The Best Toys for Your Toddler’s Development

When your toddler starts exploring the world on their own terms, play becomes the best kind of learning. From their first pretend tea party to puzzling over why the circle won’t fit in the square hole, toddlers are developing language, social-emotional skills, coordination, and creativity. Choosing the best toys for toddler's developmental stages doesn’t just make playtime more fun but it helps little ones grow in all the ways that matter most. The best toys for toddlers support specific milestones and cognitive abilities, while also leaving room for your child’s unique personality to shine.

Here are 10 of our favorite categories of developmental toys for toddlers, each paired with thoughtful suggestions to help you find just the right fit.

Dolls: Toys for Toddlers That Teach Compassion

Whether it's a soft cloth doll perfect for hugs or a miniature Little Friends family set for storytelling, dolls help toddlers develop empathy, vocabulary, and nurturing instincts. Pretend play also supports emotional intelligence and encourages conversations, even if they begin as babble.

Try This: A machine-washable soft baby doll with removable clothes and a diaper bag and bottle accessory.

Play Tip: Model care routines with the doll (feeding, diapering, nap time), then let your child take the lead. This play builds narrative thinking and mimics daily routines that make toddlers feel confident.

My Very First Games: Toys for Toddlers that Encourage Learning Through Play 

Early games help toddlers begin to understand rules, routines, and cooperative play. Look for options that support simple concepts like matching, color recognition, or sequencing without overcomplicating things.

Try This: "My Very First Games: First Orchard," a cooperative game that teaches turn-taking, colors, and counting.

Play Tip: Play side-by-side at first. Encourage celebration when it’s someone else’s turn. These games are less about competition and more about connecting.

Shape Sorters: Toys for Toddlers for Thinking Inside the Box

Shape sorters support spatial reasoning, cause and effect, and fine motor skills. Plus, the satisfying "click" when a block fits just right makes toddlers feel accomplished and confident. These toys also help develop problem-solving strategies as children learn which shapes fit where, and they encourage perseverance through trial and error. 

Try This: HABA’s Underwater Shape Sorter with sea creatures and a magnifying porthole, or the charming Squirrel Sorter that brings forest friends into the mix.

Play Tip: Start by sorting shapes together, naming each one out loud. Narrate their successes and encourage them to keep trying if it doesn't fit right away.

Building Blocks: Toys for Toddlers that Lay Foundations for Imagination

Building with blocks strengthens everything from grip strength to creative problem solving. These classic toys are among the most open-ended, allowing toddlers to construct (and deconstruct) to their heart's content.

Try This: A 60-piece Wooden Building Blocks Set made of sustainably sourced beech wood.

Play Tip: Begin with simple stacks. Celebrate every tower, no matter how small. Try building "garages" for toy cars or "beds" for dolls to tie into other interests.

Stacking Toys: Toys for Toddlers that Develop Skills That Stack Up

Stacking introduces concepts of size, balance, and sequencing. These toys also refine hand-eye coordination and concentration.

Try This: HABA’s Lighthouse Rainbow Stacker features pieces that pivot into place, making success easier for small hands.

Play Tip: Count each piece as you stack. Talk about "biggest" and "smallest" to introduce early math language.

HABA Cars: Toys for Toddlers that Roll Into Imagination

Cars are more than just zooming fun. They encourage movement, pretend play, and cause-and-effect exploration. Toddlers push, pull, line up, and race their vehicles, all while imagining bustling roadways or cozy garages.

Try This: HABA Cars – My First Racetrack, made from recycled materials with a simple, sturdy track.

Play Tip: Build cardboard tunnels, ramps, or a road out of masking tape on the floor to extend the fun.

Kullerbü: Toys for Toddlers with a Twist

Kullerbü tracks offer the excitement of motion and construction in one. These are ideal for toddlers because they snap together easily and introduce basic STEM skills through experimentation and creativity.

Try This: Kullerbü Mountain Adventure Track Set with a battery-powered vehicle that can climb slopes and trigger a gondola.

Play Tip: Encourage your child to make their own track layouts. Talk through what’s happening as the vehicles roll: "It went fast! Now it slowed down. What do you think made that happen?"

Puppet Theater and Puppets: Toys for Toddlers that Set the Stage for Storytelling

Puppets ignite imagination and help toddlers practice expressive language. Puppet play also invites emotional exploration as children can safely express feelings through their characters.

Try This: Hanging Doorway Puppet Theater paired with soft, easy-to-use hand puppets.

Play Tip: Introduce one or two characters and act out a simple scene. Then let your toddler become the storyteller. Bonus: puppet shows are great for road trips or rainy days.

A Well-Rounded Playroom, One Learning Toy at a Time

Each of these toys for toddlers offers something a little different, from emotional expression to early problem-solving. When you mix and match categories, your child gets a well-rounded foundation for learning through play. Choose two or three favorite toys for toddlers to start, and watch how quickly they become staples of your daily routine.

At HABA, we believe toys are tools for lifelong learning. Whether you're building towers, stacking rings, sorting shapes, or telling silly puppet stories, you're helping your toddler grow one playful moment at a time.