Best Toddler Toy Gifts for the Holidays

By Kourtney Eidam and Karen Snyder Duke
September 12, 2010
Credit: Bryan McCay
Still don't know what presents to buy your toddler for the holidays? Check out these fun, affordable toys.
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Toddler Fantasy Castle Blocks

Credit: Bryan McCay

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

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Multi-Solution Shape Puzzle: Robot

Credit: Bryan McCay

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

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Classic Bumper Car

Credit: Peter Ardito

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

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Poppin Shapes Aquarium

Credit: Bryan McCay

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

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Drop & Slide Fun Farm

Credit: Bryan McCay

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

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Parents Stow & Go Activity Cart

Credit: Peter Ardito

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

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Wonderworld Rolling Rainbow

Credit: Bryan McCay

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

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Weebles Musical Treehouse

Credit: Bryan McCay

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

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Push-Along Frog

Credit: Bryan McCay

Your toddler will get a kick out of showing off his walking skills while making this cute frog "hop" in front of him. 19 months+; $20; plantoys.com

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My Dolly

Credit: Bryan McCay

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

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Spin'N Sorter

Credit: Peter Ardito

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

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Duplo Play with Numbers

Credit: Bryan McCay

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

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The Very Hungry Caterpillar Wood Pull Toy

Credit: Bryan McCay

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

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