The 25 Best Toys for 1-Year-Olds To Support Their Growth and Development

With clear photographs set on bright, bold backgrounds, this board book set will introduce your 1-year-old to their first 100 words and animals, plus colors, shapes, and numbers. The books are just the right size for little hands to hold and flip the pages. Caregivers particularly like how thick the pages are since they can withstand little ones chewing on them all the time.

When you’re using this book with your little one, try interactive reading. Rather than simply reciting the words on the page, dig a little deeper and use the book as a tool: narrate and describe what you see, make up stories and ask questions (even if your baby doesn’t respond, answer them yourself!).

Your tot will never get bored of this toy — there are so many ways to play with it. He can sort the different food blocks (like a square sandwich) using the shape sorter on the top, put the accessories in and take them out, plus pretend to have a picnic. The picnic basket also plays songs and says the names of each food. What’s more, all the play pieces neatly fit inside for seamless storage.

Stacking cups are a classic baby toy for a reason. Your 1-year-old can nest them inside each other, build a tower with them and bring them into the bath for fun water play. This set boasts fun, bright colors with numbers on the bottom to help your child learn how to count and do basic math and measuring concepts. Parents will love that they’re easily portable and come with a lower price tag than other toys.

This brightly colored wooden puzzle features jumbo-size knobs that are easy for little hands to grasp and play with. Pictures under each piece help 1-year-olds figure out what goes where, and your little one can work on his hand-eye coordination skills by putting the pieces in place. It also grows with your tot: Once your 1-year-old is a pro at this puzzle, you can combine it with another so he can try solving both puzzles at once.

It’s pretty much a fact of life that all little kids love to push buttons, spin dials and flip switches. This interactive toy lets your tot do all that and more, plus helps him figure out cause and effect (I push this button, that happens). Five sides of play let your cutie discover shapes and animal names and sounds, plus explore interactive features that help develop his fine motor skills. Parents will appreciate that it automatically turns off when not in use to preserve battery life. And as always, when you’re playing with the toy, prioritize interaction together — narrate the letters, make up songs related to the animals, point out shapes or colors and more.

These chunky crayons serve as the perfect introduction to creative artistic expression for your child. The ergonomic design is easy for 1-year-olds to pick up and start scribbling with — and the thick shape makes them almost impossible to break. Made of 100 percent beeswax, these 12 crayons produce bright, rich colors that’ll delight your budding artist (and as a bonus, give off a sweet, subtle honey scent). You’ll love that the crayons are washable in case your tot is inspired to scribble on walls. To top it all off, the beeswax used to make these popular crayons is a natural by-product of honey production, which causes minimal impact on the environment, according to the brand.

The sky’s the limit with these building blocks, an age-appropriate precursor to Lego that encourages motor skill development for 1-year-olds. The amount of time my kids spent building towers, knocking them over and rebuilding them as toddlers is incalculable. Even if your little one isn’t quite building structures yet, they’ll enjoy emptying the (included) storage bag and picking up all the blocks. The set comes with 80 blocks of all shapes and colors, in sizes perfect for little hands.

It might be a few years before your 1-year-old starts playing beautiful music, but watching your child’s face as they bang out a tune on this xylophone is well worth it. Your little one gets a chance to work on fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination and more while pounding away on this colorful instrument.

The toy’s top shelf has three balls they can tap with the included hammer to hit the keys, though the hammer is not attached with a string, which some parents prefer so it doesn’t get thrown or lost. The xylophone and balls can also be removed to play with each separately, so it’s more open-ended than other musical toys. It’s made with water-based paint and has non-toxic finishes, so it’s a safe choice for your little one.

This walker-wagon hybrid is designed to grow with your little one, serving up fun for years to come. Your 1-year-old can start off pushing toys in the wagon to practice walking and, as they grow, the wagon converts to a ride-on toy that helps your toddler master the foot-to-floor motion. Later on, you can also convert the ride-on toy into a scooter. It can be used indoors or out, and there’s also a button at the front for a headlight and fun sound effects. While it’s a larger toy to store, the design is flat-out adorable and the benefits are numerous.

This cute bird is the ideal plush toy for little ones to play with. One-year-olds will love opening the pelican’s bill and feeding it an assortment of squeaky, crinkly aquatic delights — then watching as the food drops into its belly. The repetition helps young toddlers work on their motor skills and showcases cause and effect as they learn how to care for their cute feathered friend.

This updated take on the classic wooden pull toy sparks new walkers’ imaginations. Your sweetie can take his puppy for a stroll, plus teach it "tricks" like sitting or standing, all while working on his dexterity, hand-eye coordination and manipulation skills. The rubber-rimmed wheels are easy (and quiet) on your floors, too.

This fun, friendly octopus is sure to spark your sweetie’s budding imagination during bathtime. But what he’ll really love is practicing grabbing the floating rings and placing them on the octopus’s tentacles, which helps promote hand-eye coordination. You’ll love that it doesn’t have any small holes to let in water, so it’s easy to keep clean. (Note that while this toy is recommended for little ones 18 months and older, several reviewers say their little ones enjoyed having the octopus around for bathtime before that point.)

When asked what keeps their little ones entertained in the car and on long flights, most parents in the WTE community recommend crinkle books like this one. And I agree: My sons had several different crinkle books that I could attach to the stroller handle or throw in the diaper bag to keep them occupied while out of the house. This soft book features bright, colorful sea creatures with a variety of textures to grip and a large baby-safe mirror inside. It’s machine washable, so it’s easy to clean, but some parents noted that the mirror gets cloudy after washing.

Your child can never read too many books. And books that explain things to toddlers — for example, what happens at the doctor’s office or on the school bus — are particularly good for parents to read.

That’s why so many families love this classic going-to-bed book by Sandra Boynton. The story follows a boat full of animals as they get ready for sleep — by brushing their teeth, putting on their pajamas, turning out the light and rock, rock, rocking to sleep. Zzzz.

Sized for little hands, the Fat Brain Dimpl is popping up everywhere — pun intended! The sensory toy features five brightly colored silicone bubbles that, when “popped,” appear on the opposite side. BPA-free, this can challenge their fine motor skills while teaching cause and effect.  It has all the appeal of bubble wrap, but can be used over (and over and over) again.

Plenty of activity centers — and toddler toys in general — feature bright colors and blinking lights. So this beautifully built, underwater-themed activity center, with its solid construction and soothing blue colors, is a welcome change for 

for parents who want to keep their 1-year-old entertained without noise and lights. The toy features bead sliders, spinning gears, clacking clams and other moving parts to keep your toddler’s hands busy. While it can be used while your child sits or stands, it is not specifically designed to support pulling up on, so make sure to keep an extra eye on them.

This turtle-shaped ball pit from Melissa & Doug recaptures all the fun of a public ball pit, minus the germ exposure. While my kids didn’t have this exact style of ball pit, we had something similar and I can attest to the hours of entertainment they got from playing with, throwing, and chasing the balls.

This ball pit is shaped like a giant turtle, which, when unzipped, holds 60 colorful balls. It also features holes that baby can push the balls through and a non-slip surface. The turtle has a non-slip bottom, feet that crinkle, silky fabric tags and more, making it much more than a ball pit toy.

Busy boards — which sport locks that can open and close, or doors that latch and unlatch — are an  entertaining way for 1-year-olds to hone their fine motor skills. The VTech Latches & Doors Busy Board is shaped like a small house, complete with windows and doors that open and close with various locks and latches. Behind each window and door is a picture of a family, pet or birthday party. Bonus: The toy also plays songs, including alphabet and number songs.

When considering toys that are developmentally appropriate for 1-year-olds, Dr. Suskind says, “simple toys are best” — and it doesn’t get much simpler than this shapes puzzle. Each of the five wooden pieces — a square, circle, rectangle, oval and triangle — has a sturdy peg in the center, which makes it easier for tiny hands to maneuver.

This toy is also a fantastic toy to play with together. Dr. Suskind emphasizes the importance of caregivers playing with their child. “While there is absolutely value to be found in independent play for little ones, we don’t want it to come at the expense of brain-building interaction with adults,” she says. As your child picks up each piece of the puzzle, you can point out the shape (“This one is a triangle, this one is a square”) or the color and show how each one fits into the board. Even better, lots of reviewers say this simple yet effective toy holds up well to toddler play, making it a toy to keep for the years to come.

If you remember the corn popper from your childhood, rest assured: Fisher-Price is still making them. The beloved childhood toy, which was first introduced in 1957, now sports a sleek new look with colorful balls that pop as it’s pushed along the floor (good for teaching cause and effect). Once your tot starts walking, this is one toy he won’t want to put down.

Even as a boy mom, my sons loved baby dolls as toddlers. “Parents can (and should!) throw any preconceived notions of gendered toys out the window — toy cars and trucks and dolls are incredibly engaging across genders,” Dr. Suskind says. 

A super soft and snugglable baby doll is ideal for encouraging 1-year-olds to play in a way that models the world around them, like caring for a baby. These Wee Baby Stella dolls — which, at 12 inches long, are just a “wee” smaller than the uber-popular Baby Stella dolls — are available in three different skin tones and feature different hair colors and styles. It’s just the right size for your baby’s first companion. 

It’s hard to pinpoint exactly why toddlers love play tunnels so much, but the fascination is real. Plus, tunnels are more than just fun — they can also encourage your little explorer to work his arms and legs as he crawls through it.

This play tunnel from Hide N Side features a mesh side (good for playing peekaboo) and can be folded into a compact circle that can be easily stored and toted around just about wherever you go.

My family didn’t have ample space for ride-on toys when my kids were little, but the Radio Flyer Busy Buggy is one we made (and kept) room for. “At this age, kids love to engage in an activity that creates a direct effect,” says Dr. Suskind, explaining that a push walker like this one is an example of a toy that will stimulate a 1-year-old’s blossoming skills. Similar to what several WTE community members describe, my boys played with this for about five or six years after my oldest received one for his first birthday. It’s compact and lightweight, but because it has a variety of ways to play, including sensory toys all around the outside of the car, it’s endlessly entertaining. 

What kid doesn’t love bubbles? The clever design of Fubbles No-Spill Bubbles means toddlers can tip, drop, or shake it without spilling, so they can easily play independently and there’s no mess for parents to clean up. The wand has a large handle that’s great for small hands. My kids loved playing with these bubbles and I loved never having to clean up spilled bubbles!

Hours of fun can be had with this water table that basically turns your backyard into a mini-waterpark for your 1-year-old to enjoy. With multiple interactive elements including spinners, buckets, and a rain shower effect, it engages curiosity as tots splash and practice fine motor skills as they pour and splash. It does take up space, but it’s big enough for a few toddlers to play, making it a hit for playdates or siblings. The sturdy design can handle enthusiastic splashing, and parents love that it’s easy to set up and clean.