This Older Toddler Toys and Activity Guide is a must-have reference and starting point for selecting developmentally appropriate toys (DAP) and activities for children 24 through 35 months. The key to choosing older toddler toys is understanding their basic abilities and preferences as they grow. These abilities and preferences are important in attracting and motivating older toddlers and two-year-olds to engage with toys because true learning and retention only come through engagement.
So, how do we pick the right older toddler toys? This is where we need to look at age as a GUIDELINE to selecting toys. The U.S. Product & Safety Commission (CPSC) and international ASTM are the organizations that oversee toy regulations and keep products safe for our kids. They have developed these regulations by categorizing toys by the child’s age. However, the age was determined by the abilities and preferences of typically developing children, and it is well known that children develop abilities at different rates. So, as you select toys for your child, please look at age as a guide and abilities and preferences as a better indicator.
From the moment they are born, infants start acquiring information from their physical senses, learning from what they see, hear, touch, taste, and smell. Ideal child development is based on feeling safe, secure, and loved, which is true for toddlers. This Older Toddler Toys and Activities Guide will take parents through toys and activities for their babies from twenty-four through thirty-five months, going through physical, cognitive, language, and social-emotional development. It is based on early childhood whole-child education, which allows children to learn in many different areas simultaneously. Play is important in helping an older toddler achieve important developmental milestones. So, what exactly does play look like for an older toddler twenty-four through thirty-five months old?
Table of contents
What Play Means for Older Toddlers and Two-Year-Olds:
Pretend Play is well established for older toddlers from twenty-four through thirty-five months. They can perform social roles like mommy, daddy, or baby. Role-taking becomes a bigger part of their social play, and their pretend play becomes more elaborate as they use a variety of objects to carry out longer episodes. They become increasingly interested in color variations and in using simple art materials. They understand the purpose of numbers in counting objects. Their gross motor activity increases, and they enjoy balancing, climbing, running, jumping, throwing, catching, pushing, or pulling objects.
Older Toddler Toys
Toddlers between twenty-four and thirty-five months can manipulate simple mechanisms like large hooks, buttons, or buckles, but they might struggle with small buttons or snaps. They enjoy physical activities such as somersaults, dancing, twirling, and galloping to music. Although they can kick and throw a ball, their control is not yet fully developed. They can perform simple screwing actions and can use simple one or two-turn wind-up mechanisms. They are attracted to more realistic toys and tend to prefer colors other than bright primary colors. Their interest in television and television characters is growing and being incorporated into their play themes. They often ask “why” and can start to use simple educational toys to learn.
Older Toddler Activities
Dressing and undressing, brushing teeth, and putting on shoes are some basic self-care skills toddlers need to learn. While some children may not be able to tie their shoes or fasten hooks and loops at first, with practice, they can master these skills. Additionally, directional games can help teach children to follow and imitate simple directions, such as putting a book on a table or sitting on the floor. A simplified version of “Simon Says” can be a fun and effective way to help children develop these skills.
Toy Categories for Older Toddlers and Two-Year-Olds
This website has categories set up for children of all ages. Older toddler toys and activities should be chosen according to the child’s abilities rather than their age. Research has shown that abilities develop at different rates and are difficult to distinguish into defined play categories. Your child may excel in one play area and seem to be delayed in another play area. This is typical development. It’s good to try plenty of different play activities with your baby. This gives your older toddler or two-year-old many ways to learn about their world.
Educational Play
Books:
Older toddlers and two-year-olds have a fondness for hearing the same story repeatedly. They tend to remember stories and may even recite them later. They tend to ask questions about the story and enjoy simple pictures with fewer details. Having their own book and looking at it is something they cherish. They love listening to nursery rhymes and repeating them with adults. Pop-up books and books with pictures hidden behind windows and doors fascinate them. They also start to show awareness of print and understand that there is more than just pictures on the page.
The books for toddlers this age should be easy to grasp (4-8 inches), no more than 6-8 inches in any direction, and no more than 10-12 pages long. They should be light, sturdy, cardboard, cloth, or light plastic. Paper books should have heavy paper pages. The older toddler’s fine motor skills are developing, and they work carefully not to tear pages. They are starting to understand simple cause-and-effect relationships, which makes interactive books appealing. Books with things to lift, open, or slide are attractive and cognitively stimulating. Pages with bright colors such as yellow & red, high contrasts and patterns will grab their attention. Pictures should be simple, clear, and represent familiar objects, animals, or people. Tactile books that enable the young toddler to interact and explore are appealing.
- Plastic-coated foam books
- Cloth books
- Board book
- Simple picture books
- Nursery rhymes
- Simple ABC and number books
- Interactive books
- Tactile Books
- Books with rhymes, rhythm, and repetition
- Simple vocabulary and storybooks
- “Touch Me” books
- Pop Up Books
- “Dress Me” books
- Hidden picture books
- Predictable stories
Educational Products
Older toddlers and two-year-olds have the cognitive and physical ability to interact with simple learning products. Toddlers at this stage are beginning to understand simple concepts like “two,” “on,” “under,” and “after.” They can recognize, identify, and name common objects, pictures, and shapes. They can also remember past events, concentrate and focus on tasks, and attend to as many as three directions at once.
- Simple electronic-teacher toddler toys
- Learning products that teach colors, shapes, picture/object names, animals, letters and sounds, and numbers activated by buttons or child’s hand
- Matching games
Educational Technology
Older toddlers and two-year-olds can hold interest when electronic toys are energetic and rich with sensory elements like music, moving characters, blinking lights and speech. Software that requires simple responses from the child is perfect. At this age, toddlers enjoy having experiences repeated over and over.
- Simple smart toys
- Sing-along software
- Electronics that teach colors, shapes, letters, sounds, and numbers.
- Matching games
- Story-line software
- electronics that are related to transportation, animal, and place themes
- Connecting with family and friends over video calls.
Building Play
Blocks:
Older toddlers and two-year-olds need lightweight wood or plastic blocks that are easy to grasp. Heavy blocks should be avoided to ensure safety when knocked over. The blocks should be 2-4 inches, and the set should have about 15-25 pieces. Some sets could be magnetic, where young toddlers can stick the blocks together. Toddlers can stack blocks, which will be explored with trial and error. Knocking down block structures is typical, and they loved this better than stacking.
- Plastic block
- Soft plush blocks
- Sponge blocks
- Rubber-like blocks
- Light-weight wood blocks
- Talking blocks
- Problem-solving blocks
- Nesting toys
Interlocking Building Blocks
As older toddlers and two-year-olds fine motor skills develop, they will begin to manipulate objects and join interlocking pieces. Their interest in exploration and problem-solving through trial and error is emerging. Although their fine motor skills are more developed, they will need help joining simple connecting systems that can be easily stacked or snapped together in a non-systematic way. The size of the blocks should be 2-4 inches, and the set should include 20-30 pieces. Older toddlers and two-year-olds are beginning to develop simple screwing action, but NOT other types of coordination such as fitting a bolt in a flat piece of wood or attaching a nut.
- Duplo Lego Sets
- Snap-lock beads
- Large, chunky interlocking bricks/blocks
- Brick blocks
- Large interlocking bricks/blocks
- Waffle blocks
- Interlocking foam puzzle mats
Arts and Crafts Play
Toddlers and two-year-olds enjoy marking on paper and are beginning to love scribbling. This activity helps develop their hand-eye coordination and improve their grasping ability. However, since they still explore objects orally, it is important to be cautious of crayons and other items entering their mouth. At this stage of development, their representational and symbolic play is emerging, and their behaviors are becoming more goal-directed. The older toddler and two-year-olds are refining their fine motor skills and can move fingers independently of each other. They can also distinguish colors and express themselves non-verbally through simple drawings, such as angled shapes, circles, and crosses. They are unable to use scissors with blunt ends. The art process is more important during art creation than the end product. The tools should be rounded, lightweight, and sturdy without sharp edges. Dark colors are easier for the toddler to see.
- Large crayons
- Washable crayons
- Spherical crayons
- Large easy-to-grip markers
- Animal-shaped chunky markers
- Large sheets of paper
- Easels for young toddlers who can stand well
- Writing pads with gel that record impressions using a stylus or the child’s finger
- Playdough (with supervision)
- Stickers
- Blunt-end scissors
- soft modeling clay or dough
- non-toxic finger paints
- Pre-gummed sticky pads for large items to be stuck to.
Music Play
Musical Instruments:
Older toddlers and two-year-olds are naturally inclined towards music and are particularly drawn to multi-sensory elements. Music is critical to language development and communication skills. The older toddler is refining their fine motor skills, and now their fingers can move independently. It’s important to choose music items that are small enough for older toddlers to handle and easy to grasp. The edges of the objects should be rounded to avoid any sharp edges that could cause harm. Additionally, the toddler toys for music should be made of lightweight, soft, sturdy, and washable material with all colors, not just bright and high contrast.
- Tambourines
- Blocks for scaping and tapping
- Triangles
- Rhythm sticks
- Novelty musical instruments, including multistep horns and chunky whistles.
- Bells and chimes
- Small lightweight tambourines
- Rattles and shakers
- Finger play songs
- Drums
- Bongs
- Xylophones
- Simple music sets
Music Technology
Older toddlers and two-year-olds use technology that stimulates their senses through features like music, moving characters, blinking lights, and speech as they grow. Music is critical to language development and communication skills. They can discriminate sentence tunes and imitate sounds and sound sequences. The older toddler likes to perform dances and somersaults, they enjoy singing sounds to music. they like singing along in nursery rhymes and songs. They prefer sounds within the range of human voice frequencies, while low tones are soothing and high tones are agitating. Repetitive, gentle rhythms such as heartbeats and acutely enunciated speech sounds are pleasing to infants, while abrupt, loud noises or changes in volume can cause distress.
- Audio that includes language that can be imitated
- Lullabies, simple songs, rhythms, nursery rhymes
- Gentle, predictable sounds played at low volumes.
- Music Boxes (wound by parent or caregiver)
- Interactive music toys and smart toys that are activated by button-pressing
Pretend Play
Dolls and Stuffed Toys:
Dolls and stuffed toys designed for older toddlers and two-year-olds should be simple and have 2-4 sturdy pieces that will not break or pull apart. All edges should be thick and round, without hard corners or projecting parts. They should be made of soft, pliable, and washable material. The doll should have a friendly face with highly contrasting hand-sewn or molded facial features, including eyes that move or blink.
The doll’s clothes for toddler toys should have large openings for easy dressing and undressing, with large buttons, hooks, and touch fasteners. The size should be ten to sixteen inches, ultra-lightweight, no more than six to twelve ounces, for easy grasping and support in the air. The colors should be vibrant, with reds and yellows, and highly contrasting, such as black and white, with basic patterns. Older toddlers are interested in pastels and other colors. The young toddler is starting to understand cause and effect, such as pushing producing sound, lights, or action.
- Simple dress-me dolls
- Combinations such as mother and baby (human or animal)
- Accessories for the doll such as bottle or blanket
- Toys activated by pressing a button
- Small dolls (baby, bean bag, rag dolls)
- Washable rubber baby dolls
- Small stuffed or plush animals
- Music dolls
- Stuffed Toys
Puppets
Older toddlers and two-year-olds are now able to carry lightweight puppets which look authentic. They are developing fine motor control but still have limited dexterity. Puppets for older toddlers should have large enough openings for easy hand access, have a length of 8-12 inches, and be lightweight up to 4-8 ounces. The material should have soft textures. There should be contrasting facial features, especially with the eyes. The puppet toddler toys should be simple, realistic, and be familiar with characters or animals without many features.
- Simple sock puppet
- Mitten puppet
- Finger puppets
Play Scenes
Figurines and play scenes for older toddlers and two-year-olds should lightweight up to 4-8 ounces. The material should have soft textures and contrasting facial features, especially with the eyes. These figurines should be simple, realistic, and be familiar with characters or animals without many features. Toddlers of this age are not ready for cartoon or fantasy figures and play scenes.
- Small, simple, familiar, and realistic play scenes such as kitchens, farms, gas stations, airplanes
- Simple pop-up scenes like fire trucks
- Simple play sets like those that have vehicles with small figures.
- Little people
Dress Up
Older toddlers and two-year-olds are imitative and demonstrate simple pretend and symbolic thinking. They value independent exploration and will push adults or other children away. Dress-up materials should have thick, round edges and a sleeveless, slip-on costume design. Jewelry should have non-elaborate shapes. These dress-up items should have rich, vibrant colors with soft textures.
- Costumes with large buttons, buckles and hooks
- Simple costumes
- Handheld mirrors with a fantasy theme
- Simple wigs
- Necklaces, bracelets with low tension elastic (NO earrings or rings)
- Hair accessories (scarves, clips)
- The string should be braided or plastic
- Wooden or plastic beads ( up to 20)
- Dresses, hats, gloves, shoes, snap-on ties
- Beads (up to 20)
- Lacing Cubes or Boards with thick blunt spindles
- Frames and cubes for buttoning, snapping, lacing, hooking and buckling
- Lacing cards
- Lacing shoes
Small Vehicle Toys
Older toddlers and two-year-olds will imitate adults, older peers, or TV shows. They like toys with simple cause-and-effect actions, such as pushing a button that produces sound, light, or movement. Small toy vehicles with large, workable parts should be easy to grip. The vehicles should be: smaller 2-3 inches long, and bigger 12-18 inches. The transportation toys should weigh no more than 4-6 ounces if designed to be picked up during use. The number of loose or movable parts per toy should be 1-8.
The toys must be safe, with no removable or loose parts, and have thick, round edges. They should be made of plastic, hard rubber, or light wood that can be washed or easily cleaned. The toys may have sensory elements, such as sound or lights, and should have simple, realistic details with recognizable devices. Toddlers can use simple remote controls and devices controlled by rattles, cord pulling, or large buttons. They are also starting to fasten and detach simple coupling mechanisms that are magnetic or have a large hook. Toddlers are starting to recognize familiar characters such as Disney, and their toy vehicles should have a low level of realistic detail.
- Transportation vehicles with one or two turn (or wind up) mechanisms with low tension so they can be easily moved.
- Tracks for large trains or cars, with simple hooking, snapping, or inter lacing tracks that have ample width for the vehicle.
- Boats
- Push cars, motorcycles, and trucks
- Simple trains with 2-6 train cars
- Flying machines (none that wind up)
- Simple remote-control vehicles
Props for Pretend Play
Older toddlers and two-year-olds learn through imaginative play. They will imitate adults, older peers, or TV shows. The toy props should weigh no more than 4-6 oz if designed to be picked up and used. They like toddler toys with simple cause-and-effect actions, such as pushing a button that produces sound, light, or movement or turning and pounding to produce a given result. Each toy set should be 2-10 pieces. The toys must be safe, with no removable or loose parts, and have thick, round edges. They should be made of plastic, hard rubber, or light wood that can be washed or easily cleaned. The toys may have sensory elements, such as sound or lights, and should have simple, realistic details with recognizable devices. Older toddlers and two-year-olds can use simple remote controls and devices controlled by rattles or large buttons.
- Tools that easily fit into “work” holster
- rakes, shovels, buckets, and trowels
- Small lawnmower
- Vacuum
- Kitchen cooking and tea sets
- Play Kitchen
- Cell phones and mobile devices modeled after those with traditional buttons as well as those with fake touchscreen ‘app’ buttons-introduce keyboards
- Play food
- Cash Registers & Money
- Medical Kits
- Construction Tools
- Wheelbarrows
- Wand
Exploratory Play
Manipulative Toys:
Manipulative older toddler toys should be based on their fine motor abilities like controlled grasping and releasing, pushing, pulling, flapping, squeezing, patting, poking and shaking, twisting, turning, sliding and cranking. They can hold two objects simultaneously, begin to coordinate between them and move their fingers independently. They are starting social play with buddies and in groups. Choose lightweight, washable, and brightly colored toys with many textures and easy-to-grasp parts. These older toddler toys should include multi-sensory elements such as pictures of familiar objects, bouncing, vibrating, and lighting up. These toddlers can now select their toys and play socially with each other. Older toddlers enjoy all colors, including pastels, but dull ones are less attractive.
- Handheld mirrors and larger ones are secured to the wall.
- Squeeze and squeak toys
- Interlocking plastic rings
- Teething toys – Rattles
- Lightweight balls (musical, chiming, grasping, special effects, or textured)
- Multi-textured toys
- Multi-sensory toys
- Manipulative Panels
- Activity Centers
- Bead mazes
- Cloth & plush toys
- Sorting and stacking toys
- pop-up toys
- Roly-poly toys
- Large beads on rings
- Plastic keys on rings
- Short tunnels (3.5 feet or less with viewing panels)
- Inflatable toys
- Sand and water toys
- Rocking toys
- Lacing & Stringing Toys
- Nesting Toys
- Gear Toys
Push and Pull Toys:
Push and pull older toddler and two-year-old toys should be based on their abilities, such as increasing gross motor strength, confidence, and stability in walking, as well as other physical skills, such as balancing, jumping, and running. They are beginning to understand simple cause and effect. Older toddlers at this age find multi-sensory elements very attractive and enjoy music and gentle, soothing sound effects. These older toddler toys should be soft and washable, easy to grasp and push, and have rounded corners or edges. The size should be five to seven inches, with bright, vibrant colors and high-contrast patterns. The toys should be simple with a clear cause-and-effect relationship, such as rolling forwards and backward in one fixed line. The toddler toys should be somewhat realistic but simple and not detailed.
- Push & Pull toys that resemble real-life objects
- Push toys with handles
- Pull toys with cords
- Simple cars or animals on wheels/rollers
Water & Sand:
Using water with older toddler and two-year-olds can be done through supervised water play. Toddlers at this age have a high risk of drowning. Older toddlers at this age should be introduced to a water table or sandbox. The natural urge to mouth toys is diminishing, although they will still put sand and other objects such as stones or grass into their mouths. This activity provides the older toddler with sensory play and stimulation while also helping them become comfortable with water, which can prepare them for future bath time and swimming experiences.
- Infant bath toys
- Soft Vinyl toys
- Bright colors
- Soft floating toys (up to three at a time)
- Water Table
- Sandbox
Game Play
Puzzles
Older toddlers and two-year-olds can start to work with large-piece puzzles with inset pieces. These puzzles should have simple, large pieces with smooth edges that easily fit together. There should be no more than 5-12 pieces. The pieces should be made of plastic or solid wood; there should not be any interlocking pieces. Older toddlers at this age prefer those with realistic detail. Games are a great way to develop problem-solving skills.
- Peg-style shape sorters based on colors
- Knob puzzles
- Electronic puzzles which repeat the object’s name when the puzzle piece is in place.
- Shape sorters
- Chunky shape puzzles with distinctly shaped wells that fit the shape.
- Chunky figurine puzzles with distinctly shaped wells that fit the figures (pictures within the wells that match the figurine)
- Form Boards
Games
Older toddlers and two-year-olds can start to work with card, floor, board, and table games. These games teach simple concepts such as colors shapes and pictures. The best toddler toys for this age are ones the toddler can play alone with or play with one other person. Older toddlers and two-year-olds may lack the attention span, and cognitive skills, necessary to participate in true group game play with rules or turn taking. The parts and pieces should be large enough to handle easily, and have bright primary colors.
- Simple matching
- Lotto type games
- Giant picture dominos
- Simple action games
- Magnetic fishing games
Active Play
Ride-on Toys
Selecting ride-on toys for older toddlers and two-year-olds should be based on their abilities, such as increasingly skilled walking and climbing. The ride-ons should not be too large for the child. It should be easy to mount with a wide seat and narrow enough not to hinder leg movement. They are beginning to pedal, bounce up and down on the seat, and they can steer. They can pull a wagon. The child must be able to touch the ground with BOTH feet when seated. The ride-on should have smooth edges and be made of plastic, solid wood, or metal. Sensory elements should include sounds when moved or pushed, containers to hold objects, beeping horns, and dials with clicking noises.
- Appropriately sized tricycles with pedals
- Slow moving 3 wheeled scooters with large standing platforms
- Ride-on without pedals
- Rocking horse
- Wagon
Sports Equipment
When selecting sports equipment for older toddlers and two-year-olds, consider their ability to throw and kick. They can catch a ball and hold a small soft ball with one hand. At this age, they do not grasp game rules or strategies and have little interest in organized activities. They prefer activities that allow free movement. Parents may start introducing classic or traditional sports focusing on fundamental aspects such as kicking the ball, catching the ball, running from base to base, or throwing a ball into a basketball hoop. It’s best to keep it simple and only focus on one simple action in each play session.
- Bowling sets
- Large balls about 10″ in diameter
- Soft bats or clubs
- Soft replica of sports equipment: basketball, soccer ball
- Tennis balls
- Targets, nets, or goals for throwing
- Basketball Hoop
- Balls that light up or make noise when bounced
Movement Materials:
Selecting movement materials for older toddlers and two-year-olds should be based on their abilities, such as increasingly skilled walking and climbing. Older toddlers at this age have little fear of heights and are at risk of falling, so they should be supervised during play. They love dancing, imitating exercise movements, and rolling on the ground. Materials should be vinyl, plastic, or rubber.
- Parachutes
- Soft Play ramps and pads
- Large soft balls like beach balls
- Ball pits
- Playground balls
- Small tunnels with picture panels (3.5 feet or less)
- Toddler swings
- Slides with rails
- Soft play climbers
Playground Equipment:
Selecting playground equipment for older toddlers and two-year-olds should be based on their abilities, such as increasingly skilled walking and climbing. Older toddlers at this age have little fear of heights and are at risk of falling, so they should be supervised during play.
- Swings
- Low climbing structures with supervision
Toy Safety
This is a great time for parents to create a dedicated, safe place and play area for their child. Toy Safety is essential because small parts should not be around toddlers.
Conclusion
Older toddlers and two-year-olds have boundless energy, enthusiasm, and curiosity. They are increasingly interested in pretend, cooperative, and social play. A great activity would be to arrange playdates with other children to help them socialize. Playing games like throwing balls and catching will help develop their eye-hand coordination skills. Older toddlers also show an interest in television characters. You can find toys that represent familiar characters and integrate them into their pretend play to help develop their social skills.
Open-ended art projects are incredibly important at this age. Simply providing a writing tool and plain paper can keep an older toddler occupied for a long time. Avoid using coloring books and instead encourage creativity with just plain white paper. At first, their drawings may not make sense to you, but this is an important skill-building exercise. Encourage the toddler by asking questions such as “Tell me about your picture” instead of correcting their markings.
It’s important to understand that every baby is different, and their development may vary. Always follow your baby’s cues and adjust the activities according to their abilities and preferences. It is typical healthy development when a child excels in one skill and may seem lacking in another. Remember to be patient and consistent with these activities and always create a nurturing and supportive environment to allow your child to explore and learn at their own pace.
References
- Toy Safety Guidance for Infants, Toddlers, and Preschoolers
- Developmentally Appropriate Toys: What and Why are they Important?
- Whole child Education: What is the Approach to Teaching?
- Zero to Three
- Consumer Product and Safety Commission
I value your input and comments tremendously! Please let me know if there is anything else I should include in this blog post! Until my next post, Keep Everything Simple. Talk with you soon!
Archana
Tuesday 7th of January 2025
This is such a detailed guide on how to pick older toddler toys. I don't have kids, but I often struggle to pick up toys for my friends and family members, including toddlers. I can definitely use insights from this guide next time I buy one. I loved how you broke down the developmental benefits of each toy.
Kimberley Asante
Monday 6th of January 2025
What a fantastic guide for choosing toys for older toddlers! I really appreciated how you broke down the developmental benefits of each toy—it's so helpful for parents trying to make thoughtful choices. The suggestions are not only practical but also look like so much fun for the little ones! 😊
Ebony
Monday 6th of January 2025
Thank you for such an incredibly sharing with us this thoughtful guide to older toddler toys and activities! I can't wait to use some of these to support my child’s growth and learning.
Joy
Monday 6th of January 2025
what a great list of toys. i remember loving my lawnmower and toys that were minatures of my parents'.
Emily
Sunday 5th of January 2025
I would love to get some of these musical-themed toys for my niece, who's almost 2 years old! She would definitely love to play with these.