It is important to give your toddler the right toys since these early years are packed with physical growth, language and motor skills development, and increased social interaction. Kids from 1 to 3 years old also enjoy exploring their surroundings and imitating the people around them. This is also the stage where they’re starting to appreciate toys and playing on their own.
With their growing interest in playtime, now is the perfect opportunity to introduce toys that can maximize a toddler’s ability to “soak up everything like a little sponge.” In this article, we prepared a buying guide with some comments and tips from pediatrician Dr. Joanna Pamela "Joey" Cuayo-Estanislao. You may also read our top 10 recommendations on toys for toddlers that you can purchase online.
Dr. Joanna Pamela Cuayo-Estanislao is a pediatrician and child health specialist based in Metro Manila. Doc Joey is passionate about health education and empowering families to become informed advocates of their children's health and wellness. She uses social media to educate and raise awareness about important issues and topics in the field of pediatrics and child care.
To know more about her practice, like and follow her on her Instagram and Facebook page!
Disclaimer: These products are recommendations made by our team at mybest Philippines. Our expert, Dr. Joanna Pamela Cuayo-Estanislao, is not affiliated with, nor is she endorsing any of the brands we mention below.
**Prices may vary depending on the website and their campaign period**
From ₱3,713.75
Best for | Pretend play (inspiring imagination and developing practical life skills) |
---|---|
Material | Wood |
Safety Measures | Painted with non-toxic and water-based material |
Needs Parental Guidance | Yes (toy set includes a pretend knife) |
From ₱499
Best for | Pretend play and practicing fine motor skills |
---|---|
Material | Wood and plastic |
Safety Measures | Non-toxic and odorless |
Needs Parental Guidance | Yes (toy set includes a pretend knife) |
From ₱1,199.75
Best for | Pretend play (inspiring imagination) |
---|---|
Material | Plastic |
Safety Measures | Not indicated |
Needs Parental Guidance | Yes (choking hazard, playset comes with tiny parts) |
From ₱699.75
Best for | Pretend play (inspiring imagination) and practicing fine motor skills |
---|---|
Material | Clay |
Safety Measures | Non-toxic |
Needs Parental Guidance | Yes (always needed when playing with clay) |
From ₱599
Best for | Pretend play (inspiring imagination and developing practical life skills) |
---|---|
Material | Wood |
Safety Measures | Round corners, smooth edges and painted with water-based material |
Needs Parental Guidance | Yes (includes pretend tools with pointy ends) |
From ₱297
Best for | Learning the alphabet & spelling |
---|---|
Material | Wooden letters and cardboard flashcards |
Safety Measures | Smooth edges and made of non-toxic materials |
Needs Parental Guidance | Yes (possible biting of chunky letters) |
From ₱426
Best for | Writing and drawing (practicing fine motor skills) |
---|---|
Material | Cloth |
Safety Measures | Magic pen only requires water |
Needs Parental Guidance | Yes (drawing using the pointy end of the magic pen) |
From ₱1,799.75
Best for | Practicing hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills |
---|---|
Material | Plastic |
Safety Measures | Child-safe and durable materials |
Needs Parental Guidance | Yes (possible biting of big blocks) |
From ₱250
Best for | Practicing hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills |
---|---|
Material | Cardboard puzzles and tin can |
Safety Measures | Smooth edges |
Needs Parental Guidance | No |
From ₱341.05
Best for | Refining practical life skills and practicing fine motor skills |
---|---|
Material | Cloth |
Safety Measures | Made with a comfortable and soft cloth |
Needs Parental Guidance | Yes (choking hazard due to small and removable parts) |
Image | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() Treehole | ![]() Mega Bloks | ![]() Fisher Price | ![]() | ![]() Play-Doh | ![]() | ![]() | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Fruit and Vegetable Cutting Toy Set | Wooden Kitchen Set | Spelling Game | First Builders | Tin Can Puzzle Games | Junior Cashier Pretend Playset | Drawing Mat with Magic Pen | Grown Garden Set | Portable Wooden Toolbox Set | Cloth Book |
Features | Early Practice for the Future Chef | Your Little One’s Dream Kitchen | Expanding Your Toddler’s Vocabulary | Easy-to-Stack Building Blocks for Their Little Hands | Cute Puzzle Games with an Easy-Clean-Up Storage Can | Perfect for the Pretend Grocery Store | Magic Doodling Mat and Pen for the Young Artist | Your Little One’s Very Own Garden | Wooden Toolbox for the Mini Handyman | All-in-One Activity Book for Your Toddler’s Quiet Time |
Price Starts at | ₱499 | ₱3,713.75 | ₱297 | ₱1,799.75 | ₱250 | ₱1,199.75 | ₱426 | ₱699.75 | ₱599 | ₱341.05 |
Best for | Pretend play and practicing fine motor skills | Pretend play (inspiring imagination and developing practical life skills) | Learning the alphabet & spelling | Practicing hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills | Practicing hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills | Pretend play (inspiring imagination) | Writing and drawing (practicing fine motor skills) | Pretend play (inspiring imagination) and practicing fine motor skills | Pretend play (inspiring imagination and developing practical life skills) | Refining practical life skills and practicing fine motor skills |
Material | Wood and plastic | Wood | Wooden letters and cardboard flashcards | Plastic | Cardboard puzzles and tin can | Plastic | Cloth | Clay | Wood | Cloth |
Safety Measures | Non-toxic and odorless | Painted with non-toxic and water-based material | Smooth edges and made of non-toxic materials | Child-safe and durable materials | Smooth edges | Not indicated | Magic pen only requires water | Non-toxic | Round corners, smooth edges and painted with water-based material | Made with a comfortable and soft cloth |
Needs Parental Guidance | Yes (toy set includes a pretend knife) | Yes (toy set includes a pretend knife) | Yes (possible biting of chunky letters) | Yes (possible biting of big blocks) | No | Yes (choking hazard, playset comes with tiny parts) | Yes (drawing using the pointy end of the magic pen) | Yes (always needed when playing with clay) | Yes (includes pretend tools with pointy ends) | Yes (choking hazard due to small and removable parts) |
Link |
Here are some key points to consider:
For more detailed information, read through our buying guide below.
Choose toys that can impart a new skill to your toddler. There are a variety of toys that are both entertaining and educational. With these toys, your kids get to enjoy playtime while improving their vocabulary and fine motor skills.
At this age, kids love songs, rhymes, and repetition. Take advantage of this interest by introducing the alphabet and numbers using wooden puzzle boards. These come with cutouts or stand-alone pieces that can match with the engraved chart.
Sing the ABCs or 123s while playing with these toys to help them identify and memorize the letters or numbers. These jigsaw puzzles can also teach them basic colors and shapes as well as reading and spelling. You can also find variations, for example, those that feature animals, fruits, and the human body.
Your toddler’s fine motor skills refer to their ability to use the small muscles in the hands, fingers, and wrists. They use these when holding small items, turning the pages of a book, writing or coloring, and molding soft materials with their hands.
Guide your little ones in refining their motor skills by selecting toys that encourage open-ended activities. These include building blocks, shape-sorters, nesting cups, and art materials like playdough.
Kids enjoy manipulating these objects – such as creating bridges, towers, and cars over and over again. This way, they get to practice more complex movements with their hands as well as developing a stronger grip. Also, these toys help in improving their hand-eye coordination.
Pretend play teaches kids practical life skills like dressing up, using eating utensils, as well as simple chores like cleaning the house or shopping for groceries. To achieve this, give them toys that encourage reenactments of real-life activities.
Through their little pretend play world, they learn how to solve problems and experience the process of decision making. They also get to practice their language and social skills by playing roles such as a doctor, teacher, and chef.
Examples of pretend play toys include food packs, a small kitchen set, dolls, cars, action figures, and stuffed toys. Also available these days are miniature versions of toolboxes, cash registers for playing grocery, and gardening sets for their pretend planting.
Remember the animated movie Toy Story? Most kids have a favorite stuffed toy or doll that they bring with them everywhere. While your little one is a toddler, this is the perfect time to introduce a toy that could potentially become your toddler’s “toy best friend.”
This toy can serve as your go-to solution whenever your little one is about to have tantrums or screaming sessions. This toy will also help in comforting your kids when they’re feeling sad or when you are away. Some parents purchase an exact duplicate of the toy, just in case the original one goes missing or gets damaged.
Always check the material of the toys before purchasing them. For toddlers, wooden toys are the best way to go since they have smoother edges and are more durable. Plastic toys are also a good option because they are less expensive, just make sure that these are BPA-free to avoid exposure to harsh chemicals.
Most toddler toys come in bright colors, so also look into the paint or coloring agent that was used. It should be non-toxic and lead-free. Meanwhile, if your toddler has sensitive skin and is prone to allergic reactions, also consider the fabric used in their toys. Choose hypoallergenic materials such as cotton and silk.
Just as important to consider is the safety of your little one while playing with toys. Check if the toy that you’re eyeing passes the following child-safety measures.
The toy should not be a choking hazard – it must be large enough so that it can’t be swallowed by your child. The toy should also be unbreakable just in case your kid decides to chew on it or tear it apart. Moreover, avoid toys with sharp ends and those with small & removable parts.
In case your little one really prefers the toy with tiny parts, always sit by their side and watch them play.
In the YouTube video above by Hapa Family, Mommy Ashley shares insightful tips on setting up Montessori-style shelves in the playroom. The Montessori Method of teaching or education encourages self-directed activities and hands-on learning.
It entails a learning or playing environment that is spacious, tidy, and inviting. This helps kids to easily choose the toys by themselves. Aside from independence, this setup can also improve their hand-eye coordination, practical life skills, and language by displaying toys that cater to different activities.
Tips:
Whether you're a new parent or an experienced one, there will always be new things to learn. Below, Doc Joey answers some of the most asked questions online.
There's no real hard and fast rule about how little or how many toys a toddler should have. However, it's good to note that at any one time, it's better to just let your toddler engage in just one or a few toys at a time.
Studies on child development and psychology have shown that kids who were given fewer toys to play with were more focused and engaged, played more creatively, and interacted with their toys in more varied ways for longer periods of time. These are all important in your child's gross motor, fine motor, and cognitive development.
Play is the primary vehicle through which children learn and develop in their early childhood years. When choosing toys, it's important to be careful not to choose toys that are gender-biased.
All children need the opportunity to explore different styles of playing and be allowed to try different kinds of toys without gender restrictions. Reducing gender stereotypes in play has been found to help reduce gender differentiation in development, ability, and skills.
With the growth and development of your child, changing up their toys is a way to help them further hone their skills. At certain ages and developmental stages, children are able to "unlock" new abilities.
As they grow older, they are able to pick up and manipulate smaller objects (fine motor development), are able to play with toys in more ways (cognitive and social development), and are now suddenly able to do more physical things, like being able to learn to ride a tricycle properly at 3 years old (gross motor development).
In general, simple and open-ended toys are always great for any age because how they are used and played with is dependent on your toddler's imagination and abilities. It's also always a good idea to keep open communications with your pediatrician to help you decide what toys can best help your child reach their full potential.
Play is the main and best avenue for young children to learn and develop different skills, so it's really important to choose toys that will help the social, mental, physical, and emotional development of children.
While toys should be fun for your child, they should also be age-appropriate, stimulating, and safe. Go for simpler toys that allow for open-ended play (such as blocks, dolls, play objects), leaving much of how a toy is used and played with to the imagination of your child.
Try also to avoid electronic toys and gadgets, as several studies have suggested that these pose several possible dangers to children's health and development, including hearing loss (from loud toys), weight gain (from being inactive while playing), as well as language and developmental delays.
Pretend play toys inspire your little one’s imagination and creativity. Aside from mini kitchen sets, dolls and cars - play tents and books also do the same by exposing your kids to other life situations and roles. Click the article links below to see our recommended options.
Shopping for your toddler is just as fun, if not more, as “adding to cart” for yourself. Consider your toddler’s milestones and skills development first and foremost. A toy can be entertaining while being educational at the same time.
Meanwhile, it can be also overwhelming which toys to buy. To keep it simple, a toddler will be amused by 8-10 toys at a time. This way, you’ll avoid clutter in your home and your little one gets to enjoy every single toy so much more.
Author: Ayeza E. Mangulabnan
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