Who says blocks have to be boring? Your kid can use the different shapes and patterns for endless building fun. Bonus: The set is beautiful enough to display in your living room. 2 years+; $30; educo.com
A great first puzzle, the set comes with a placement board to give your child guidance, but he also has the freedom to arrange the pieces in a variety of ways. 2-6 years; $20; pkolino.com
Swivel wheels make this ride-on easy for even the youngest toddlers to maneuver. And when she does bump into things, it triggers seven funny sounds. 1 to 3 years, $60; radioflyer.com
The usual shape sorter gets a sea-creature makeover with this portable toy. Press the oval and it turns into a crab, the square becomes a clownfish, and so on. 2 years+; $20; intplay.com
Knock the balls down the slide or barn chute with a chicken-shape mallet in this revamped pound-a-ball that's sure to get a giggle or two from your toddler. 1 year+; $25; step2.com
An activity cube and a push toy rolled into one, this Parents-brand, multilevel plaything offers four sides of fun, from twirling beads to shape sorting to a basket for carting dolls or pretend food. 1 year+; $85; manhattantoy.com
We're not exactly sure why, but watching tiny shapes roll down the tracks is oddly fascinating (for kids, too). And it's super affordable for a high-quality wood toy. 18 months+; $38; smartgeartoys.com
The wobbly toy from the '80s is making a big comeback. Kids will crank the Weebles up the fort to watch them slide down over and over again. 18 months; $30; playskool.com
These darling multicultural plushes are soft, sweet, and huggable. Most importantly, the little girls will be able to identify with how they look and dress. 12 months+; $9 each; auroragift.com
Chunky blocks are great for little builders. But we were sold by the storage bucket's shape-sorting slots, which offer a smart way to get your child to clean up. 12 months+; $20; megabloks.com
Not only does this building set encourage your little one to use his imagination and fine-motor skills, it also incorporates numbered blocks to help him learn how to count. 2-5 years; $25; lego.com
Small enough for indoor use, this portable playground features a slide, steering wheel, foldout stop sign, and wheels that double as color, number, and letter lessons. 1-4 years; $100; littletikes.com
Based on Eric Carle's classic book, this pull toy will get your toddler moving, if only to watch it slink along. He can also twist and turn the pieces of its body. 12 months+; $18; kidspreferred.com
