By this age, your baby has transitioned from infant to toddler. Toddlers learn best through exploration of their natural environment. So, teachers, caregivers, and parents can support learning by providing activities and toys for 18-month-olds that promote development.
Toddlers develop balance and coordination while playing. Toys that require standing or riding foster gross motor. Toddlers can also work on fine motor skills. Chunky pieces of puzzles and stackers help build grip-strength and hand-eye coordination.
Moreover, somewhere around 18 to 24 months, toddlers start to transition into the preoperational stage of cognitive development. This is when they begin to use their imaginations to think symbolically and engage in pretend play.
Thus, good toys for 18-month-olds encourage imaginative play to support the transition to symbolic thinking.
1. Rainbow Stacker Classic Toy by Melissa and Doug
Rainbow Stacker Classic Toy by Melissa and Doug is a classic childhood toy. The eight colorful pieces stack neatly on the solid wood base. The pieces are smooth and just the right size for little hands to grasp. So, gripping and stacking the rings on the central base helps straighten your toddler’s hand-eye coordination.
Also, stacking the different sized rings is a great way for baby to develop visual-spacial awareness. Plus, they can learn about concepts like bigger and smaller.
Tap & Pound Hammer Bench by Melissa and Doug has eight colorful pegs and a wooden mallet to delight your toddler. Workbenches like this one make great toys for 18-month-olds because they provide a satisfying tactile experience. Also, with each pound moves the peg a little further demonstrating cause-and-effect.
Your child can experience a combination of visual and tactile feedback. This toy comes with a colorful wooden bench with 8 pegs and a mallet to pound the pegs through the holes. Pounding at the bench promotes focus, concentration, motor skills, and hand-eye coordination.
Why We Recommend:
A tactile exploration experience
Promotes hand grip and hand-eye coordination
Encourages concentration and imaginative play
Demonstrates cause-and-effect
Includes bench, 8 pegs (ROYGBIV), wooden mallet
and made with high-quality materials for lasting durability and safety
3. Cute Dinosaur Chunky Wooden Puzzle by Melissa and Doug
This Cute Dinosaur Chunky Wooden Puzzle has easy-hold, colorful, solid wood pieces. This a simple educational and learning toy for 18-month-olds. This puzzle has colorful pieces featuring 7 different dinosaurs. The chunky shapes make it easy for little hands to grip. This toy is handcrafted from durable and sustainable wood.
The pieces have smooth edges and non-toxic paint for a safe play experience. This dinosaur puzzle is a fun way to help your little one develop pattern recognition, problem-solving, and other educational skills.
Why We Recommend:
Supports pattern recognition and problem-solving
Constructed with smooth edges and non-toxic paints
Snappy Sticks by EduShape snap together in various ways to construct free-form works of art. Kids can transform Snappy Sticks into animals, buildings, or anything they can imagine. These make great toys for 18-month-olds because they provide auditory and tactile stimulation. They also promote motor and cognitive development.
Kids love hearing the satisfying snap and the pieces connect together. Open-ended, hands-on play with the Snappy Sticks promotes color matching, thinking skills, visual development, hand-eye coordination, and grip strength. This product is made from durable plastic and exceeds safety standards.
Why We Recommend:
Open, hands-on play promotes creativity and imagination
Promotes cognitive skills – color matching and visual thinking
Works motor skills – hand-eye coordination and grip strength
Your 18-month-old will love making music and pulling the Mirari Zig-Zag Xylo Train by Play Monster. This pull-along train is topped with six musical keys and folds up into a xylophone toy. Children can tap the keys with a mallet or pull the train along.
This toy increases motor skills by encouraging walking while pulling the train and promoting griping and tapping the notes. Toddlers will enjoy the sensory experience of colors, vibrations, and sounds. This toy provides the opportunity for self-expression through music.
Why We Recommend:
Promotes gross motor development of walking
Tapping with a mallet works hand strength and hand-eye coordination
Provides a sensory experience of colors, vibrations, and sounds
Promotes emotional development with self-expression through music
Innovative design combining pull along train and xylophone
Also made with high-quality materials and design
No products found.
6. DUPLO My First Bricks by LEGO
Image Source: LEGO
DUPLO My First Bricks is a great first set of DUPLO toys for 18-month-olds. Designing, constructing, and playing with DUPLOs promotes open-ended, creative play. These brightly colored blocks snap together in a satisfying way proving sensory simulation and practice with fine motor skills. Moreover, DUPLOs promote hand-eye coordination, spacial awareness, and creativity.
Some of these colorful blocks have double-sided images and a propeller for inspiration. Your child can build anything imaginable—a plane, a boat, a duck, or a little house. Also, DUPLO bricks are specially designed to be fun and safe for little hands.
Why We Recommend:
Promotes motor skills
Works hand-eye coordination and visual skills
Encourages creativity with open-play for imaginative designs
Brightly colored bricks snap together with sensory stimulation
A great starter set to introduce toddlers to DUPLO
This solid wood drum by Plan Toys provides a nice tonal sound. Plus, the rubber head on the mallet softens the sounds so your 18-month-old can enjoy the fun of banging a drum. Using the drumstick helps develop spacial perception, arm muscles, and auditory nerves.
Plan Toys uses sustainable and safe manufacturing process. Also, the toys are made from rubber wood and water-based dyes so they are safe for baby and the Earth.
Why We Recommend:
Develop spacial perception, arm muscles, and auditory nerves
Promotes emotional expression through music
Produces a pleasant tone
Rubber mallet head softens the sound
Made from natural rubber wood and water-based dyes
Playskool Play Favorites Sit ’N Spin Toy is an updated version of a classic toy that uses improved technology to move more easily and can spin fast or slow. Your 18-month-old will love the whirling, twirling fun.
This toy promotes balance and coordination. Moreover, playing on the Sit ’N Spin works arm strength, balance, and coordination. Also, this is a great toy to encourage gross motor development and active play.
Why We Recommend:
Classic childhood toy
Encourages active play
Promotes motor skills, arm strength, balance, and coordination
Comes with base, center post, turn handle, and instructions
Cars bounce, zoom, and get lifted with a giant claw on the Oball Go Grippers Bounce ‘N Zoom Speedway! This speedway offers an imaginative through play with cars.
A giant claw lifts the Oball vehicle to the ramp where it tumbles and crashes onto the Super Bounce Pad. Plus there are multiple ramps to keep playtime exciting as cars roll a different direction each time.
Why We Recommend:
Grows with your toddler
Encourages fine and gross motor skills
A tactile toy with easy-grasp pieces
Fosters social development through imaginative play
KidKraft Deluxe Activity Cube has five sides of colorful fun. Each panel offers different activities to sharpen motor skills and learn about colors, shapes, letters, and numbers. So, the top of the cube features three different colored wire bead tracks. Also, along one side, your child can move various colorful shapes through a groove track.
There is also a flippable letters A-Z spin on a bar with a picture on the back depicting something that starts with that letter. Kids will also delight in the gear crank and counting beads. This toy is made of durable wood and will last for years to come.
WheelyBUG is an award-winning toy for the littlest riders. This foot-powered ride-on toy has 4 multi-directional wheels. This Ladybug fosters gross motor skills such as muscle growth, coordination, and balance. Also, the low seat and wide base make it easy for your 18-month-old to mount and ride.
The fun Ladybug design encourages imaginative and active play. Moreover, the WheelyBUG is ideal for smooth indoor floors. The multi-directional casters can turn 360 degrees. Also, it comes in two sizes—size small is recommended for typical 18-month-olds.
Why We Recommend:
Promotes imaginative and active play
Also promotes gross motor development
4 Multi-directional casters go backwards, forwards, sideways, and round and round
If you have a little boy who loves to build, the Mega Bloks Big Building Bag is a great place to start. These extra-large blocks are easy for little hands to hold and come in a bag for easy cleanup. They have a variety of shapes and colors to keep your little builder interested.
What Stands Out:
Easy to use, helps with coordination, creativity, and hand dexterity.
Almost every little boy loves playing with cars. The Oballs Go Gripper Bounce n’ Zoom Speedway is a great introduction to watching toy cars zoom down the track and is bound to keep your toddler’s attention for hours. You can race multiple cars or one at a time.
What Stands Out:
Plenty of ways to play, encourages creativity, child can play alone or with others.
There is nothing kids like more than knocking things over. The iPlay iLearn Kids Bowling Set is a great way to help them do that constructively. It also introduces them to the concept of gameplay, and they’ll love knocking the pins down and setting them up again and again.
What Stands Out:
Teaches gameplay, encourages “knock it down, clean it up” mentality, cause and effect.
Another great choice for little boys who love cars, the VTECH Go! Go! Smart Wheels set is fun and unique. Featuring a garbage truck and an excavator, this set is perfect for little hands and features some of the construction equipment nearest and dearest to little kids’ hearts.
What Stands Out:
Bright colors, large size for toddler’s hands, encourages imaginative play, practicing words and sounds.
If your little girl has boundless energy, she will love a WALIKI Bouncy Horse (technically a rhino!). This fun toy lets kids bounce and have fun while keeping them safe on a soft surface. It will also help them learn to be brave when they inevitably take a tumble.
What Stands Out:
Fun colors and shape, offers the chance to get energy out while staying safe.
Little girls love building and sorting blocks as much as little boys do, and the Mega Bloks First Builder Shape Sorter offers the chance for them to do just that! This three-in-one toy lets them pull, sort, and build with blocks designed for small hands, while the wagon serves as a base.
What Stands Out:
Three-in-one toy design offers versatility and creative play, bright colors, encourages hand dexterity.
What toddler doesn’t love animals? This fun farm playset encourages imaginative play and offers the opportunity to teach lessons about animal sounds and behavior while pointing out familiar animals, which your little girl will love. The large animal figures are made for young children to be able to move and position with ease.
What Stands Out:
Variety of animals, opportunity for creative play both independently and with friends.
Many little girls (and plenty of boys, too!) love playing with baby dolls. They are an important way to teach children lessons about compassion, love, and responsibility. The Basket Of Babies Creative Minds Plush Dolls features dolls with different skin colors to help children learn about diversity and are made of soft, toddler-friendly cloth.
What Stands Out:
Unique plush design, diverse dolls to teach children important lessons from a young age.
A busy board is a simple but great way to keep kids occupied while helping improve hand dexterity and problem-solving. This Montessori-inspired toy encourages independent play with features like snaps, ties, buckles, and sensory items. It is perfect for a car or plane trip, made to fit in a child’s lap and occupy them for hours.
What Stands Out:
Simple design encourages independent play in line with Montessori teaching philosophy.
WOOD CITY Stacking Toys are a Montessori-inspired toy that is perfect for practicing the skills children are developing at 18 months, including hand-eye coordination, problem-solving, and color recognition. Made of natural wood, these stacking toys come in a variety of shapes and colors for engaging toddlers. They are made with non-toxic paint.
What Stands Out:
Simple natural wood design, perfect for practicing multiple skills either independently or with help.
Another fun variation is the Aitbay Carrots Harvest Shape Sorter. This toy’s unique design lets kids play at harvesting carrots of different sizes. The challenge of fitting the carrots in the right holes will keep them entertained while practicing important skills like information retention, problem-solving, and hand-eye coordination. They are made from natural pine and safe paint.
What Stands Out:
Natural materials, perfect for keeping kids entertained while practicing important skills.
The Elite Montessori Coin Box is a simple toy designed to teach children delicate movements — in this case, fitting objects through a small opening. This teaches important lessons in object permanence while challenging toddlers to practice refined hand and finger movements. You’ll be surprised at how long this simple toy captures their attention!
What Stands Out:
Simple natural design, opportunity to practice problem-solving and refined hand movements.
At 18 months, children are learning how to balance and move their bodies — and they have boundless energy. This wooden balance board is a great way to help them develop their physical skills while getting their energy out and keeping themselves entertained for hours, especially on days when you’re stuck indoors.
What Stands Out:
The simple design and opportunity for kids to use and explore their bodies’ abilities.
Xylophones are classic toys for children and have provided musical fun for generations. This colorful toy gives your toddler the chance to play some tunes as raucously or quietly as they please. It also doubles as a pull toy with wheels and a string. It’s an excellent way to introduce your child to basic musical scales.
What Stands Out:
Colorful design doubles as musical instrument and pull toy.
The PlanToys Solid Drum is a great way to introduce your toddler to the concepts of rhythm and musical patterns. Made of natural wood, this drum includes a rubber-tipped handle to soften the sound. You’ll hear different tones and sounds depending on where you hit the drum, making it a fun toy for experimentation!
What Stands Out:
Different tones at different parts of the drum, softened sound.
Any musical toddler will love this collection of musical instruments, which includes maracas, a tambourine, wood sounder, clapper, xylophone, trumpet, wrist bells, bird whistler, triangle, castanets, sleigh bells, shakers, and more. This is a great set for music lessons for playgroups, preschools, or at home. Kids will love getting to choose their instruments and learn how to take turns.
This musical set is perfect for a toddler who loves rhythm and trying out different instruments. It includes a marching drum, maracas, tambourine, harmonica, flute, and trumpet. These instruments teach important lessons about rhythm, music, and hand-eye coordination. Kids will love playing by themselves or along to their favorite songs.
What Stands Out:
Variety of instruments helps toddlers practice different skills related to rhythm, patterns, and hand-eye coordination.
EduShape Snappy Sticks give kids the chance to build anything they want while practicing fine motor skills. These simple plastic sticks fit together in endless shapes and designs, letting kids use their imagination and creativity to build. Meanwhile, they encourage toddlers to practice fine movements with their hands and fingers, which are vital skills at 18 months!
What Stands Out:
Open-ended play encourages problem-solving, fine motor skills practice, and creativity.
The GYBBER&MUMU Wooden Puzzle is a simple toy that is perfect for children around the age of 18 months. It features nine colorful pieces in different shapes that are ideal for little hands. At 18 months old, toddlers will enjoy the trial and error play of testing different pieces to find which ones fit together.
What Stands Out:
Encourages independent play and problem solving with simple shapes and colors.
The Prextex Find And Match Easter Egg set is a fun game that will teach your 18-month-old to recognize colors and even numbers. They will be challenged to problem solve as they test the halves of the egg to find out which ones fit together. This is a great way to teach your child to count!
What Stands Out:
Colorful aesthetic, encourages kids to recognize colors and numbers.
The Skoolzy Peg Board Set is a fun and versatile toy that gives kids the chance to enjoy sensory play while practicing fine motor skills. It features 30 colorful pegs to sort, count, build, and lace. This is a toy that grows with your child.
What Stands Out:
Versatile play, sensory aspects, chance to practice fine motor skills.
This nuts and bolts set is designed to help kids problem-solve while improving their hand dexterity, a vital skill for 18-month-old children. The extra-large pieces are perfect for little hands, letting children sort and fit pieces together to their hearts’ content.
What Stands Out:
The bright colors, easy-to-grip pieces, and opportunity for problem-solving.
Kids love to imitate the grown-ups in their life, and toy food and cookware is one of the best ways to do it. Toddlers will love practicing open-ended play with foods they recognize from their own lives. You might find yourself playing “restaurant” a lot.
What Stands Out:
Fun, recognizable food stimulates creativity and open-ended play.
Boys and girls alike will enjoy having tea parties with the Green Toys tea set. This set is made of recycled plastic and includes a teapot, cream pitcher, sugar bowl, four cups, plates, and spoons. It’s ideal for encouraging imaginative play and teaching vital communication skills.
What Stands Out:
Recycled plastic pieces, open-ended play potential.
Housework may be stressful for grown-ups, but for kids, it’s a fun way to imitate the behaviors they see at home. This fun light-up learning vacuum may also help kids who feel nervous around the loud noise of the real vacuum.
What Stands Out:
Lights let kids feel like their vacuum is the real thing.
If you have a child who loves pretending to “fix” things, they’ll enjoy the Hape Fix It Wooden Tool Box. This toy opens the door to imaginative play through imitation while encouraging hand-eye coordination and dexterity.
What Stands Out:
Non-toxic, natural wood toys, open-ended play, encourages development of fine motor skills.
The Melissa And Doug Safari Zig-Zag Tower is made of natural wood with colorful patterns and pictures. With a solid wooden tower and four rolling pieces, this toy offers children the chance to experiment with cause and effect.
What Stands Out:
Bright colors, encourages hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.
A ring stacker is a classic toy for babies and toddlers, but this version from Melissa And Doug is a step above the rest. Made of brightly painted wood, it offers a visually pleasing rainbow design that will capture your toddler’s attention and teach important lessons about colors.
The KidKraft Deluxe Five-Sided Wooden Activity Cube offers endless opportunities for fun and experimentation. Five distinct play areas include unique features like wooden beads, gears, and more. It’s a perfect toy for stimulating mental and tactile development.
There’s not a toddler alive that doesn’t love pounding things, sometimes too much. This colorful pounding bench offers them a constructive way to get their energy out while experimenting with the way that tools work.
Honeysticks 100% Pure Beeswax Crayons are made to be held by little hands. Their extra-large size will help toddlers learn to grip and use tools as they start to develop their artistic minds. Made from 100% pure beeswax, these crayons are safe, aromatic, and non-toxic.
What Stands Out:
Large size is easy for toddlers to grip, vibrant colors, pure beeswax.
Children learn in different ways, and that applies to art, too! If your child finds it difficult to hold traditional crayons, they might have an easier time with these LECAMEBOR Finger Crayons. They fit over your toddler’s fingers and encourage fine motor development as they practice drawing.
Kids love art, but it can make a mess! The Alago Aqua Water Coloring Mat lets them get as artistic as they like with nothing but water. This is a fun, versatile toy that is perfect for car trips.
Toddlers love getting messy and feeling new textures and sensations, so finger painting is a great activity. The Crayola My First Fingerpaint Kit is perfect for letting your child explore their artistic side.
What Stands Out:
Has everything you need to let your child start finger painting.
This classic Radio Flyer trike is made to grow with your child, from getting steered by a parent to being able to ride on their own. It is a wonderful way to introduce them to riding a bike and help them grow in balance and confidence.
Your toddler might be dying to get on a playground. But if they’re not quite big enough to keep up with the big kids yet, they will love having their own slide that is the perfect size for them.
4. Little Tikes Spiralin’ Seas Waterpark Play Table
A water table is a wonderful toy that encourages open-ended sensory play. Kids can splash, experiment with pouring water, and conduct other experiments or simply have fun.
Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided ‘As is’ and is subject to change or removal at any time. / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
