When buying a toy for a one-year old, Dr. Natasha Burgert, a pediatrician in South Overland Park, Kansas, encourages parents to consider “toys that hit all the developmental dimensions.” This could mean wooden blocks that can help with both fine motor skills and the concept of cause and effect or a ride-on toy that works those growing gross and fine motor skills. Colleen Mason, a preschool teacher with a Masters degree in early childhood recommends, “simple cause and effect toys, pop up toys, instruments, pull toys, etc. Toys that help children understand that their actions have meaning and empower them.” It is also important to think about the lifespan of toys in your house. It is best to consider toys that target different growing skills and will be a favorite for years to come. Wooden blocks, ride-on toys, or books are always a winner and will be popular for years on end. Our editors tested the best toys with their little ones, considering the recommended age, educational value, safety, and longevity of each. Here, the best toys for 1-year-olds. Price at the time of publish: $45 Price at time of publish: $140 This toy is made of high-quality wood with child-safe paint and rounded edges, making it easy to clean for little hands and mouths. Our tester loved how this toy kept her son engaged and entertained for hours and how he was able to find more and more ways to play. The only downside our tester found was that her son liked to throw the wooden balls while playing, which can be loud and even cause damage if used around fragile objects. Still, the musical toy is too engaging and multifunctional for the price to give up. Price at time of publish: $23 Price at the time of publish: $20 Price at the time of publish: $15 Price at the time of publish: $5
Price at the time of publish: $9
Price at the time of publish: $28 Price at the time of publish: $16 Price at time of publish: $21 Price at the time of publish: $18 Price at the time of publish: $65
Price at time of publish: $49
Price at the time of publish: $33 Price at time of publish: $25 Price at the time of publish: $30 Price at the time of publish: $58 Price at the time of publish: $70
Price at time of publish: $38 Price at time of publish: $64 Price at time of publish: $31
Price at time of publish: $55 Price at the time of publish: $45 Horn noises, interactive dashboards, and gears can help develop fine motor skills, plus there’s under-seat storage for extra toys. Price at time of publish: $34 This toy can help your toddler get familiar with shapes, colors, imaginative play, sorting and sequencing and, of course, problem solving. The best part? It’s easy to clean by just wiping it down. Price at time of publish: $56 Price at time of publish: $165 Price at time of publish: $146 Price at time of publish: $10 Price at time of publish: $20 Price at time of publish: $18 Price at time of publish: $5 Price at time of publish: $18 Price at time of publish: $24 Price at time of publish: $12 Price at time of publish: $24 Price at time of publish: $40 Price at time of publish: $40 Price at time of publish: $22 Price at time of publish: $22 Price at time of publish: $88 Price at time of publish: $80 Price at time of publish: $17 Price at time of publish: $11 Price at time of publish: $13 Price at time of publish: $10 Price at time of publish: $45 Price at the time of publish: $12 Price at time of publish: $30 Price at time of publish: $17 Price at the time of publish: $20
Safety
Naturally, you’ll want to consider safety when purchasing a toy for a 1-year-old. Watch out for toys with small parts that can be a choking hazard—generally these toys are labeled 3+, Goldman says.
Longevity
Because toddlers grow and progress so quickly, you’ll want to consider how long they’ll be able to use the toy you buy. You may want to look for one that children can use as they get older, instead of an expensive toy that’ll only be used for a few months.
Educational Value
It’s also beneficial to think about whether the toy you’re buying is educational. There’s a lot for one-year-olds to learn, from basic motor and language skills to letters, colors, sounds, and more. Consider what toys they already have and what skills they’re working on when you start shopping. Think about buying “Toys like books to read together or explore independently, cause and effect toys that have a light or sound when the child engages, balls to kick and throw, blocks to stack and tumble, dolls and stuffed animals, and tactile toys for texture exploration and fine motor play,” Burgert explains.
Why Trust the Spruce?
This article was written by Julie Evans, a writer and editor who has worked with a host of diverse companies including Microsoft, USA Today, Realtor.com, Brit + Co, CafeMom, and SheKnows among others. She started writing for The Spruce in August 2017. Additional reporting was done by Shanon Maglente, senior editor at The Spruce, covering all things toys, gifts, and holiday, and Caroline Utz, the associate editorial director at The Spruce.
