Creative Gift Ideas for Toddlers

Looking for creative gift ideas for the toddlers in your life? We have lots of recommendations for open-ended building sets, puzzles, games––and of course, art supplies too

Updated October 2024

Finding the perfect present can be hard! This year, let us help you out with the ultimate list of creative gift ideas for toddlers.

This is such a special age when imaginative play begins to emerge and kids learn so much about themselves and the world around them. Play is, of course, their most important “work,” and gifting is such a great opportunity to provide our kids with the best tools possible for the job.

When deciding what to gift a toddler, we recommend focusing on toys and activities that are creative, open-ended, and encourage imaginative play.

This type of gift is most likely to grow with your child, adapting to them at different ages and phases of development.

After years of experience with our own kids and in early childhood classrooms, we’ve come up with a fantastic list of creative gift ideas that we’re sure your kids will love!

Creative Gift Ideas for Toddlers

These gift ideas for toddlers are perfect for kids aged 2 and up. Of course because these toys and activities are so open-ended, they work for kids of many different ages!

Wooden Blocks

This is a toy that will absolutely grow with your child! Basic wooden blocks are fantastic for open-ended play. Ours have been used as roads for cars, habitats for dinosaurs, castles for princesses… and so much more!

Play Scarves

Play scarves are maybe the one “toy” that got the most use for the most years at our house. They can be used for blankets, costumes, forts… anything your child can imagine!

Wooden Rainbow Stacker

These wooden stacker toys don’t just look beautiful sitting on a shelf; they’re also fantastic for open-ended play!

Stable with Horses

Toddlers love taking objects “in” and “out,” so this stable with horses is a great choice! We also love this unicorn stable for a magical twist.

Dinosaur Set

A dozen dinosaurs ready for all kinds of adventure. These are great for imaginative play outdoors, inside, or even in a sensory bin!

Musical Instrument Set

A nice set of wooden instruments (complete with a storage bag) that will be enjoyed for many years.

Tempera Paint Sticks

These washable tempera paint sticks are basically magic. They are so satisfyingly vibrant and easy to use. Plus, they dry in 90 seconds and work on just about any surface!

Colorful Droppers

Trust me on this one. These colorful droppers will get so much use at your house! Art projects, science experiments, and even bath time will instantly get a thousand percent more fun.

Colorful Dot Markers

There’s just something about dots! Toddlers love to “stamp” with these fun markers.

Versatile Crayons

Easier to use and more vibrant than regular crayons, these drawing tools are very sturdy and worth the extra investment. You can brush with water to let the colors blend like paint, and are so fun for kids to use on windows or mirrors!

Masking Tape

A roll of masking tape will give your toddler hours of entertainment. So just imagine how much they’ll love eleven rolls in the colors of the rainbow!

Puppy Markers

These puppy markers are just too cute! Designed to be easy to grip, we love how they double as adorable play animals. Micador has a few other varieties like this fun barnyard or jungle edition!

Big Paper Rolls

Your toddler will love doing HUGE artwork on a long sheet of paper! A roll like this will last forever and give hours of enjoyment.

Rainbow Blocks

We love these rainbow blocks as a fun addition to any basic building set. They’re especially fun to play with beside a sunny window!

Simple Peg Dolls

Peg people allow your toddler’s imagination to take the lead in creative play. These people could be characters from their favorite stories, family members, or neighbors. We love how this rainbow set encourages sorting and pattern play as well.

Color & Shape Puzzle

A simple puzzle like this one from Hape Toys helps build color and shape recognition. Even better? Kids can use the puzzle pieces as stacking blocks too!

Food-Safe Tea Set

This tea set has it all: it’s made from durable silicone, features gender-neutral colors, and is even dishwasher safe. Perfect for sparking imaginative play with tea parties, picnics, sensory play… or even bath time!

Tumbling Mat

Tumbling mats are perfect for pulling out on a rainy day and burning off some energy. They also make fantastic walls for blanket forts!

Pretend Tools

Toddlers love to tinker, and we love a sturdy wooden set like this one that comes with enough pieces to keep them happily poking, twisting, and hammering!

Bath Building Toys

These colorful suction toys will make bath time and water play extra fun for your little one!

Ramp Racer

I’ve never met a toddler who didn’t absolutely love a ramp racer like this one! The cars flip as they race down the ramps, mesmerizing little and big kids alike. I especially love how colorful this one is!

Cleaning Tools

We’ve had this cleaning set for many years and it’s held up great! I love that it sits compactly in any corner and the tools are high quality enough to actually clean.

Kinetic Sand

Kinetic Sand is such a fun sensory material! We especially love this beach set when we’re feeling stir crazy in the middle of winter, but you can also just get a big bag in your favorite color!

Sensory Table

This is such a fun small and sturdy sensory table, the perfect height for little ones to stand and explore! We love how this one doubles as an art table as well.

Construction Trucks

Perfect for sand boxes, sensory bins, the beach or the backyard, these little construction trucks are sure to get a lot of playtime!

Dollhouse

We like a dollhouse like this one with a simple design that doesn’t take up too much space. The open sides make it easy for multiple kids to play simultaneously, and the basic design lets your child’s imagination do the hard work. We also love a dollhouse like this one that can double as a bookcase or display shelf as kids grow.

Doll Stroller

A stroller like this one is not just for dolls! Your little one will love pushing it around the house with every stuffy they own. I especially love that this one has a storage basket on the back and comes in some unique patterns. Too cute!

Soft Babies in a Basket

This soft doll set is gender-neutral, inclusive, and just sweet as can be. The clothes can be taken off and switched around, encouraging your little one to work on those fine motor skills, and the basket really takes the fun to a whole new level!

Doctor Kit

This simple doctor’s kit is the perfect size for small hands. Expect many checkups in the future!

Magnetic Picture Set

Perfect for quiet times, this magnetic picture set comes with a convenient carrying case that fits all the pieces right inside. I love that this can grow with your child, adding the extra element of the puzzle book as they gain skills!

Simple Board Game

A cooperative board game like this one is such a fun way to introduce your young child to a different way of playing! Race to the Treasure is designed for kids as young as 2, and everyone works together to beat the ogre. (Check out more fun family games HERE)

Cash Register

Just like all great open-ended toys, a cash register can be a central player in all kinds of imaginative play: grocery store, restaurant, office work, farmer’s market, pet store… your kids will come up with a myriad of fun ideas!

Nesting City Blocks

We love these nesting city blocks for a huge variety of pretend play. They’re also great for stacking, sorting, lining up… you’ll be amazed at how versatile they can be!

Play Food

It’s all too easy to go overboard in the play food department, but a few quality pieces can go a long way! Find a set like this one with a bit of variety and let imagination do the hard work.

Wooden Train Set

A basic wooden train set can truly provide hours of creative fun for your kids! Adding some extra track pieces can really expand the play as well.

We hope you found some helpful ideas in our list of creative gifts! Check out the links below to find more great suggestions for gifting this season.

More Creative Gift Ideas

• The Last-Minute Stocking Stuffer Shopping Guide
• Creative Gifts for Kids Who Love To Build
• Even More Stocking Stuffers for Kids
• Musical Gifts for Kids

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