40 Gifts for Toddlers That Will Keep Them Entertained
Updated: Feb. 15, 2023From interactive toys to conversation-prompting games, these great gifts for toddlers will simplify your holiday shopping.
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases.
Best gifts for 2- to 5-year-olds
Purchasing gifts for toddlers can be a bit trickier than gifts for teens, gifts for tween boys, or gifts for kids. After all, little humans who fall into the five-and-under crowd aren’t always super specific when it comes to their wish list. The good news is that leaves room for creativity on your part. Whether you’re seeking gift ideas for the upcoming holidays—Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa included—a birthday, or just an in-between gift, there are so many options to inspire imaginations, spark creativity and learning, and chances for all-around fun. On our list of gifts for toddlers, there is a little bit of everything, from this season’s hottest light-flashing, music playing, and interactive toys and gadgets to brain-stimulating STEAM sets and creativity-inspiring art supplies. Looking for gifts for boys who are a bit older? We’ve got you covered there, too. Once you’ve made your picks, remember to add in a few stocking stuffers for toddlers.
LeapFrog LeapLand Adventures
Designed by educational experts, LeapFrog LeapLand Adventures will take tots on a learning quest to magical places, including Letterland, Numberville, Shapetown, and Color Springs. The wireless videogame controller features a plug-and-play HDMI game stick and USB power cable, which inserts into the television, no web connection, downloads, or account setup required! Ages 3+. Also, make sure to check out these best children’s books.
Baby Shark’s Big Show! Shark House Playset
This playset, featuring over 25 pieces, is based on the new Nickelodeon animated series and is the perfect gift for toddlers who can’t stop singing the “Baby Shark” song. It features a light-up disco ball and working karaoke machine, so they can sing along to the show’s catchy theme song and real light-up disco ball! Ages 3+. Are you still shopping for mom? Here are the perfect gifts for the mom who says she needs nothing but deserves everything!
Pop2Play Rainbow Slide
Bring outdoor fun indoors and transform playtime with the clever fold-up Pop2Play Rainbow Slide. The award-winning design, which supports 50 to 100 pounds, takes just five minutes to assemble and disassemble. And, since it folds up completely flat, it is a great space-saving activity. Ages 2 to 5. Not sure what to stuff in their stocking? Here are the best stocking stuffers for kids.
Dr. Seuss Oh! The Places You’ll Go! Magna-Tiles Structure Set
Magna-Tiles Dr. Seuss Oh! The Places You’ll Go! set is a high-quality, fun educational toy that will keep toddlers entertained for hours. The magnetic tiles all feature Dr. Seuss’ iconic illustrations and can be used along with any other Magna-Tiles. Ages 3+. Not sure what to get the man in your life? Here are the best gifts for men who have everything.
LEGO DUPLO Town Amusement Park
Little hands will love the LEGO DUPLO Amusement Park set, as it offers all their favorite rides and attractions! The set includes seven DUPLO characters, two slides, a mechanical carousel, a Ferris wheel that actually turns, a push-along train, and lots of other fun features. Ages 2+.
Sense & Grow Sensory Textured Matching Game
Consisting of 52 uniquely textured and vibrantly colored cards that teach critical thinking, hand-eye coordination, and memory skills, tots will have a blast identifying the feels and colors and matching them together. Ages 2+.
TWEE Numbers Sidewalk Chalk
Owned and operated by two women in Philadelphia, TWEE specializes in handmade, eco-friendly, small-batch sidewalk chalk, sized for small hands and molded into adorable and creative shapes. This set of numbers chalk is perfect for aspiring artists learning how to count and includes one through nine. Ages 3+.
Dino Ranch Clubhouse Playset
If your tot is a fan of the new Disney Junior and DisneyNOW “pre-westoric” series Dino Ranch, they will love this Clubhouse Playset. The large playset offers nine built-in features, as well as one dino rancher figure, two small dinosaurs, and one free-wheel vehicle. Ages 3+.
Marble Rush Ultimate Set
If they don’t have a marble track, the Marble Rush Ultimate Set is a great gift for any occasion. It comes with 145 pieces of color-coded building materials, including a spinning Ferris wheel, a swirling cone that plays a musical light show, ramps, fast tracks, launchers, and bases that all easily connect together for small hands. Once constructed, they will have loads of fun watching the marble racing down the track. It can also be combined with other Marble Rush sets. Ages 4+.
LeapFrog Count-Along Basket & Scanner
Play food, shopping lists, an interactive scanner recognizing each food piece, and a basket that transforms into a rolling shopping cart are all part of this interactive set. The fish, carrots, strawberries, cake, bread, broccoli, and grapes play music and pipe up with unique phrases when scanned. Kids can also play games, sing songs, and learn to count with the device’s many features. Ages 2+.
Fisher-Price Disney Frozen Elsa’s Enchanted Lights Palace by Little People
Little Frozen fans will adore this tot-centric version of Elsa’s Enchanted Lights Palace. It features three levels for pretend play with lights, sounds, and songs, including the famous tune, “Let It Go.” It also includes Anna and Elsa Little People figurines plus two more play pieces. Ages 18 months to 5 years.
Slumberkins Yak Kid’s Book & Plush
Slumberkins are adorable and cuddly stuffed animals with a purpose. Via the book the plush yak teaches kids they are loved and accepted just as they are and reading the book together helps open up the conversation about feelings. Ages 3+.
Little Bridges Grandma & Me Explore Outdoors Activity Kit
The perfect gift for grandchildren, the Little Bridges Grandma & Me In The Kitchen Activity Kit provides everything needed for a special experience and meaningful conversations between grandparent and grandchild. The kit includes everything from an Outdoor Activity Journal and a child-sized drawstring backpack with a 24-page hardcover original storybook, A Busy Bee Life, to fun tools like a magnifying glass, paint pens, and sidewalk chalk. Ages 4+. Speaking of grandparents, don’t miss the best gifts for grandma.
hand2mind Numberblocks MathLink Cubes 1-10
Numberblocks, from the hit BBC television show, are a fun toy that helps kids learn how numbers work. This set includes 100 MathLink Numberblocks Cubes, 59 faceplates, 54 stickers, 11 numberlings, 11 character cards, 15 double-sided Write ‘N’ Wipe Activity Cards, and more. It can be used alone or to play along with the show. Ages 3+.
Scandiborn Le Toy Van Doctor’s Set
Online children’s store Scandiborn is always a great place to shop for thoughtful, clever, and sustainable toys. This Doctor’s set from Le Toy Van comes with everything they need to treat a “patient” including a toy stethoscope, thermometer, syringe, blood pressure gauge, ear scope, re ex hammer, scissors, and two medicine bottles, all of which fit inside an adorable vintage-inspired mini Doctor’s bag.
Fisher-Price Linkimals Cool Beats Penguin
A new release from Fisher-Price, Linkimals Cool Beats Penguin lights up and plays fresh tunes while dancing along, keeping babies and toddlers engaged and entertained. With the press of a button, the adorable aquatic flightless bird flaps its flippers and gets down to the tunes, while also introducing learning fundamentals like the alphabet and opposites. Ages 9 months+.
Fisher-Price 4-in-1 UltimateLearning Bot
The electric buddy can be broken down and put together and does everything from play music to express sounds and phrases, introducing them to letters and numbers. Infused with Smart Stages™technology, the bot grows with your child as you can switch up the learning content to best fit your child’s age and stage. 6 months+.
Learning Resources Spike the Fine Motor Hedgehog Fidget Friend
Spike the Fine Motor Hedgehog Fidget Friend is a great stress-relieving toy for tots. The portable fidget friend is enabled with six different fidget actions—spin the wheel, turn the crank, press the button, twist the knob, pull the plunger, and move the switch—helping kids improve coordination while keeping them calm. Ages 19 months+.
Thomas & Friends Trains & Cranes Super Tower
This one-and-done playset gift for Young Thomas & Friends fans brings the magic of the hit railroad show to life. Measuring at over 2 1/2-feet tall, the multi-level track is infused with all of the popular places and characters from the show. It also comes with a few trains, including a motorized Thomas engine, die-cast Percy engine, and Harold the helicopter. Ages 3+.
Polly Pocket Rainbow Funland Theme Park Playset
Polly Pocket Rainbow Funland Theme Park Playset brings the excitement of the amusement park into their room. With multiples rides and play areas along with Polly and Shani dolls, unicorns, and over 25 surprises, there is lots of fun to be had. Ages 3+.
Spirit Swing & Saddle Barn Playset
If your little one loves Spirit Untamed, the Swing & Saddle Barn playset is a great gift option. It includes everything needed to care for Spirit, including a large barn with a stable, clubhouse, feeding and grooming area and tire swing, a saddle, bridle, trough, mat, brush, grooming brush, 2 carrot horse treats and 2 apple snack horse treats, and of course, Spirit. Ages 3+.
Disney Pixar Cars Radiator Springs Mountain Race Playset
Ready to race? Disney and Pixar Cars fans can travel back to Radiator Springs with this race car playset, which includes many of the town’s favorite spots, including the Wheel Well Motel, Cozy Cone, and Flo’s V8. Lightning McQueen and Jackson Storm race each other down the ramp and spiral around the track all the way to the finish line. Ages 4+.
Scandiborn Legler Tool Belt “Miniwob”
This all-wood tool belt set from Legler is built for little construction workers (and parents who don’t like a whole lot of plastic around the playroom!) When your tot is done “building” all of the tools can be placed back in the tool belt, which they can wear all around town.
Ryan’s World Children’s Working Vacuum
Kids can practice cleaning right beside mom and dad, making it a great tool to help teach them the importance of chores. Unlike most toy vacuum cleaners, Ryan’s World Children’s Working Vacuum actually picks up dirt! The chord-free device is rechargeable, offering 1.5 hours of battery life per charge. Of course, it is also fun, playing music and lighting up for their little cleaning party.
Learning Resources Big Feelings Pineapple
Big Feelings Pineapple is a fun little toy to help little ones learn about sharing their feelings, teaching them social-emotional learning (SEL) skills with every face they make! Similar to Mr. Potato Head, it includes all the face pieces need to create so many expressions. It is also double-sided with the intention of teaching them about opposites. Ages 3+.
PAW Patrol: The Movie Ultimate City Tower
Is the tot in your life obsessed with the new PAW Patrol: The Movie? This three-foot-tall playset is the largest in Adventure City history and brings the set of the movie to life with interactive features including a light-up rescue ramp, command center, vehicle lift, and pup elevator. All six pups are included and can do everything from ride elevators and launch into action to go down slides. Ages 3+.
Melissa & Doug Let’s Explore Park Ranger Cabin and Boat
This Target exclusive brings the fun and excitement of outdoor camping inside of the home for young ones. Melissa & Doug Let’s Explore Park Ranger Cabin and Boat Play Tent set is easy-to-assemble and includes a four-foot-tall log-cabin fabric play tent and accompanying boat, with features curious minds will appreciate like a cooler pocket to store supplies, durable floor material, mesh windows, and a door flap that rolls up. Ages 3+.
Diversity Is a Superpower Book
It’s never too soon to start reading your tot a children’s book about diversity. This board book, written by Julie Merberg, helps teach babies and kids up to three about how uniqueness should not only be celebrated but can be an individual’s greatest strength. And who better to spread the message than DC Super Heroes?
Ergobaby Doll Carrier
Maybe there’s a new brother or sister on the way. Or perhaps they just love their baby doll or favorite stuffed animal. Either way, Ergobaby’s Doll Carrier is a fun way for tots to play along with mom and dad or just tote their favorite toys everywhere with them. Ages 18 months +.
Skillmatics Card Game: Guess in 10 Junior Animal Kingdom
One of the Top 5 card games on Amazon with 4.5 stars and over 12,000 reviews, Skillmatics card games are perfect for family game night, even when kids are too young to read. Guider Tiles can be used to ask up to ten questions like “Where does the animal live?” or “How many legs does the animal have?” to help guess the animal on the game card. Ages 3+.
Gratitude The Great Book
Another great book with an even better message for kids, Gratitude The Great is an all-inclusive story about a family that makes a gesture, which ends up going viral, giving them even more to be grateful for. Author Pamelyn Rocco offers prompts for both parents and children to invite gratitude into their lives. Ages 4 – 7.
Sago Mini Box Subscription
A creative gift for the tot who has everything, a Sago Mini Box subscription promotes developmental learning with activities that are sensory, exploratory, and constructive. Each month they will receive a new box with a different theme and includes three activities, all aimed at sparking imagination and creativity. The boxes, made primarily from recycled materials, even transform into a usable activity. Ages 3-5.
Bright Littles Convo Cards
If you are unsure of how to talk to your kids about current issues, Convo Cards are here to help. These 100 question cards and 25 activity cards encourage conversations about things that matter, tackling the five topics of diversity, health, safety, nature, and self.
Modi Toys Singing Baby Ganesh
Actress Mindy Kaling recently posted on Instagram about the Modi Toys in her #ProudToBeIndian series, revealing that she is teaching her daughter about the story of Ganesh with the help of their innovative dolls. Singing Baby Ganesh is a mantra-singing stuffed toy modeled after the Hindu deity. The company is an independently owned small business founded by a brother and sister, both immigrants and parents, who wanted to teach their newborn daughters about the beauty of their culture.
Madame Alexander My First Dolls
Before there was American Girl, Madame Alexander dolls were on every little girl’s wish list. The iconic doll company recently expanded their My First line, offering new skin tones and a new lavender sleeper color. Cute and cuddly, they are the perfect first baby doll for children. Ages 0+.
Artifact Uprising Baby Board Book
Artifact Uprising has created the perfect photo album for small hands and big hearts. This board book offers thick and durable pages that can be filled with family photos and stories for their enjoyment. You can choose from a few different themes and also how many pages you want to include. Ages 0+.
In Kidz Mindful Box
Not sure what to get a tot? The Mindful Box from In Kidz is an activity box curated to empower young children by giving them fun activities, games, books, and other tools to teach them about self-awareness, breathing, meditation, and gratitude. Choose from two sizes, regular and large. All ages, as boxes are curated accordingly.
Kindi Kids Bubblers
This baby does it all! From blowing ice cream-scented bubbles to giggling and singing the happy bubble song, Kindi Kid Poppi Pearl is ready to have fun with your tot. She comes with a bubble wand, feeding bottle, and her very own pacifier. And, in case you aren’t feeling like cleaning up a bubble mess, there is an “indoor mess-free mode.” Ages 3+.
