) movements
Encourages communication and language development