So I started off gift guides this week with my list for babies and now we’re onto the tots! This is the age when you can get them really fun things and they’ll start to “get it,” you know what I mean? Then again, there’s a good chance they’ll love the box it came in just as much…but what can you do?! Either way, I have some tried-and-true goodies that will win over the climbers, the builders, and the little music makers in your life. Almost all of these have been fan faves with the Shaughnessy kids and I added some cool new ones that were just released! XO
1. Wooden Musical Llama / I love this little llama because it’s nice to look at AND offers up musical sounds that don’t drive me crazy. I’ll be honest, some music toys can get real old real fast but this one is seriously easy on the ears and has lots of instruments built into one toy.
2. Dollhouse + Furniture / This little dollhouse set is so stinkin’ cute, I cannot wait to get one for Grace when she’s a little older (best for ages 3 and up. Magnolia designed this classic-looking dollhouse that comes with the sweetest little furniture for inside, too.
3. Playkit Subscription / The Lovevery subscription is seriously such a great gift idea! If you haven’t heard, they’re stage-based play boxes that are perfectly curated for a child’s specific age and development. You can put in the child’s birthdate and they’ll tell you which kits would be appropriate for their upcoming months so you can choose up to a year’s worth of boxes; they even offer gift cards if you just can’t decide!
4. Wooden Fruit Set / Another favorite from Melissa & Doug that is perfect for kids 3-5 years old. We bought it with our play kitchen along with some of their other wooden food pieces if you’re looking for a whole foodie setup this Christmas!
5. Cleaning Set / I can only hope my kids like to clean as much as I do and this set has been a staple in our house. It comes with all the essentials so your little helper can do their part.
6. Toniebox / NEW TOY IDEA! This Toniebox starter set is an audio player for kids to get away from screen time and listen to music, bedtime stories and more. Cute color and character options to choose from (Disney, Paw Patrol, Sesame Street…) so other Tonies and accessories can be added separately. Such a cool idea!
7. Lego Duplo Set / I’m embarassed to say how many Lego have taken over our house but it all started with these, the OG classic Duplo set that got my kids hooked. Perfect for toddler hands and even now, our twins (18 mos) are loving them daily. This set comes with a bin for storage which totally helps with cleanup!
8. Sneaky Snacky Squirrel Game / This is a best-seller and a game that we’ve been playing for years. Best for ages 3+ but easy to play and teaches little ones to match colors.
9. Alpha Block Book / Part of the Abrams Block Book series, this is a super-fun take on ABCs that have lots of bright colors and clever pictures.
10. Color Mixing Blocks / These rainbow blocks have mazes with beads that make different sounds. Kiddos can stack, sort and learn shapes all at the same time.
11. Push and Play Walker / We love a good Radio Flyer wagon as much as anyone and we basically have a small fleet of riding toys for our kids. We had the original push walker wagon but recently saw this new version that includes a busy board on the front so it does double duty. It still has built in rear storage and functions with the resistance clickers to help begining walkers.
12. Dimpl Digits / Love this toy for hitting all the marks; sensory input, fine motor skills, number learning, counting and reading!
13. Pikler Triangle / Anything by Lily and River is truly a piece of amazing craftsmenship but their pikler triangle is super popular for good reason. It helps with gross motor development, promotes balance and strength but most importantly, wears out your toddler and provides lots of open-ended play! Bonus right now, their offering 15% off playsets, too.