Ultimate 2024 Toy Guide: Best Gifts for Kids Ages 1-4

Skill Focus: Auditory processing, rhythm, coordination

This instrument set brings out your toddler's inner musician, allowing them to explore different sounds and rhythms. Playing instruments helps toddlers develop auditory skills and rhythm, and each instrument offers unique sounds, encouraging them to experiment and listen actively, which is a foundation for language and listening skills.

Link: Available on Amazon

Pictured: Ehome Toddlers Musical Instruments

Skill Focus: Cognitive skills, tactile engagement

Infants and toddlers love Ms. Rachel! This plush and interactive learning box is perfect for little hands. Its soft textures invite children to explore with their fingers, and the surprise elements stimulate curiosity and encourage parent-child interaction. This toy supports early problem-solving and cognitive development by fostering tactile and sensory play.

Link: Available on Amazon

Pictured: Ms. Rachel Official Surprise Learning Box

Skill Focus: Gross motor skills, spatial awareness

The Cozy Coupe is a classic that has stood the test of time! Perfect for outdoor or indoor play, it gives toddlers a chance to improve their gross motor skills by pushing, scooting, and maneuvering. It also promotes independence as children learn to steer and navigate around obstacles.

Link: Available on Amazon

Pictured: Little Tikes Cozy Coupe 30th Anniversary Car

Skill Focus: Cause and effect, hand-eye coordination

This hammer toy brings endless fun as toddlers hammer balls through holes and watch them reappear. It’s perfect for developing an understanding of cause and effect and builds hand-eye coordination with every tap. It’s an interactive way to teach the basics of physics while keeping little hands active.

Link: Available Here

Pictured: Hammer Away!

Two-year-olds are primed for pretend play and early cognitive challenges. The toys in this age group introduce them to skills like sorting, counting, and imaginative play, expanding their understanding of the world around them.

Skill Focus: Dramatic play, fine motor skills

This toy cart inspires imaginative grocery shopping and incorporates matching puzzles to build early math skills. It encourages fine motor development as children fill the cart with toys or play foods, imitating real-life experiences and enhancing creativity.

Link:  Available on Amazon

Pictured: Melissa & Doug Wooden Shape Sorting Grocery Cart

Skill Focus: Early math skills, fine motor skills

Two-year-olds love pushing buttons, making this cash register perfect for them. It introduces numbers and counting, while the drawer and coins offer a “fill and dump” experience, which is naturally satisfying for toddlers and supports fine motor skill development.

Link:  Available on Amazon

Pictured: Learning Resources Pretend & Play Calculator Cash Register

Skill Focus: Problem-solving, creativity

This timeless block set is perfect for open-ended play, allowing toddlers to build, stack, and knockdown structures. Building with blocks promotes problem-solving, hand strength, and spatial awareness, supporting more complex creative play as they grow. I particularly like the Melissa and Doug set because there are a good number of blocks with various shapes and sizes. This is a good investment which you can build on as they grow.

Link:  Available on Amazon

Pictured: Melissa & Doug Standard Unit Solid-Wood Building Blocks

Skill Focus: Social-emotional skills, imaginative play

Toddlers love to mimic adults, and this doctor kit lets them step into the role of a caregiver. It encourages empathy as they “help” others feel better and promotes imaginative play, which is important for developing emotional intelligence and understanding social roles. This kit contains a real stethoscope and I like the fact that it has dentist’s tools also. I also like the sturdy carrying case where you can store everything to make clean up easy.

Link: Available on Amazon

Pictured: Learning Resources Pretend & Play Calculator Cash Register

Skill Focus: Imaginative play, storytelling

This charming treehouse toy, complete with interactive features like a working elevator, allows children to create scenarios with small figures, encouraging storytelling and creative thinking. It’s a throwback that adds warmth and wonder to any playroom. This was one of my favourite toys as a child! I still have it and my kids played with it too! The best part – the working elevator!

Link:  Available Here

Pictured: Timber Tots Tree House

Video Playlist: The Best Toys

At three, children begin to explore their creativity more freely and enjoy toys that challenge their coordination and problem-solving abilities. These toys allow for open-ended play, encouraging imagination and early STEAM skills.

Skill Focus: Gross motor coordination, creativity

Bilibo is a wonderfully versatile toy that can be anything a child imagines—from a spinning seat to a turtle shell to a helmet. This open-ended toy strengthens gross motor skills and coordination while sparking creativity, as children discover endless ways to play with it.

Link:  Available on Amazon

Pictured: Moluk Bilibo (Red)

Skill Focus: Spatial awareness, STEAM skills

Magna Tiles are magnetic building pieces that encourage children to construct towers, houses, and shapes by connecting the magnet tiles. This toy develops fine motor skills and spatial awareness while allowing creativity to flourish as children experiment with different configurations. I like this kit because it contains a lot of pieces – you need a lot of pieces to create!

Link:  Available on Amazon

Pictured: Magnetic Tiles. Magnet Building Set. 110 PCS

Skill Focus: Fine motor skills, imaginative play

This realistic excavator and dump truck set inspires imaginative play in sand or dirt, giving children hands-on experience with scooping, digging, and hauling. Perfect for budding builders, it supports motor skills and hand strength.

Link:  Available on Amazon

Pictured: CAT Construction Toys, 15" Tough Rigs Excavator, Super-Sized Kids Outdoor Toy

Skill Focus: Balance, gross motor skills

An ideal introduction to ride-on toys, this tricycle promotes balance and gross motor skills. With its adjustable seat and push handle, it grows with your child, helping them gain independence as they build coordination and confidence.

Link: Available on Amazon

Pictured: Radio Flyer Classic Red Dual Deck Tricycle

Skill Focus: STEAM skills, exploration

A science kit for young explorers, this set includes basic tools that introduce children to observation and experimentation. Encouraging curiosity, it’s a wonderful way to introduce the scientific method in a playful, hands-on way. This kit contains all the essentials your little scientist will need!

Link: Available On Amazon

Pictured: Learning Resources Primary Science Deluxe Lab Set

Four-year-olds are ready for toys that foster early learning in STEAM, creativity, and social skills. These toys introduce them to concepts like engineering, photography, and exploration while promoting physical activity and independent play.

Skill Focus: STEAM Engineering skills, problem-solving

This gear kit is an engaging introduction to STEAM skills, as kids build structures and test how gears move. Perfect for budding engineers, it supports critical thinking, problem-solving, and fine motor skills.

Link: Available on Amazon

Pictured: Learning Resources STEM Explorers Machine Makers

Skill Focus: STEAM Scientific exploration, fine motor skills

This magnet kit provides children with hands-on experience with magnetic forces, encouraging scientific exploration in a way that feels like pure fun. This kit contains many different types of magnet wands to explore with.

Link: Available on Amazon

Pictured: Magnet Movers Set

Skill Focus: Communication skills, social skills

Walkie-talkies encourage children to communicate with each other, promoting social skills and teamwork. It’s perfect for group play, sparking imaginative adventures as they explore and talk from different rooms or areas. These are great quality and we even use them within our daycares to communicate between classrooms.

Link: Available on Amazon

Pictured: NXGKET Walkie Talkies for Kids

Skill Focus: Creativity, fine motor skills

A digital camera is a great way for young kids to explore their creativity and capture memories without the risks that come with a phone. A simple digital camera lets children explore, capturing their world in a way that encourages creativity. The design is easy for little hands, making it a great introduction to visual storytelling.

Link: Available on Amazon

Pictured: Compact Small Photography Camera for Kids

Skill Focus: Balance, coordination

A scooter is ideal for four-year-olds who are mastering gross motor skills. The lean-to-steer design encourages balance and coordination, while also helping them build strength and body control.

Link: Available On Amazon

Pictured: Unbreakable & Never Fall Down 2-in-1 Scooter

Mud kitchens are simple setups with dirt, water, pots, pans, and utensils, where kids can mix, pour, and create all kinds of "meals" and "potions."

This open-ended play fosters language development, motor skills, and social interaction.