Christmas is just around the corner, and you have a toddler on your list this year. You might be asking yourself, “What gifts are perfect for toddlers?” Toddlers can be hard to shop for! Like what do they really want? Here is a list of the perfect toddler gifts this Christmas. Most of these are tried and true experiences and toys that my own twins absolutely love and play with day after day!
So, if you have a toddler on your list, maybe your own toddler, maybe a niece or nephew or a grandchild, then you need to keep reading! These perfect toddler gifts will be sure to excite the little one in your life!
I’ve also tried to make shopping as easy as possible for you this year! So just click on the links, add them to your cart, and ta-da! Shopping complete!
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Perfect toddler Gifts that will last longer than a new toy!
A lot of the time, toddlers have nearly every toy under the sun already! So what can you get your toddler this year instead of toys? Well, I’m glad you asked! Here are a few ideas for the perfect toddler gift that isn’t a new toy!
- A Zoo pass for the upcoming year. Let me tell you, this is my #1 favorite gift that my toddlers received last year. We had so much fun visiting the zoo this past year! And we could go as many times as we wanted, which means we could use the promise of a zoo trip if the kids were good!
- Date Days. And you thought date nights were only great gifts for adults… Not so!! My toddlers know that when Mommy and Daddy go out on a date, it’s a special time. They would love to have a date day of their own!
Need some ideas:- Lunch and a pottery painting date
- Kid themed Board and Brush or Paint and Stain date day. Our local Board and Brush has special, kid-focused events from time to time. This would be a perfect gift!
- Movie date
- Trampoline Park
- Ice Skating
- Mani/Pedis
- Lessons – Swim lessons or horse riding lessons or gymnastic lessons. Whatever your little one is into!
- Family pass to a local kid-centered museum, like Science Central.
- Subscription boxes– I love subscription boxes for anyone and everyone on your shopping list! This is a gift that keeps on giving all year long! For toddlers, some of the best boxes are The Preschool Box, We Craft Box, Orange Art box, For Purpose box, and Hoot for Kids.
Toys toddlers will love
Yes, toddlers love toys, so lots of people love to give toys. But what toys are they sure to play with day after day instead of winding up at the bottom of the toy box, lost in forgotten toy land? These toys are sure to provide hours of play, plus help to foster learning and development too!
- Fisher-Price Little People Houses or Barns
- Mess Free Drawing and Coloring! The Magnetic Sketch Pad and Water Wow coloring books allow your toddlers to express their creativity without the fret of coloring or marking on walls, furniture, or anything else that shouldn’t be colored on!
- Baby Alive or Baby Dolls- Toddlers love to mimic adults! Baby Alive will help your toddler to develop their nurturing skills.
- Melissa & Doug Let’s Play House! Dust, Sweep & Mop Set-Let your toddler learn household chores and responsibility by helping you around the house!
Toys for outside
Winter time can be so hard for moms and dads with toddlers cooped up in the house day in and day out. Just because the weather is cold and snowy doesn’t mean toddlers can’t get outside and play, at least for a little bit! Here are some ideas on toys for outside play, both in the winter and summer time!
- Snow shovels for kids. Okay, so you might be thinking, why would a toddler want a snow shovel? Well, let me tell you, the twins each got a snow shovel for Christmas last year, and it has been one of their favorite outside toys all year long! They shoveled snow, then rocks in the driveway, then leaves.
- Sno-Art Kit– Let your toddler take their creativity outside!
- Snow sled– Perfect for sledding down hills or being pulled by Mom or Dad.
- Snow Man Kit– Everything you need to make a perfect snowman, minus the snow!
- Power Wheels– If this are in your budget, your toddler will ride this around outside for hours! It didn’t take my 2 year old son long to figure out how to steer his and pop it into reverse even!
Imaginative play toys
Toddlers love to use their imagination! Whether it’s mimicking Mom and Dad, building cars and houses out of legos or hauling sticks and stones in their dump truck in the yard, these toys are sure to entertain your toddler while helping them to develop their imaginations, small and large motor skills and their interactive play skills with friends or siblings.
- Play House or Kitchen
- Lego Kits
- Doctor Kits
- Cooking Play Set
- Tonka Trucks
Travel Gifts
- Sleeping bags– Whether for an overnight stay at Grandma’s, a family vacation or just a camp out in the living room, your toddler will love a character sleeping bag!
- Suitcase– Bonus if it has wheels so Mom or Dad doesn’t have to carry it!
- Sleeptime Lites– These are great for overnights away from home, but also for scaring away any bedtime monsters by lighting up the room if they wake up in the middle of the night! I got my twins each one of these and my hope is that they will help them to stay in their own toddler beds at night instead of coming to Mommy’s bed!
Just a few more ideas
- Marshmallow couches– My twins LOVE their couches! They are also fold out into a bed for lounging and watching TV!
- Art Easel– This easel includes paper for drawing, a chalkboard and dry erase board!
- Leap Frog LeapTop Touch– This can act as a tablet or a laptop! These are perfect for home or in the car. My twins love to work on their computers when Mommy is working on hers too!
- Little Tikes Twister– Remember how much fun you had on a Sit-N-Spin as a kid? Yep, they’re back, but updated of course! My twins have one of these at Mimi’s house and they love it!
So there you have it! The ultimate list of the perfect gifts for toddlers this year! I hope this list has helped you complete some of your Christmas shopping, stress free!
I’d love to hear from you, too! Let me know in the comments below what you’re planning to get the toddler in your life and if there are any other must-have toddler gifts that I may have missed!
Merry Christmas, from my family to yours!
With love, Amanda
You may also like:
The Ultimate Gift Guide for the Busy Mom
Holiday To-Do List
Family Christmas Traditions
I’m so glad that you emphasized ‘experiences’ more than gimmicky toys!