40 Best Toys and Gifts for 1-Year-Olds Who Love to Play
Toddlers are loving these right now!
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When kids turn 1, that's when the real fun begins! No longer confined to whatever's in their reach, toddlers really start to show preference. "One-year-olds are at a period in their development when they are becoming increasingly powerful and competent—evidenced by the fact that they are starting to walk and talk," says Rebecca Parlakian, a parenting expert from Zero to Three, an organization that focuses on kid development during the early years. "They are also really interested in big questions like, 'How does this work?' 'What does it do?' And, 'What happens if I do this?'”
Our favorite gifts for kids this age help them explore and find the answers to these questions. Our list of the best gifts for 1-year-olds include many that work on motor skills, object permanence, and cause-and-effect. And many of the toys have been tested by the Good Housekeeping Institute to prove they're a hit with toddlers (and their parents). When all was said and done, these toys, which include current and former Good Housekeeping Best Toy Award winners, rose to the top.
Peeki has two modes of play: song mode, where it sings a song and wags its ears, or play mode, where it uses its ears to play a game of peek-a-boo. Good Housekeeping Institute kid testers loved the ear movements. "[My child] was surprised every time when his ears would cover his eyes during peek-a-boo!" one parent said. "She would laugh every time." Ages 0+; two AA batteries included
Each square tile on this busy board has something to engage kids' brains, be it a gear to spin, a button to press, or a texture to feel. But, to keep them from getting bored, the tiles can swap out—they attach magnetically—to make the toy feel fresh. It comes with six tiles, but extra tile sets can be purchased separately. And now, there's also PlayTab Go, which lets kids bring two tiles with them and comes with a ring to attach to a car seat or stroller. Ages 1+
Good Housekeeping Institute testers loved this board book for its interactive elements: Readers press a button to hear a sound, and then kids have to look under flaps to find the animal that made the sound. “My 1-year-old tries to mimic the animal noises, which she had never done before,” one parent tester said. Ages 0+
This is a push toy, a walker, a role-playing item, and a shape-sorter all in one! Early walkers love pushing around the grocery cart, just like their parents do. (It even comes with a little coffee cup to make it more realistic!) Then, food pieces on geometric shapes fit through the holes in tie sides of the cart, acting as a shape-sorter. The same pieces also fit into puzzles that store in the cart. And, after "checkout," they can play with the pretend food just like in a kitchen set. Ages 1+
Fisher-Price Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn 4-in-1 Activity Table & Easel
Testers reported their 1-year-olds were really engaged with this toy, which isn't surprising since there's many ways to play. On one side, there's a busy board with lights, sounds, and buttons to press. Then it converts to a kid-sized drawing table or easel. "This has been a time saver for sure and really lets me do quick chores," one parent tester said. "I feel like it also helps her strength and balance and she still develops her legs." Ages 6 months+; three AA batteries required (not included)
Just press the button and colorful balls pop out from the elephant's trunk, leaving toddlers free to run, chase the balls, and put them back in again. It'll help them get their energy out while working on their gross and fine motor coordination. It includes four easy-grasp balls and also plays six fun songs. Ages 9 months+
There's a lot of flexibility built into this toy: The panels can be separated and re-arranged, depending on what the little ones want to do. Each tester reported their child had a different favorite panel or function, be it the pretend phone, the piano keys, or the buttons. "I love that it has so many different configurations and could essentially be considered four toys in one," one parent said. Ages 3 months+; three AA batteries required (not included)
Beep, beep! While your little one is working on their leg muscle strength, you can still push them around on this previous Toy Award Winner. Then, as they become a more confident walker, they can propel themselves. There are also lots of little features that spin, click and otherwise make noise to keep them interested. Ages 1+
They'll be making their own mini masterpieces in no time with these egg-shaped crayons, which are easier for small hands to grasp. They'll get 12 colors in the pack, which will get them scribbling, coloring, and working on their pre-writing skills. Ages 1+
Toddlers love taking after their parents and taking care of their own babies. With this set of six dolls, there's a lot here to love! Each snuggly soft babe comes with a removable outfit, so toddlers can mix and match while practicing their fine motor skills when dressing and undressing their dolls. Ages 1+
When they're just starting to get into imaginative play, toddlers love Little People figures because they're just the right size for little hands. This one comes with two figures and a bus that plays music when it rolls; the doors also open and the stop sign folds out. Ages 1+; two AA batteries included
The innovative shape of these toys means they can do more than just stack into a straight tower. Rounded and uniquely weighted, these toys can also stack, spin, balance, wobble, tilt, and roll, and kids can work on their motor skills by nesting them in different ways. Ages 6 months+
Start a sporty toddler off with soccer and basketball with one toy. The set lights up and makes sounds while also keeping track of the baskets and goal on a light-up scoreboard. Ages 1+
Parents' favorite YouTuber is now available in the most adorable soft doll. Just like in the show, this 16-inch doll, which won a Good Housekeeping Toy Award, sings a handful of educational songs and says sweet, encouraging phrases. Ages 6 months+
Good Housekeeping Institute toy experts were impressed with the way this blends wooden and electronic elements. Square "pixels" light up on the body of the piano, and then kids can press the key of the corresponding color to play a sound. There are other play modes, too, that get them working on color recognition, rhythm, and creativity. Ages 1+
Six boxes of different sizes, six animal friends, yet so many ways to play. Kids can stack the different sized boxes vertically and match each animal to its preferred house. Or they can arrange them horizontally to make a village for imaginary play. When that's done, they can use the animals as finger puppets, practice counting the boxes and animals, use the boxes to make other structures—and knock them down again. Ages 1+
This one impressed the experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute because of how easy it is to adjust the height of the ladder (and the difficulty of the climb). They also liked how you can fold it to store it away when it's not in use. It also comes in a neutral wood color. Ages 6 months+
Car kids will thrill to seeing this play set's van drive through the different levels and courses in this car track. There are also places for them to flex their imaginative muscles, like a gas station and car wash, and certain points along the course trigger sounds and other fun phrases. Ages 1+; two AAA batteries included
The only thing that can make a letter puzzle more fun for a kid is if it spells out their name—it's one of the first words they'll learn, after all. These colorful puzzle pieces are approximately 3" tall, making them great room decor when they're not in use. No age recommendation given
Make their birthday the most fun with this musical set. It comes with five instruments and includes bells, shakers, maracas, and a drum. Parent testers say they loved how it let kids explore cause-and-effect, seeing how the different instruments made sounds in different ways. Ages 12 months+
Marisa (she/her) has covered all things parenting, from the postpartum period through the empty nest, for Good Housekeeping since 2018; previously, she wrote about parents and families at Parents and Working Mother. She lives with her toy-collecting husband and daughter in Brooklyn, where she can be found helping out her team at bar trivia or posting about movies on Twitter and Bluesky.
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