Are you getting ready for Christmas and looking for some new toys or tools to help your toddler learn from playing? Below are some of our favorite playing or learning resources that we have tried!
Note: these are affiliated links which (at no cost to you) will allow for us to earn a small amount of commission if you decide to purchase. We only recommend items that we have personally tried and used before so we would not promote something we do not love!
Stocking Stuffers under $20
These small gifts are perfect for stocking stuffers and we love bringing these out with us when we are at a restaurant, on-the-go, or traveling!
Washable paint
Our favourite paint because it actually washes off so easily! Plus they’re inexpensive so win win for everyone.
Charades for Kids
Easy and fun for the whole family!
Felt Christmas tree – 35% off!
Have a toddler who wants to help hang ornaments but worried about breaking? Try this felt Christmas tree! The kids can put up all the ornaments by themselves and decorate their own tree.
Uno Kids or Other versions
This classic game is easy to learn and fun for the whole family to play together!
Spot it
This easy game is one of our favourites! Easy for the kids to pick up and great for helping with matching and recognition!
Skillmatics Guess in 10 – 36% off!!
A fun and easy game for toddlers to start thinking in a different way! We love these and my daughter especially loves the disney version!
Hexbug
These fun little buzzing bugs move around like a real bug! They are extra fun in mazes or when paired with magnet tiles!
Family games
We love finding good games to play and bond together as a family! These ones are simple and easy enough for young toddlers to pick up!
Monkey around
Fun and easy for young toddlers and siblings! This game asks them to do easy and silly tasks with a banana and is great for balance and coordination as well as working together!
Lets go fishing
This classic game is great for working on fine motor skills and coordination!
Elefun – 19% off!
This fun game shoots out butterflies into the sky for toddlers to catch. Simple and entertaining!
Connect 4 – 49% off!
This classic game is great for young toddlers, we started this one when they were around 1. It’s perfect for fine motor skills and as they get older we can play together!
Learning Toddler Resources
Kids Talking point cards – 39% off!
These have been such a great conversation starter at mealtimes. The kids get so excited about the questions and it has allowed us to see how they view things and how creative they can be!
Water Drawing Mat – 17% off!
This mat is a favourite for both of my kids and it is mess free! Simply use paint brushes and some water and have fun painting on a large canvas.
Yotoplayer
This audio player is our go-to for listening to music and having dance parties, or calming down with a bedtime story. You can choose from a large collection of stories, podcasts and songs and my daughter uses it every night. It also has an “okay to wake” alarm clock which allows her to see when it is time to get out of bed. Highly recommend!
Learning resources cash register – 35% off
This cash register really works and the best is the realistic money (we laminated ours). It’s a great way to start learning math.
Paint by sticker for kids!
Painting but with stickers! These are great for older preschoolers who are working on fine motor skills and lengthening focus.
Paint with water
Spill proof and easy to take on the go! These paint with water pages come with little paint boxes at the top. All you need is a paint brush and some water for minimal mess painting.
Whack a frog
Hit the frog when it lights up! This fun game tests their speed and coordination
Chunky puzzles – 25% off
We love the sound ones from Melissa and doug.
Two piece puzzles
The next level up for toddlers! These puzzles are easy to follow and the large size makes it easy for little hands to complete.
Reusable water balloons – 20% off
These have been used so much during the summer months! Reusable and easy enough for toddlers to fill, these are highly recommend!
Flower building garden
This one is fun for fine motor and color matching while having fun building your own magical garden inside.
Magnet tiles
These are one of our most used resource. The kids build and create so many different things with these!
Magnetic board
These are great for fine motor practice as well as focus and attention. My littles loved working on these quietly by themselves!
Digital Camera – Kidamento (Code: AGNESA15) or Others – 20% off!
This is one of our most used toy! The kids love taking pictures everywhere they go and then comparing with each other. It is so nice to see things from their perspective!
Melissa and Doug Wooden Kitchen
One of our most used items in the playroom is our play kitchen. The kids have spent countless hours cooking up food and pretending to be little chefs here. We love how sturdy this one is and has kept well even through multiple moves from room to room!
Toddler Play sink
This one is great for water play as the water recirculates so you don’t need to constantly fill up water for them. We’ve had this one for years and it is still going strong!
There is also a new color changing sink which looks like a lot of fun too!
Melissa and doug make a meal
These sticker activity books are so much fun and great for on the go play. There are background sheets with empty plates and bowls ready for your little ones to fill up with stickers! This is also a fun way to teach how to make a balanced plate.
Melissa and Doug felt food sandwich – 15% off!
Pretend play is the best kind of play! This felt sandwich set has been so much fun. The kids love taking our orders and asking us what we want on our sandwiches. Plus, it is SO cute, I can’t help but play with it too!
Travel shape sorter
This shape sorter is great for learning shapes and practicing hand eye coordination. Plus, the soft bag and handle makes it great for bringing out on the go!
Drawing board
These have been game changers for us. We have two of them (one for each kid) and they are perfect for eating out or waiting rooms. They can draw whatever they like and then erase with a push of a button.
Amazon kids tablet – 26% off!
We love this tablet for younger toddlers because it comes with everything you need for a great low price! Plus, you don’t have to worry about your kids dropping and breaking it because it comes with a case AND there is a 2 year worry free guarantee!
Terra by battat animal figurines
Our favorite animal figurines – these are accurately shaped and colored and are a great size for toddler hands. We’ve used them for endless activities and they have done well even with painting and washing, freezing or hidden in jello!
Play tunnel
This was a fun and colorful addition to our playroom and gets the kids moving around. They love crawling through the colorful rainbow and using it to create tunnels into their “castles”.
Democaplay busy books and busy board
Our favorite busy book and board to help the kids practice fine motor. The daily routine book is great for going through day-to-day activities and pretend play. It also makes the perfect addition for traveling!
Storage and Organization
Rainbow photo organizer
These photo organizers are the perfect way to make a ton of busy boxes and have them ready for your little ones to play whenever you need to keep them busy. Some examples of what we put in ours include:
- Clothespin flashcard activities
- Suction toys to make towers
- Drawing pad and pens
- Fine motor writing practice
- Letter hunt
- Counting activities
- Magnet fishing
- Playdough + stampers
- Scissor practice
- Bead threading
- Cheerios and playdough
- Elastic bands and popsicle sticks
- Dominos
We will be sharing more ideas and details on each of these busy boxes soon!
Toy organizer
We have a few of these around the house and they are perfect for storing toys away but still having them easily accessible for the kids.
Mesh zipper pouches
These are perfect for storing puzzles or other small toys so that you dont lose pieces! They are also great for toy rotation as you can take out one pouch at a time and put it away when finished.
Guidecraft book and bin
Books
Goodnight frog – 27% off
One of our favourite interactive flashlight books! You insert the “flashlight” behind the pages to help find the animals.
Race to the north pole
We love a good interactive book and this one is great for younger toddlers who love tracing with their finger, great for pre writing skills!
Questions and answers lift the flap feelings
Look inside your Body book
Poke a dot – 14% off
I spy everything
Bao Bao Learns Chinese song book
Personalized books from Wonderbly – 25% off BFRIDAYZ83IWW
Other Misc
Radioflyer wagon
This wagon is perfect for day trips to the zoo or park! The kids love sitting together and enjoying the view and the wagon pulls smoothly. This one also transforms to seating if you want to take a break!
Sandwich cutters
If your little ones are getting bored with their regular sandwiches, try changing it up with these! I like how there is minimal waste with the way the designs are and they have been very easy to use and clean.
Slumberpod – 25% off
Code PLAYING$20
We never travel without this! This popup portable tent has saved many vacations because it creates a separate blackout environment for baby which allows them to nap or sleep without any distractions.
Sleepout blackout curtains
Code – LFP10
Similar to the slumberpod, but for everyone! These portable blackout curtains are super easy to use and requires no tools. Just a simple suction to the window and it is ready to go. We love using these for traveling for our older preschooler who does not sleep in a crib anymore.
