Gifts that Grow: Toddler Christmas Gifts for Development & Play

Gifts that Grow: Toddler Christmas Gifts for Development & Play


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As the holiday season approaches, finding perfect toddler Christmas gifts can be an enjoyable challenge. You want to choose toddler toys that are not only fun but also foster development and learning. Here are some unique toddler toys that are sure to delight and engage little ones while supporting their growth. Here are some of our recommendations when choosing toddler christmas gifts!

Development for Toddlers

If you are looking to for "educational" toddler Christmas gifts, it helps to know more about toddler development at this age and for the coming year. During those adorable toddler years, little ones are like tiny sponges, soaking up growth in all sorts of ways! Physically, they’re busy honing their fine and gross motor skills—think stacking blocks like a pro or scaling the jungle gym like a mini Tarzan! Meanwhile, their brains are buzzing with cognitive development, tackling puzzles and diving into the world of imaginative play like pint-sized detectives.

Language skills are blossoming as they expand their vocab and chat up a storm with grown-ups and buddies, all while spinning tales and pretending to be superheroes. And let’s not forget the social and emotional growth, where sharing toys and playing group games teaches them the art of cooperation and empathy—cue the doll tea parties and team treasure hunts!

All these developmental adventures are like a web of interconnected awesomeness, nurtured by the right toys and activities that spark curiosity and exploration. It's all about laying down that solid foundation for their future growth, one giggle and block stack at a time!

Christmas Gift Ideas for Toddlers

Play Food

Play food sets are essential tools that unlock a world of imagination for toddlers, transforming them into miniature chefs and grocery experts. Featuring an array of colorful fruits, vegetables, and realistic kitchen gadgets, these engaging toys turn cooking into an exciting adventure. Beyond fostering creativity, they also facilitate vocabulary development as children become familiar with the terminology of their culinary environment.

These play food sets make great toddler Christmast gifts and are sure to be a favorite for some time, perfect for sparking joy in imaginative play. They also set the stage for delightful tea parties, where children can gather their friends for a charming afternoon of pretend dining. With a variety of delicious treats at their disposal, little ones can practice social skills and share their culinary creations, making every tea party a memorable event. Prepare for an enriching and enjoyable experience in the realm of pretend cooking!

Benefits of Play Food:

  • Encourages pretend play and storytelling
  • Enhances vocabulary and language skills
  • Teaches basic math concepts like counting and sorting

Cheese Chopping Board

Cheese Chopping Board

$28.00

Bring a little 'cheese' to your play kitchen with this charming cheese chopping board! Crafted from wood in the shape of a mouse, this board includes a mousey cheese knife, a baguette in 3 parts, an Edam cheese in 3… read more

Chocolate Birthday Cake

Chocolate Birthday Cake

$25.00

Treat your loved ones to a sweet celebration with this chocolatey birthday cake – complete with 6 candles, a festive plaque, and a natural wood plate! It's all the fun without any of the mess. Eco-friendly and totally delightful –… read more

Minnie Mouse and Friends Tea Party

Minnie Mouse and Friends Tea Party

$36.00

Gather around for some sippin’ and gigglin’ with the Green Toys Disney Baby Minnie Mouse and Friends Tea Party! This nine-piece set comes with a tea pot with Minnie lid, a serving tray, three 3D cups and three edible-looking treats… read more

Food And Beverage Set

Food And Beverage Set

$25.00

Bring your pretend play to life with our Food & Beverage Set! All the yummy treats you could ever want, plus the perfect drink to wash it all down - orange juice, water, milk, ketchup, jam, and honey - all… read more

Stacking Toys & Blocks

Stacking blocks are the perfect toddler Christmas gifts, packed with fun and learning! These colorful blocks help little hands build fine motor skills and strengthen those tiny fingers as they stack and play.

As kids grasp and balance the blocks, they also boost their hand-eye coordination—watch out, world! Plus, building towers teaches them all about gravity, balance, and even a sprinkle of engineering magic.

Every time they stack and topple, they’re not just having a blast; they’re learning resilience and problem-solving too. So, this holiday season, give the gift of stacking blocks, where playtime turns into a playful adventure of skills and giggles!

Benefits of Stacking Blocks:

  • Develops problem-solving skills
  • Promotes creativity and design thinking
  • Improves hand-eye coordination

Monster Stacker

Monster Stacker

$25.00

Can you stack up these cute little monsters in different ways? Great for children to develop their fine motor skills, and to recognize colors and emotions. It also comes with a drawstring bag for easy storage and transport.  Age range: 3 Years… read more

Wooden Tower 10c Stacker

Wooden Tower 10c Stacker

$15.00

Achieve tremendous tower success with this super stacker! This 10-piece wooden set features an eclectic array of shapes and colors to inspire imaginative, creatively-constructed masterpieces—and develop those fine motor skills too. All Cubika toys are made of eco-friendly wood from… read more

Ants Picnic Stacking Game

Ants Picnic Stacking Game

$15.00

Elevate playtime with BeginAgain's Ants Picnic Stacking Game! Designed for ages 2 and up, this vibrant and eco-friendly stacking game combines fun and learning. Watch little ones explore colors, hone fine motor skills, and unleash their creativity as they stack… read more

Fairy Tale Blocks

Fairy Tale Blocks

$40.00

Build the enchanted castle of your dreams with Fairy Tale Blocks! This 35-piece set includes a prince, princess, horses, carriage, and a variety of colored and non-colored blocks for you to mix and match. Girls (and boys!) can create their… read more

Construction Vehicles 

As they push and pull their miniature machines, children develop crucial motor skills and hand-eye coordination. These toys also introduce basic physics concepts, such as motion and force, as little ones explore how their actions affect the movement of their vehicles. The vibrant colors and realistic details of construction vehicles captivate young minds, keeping them engaged and excited about playtime.

Additionally, playing with construction vehicles can spark an interest in engineering and mechanics, planting seeds of curiosity about how things work. So, when selecting gifts this holiday season, consider the joy and educational value that construction vehicle toys can bring to your toddler's world. They are not just toys; they are tools for building a foundation of learning and imagination.

Benefits of Construction Vehicles:

  • Encourages imaginative play
  • Builds knowledge about vehicles and machinery
  • Supports motor skill development

Dump Truck

Dump Truck

$30.00

Get hauling, and leave those carbon emissions in the dust! The Green Toys Dump Truck is made from 100% recycled plastic milk containers, so you can save the planet while you get the job done! With a workable dumper and… read more

Construction Vehicle 3 pack

Construction Vehicle 3 pack

$50.00

Budding builders can have a blast creating and playing with the Green Toys Construction Vehicle 3 pack! The fleet includes 1 Scooper, 1 Mixer, 1 Dumper, and a Construction Dog each made in the USA from 100% recycled plastic —… read more

Construction Site Magnetic Play Scene

Construction Site Magnetic Play Scene

$20.00

Build the ultimate construction site with our Construction Site Magnetic Play Scene! With 40 magnetic pieces, two scene sheets, and a durable recycled box, it's an adventure of creative fun (complete with some busy animal workers). Crafty kids ages 3+… read more

Push Around Tractor

Push Around Tractor

$10.00

Ready to roll! This push around wooden tractor is perfect for active toddlers, with easy-to-grab styling that's as strong as it is lightweight. So get ready to hit the barnyard; your little one will get a kick out of this… read more

Dolls

Through their interactions with dolls, toddlers can explore various social scenarios, building a deeper understanding of the world around them. This imaginative play not only enhances their emotional intelligence but also helps them develop essential social skills as they learn to care for and communicate with their dolls.

Moreover, dolls often serve as comforting companions, providing toddlers with a sense of security and friendship. They can become pivotal in helping children navigate new experiences, like welcoming a new sibling or adjusting to a daycare environment. Dolls are versatile tools that foster creativity and empathy, making them excellent choices for a meaningful toddler Christmas gifts that support a toddler's emotional and social development journey.

Benefits of Dolls:

  • Fosters emotional development and empathy
  • Encourages caring and nurturing play
  • Supports social skills development

Christmas Doll Riley Brown Hair

Christmas Doll Riley Brown Hair

$22.00

Riley is a Tikiri Bonikka Holiday Special Edition Doll.  Beautifully dressed for the holiday. Riley is 15" and has a embroidered face. Her special dress is beautiful with sequins around the neck, green tie around the waist. Ages 0+ months… read more

Joe - Boy in Blue Jeans

Joe - Boy in Blue Jeans

$30.00

Joe is a soft boy doll and is the cool kid on the block. He is fun and loveable and wears trendy denim dungarees with a cord hat and pumps with white socks and white t-shirt. Joe is dressed and… read more

Katy - Dark Brown Hair with Pink and Seagreen Dress

Katy - Dark Brown Hair with Pink and Seagreen Dress

$24.00

Part of our Dames Collection, sweet and gorgeous Katy loves adventures with her friends, tea parties, and dressing to impress. Size: 15.7in Age Recommendation: 0+ months Safe- Non-toxic Sustainable toys which are biodegradable Plastic Free  Socially Responsible Manufacturing Features: Soft… read more

Doll Family

Doll Family

$20.00 $25.00

Meet your new Doll Family! This 4-figure set is seriously sturdy, with all solid-wood heads and torsos, plus bendy wire arms and legs so you can create all sorts of poses. Plus, these dolls are perfect for any PlanToys dollhouse… read more

Puzzles

Puzzles encourage children to recognize patterns and develop spatial awareness, which are crucial skills for their cognitive development. As toddlers piece together each part, they experience a sense of accomplishment and confidence that boosts their self-esteem. The variety of themes available—from animals to vehicles—ensures that you can find a puzzle that captures your child's imagination and keeps them engaged.

Puzzles also provide an excellent opportunity for family bonding. Solving puzzles together fosters communication and teamwork, making playtime both educational and a cherished family activity. This holiday season, consider gifting a puzzle that promises not only to entertain but also to enrich your toddler's growing mind.

Benefits of Puzzles:

  • Enhances problem-solving and critical thinking
  • Improves hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills
  • Teaches patience and perseverance

Ouch! Puzzle

Ouch! Puzzle

$20.00

12 pieces puzzle to learn about how we are made! What makes us hurt and what makes us better.   Age range: 3 Years And OlderProduct size: 8.27 x 8.27 x 0.39Weight: 0.57 lbs… read more

Jigsaw 2pc Puzzle, What Animals Eat 12 Puzzles

Jigsaw 2pc Puzzle, What Animals Eat 12 Puzzles

$8.00 $10.00

Bring learning home with the What Animals Eat Duo Puzzle! This fun set of 12 two-piece puzzles will have your little one solving and learning in no time! Match up the animals with their favorite meals – from the obvious… read more

Garden Magnetic Puzzle

Garden Magnetic Puzzle

$20.00

Your toddler can wow their friends with this Garden Magnetic Stacker Puzzle, featuring eight magnetic wooden pieces to form a picture-perfect brainteaser! Get ready to hone shape recognition and matching skills like never before. Sturdy eco-friendly wood construction, great addition… read more

Alphabet Wooden Tray Puzzle Multi-Language

Alphabet Wooden Tray Puzzle Multi-Language

$25.00

Expand language learning with this Multi-Language Alphabet Tray Puzzle from Petit Collage! Featuring 26 chunky wooden shaped letters & icon sheets for English, French, Italian and German - just lift 'em up and switch 'em out. 'A' is for Apple… read more

These toddler Christmas gifts are not only entertaining but also educational, making them ideal choices for this festive season. By selecting gifts for your toddler that stimulate curiosity and learning, you're not just giving a toy; you're providing a stepping stone for growth and development. 

So, this Christmas, let your gifts inspire creativity, learning, and joy in the little ones' lives!

Shop more great educational toys for toddlers here.

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