52 Great Gift Ideas for Toddler Boys Ages 1-3 in 2024
This age is a fun one! I know the toddler season may feel long, but for the purposes of this post, and giving you some toddler gift ideas, I’m going to classify toddler anywhere from ages one to three. I know when my babies turn one I don’t consider them all of the sudden a toddler, but it’s amazing how quickly they grow. One day you wake up and realize they are in fact toddling!
I think ages four and five are more early preschool and then each stage after that is so different! While little girls may like a lot of these things, as a Mom to four boys these are things I know my boys love. They’re favorite items we’ve had for years and hopefully things you’ll find to be great gift ideas as well.
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My youngest son is almost two and these are a lot of toys on here that I can see him playing with til at least three. I’ll share below some of our favorite things that have stuck around now for thirteen years! Thankfully he has older brothers and a lot of hand me down toys.
Little boys are a lot of fun and so I’ve tried to put together some ideas for Christmas gifts that the toddler boys in your life may enjoy too! All in all you know your kid is happy with some measuring cups and a whisk! What they need is time with you reading books, from the library for free!
I know a lot of people are always looking for ideas though so I’ve put together this extensive list. I hope it helps! If these things are out of your price range, don’t worry. I’ve set a huge range here and truly believe you can find so much second hand when it comes to toddler ages. Remember, whisks and measuring cups keep them happy too! And, just think how intrigued they’ll be by the wrapping paper and bows!
Favorite Toys that Involve Trucks
1. I love little trucks at this age that are perfect for their hands. This set or this are perfect.
2. Trucks with lights and sounds are always fun. These toy cars look like such a hit plus they’ll love putting them inside the truck.
3. Trucks for outside. If you have the space maybe allot a few trucks that can stay outside and get dirty. This dump truck is sure to be loaded with mulch and sticks.
4. Hess Trucks. Around 2 these trucks are a hit. They do sell younger sets. These are well made, resemble real life trucks with fun sound effects, and will be loved for years.
5. Kinetic sand with toy trucks. Make your very own simple sensory bin with a bin like this with a lid, kinetic sand, and a tub of these construction toys. I plan to take this one our during school time outside to keep my little guy entertained. Little trucks like these are some of the best toys to keep in your purse or car too!
6. Road tape. This is a fun easy one. It won’t harm your floors and your little guy will have fun for hours.
Books for the Toddler Years
1. Roadwork “Plan the road, plan the road..” We’ve read this a lot.
2. Any of the Bible Primer Baby Believer Board Books
3. Books with bumpy surfaces, like That’s not my Plane!
4. We love this pop up animal book or this one called Moo!
5. This pop up alphabet book is so fun too.
6. This pop up dinosaur book has been well loved, we may need a new one.
7. Little Blue Truck is a winner with the classic, springtime, and of course the Christmas book that lights up
8. Big Red Barn is one of our favorite board books in our house
9. Goodnight Goodnight Construction Site
10. Beep Beep Go to Sleep! Such a cute one that’ll make even more sense when you introduce the toddler bed!
Imaginative Play for Young Kids
1. Magna-tiles are a toy you’ll buy once and use for years to come. These would honestly make a gift guide for me through year eight. My kids play with them still and they’re a toy that I know I’ll hold on to for future grandma’s house someday.
2. Magna-tile Add Ons- This car ramp is new since we first got our set and I love that they can make tracks. These different animals are also so fun and a great and a construction add on.
3. A bucket of wild animals. Kids are so creative, you’ll be amazed what they’ll do and where you’ll find a rhino some day!
4. Bath Toys! Think of this fun and gentle bubble bath, these ships, we love these stacking cups with holes, and this set for the wall is very fun too. Toys in the tub is a fun way for them to be learning while they’re getting clean and baths are a great activity on long winter days!
5. I love these stacking rocks. A great toy since they’re always stacking things anyways!
6. This classic block set will stick around for years!
7. Play Kitchens. I have my eye on this one and this one. Ours will live in our main area so I’m looking for a wood toy kitchen that’ll somewhat blend in.
8. Capes! I love this little set with tiny masks. We’ve had it for years. I plan to hang them up for easy access so they don’t get stuffed in a bin!
9. Big action figures like these will start making their way on to all those stacking cubes and blocks! My boys have played with these in different ways, even decorating my mantel with them!
Learning Resources and Art
1. Color Wonder! I love that my toddler can scribble without me worrying about marker going on a table or rug. I’m looking at lots of color wonder pages and some new markers for him to use this Christmas!
2. Playdough. Great for their young minds to be building and molding. This is the perfect gift to help their little hands grow in fine motor skills and this version is non toxic.
3. Dot Markers. Fun for the budding artist, I like this set. You can get coloring pages or just let them dot what they want.
4. Large Stickers. Another good one for fine motor skills I like to help them peel the sticker and they place them on a paper. As my son gets older we’ll work on creating scenes, but for now I’m more focused on him learning to peel the stickers and place them on paper. Such a good gift!
5. This drawing board is mess free and perfect for long car rides.
6. Shape Sorters- One of the best gifts. You can get a classic cube or toy bench that little boys will love. Another great option is this one that looks like a truck.
7. Chunky Puzzles like this Melissa and Doug one are great!
8. Puzzle Cubes– this is like five toys in one. I love all the puzzles and of course, they stack them too!
9. Tiny magna-tiles. Such a great gift for toddler and Mom to have in her purse!
10. Water Art. Not completely mess free but pretty close.
11. Chunky crayons great for little hands. These are made of beeswax!
Gifts they May Need
1. I love these stainless water bottles with flexible straws. I’m not worried about the straw hurting his mouth if he runs with it.
2. These are the years of the snack cups. I love this one for the lid.
3. Popsicle molds are so fun. Turn any smoothie into popsicles for later. They’ll never know their treat involves spinach!
4. No more baby spoons. This toddler set if fun for your little guy as he grows in learning how to use utensils.
5. We love this chair on our island. It’s been worth the price and still used for a bit longer in our house!
6. Disposable placemats for on the go. These fun designs will keep him entertained while out.
Movement Toys
1. This wiggle car is already getting use, even if his older brother rides along with him.
2. Tiny scooters with helmet and supervision of course!
3. A Balance Bike is a must in our house. We’ve had ours for years and thanks to it the boys haven’t ever had to use training wheels!
4. A wiggle board seems fun and I guarantee they’ll find more creative ways to use it!
5. These wooden indoor sets seems amazing if you have the space!
Christmas Specific Toys
1. These Christmas Little People are another one I’ve held on to for years. They only come out at Christmas and are so fun for little hands to play with!
2. Little Blue Truck Christmas– the light up tree at the end is so fun!
3. Miracle Melting Tree and Snowman. We were gifted these and absolutely love them. Bonus they don’t catch dust so you we’ve had them year after year! If your kid is on the younger side just supervise their creations with the sometimes small pieces!
4. Construction Site, Merry and Bright or any books with fun songs
5. This Seek and Find Christmas Book would be so sweet to read with your little guy
