Toddler Must-Haves?

[Rockgirl]

Another toddler question, because for the first time in years, I will have a full group of one-year-olds.

I’m working on changing my playroom to be ready, and after removing the infant things, I realize my shelves are stocked almost exclusively with preschool items. Most have small pieces, or are too advanced for toddlers.

What are some toys/activities your younger toddlers love? I have duplos, knob puzzles, blocks, shape sorters, animals, cars, books, baby dolls, a kitchen, and ordered the soft climber in the pic. It sounds like a lot, but I like to have enough to rotate toys. Any suggestions?

[Blackcat31]

Buckets, baskets and anything they can fill and dump. My toddlers, young 3's love collecting all the items in sets (cars, Duplo figures, chunky animals etc) and putting them in buckets and baskets and carrying them around. Then they dump them out and start all over again.
They also like the bubble mirror, they spend a lot of time watching themselves, talking to themselves and making faces in the mirror

Books are another favorite (board and indestructible ones of course). Another favorite are things they can throw... I tried to fight it as I hate them throwing things inside but it's innate and something I can't avoid I guess so I just bought some super soft balls and sensory type balls and let them go at it. They do like to climb and hide under things.

The only issue I had with the climbing things like you pictured above was they liked to bite on the material and one little guy managed to bite a hole in the vinyl. I have yet to figure out a way to repair it.

I did buy some animal hoppers recently and they LOVE them! Helps get their energy out.

[Rockgirl]

Great suggestions—thank you! I just added two of the animal hoppers to my cart. I think they will love those!

I went back and forth on the climber, but ultimately decided it’s better than them s climbing and standing on the little couch and chair in the home center. I may remove those for awhile. Thanks for the heads-up on the biting!

[Alwaysgreener]

Warning they will fight over the animal hoppers.

DH found two while on a Sunday drive for free.. The kids fight over them, so I had hopping races from one side of the room to the other rotating who hopped.

[Alwaysgreener]

Check out Simplay3 and apply for their daycare provider discount. They have a set of steps that flips over into a four seat teeter totter.

Also check out green toys they're having sales on Amazon and their website.

[Rockgirl]

Thank you!

[SandBox]

I like green toys too and so do the kids. The big dump trucks and trash trucks are some of the favs. They are real easy to clean. You can hand wash them or stick them in dishwasher.

A set of farm animals. Dolls. Little People barn and house and the Little People. Blocks. Magnatiles, but wait until they are closer to 3 years old for these.

[SandBox]

I love that play corner too. I think that’s a great idea. Check reviews to see if it is easy to pick at and make holes. I bought a cute table and chairs with vinyl and foam a year ago and it looks 5 years old now. The kids managed to pick at the back of the chair and make holes and pull foam out. 🙄 but that toddler corner may be stronger.

[Rockgirl]

This one has really good reviews….I hope it holds up well. Thanks for the ideas!

[Alwaysgreener]

The foam stuff that I have gotten, they're called ECR 4 kids. I get them off from eBay, for the best price/discount, but they also have a website. I've never had a problem with any other product.

[Alwaysgreener]

You can also get gymnastic mats and balance beams are from Amazon for good prices that are great for this age. If you get a balance beam, foam one, get one that in half, so that you can turn it into a tunnel and place it in a doorway.