The transition from newborn to infant to toddler goes by in a flash. As soon as they hit one developmental milestone, children of this age crawl toward the next. As a leader in early childhood education for the past 50 years, Kaplan knows that when children play, they learn. This is why we work closely with educational experts, teachers, and our manufacturers to deliver durable, safe, and developmentally appropriate toys to classrooms and homes throughout the United States.
You can support a child's rapid growth and development during the infant and toddler years by gifting them with any of the engaging, educational toys on this list.
Ages: Birth and up
The Rainbow Stackers Soothing Teether is a drool-worthy gift idea for young infants ready to explore, grasp, and learn about the world they live in. The food-grade silicone rings feature various colors and textures children can grasp, chew, and stack. When playtime is over, toss the teethers in your sterilizer, dishwasher, or a bowl of warm, soapy water to clean and sanitize.
Skills Taught: Young infants will improve their fine motor skills as they learn to grasp the individual rings and bring them to their mouths to chew and soothe sore gums. Older infants and toddlers can practice hand-eye coordination, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills as they stack and unstack the teethers.
Gift Companions: To encourage even more sensory play, pair this teether with a set of Poufs and Points Plush Balls, or choose a gift from our other infant and toddler fine motor toys.
Ages: 12 months and up.
Wrap up the joy of outdoorsy fun with the Weebles My Happy Camper. The Weebles campers, Bailey and Alex will teeter-totter back and forth as young toddlers push their camper to its destination. Once they find the perfect camping spot, children can open the back of the camper to reveal an entire campsite, complete with swinging hammock, teeter-totter logs, and a grill. Camper requires 3 AAA batteries, not included.
Skills Taught: The colors and sounds of this mobile toy create play opportunities that inspire the imagination, encourage reaching and grasping, and stimulate the senses. Children can also explore concepts such as cause and effect as they push the camper and watch the figurines bounce and wiggle.
Gift Companions: A fun companion you can gift alongside the Weebles My Happy Camper is the Weebles My Smart House or another fine motor infant and toddler toy.
Ages: 3 months and up.
Teething can be a real pain in the gums, but it doesn't have to be with these Silicone Fun Loops. The flower-shaped teethers pull apart and twist together for a multi-layered play experience. The fun colors, interesting textures, and lightweight silicone material make this a perfect toy to toss in your diaper bag for on-the-go fun. Place them in your dishwasher or sterilizer to clean.
Skills Taught: More than a teether, these floral loops will help young infants strengthen their dexterity and the small muscles in their hands while improving their hand-eye coordination. As they get older, they can use early problem-solving skills to twist apart the loops and put them back together again.
Gift Companions: Give children multiple ways to improve their fine motor skills by pairing this gift with a set of Knots and Knobs Plush Balls.
Ages: Birth and up.
Are you searching for a way to calm your overstimulated, upset child that doesn't involve screens or tablets? The Baby Calm Down Sensory Bottles provide a captivating solution that will intrigue and relax even the crankiest of tempers. Each bottle contains a glittery liquid that swirls and sparkles as little ones play. Use the bottles at home in a calm-down corner or take them on a road trip for times when the car seat becomes too confining.
Skills Taught: Raised textures on the top and bottom of each bottle enhance tactile exploration and encourage children to shake and turn the bottles to investigate what is inside. Reflective shapes inside the glittery liquid create rainbows of color that will introduce children to the concept of light.
Gift Companions: For even more sensory fun, pair this gift with a set of Sensory Egg Shakers or one of our other fine motor infant and toddler toys.
Ages: 6 months and up.
Introduce infants to the basics of building with a set of Soft Stack Baby Bricks. Firmly constructed with a soft exterior, these blocks can withstand rigorous infant play and exploration. The blocks easily connect so infants and toddlers can create structures, towers, and colorful patterns with each set.
Skills Taught: Young children will develop fine motor skills and hand dexterity as they build and play with the Soft Stack Baby Bricks. These blocks also lay the foundation for spatial awareness, a critical STEM concept.
Gift Companions: Give children a few buildable options by pairing these blocks with the Triblox Rainbow Silicone Triangle Blocks or any number of Kaplan's infant and toddler block sets.
Ages: 3 months and up.
Another sore gum favorite, the Silicone Teething Mittens feature three fun animal-shaped mitts infants can hold and chew. Each mitten has multiple teething surfaces that soothe painful gums, and the animal's arms mimic a natural nipple to comfort fussy babies. Place the mittens on the top rack of your dishwasher to clean and sanitize.
Skills Taught: The large opening and internal silicone bar are perfect tools to help young infants learn to grasp and hold. They can also use these teethers to work on large muscle control as they practice bringing a mitten to their mouth to chew.
Gift Companions: Any of the previously mentioned teethers on this gift list make a perfect companion gift for the Silicone Teething Mittens, as well as our other rattles and teethers.
Ages: 12 months and up.
A pet they can take anywhere, this Golden Retriever Puppet is sure to be a favorite for the animal-obsessed child on your list. The soft fur, plush paws, and realistic facial features will inspire toddlers to play and help reduce childhood stress and anxiety.
Skills Taught: Adults can use the puppet as a visual aid during story time to help young children build their early literacy skills. This puppet also makes a fun-loving accompaniment to speech therapy lessons, ensuring children feel safe and comfortable in a potentially overwhelming setting. Children can also use this puppet to play pretend while gaining compassion, empathy, and caretaking skills.
Gift Companions: A gift including a cuddly puppet is incomplete without a Toy Pet Stroller that children can use at home or on the go.
Ages: 2 years and up.
Children will love learning their colors with the Learn with Me Color Fun Fish Bowl. This interactive fishbowl features two play modes for hands-on fun: Let's Learn Colors and Find It. In Let's Learn Colors, children will place a random fish piece into the opening of the fishbowl, and the fishbowl will say the name of the fish's color out loud. In the Find It game mode, the fishbowl will say a color out loud, and children must find the correct fish piece and place it inside the fishbowl.
Skills Taught: While playing with this interactive fishbowl, children will not only learn their colors but also improve their hand-eye coordination, problem-solving skills, and ability to follow simple instructions.
Gift Companions: Pair this colorful fishbowl toy with a colorful Alphabet Puzzle or any number of Kaplan's puzzles and games for infants and toddlers.
Ages: 18 months and up.
Dressed in a charming, garden-themed onesie with a matching hat, the Water Play Calypso Garden Delights Doll is perfect for year-round fun. This doll has plenty of realistic features such as a soft, bead-filled body, posable arms for thumb sucking, and eyes that close when it lays down for a nap. Plus, it's safe for children to take into the bath, pool, or outdoor water table to extend playtime to other areas of your home. Hang this Calypso doll by the sewn-on tag on its back to air dry after water play.
Skills Taught: Given its realistic features, this doll can enrich imaginative play by teaching children how to nurture and take care of others. Children will also improve their finger dexterity and fine motor control as they put on and remove the doll's clothes during play.
Gift Companions: When gifting this doll to the young children on your list, consider pairing it with a child-sized changing bag, doll wheelchair, or any of our other dolls and doll accessories.
Ages: 2 years and up.
Do you have a Peppa Pig-loving toddler on your gift list this year? If yes, the LEGO® DUPLO® Peppa Pig Market will surely be a hit! Children can immerse themselves in Peppa's world as they drive Peppa and her family in their little red car to the supermarket. While there, the Peppa, George, Mummy Pig, and Daddy Pig figurines can check their shopping list, push their cart around the market, and scan groceries at the checkout counter.
Skills Taught: As children build and play with this LEGO® DUPLO® set, especially alongside friends and family, they will learn to share, communicate effectively, and follow directions. When connecting the blocks to form a supermarket, children will finesse their fine motor skills and learn to think critically.
Gift Companions: Children can create an entire LEGO® DUPLO® town with additional block sets like the Family House or Alphabet Town.
You can find more exciting gift ideas by browsing the Kaplan Toys That Teach Holiday Gift List. It includes gifts for children of all ages and developmental stages. Happy shopping!