This toddler toys and activity guide is a must-have reference and starting point for selecting developmentally appropriate toys and activities for children 19 through 23 months. The key to choosing toddler toys is understanding their basic abilities and preferences as they grow. These abilities and preferences are important in attracting and motivating infants to engage with toys because true learning and retention only come through engagement.
So, how do we pick the right 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 Toddler Toys and Activities Guide will take parents through toys and activities for their babies from nineteen through twenty-three 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 a toddler achieve important developmental milestones. So, what exactly does play look like for a toddler nineteen through twenty-three months old?
Table of contents
What Play Means for Toddlers:
Toddlers from 19 months through twenty-three months are confident walkers and are exploring skills like balancing, jumping, and running. They can manipulate small objects, sort objects into groups, and match angles. These toddlers engage in true building play and understand that some toys represent other objects. They use simple phrases and directional words, and they now sit alongside each other during social play. They are goal-oriented, mentally consider solutions to problems, and can help dress and undress themselves.
Toddler Toys and Activity Guide
Toddler Toys
Toddlers between nineteen and twenty-three months can play with simple mechanisms such as magnets, large hooks, hooking loops, or touch fasteners. They enjoy toys that cause actions or sounds when they push buttons or pull cords. These children can also match angles with shape-sorting containers and rotate objects to fit them into matching holes.
Toddler Activities
Dressing and undressing, brushing teeth, and putting on shoes are some basic self-care skills children 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.
Toddler Toy Categories
This website has categories set up for children of all ages. 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 toddler many ways to learn about their world.
Educational Play
Books:
Toddlers are learning the concept of taking care of books. They are becoming aware that books have a front and a back and that pictures have a top and bottom. They are also starting to understand that the adult is “reading” them a story and that pictures play an essential role in telling it. They regularly name and point out familiar objects in books to help strengthen their vocabulary. Additionally, it is enjoyable for toddlers to listen to nursery rhymes and repeat them with an adult, which can help develop their language skills.
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 5-7 pages long. They should be light, sturdy, cardboard, cloth, or light plastic. Books with heavy paper pages can be introduced at this time. At this stage can turn pages during story time, and on their own. The toddler’s fine motor skills are becoming more controlled, so they are turning pages carefully. 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.
As parents and caregivers, we treasure those precious moments spent reading to our little ones. However, traditional books often struggle to withstand the chewing and tearing of pages by older infants and toddlers. I am excited to introduce you to a revolution in baby books that perfectly balances fun, learning, and practicality—Indestructibles. These are chew-proof and washable, and as the name implies, completely indestructible. We used these in the infant, toddler, and two-year-old rooms at our childcare center. And these books took a beating year after year!
- 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
Educational Technology
Toddlers will be interested in audio that includes language that can be imitated, such as lullabies, simple songs, rhythms, and nursery rhymes. Gentle, predictable sounds are best played at low volumes.
- Most types of screen time are best saved until the child is over two years old. But! Connecting with family and friends over video calls can be fun.
Building Play
Blocks:
Toddlers 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.
In my experience it is difficult to find a block set with 15-25 pieces. Giving more can be overwhelming to the toddler, and the best solution with large sets is to give them 15-25 pieces from the set at a time. Please avoid foam blocks because at this age the child will chew on them, and strong biters can choke if chunks of blocks get lodged in their mouth.
- 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 toddlers’ 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. Toddlers at nineteen months may not be able to manage simple connections, but at twenty-three months, they will. 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.
It’s time to get started with LEGO Duplo Sets. I can’t stress enough the creativity that LEGO DUPLO inspires in toddlers and preschoolers. These are considered open-ended play, where toddlers can build in multiple ways.
- Duplo Lego Sets
- Snap-lock beads
- Large, chunky interlocking bricks/blocks
- Brick blocks
Arts and Crafts Play
Toddlers 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. They are exploring non-verbal means of expression in the drawings. They can draw simple angled shapes that adults may not consider representational drawings.
The tools should be rounded, lightweight, and sturdy without sharp edges. Dark colors are easier for the toddler to see (blue, black, and brown). Colors should be bold and simple, such as the common 8 colors (brown, black, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple). Too many colors can be overwhelming and difficult to distinguish for example is blue-green blue or green? Having two colors in the name of one crayon is hard for toddlers to understand. Once they know the 8 colors well, other colors can be introduced.
- 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)
Music Play
Musical Instruments:
Toddlers are naturally inclined towards music and are particularly drawn to multi-sensory elements. It’s important to choose music items that are small enough for 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 items should be made of lightweight, soft, sturdy, and washable material that is brightly colored with high contrast to keep the toddlers engaged. Music is critical to language development and communication skills.
- Bells and chimes
- Small lightweight tambourines
- Rattles and shakers
- Finger play songs
- Drums
- Bongs
- Xylophones
- Simple music sets
Music Technology
Toddlers 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 toddler makes singing sounds to music and enjoys finger-plays and sing-songs. They prefer sounds within the range of human voice frequencies, while low tones are soothing and high tones are agitating.
- 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
- Video equipment is not appropriate for this age, but the toddler may watch the screen.
Pretend Play
Dolls and Stuffed Toys:
Dolls and stuffed toddler toys designed for toddlers should be basic and made of one sturdy piece that will not break or pull apart. All edges should be thick and round, without hard corners or projecting parts. The doll should not have removable eyes, hair, clothing, fur, bells, buttons, ribbons, or whiskers. They should be made of soft, pliable and cuddly material that is washable or easily cleaned. The doll should have friendly features, especially the face, with highly contrasting facial features that are hand-sewn or molded. The size should be ten to sixteen inches, ultra-lightweight, no more than sixr to twelve ounces to easily grasp 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. The young toddler is starting to understand cause and effect, such as pushing produces sound, lights, or action.
- Small dolls (baby, bean bag, rag dolls)
- Washable rubber baby dolls
- Small stuffed or plush animals
- Music dolls
- Stuffed Toys
Puppets
Puppets for 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 puppets should be simple, realistic, and be familiar with characters or animals without many features.
- Simple sock-like puppets
- Finger puppets
Play Scenes
Toddlers can now carry lightweight play scenes. Their play is simple and imitative from twelve through eighteen months, and they are not yet ready for true pretend play. They are developing fine motor control but still have limited dexterity. Figurines and play scenes for young toddlers should lightweight up to 4-8 ounces. The material should have soft textures and contrasting facial features, especially with the eyes. The 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
Toddlers are imitative and demonstrate simple pretend and symbolic thinking. They babble some words, explore, and feel textures. Although they are still mouthing objects, this is diminishing. Dress-up materials should have thick, round edges and a sleeveless vest-like, slip-on costume design. We want to set the toddler up for success. Look for dress up items that they can put on independently! Without anyones help. I had a hard time finding a vest like costume for this age group, but it should be ok if it’s a little too big. The explorer vest below has been a favorite, for the kids I have taught, for both boys and girls. They love the pockets to put items into!
Jewelry should have non-elaborate shapes. These dress-up items should have rich, vibrant colors with soft textures.Jewelry should have non-elaborate shapes. These dress-up items should have rich, vibrant colors with soft textures. In the group setting with the kids I care for, we do not use jewelry. The exceptions are crowns or headbands, which can be fun with animal ears attached.
Please do not choose dress-up shoes with heels for your toddler. In my experience, these lead to fall injuries and sprained ankles. Instead, select dress-up shoes without heels, such as moccasins or ballet flats.
- Simple costumes
- 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)
- shoes
- hats
- snap-on ties
- Lacing Cubes or Boards with thick blunt spindles
Small Vehicle Toys
Toddlers 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. Their fine motor skills are developing but have limited dexterity and control. Small toy vehicles should be easy to grip, with large, workable parts. The vehicles should be 6 to 12 inches long and weigh no more than four ounces if designed to be picked up during use.
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.
- Boats
- Push cars, motorcycles, and trucks
- Simple trains with 2-4 train cars, 1-3 loose/moveable parts, without tracks
- Flying machines (none that wind up)
- Simple remote-control vehicles
Props for Pretend Play
Toddlers learn through imaginative play, and will imitate adults, older peers, or TV shows. The toy props should weigh no more than 4 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. Toddlers can use simple remote controls and devices controlled by rattles or large buttons.
- 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 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 and are beginning to coordinate between them.
These toddlers are increasingly curious and beginning to understand simple, clear cause-and-effect relationships. They love exploring and using all their senses: seeing, hearing, touching, tasting, and smelling. These young toddlers are now beginning to self-select toys. Choose lightweight, washable, and brightly colored toys with many textures and easy-to-grasp parts. These young 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.
- 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 toddler 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 Infants at this age find multi-sensory elements very attractive and enjoy music and gentle, soothing sound effects. These 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 toys with handles
- Pull toys with cords
- Simple cars or animals on wheels/rollers
Water & Sand:
Supervised water play can introduce the toddler to the sensation of water. Toddlers at this age have a high risk of drowning. 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 young 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.
- Bright colors
- Soft Vinyl toys
- Infant bath toys
- Soft floating toys (up to three at a time)
- Water Table
- Sandbox
Game Play
Puzzles
Toddlers 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 three to five pieces. Bright colors are very attractive to toddlers, as well as interesting textures. The pieces should be made of plastic or solid wood; there should not be any interlocking pieces. Toddlers at this age prefer abstract shapes to those with realistic detail. Games are a great way to develop problem-solving skills.
- 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
Active Play
Ride-on Toys
Selecting push-and-pull toys for toddlers ages should be based on their abilities, such as increasingly skilled walking and climbing. Now that their walking skills are improving, they are ready for ride-ons such as vehicle-like ride-ons with doors and compartments for carrying toys. 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 alternate feet to move but cannot steer yet. They can pull a wagon.
The toddler 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.
- Ride-on without pedals
- Rocking horse
- Wagon
Sports Equipment
Selecting sports equipment for toddlers should be based on their ability to throw and kick. They are just beginning to understand fundamental movements. Toddlers at this age can grasp a small soft ball with one hand. They do not understand rules or game strategies and have little interest in organized activities.
Toddlers prefer free-movement activities. Parents may begin to emphasize classic or traditional sports with the fundamental aspects of the sport, such as kicking the ball, catching the ball, running from base to base, or throwing a ball into a basketball hoop. Keep it simple and only focus on one simple action in each play session.
- Soft replica of sports equipment: basketball, soccer ball (should not be foam)
- 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 toddlers should be based on their abilities, such as increasingly skilled walking and climbing. Toddlers at this age have little fear of heights and are at risk of falling. They love dancing, imitating exercise movements, and rolling on the ground. Materials should be vinyl, plastic, or rubber.
- 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
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
Toddlers have unlimited energy, enthusiasm, and curiosity. They are now moving around, climbing and exploring. Activity ideas include stacking blocks for the toddler to knock down. They enjoy this with lots of laughter. They are now very good at pushing and pulling larger items such as wagons or ride-on cars. Climbing at the park is wonderful with close adult supervision. Bubbles are a great way to transition toddlers from one activity to the next, as is a song. Temper tantrums and frustrating behavior appear and can be a challenge for parents. Find out more about managing daily routines and emotions with LEGO DUPLO Sets. At this time, the toddler is asserting independence and, to some degree, tries to control parents and caregivers. This can be a tough time with the start of temper tantrums but take a deep breath. They are learning boundaries and will be responding to you.
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!
Melanie E
Wednesday 11th of December 2024
This is such a lovely age range, kids can do so much and are great fun. I love that there are so many great toy options available. Puzzles are a great item to gift. There are so many options and can be a lovely learning tool.
Barbie R
Tuesday 10th of December 2024
That picture of the little girl and the teddy bear is so cute! The age-appropriate recommendations are perfect, and I especially liked the focus on developmental milestones.
Renata
Tuesday 10th of December 2024
That's a great list. I remember that my granddaughter used to love to do those wooden puzzles.
catherine
Tuesday 10th of December 2024
Oh my gosh, reading this makes me proud of myself because I made the right decision to choose an educational toy for my kids during those ages. Thank you for giving us a list of good and helpful toys for our little ones.
Stephanie
Tuesday 10th of December 2024
I completely agree with your comment about finding developmentally and ability-appropriate toys. I know my boys were not always at the same levels at the same ages so we had to make adjustments in the toys we had for each of them at specific stages.