50+ Open Ended Toys for Toddlers

Buying gifts for toddlers can be hard. They are learning and developing so quickly, that it can be difficult to find toys to hold their attention and that they won’t outgrow in a few months.

For this reason, the toys on this list are very intentional. They are mostly open ended toys, meaning that they can be used many different ways and encourage creativity and imagination. The other great thing about open ended toys? They will grow with your child! Unlike some of the more popular battery operated toys that only hold children’s interests for a few moments, these toys will be used and loved by your little one for years to come.

Below you will find different categories of toys ranging from stocking stuffers, to arts and crafts, to building toys and more. I personally buy 1-2 items from each category for my son for Christmas so that he has a variety of different types of toys to play with.

All the toys below are linked to Amazon and are affiliate links, which means that our family earns a small amount at no cost to you. Thank you for your support!

Imaginative toys for toddlers:

Pretend, or imaginative play, is so important for toddlers’ physical and cognitive development. It teaches problem solving, empathy, communication, social skills and so much more! Here are a few different toys to help foster these skills:

Wooden Train Set: This is a great basic “starter” train set. Henry loves playing with the “choo choos” at the library so I know this will be a hit. I was surprised to see how inexpensive they were too!

Wooden Tool Set: This tool set is great for imaginative play as well as fine motor skills! I also love this tool belt.

Wooden Doll House: Dollhouses are a classic toy that are great for encouraging imaginative play. I love that this one is wood and comes fully furnished!

Family Doll Set: Doll house or not, this family of dolls is fun for creative role playing.

Fisher Price Medical Kit: Doctor kits are great for helping reluctant toddlers feel more comfortable at the doctor- not to mention that they can be used with dolls, stuffed animals and younger siblings as patients 😉 If you would prefer a wood option, this one also has great reviews!

Animal Figurines: Henry LOVES playing with toy animals and I love that they can be used in so many different ways and for years to come. There are tons to choose from but I love this Safari animal set that comes with the babies as well as this dog family set.

Baby Doll Set: If you are a girl mom, you have no shortage of cute dolls to choose from (and likely already have a few!) but I wanted to share this boy doll gift set for all the boy moms out there!

Melissa and Doug Wooden Playsets: They have a Farm & Tractor Playset as well as a Town Playset that are fun to play with on their own or with a car mat!

Mr Potato Head set: Mr. Potato head is a great toy for fine motor skills, teaching the names of body parts AND the pieces can be used in lots of other ways (in play dough for example!)

Car Play Mat Rug: Fun to use with cars, blocks, dolls and more!

Wooden Play Kitchen: What kids don’t love playing with a pretend kitchen? While certainly more of an investment, I know this is something that will get LOTS of use.

Pretend food: Even if you don’t want to invest in a kitchen, pretend food is still fun for toddlers to play with! We’ve found the Learning Resource brand to be good quality.

Little Helper Broom Set: Anyone else have a little one who loves to sweep?! After knocking enough things over with my full size broom, this set was a must for Christmas this year.

Easy Playhouse: This isn’t a toy that would last forever, but reviews say it is surprisingly durable and I think it would be so fun for little ones to decorate!

Puppets: Puppets are great toys to encourage communication and imaginative thinking. We have these puppets and they have been a favorite for a long time now!

Fine motor toddler toys:

As a teacher, trust me when I say that fine motor skills are SO important for your child to learn. Learning to use their hands & developing hand eye coordination, will help them learn life skills such as using a zipper or buttons, tying shoes, writing properly, using scissors, playing sports and so much more.

Lock a Block: I love the simplicity of this shape sorter as well as the key component. Henry is really into trying to unlock things with my keys right now so I think he would LOVE this. (For older kiddos I love this Key & Car Rescue or the Vet Toy Playset!)

Buckle Toy: There are LOTS of cute buckle toys to choose from, but I like this one because it also has a zipper! Henry loves zippers and buckles so I know he would love this! Plus it is great for strengthening those fine motor skills.

Fine Motor Tool Set: I got this for Henry’s stocking. They will be great to use in sensory bins with dry pasta, rice, water, etc.

Animal Nesting Dolls: Henry really likes opening and closing containers, so I think he will love these! A simple toy that teaches about matching, size, comparing and so much more.

Melissa & Doug Stacker: Henry has loved this toy from a year on. It is great for hand eye coordination and fine motor skills and as they get older they can practice sorting by shape and size.

Lacing Toy: A fun way to learn real life fine motor skills.

Montessori Peg Board Set: This set has lots of uses: sorting, lacing, stacking, color identification and more.

Gross motor toddler toys:

Gross motor skills are the ability to use the large muscles in your body. Examples include running, jumping, climbing, kicking, throwing, balancing, coordination, etc. The following toys encourage movement and activity which is not only great for expending energy, but for developing these important gross motor skills as well.

Little Tikes First Slide: I know it’s not always that convenient to have a slide in your house, but as far as slides go, this is a pretty compact version. Where we live, we won’t get to go to the playground until spring so this is in an inexpensive way to encourage some physical activity inside. Once the weather becomes nicer it can become an outside toy!

Collapsable Corn Hole Game: I don’t know about your toddler, but mine LOVES throwing. He has played corn hole at a few different events and loved it, so I know he would love to have his own at home!

3 in 1 Tent with Tunnel & Ball Pit: A tent, tunnel or ball pit are all great gift ideas for toddlers but I love that this one is all three in one-at a low price too! (And it is collapsable for easy storage!)

You are a Lion! Yoga Book: I’ve used the cute book with all ages of kiddos and they have all loved it! It would be fun to introduce some of the poses to your toddler and see them improve as they learn new gross motor skills!

MOLUK Bilibo: This is a new to me toy, but after reading the thousands of great reviews on Amazon I think we will add it to Henry’s list this year! It can be used many different ways, from sitting, to spinning to imaginary play.

Sit & Spin: If you’re looking for a more classic sit and spin toy then this is it! Who else remembers playing on one of these as a kid?

Melissa & Doug Bowling Set: I love that this can be used to “bowl”, but that the animal pins can also be played with separately!

Toys to encourage building:

Playing with blocks is an AMAZING way for your toddler to learn through play. We have several different types and rotate them every few weeks. Playing with blocks encourages problem solving, early math skills, imagination, fine and gross motor skills, spatial awareness, language skills and more. Here are some of our favorite types:

Jumbo Cardboard Blocks: I had these as a kid and my brother and I loved them for years! Henry also has them and also loves them! I love the big size, yet they are lightweight due to being made of cardboard. Click here for a more neutral option.

Picasso Tiles: Magnetic tiles are such a fun toy for all ages. This brand has great reviews and is less expensive than its competitors.

Mega Blocks or Lego Duplo: Another classic toy that is will get used for years!

Foam Blocks: Foam blocks are a nice option if you are looking for some quieter blocks 😉

Wood Blocks: You can’t go wrong with classic wooden blocks!

Bristle Blocks: Another fun block variation!

Other favorite toddler toys:

STEM Magnetic Animals: These are such a fun way to introduce magnets to your toddler! They can practice matching animals or mix them up.

Poke-A-Dot Books: These are SO much fun for toddlers and good fine motor practice too!

Hape Pound & Tap Bench with Slide out Xylophone: If you don’t already have this toy I highly recommend it! Henry has played with it consistently since about a year old. I love that it can be used in several different ways.

Vtech 100 Words Book: I’m not normally a huge fan of plastic toys with batteries BUT I have a few friends who rave about this book and how much their littles enjoy it. I think it would be a great toy for in the car or independent play. Henry does have the Vtech Rhyme & Discover book and loves it!

Magnetic Fishing Game: So much fun! This version has many different sea creatures labeled with their corresponding letter. I love that it comes with a basket to store it all.

Magnetic Fishing Puzzle: This fishing puzzle is another fun option with the added skill of completing the puzzle once all of the fish are caught!

Melissa & Doug Hide & Seek Puzzle: Another one of Henry’s most played with toys! He loves opening the doors and removing & matching the magnetic pieces underneath. It’s also a great toy to take with you when you travel! They also have a farm version.

Arts & Crafts for Toddlers:

Melissa & Doug Easel: This is definitely an item that toddlers can grow into, but Henry has liked “drawing” on his cousin’s easel since he could walk!

Kwix Stix Paint Pens: These are great for little artists because they don’t require any brushes or water and are much less messy than traditional paint!

Paint smock: This paint smock is designed for the littlest artists, as young as a year old! Add some finger paints and you have a fun and easy gift!

Dot Markers are another fun option for toddlers. These are washable and designed specifically for little hands!

Jumbo Coloring Pads: These are huge and I love that they open vertically!

Stocking Stuffers for Toddlers:

Melissa & Doug Reusable Puffy Stickers: Puffy stickers are amazing for toddlers! Because they are raised, they are easier for little fingers to use AND they are reusable.

Schleich Animal Figurine: I love Schleich animal figurines, but they are pricey if you buy the whole collection at once. I plan on adding 1-2 animals each holiday/birthday.

Toob Animals: These mini animals are great quality and are fun to use in sensory bins or to take in the car, to a restaurant, etc.

Wooden Animal Magnets: Magnets have so many uses. We use them most often in the kitchen and traveling on a baking sheet!

Dimpl: This toy seems so simple, but is so fascinating for toddlers! Another great toy for the carseat or stroller. This keychain version looks like a good on-the-go option as well!

Water Painting Flashcards: These cards are similar to the Melissa and Doug Water Wow toys, but on “flashcards” instead. All you need is water to “paint”!

Sensory bin/craft materials: I’m also going to be including some items like, pom poms, pipe cleaners, jumbo beads, etc to use throughout the year in sensory bins or different crafts.

Whew! That’s it! I hope you found some fun gift ideas that your toddler will love. Thank you again for your support in shopping through my links. Happy holidays!

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