This post will provide you with the best toddler gift ideas, for ages 2 and up. These toddler gifts are Montessori friendly and encourage open ended play.
Most of these items I purchased when my now 8 year old was a toddler, so they have lasted well and proven to be great quality. They are all items that my 2 year old now loves to play with and use. Whether you are shopping for a Christmas or Birthday present, this list will provide you with a great range of ideas that come highly recommended.
With the environment in mind, I have chosen to feature toys and equipment that have less plastic wherever possible. A lot of these items can be found second-hand on places like Facebook Marketplace, Vinted, eBay or from thrift stores. Shopping local is always best, but for convenience I have included Amazon links for the UK and the US.
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This first section focuses on toddler gifts that encourage pretend play.
Ice Cream Parlour
This wooden ice cream parlour by Melissa & Doug is a much loved toy in our home. It’s proven to be really durable over the years and I’m yet to see a child that hasn’t been drawn to it when they’ve come over to our house to play.
Tea Set
Most toddlers love playing with tea sets. It’s great for encouraging open ended, pretend play. Just be warned that you will be forced to drink/slurp copious amounts of pretend cups of tea!
Cash Register
This wooden cash register is great for role playing shops and would make a great accompanying gift to the ice cream parlour or tea set above.
Baby Doll
These dolls by Tikiri Toys are ethically made in Sri Lanka and use organic materials. My daughter loves her Baby Aria doll. It is extremely well made and excellent quality.
The next section focuses on equipment that encourages movement and coordination.
Pikler Triangle Set
This is what my two year old is getting for Christmas this year. She loves climbing on things and taking risks, so I know she will enjoy using this in our living room. The triangle can be folded flat, so it’s easier to store away when it’s not being used.
Toddler Trike
When my daughter started resisting going in her pushchair we invested in one of these toddler trikes. She is always really happy to ride around in her trike and it’s been great for doing the school run and for trips into town. The push handle and hood can be removed when they get older and can peddle the trike on their own.
Leaning Tower
Toddlers love being next to you when you’re at the kitchen counter. These leaning towers are perfect for helping your child safely stand next you and get involved in things like preparing food and washing up.
Kitchen Tools
This set of knives are great for toddlers and young children who want to help chop up food. Sometimes if toddlers are involved in preparing the food they may be more inclined to try it, if they are picky eaters.
Baking Utensils
Most toddlers love baking. They can help with pouring, mixing and rolling. This set of mini baking tools help make it easier for them to be involved, as they will find these utensils easier to manage. Baking with your toddler is a great way to encourage independence, hand-eye coordination and gross motor skills.
The following section encourages creative expression through music and art.
Musical Instruments
This set of musical instruments is also on the list for my two year old this Christmas. Toddlers love exploring different instruments and the noises they can make with them.
Magic Touch Piano
I love this piano from Baby Einstein and Hape toys. It doesn’t have piano keys that you push down, you just gently touch the keypad and it plays the different notes. It’s really cleverly made.
Buddha Board
My two year old loves to paint with water on our Buddha Board. It’s a lovely calming activity for adults and children alike. I give her a small jam jar with some water in and she will sit for quite a while and paint marks on to the board. As the water dries the marks fade away, so the mess is minimal.
The following toys focus on building and construction.
Magna Tiles
We have had the same set of magna tiles for over 5 years now and my eldest daughter still plays with them most days. She makes anything and everything out of these tiles. They have mitigated the need for any dolls house, horse stable or any other structure. She is constantly creating something new with these tiles. My two year old enjoys lining them up and sticking one or two together at a time. I know as time goes on the way she engages with them will evolve, as it has done with my eldest daughter.
Wooden Blocks
A set of wooden blocks are another classic toddler toy. They love to build towers and then knock them down on repeat. As they get older they may attempt to build more complex structures.
This final section focuses on educational toys.
Wooden Number Blocks
This is a great toy to introduce your toddler to counting. Granted the counters get thrown across the room more often than not, but as you stack them back on to the pegs you can count out loud as you go.
Magnetic Solar System
This might seem like an odd choice for a toddler gift guide but, according to the Montessori philosophy of teaching, toddlers can be taught the concept of space and our place within the universe. This might seem like a lot for them to wrap their heads around, but it can be as simple as saying, “This is where we live, here on planet earth.” My toddler enjoys lining up the planets in a row and sticking them on to the radiators at home.
Threading Beads
Threading beads on to shoe lace strings is a great activity to help promote fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. The large beads in this set from Melissa & Doug are also great for stacking into towers.
I really hope you have found this toddler gift guide helpful. If so, please consider PINNING it for later!
If you are looking for stocking stuffer ideas please check out my post, Eco Friendly Stocking Fillers for Kids.
Thank you so much for stopping by!
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