Physical play should be an important focus. For outdoor play, choose ride-ons, wagons, balls, and sandbox accessories. For indoor play, choose chunky blocks. Large-piece puzzles and toys that allow a child to use excess energy and develop emerging muscle control are also good. At this stage, children like to imitate parents with play food, kitchen sets, housekeeping tools, ride-on cars, sport ssets, baby strollers, and musical instruments.
What is this?
Toy Description
Made of sand and polymers.
Each bag has 10oz of product.
Available in green, red, purple, pink, blue, and teal.
Play
Use it like a modeling clay or other dou...Read more
Something between modeling clay and beach sand, the never-drying Mad Mattr is moldable, squishable, and easy to clean.
Approximately 10 inches tall.
Requires 2 AA batteries, which are included.
A switch on the bottom sets the toy to off, demo, or on.
Press the belly to m...Read more
Pi-KAA! With 10 sounds, light-up cheeks, and moving ears, this Pikachu is surprisingly durable. Just be sure to switch it from ‘demo’ to ‘on’ to hear all the sounds.
Bootsie is a responsive toy cat. She changes her expression by moving her eyebrows and makes various cat noises to indicate her mood. Using motion and touch sensors, Bootsie responds to being hugged, petted...Read more
Cute, sassy, and sometimes hisses at people when she’s left on. Kids love her, though.
Each toy stands about 8 inches tall. Internal parts are covered in fabric and some stuffing, but due to the inner workings, the toy is not a true "stuffed animal." Unlike traditional mechanical pl...Read more
Still cute, but issues have arisen over decreased quality.
Include CHiP the robot dog, SmartBand, SmartBall, SmartBed, 4 wheel guards, power adapter, USB charge cable, Quick Start Guide, and Read more
Hyper little pup may be best for younger kids. Also, won’t fart like a real dog.
Interactive puppy playset includes puppy, milk bottle, adoption certificate, and instruction manual.
Require...Read more
Breathes, naps, and barks just like a real pup, so long as you don’t get a defective one.
Dimensions: 14.5 X 14 X 8 inches
Weight: Approximately 6 pounds once batteries are installed.
A crystal shaped tool is included to fill the water tank on Torch’s head. Tank holds 1 or ...Read more
Adorable baby dragon breathes a fine mist that looks like fire. Better for younger children, as it doesn't do much else.
Hatchimals arrive inside a colorful egg, and start to hatch once they have received enough input from their owner.
Eggs are about 10 inches tall.
2 AA batteries are included. More will event...Read more
With no app or other device needed, Hatchimals break out of their shell to become interactive pets that grow through three different stages.
Club 5 Bunch sets (sometimes listed as Kelly Bunch Club 5, or Kelly Club Bunch 5) include Kelly and four of her friends, though different sets may have different friends.
Each friend comes with her ...Read more
Even though Kelly was replaced by Chelsea in 2011, the Club 5 Bunch sets are still a good find at garage sales or online. Charming, and much more realistic body shape than older sister, Barbie.
It’s a giant top! Made of thick plastic, the conically shaped toy is large enough to fit one or two children with ease. Three children could possibly fit if they are small and very determined.
Crawl inside to spin and roll inside this sturdy, well made giant top. A favorite for sensory play!
Plastic tubes contain crayon cylinders that can be twisted up and down, kinda like a tube of lipstick. The crayons have a fairly large tip, and are easy to grip.
The plastic is clear so kids ca...Read more
Twist 'em to push up more crayon. Easy to use, and no more peeled paper labels or broken crayons.
The Darda Create-a-Course Building System has 150 pieces that children can mix and match to build their own racetrack. The set also comes with instructions for thirty different race car layouts.
Read more
Unfortunately, this toy is no longer being produced. We are still looking for the best alternative.
The newest model of Hasbro’s Trouble. Can be played with two to four players. Because this game requires a lot of counting, the minimum age recommendation is five years old. There are a total of sixte...Read more
A very cheap version of an old favorite. Read on to see our link to a better version that is just like the beloved vintage classic.
Plastic construction set that allows for more ‘real looking’ buildings and structures. Black pieces are often used as the roofing sections, with blue and clear pieces acting as the walls and win...Read more
Build tall, strong towers with overhangs and bridges. Beloved for decades, this amazing construction set brand is soon to be gone.
Wooden gameboard has 4 sets of Number Keys around the edges. Each set has numbers 1 through 10.
The gameboard (gamebox?), lid, two dice, and instructions are included.
Play<...Read more
A quick-paced numbers game that lets kids practice their number recognition and basic math skills. Fun, too.
Kids can catch butterflies and glow in the dark fireflies that fly out of the elephant’s trunk in the newest version of Hasbro’s Elefun! Comes with nets to catch butterflies. Game needs four &ls...Read more
Watch the butterflies fly out of the elephants trunk and catch them with nets. The butterflies fly out fairly quickly though, so the game is over in about fifteen seconds.
An adjustable basketball hoop for kids age two to eight. It can go as low as two feet and as high as six feet. Comes with a small basketball to play basketball with.
Th...Read more
A basketball hoop with adjustable heights to fit children ages two to eight. Comes with a kid-sized basketball to play with.
Wild Planet’s Animal Scramble is suited for young kids and works on the concepts of sharing and turn taking. It comes with a tall giraffe and four other smaller animals that can fit inside- a monkey, ...Read more
Gets children up and moving while learning about a variety of animals. With a treasure hunt mode, kids are given clues about each animal and have to find them.
Explore all different kinds of household items zoomed in to 200 times their original size! Kids can zoom in on hair, skin, clothing or even pets. Just plug the one AV cord into the TV and zoom, and an insta...Read more
Explore virtually any object and see it magnified up to 200 times its original size!
Plastic capsule has a single push button at the bottom, and a rubber stopper on top. Just remove the stopper, fill with water, and get to playing. Pressing the button forces air into the capsule, making a c...Read more
Remember this little guy? Oh yes you do! An excellent travel toy. Just don’t dampen the ring-catching fun by messing with the stopper.
Similar to the popular Lite Brite peg toy, the Quercetti Fantacolor Pegboard set includes sixteen different images and 48 brightly colored pegs that children can use to create a variety of pictures.
Sixteen pictures and 48 colored pegs for kids to create their own masterpieces and work on colors, matching, and hand-eye coordination.
Cardboard game boards are divided into sixteen squares, each with a letter and objects that start with that letter. Game cards have four objects on each side.
The boards and cards are both double-si...Read more
Is the object called out on your board? Add a token, and get four in a row to win. A game for pre-readers.
With two bright, blue LED lights to see in the dark, kids can use their imaginations and turn themselves into a spy with Wild Planet’s spy glasses.
Once the child...Read more
Wild Planet's Spy Goggles let kids who have a lot of imagination and love adventure transform themselves into a secret spy with night vision.
Solid wooden art table includes a paper roll holder, so paper can be slid along the table’s top. The surface is a dry erase board. A storage tray attaches to the side.
There are no chairs or s...Read more
A solid wooden art table with an attached paper roll holder. A high quality staple for the crafty kid, we don’t have anything negative to say about it.
With Cranium’s Giggle Gear Fun Fairy mask and voice changer, kids can transform themselves and their voices into a character of their choice.
Kids can put the dif...Read more
Unfortunately, this specific model of Giggle Gear is no longer in production. However, a similar alternative are the Giggle Gear Goggles still being sold by Cranium.
Pegboard has little holes where the pegs fit in. Coming in different sizes, the rounded pegs are used to make pictures.
Pegboard is 11 X 8 inches.
Kit includes 1 pegboard, 1 plastic carrying...Read more
A classic, this peg-n-hole toy lets kids create colorful mosaic images. Good for times when quiet play is needed.
Help your child enhance their math skills through this board game by Learning Resources that helps children learn the value of money.
To play, the child will spin...Read more
Teach your kids the value of change and how to count it in several different ways with Learning Resource's Money Bags Board Game!
A set of eight, vibrantly colored cupcakes that help children ages two and up enhance their knowledge of colors and shapes.
Play The main goal of this toy is to help children ...Read more
Children can explore six different shapes and colors while playing with Smart Snacks Cupcake matching toy by Learning Resources.
With the simple press of a button, children can learn interesting facts about different types of animals found around the world.
To play with this toy, a child simply n...Read more
Unfortunately, this model in the See 'n Say collection is no longer being produced. However, we have found an alternative- the Classic See 'n Say Farmer Says.
For soccer fans young and old, LEGO’s Soccer Championship Challenge allows players to build their own, personalized soccer field and play the game in a foosball-like style.
PlayRead more
Children can take their little ponies on a marvelous adventure inside a big castle, up in an elevator, out onto balconies, and many other places with Hasbro’s My Little Pony Celebration Castle.
Unfortunately, this toy is no longer being produced. The My Little Pony brand has other Castles available that are similar, like the Crystal Palace Playset.
Made of a synthetic stuffing-like material, these fluffy balls feel remarkably similar to real snowballs, but without the numbing cold.
Their texture is difficult to describe. Soft like a ball of co...Read more
You're never too old to enjoy an indoor snow fight. These puffballs are soft enough to bounce off TVs, and dense enough to be throwable. Crunches like snow, too.
Beat the timer and try to pull a worm out of the apple that matches the color of your card- a game specifically designed to help kids who struggle with motor skills improve their abilities while having fun ...Read more
Watch the squiggly worms move and find the worm who's color matches the color on your card and you've got a match!
This educational grade microscope has entirely glass optics, up to a 400X magnification, and lights sources from above and below. The light sources allow it to be used as a compound microscope as well as a ...Read more
Suitable for younger children and teens, the glass optics give a clear picture. We're working hard to finish our review for this toy.
200 identically sized pine planks.
Includes a project idea booklet.
Build structures by balancing and stacking the planks. If the situations calls for it, prete...Read more
Pine or maple planks can be balanced and stacked while exploring engineering fundamentals such as proportion and structural integrity.
Building bricks that connect together. Made of translucent, brightly colored plastic, these let light shine through.
Colors include: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple.
This set in...Read more
Like Duplo blocks, but wished they looked like crystal or colored glass? Well, look no further.
Assemble the parts to create a clicking pie thrower. The “pie” is either the included sponge, wetted, or whipped or shaving cream. We prefer whipped cream. It’s tastier and doesn’t b...Read more
Suspense. Anticipation. Pie in the face. This game took the world by storm in 2015 with its simple charm and appeal to groups.
The playset closes up and locks with two little swinging levers on the back. A handle makes the whole set easy to transport. All the included pieces easily fit inside the case.
Set includes four peo...Read more
This clinic, along with all its many accessories, pack up nicely in the durable carrying case.
50 building blocks that are translucent and brightly colored. Made of a plastic thinner than that of Duplo blocks, which we assume is to help light shine through.
Two sets of wheel bases are include...Read more
Pretty, but don’t actually click together. These have to be stacked, which most adults, let alone 2 year olds, find frustrating.
Plastic barn opens up to reveal animal stalls and a loft, with plenty of room for the included animal friends. The playset includes Farmer Eddie, a horse, a cow, a pig, a goat, a chicken, a sheep, and a hay...Read more
Sweet looking animal faces greet children from their pens inside the barn. The sounds aren't much, so maybe no batteries are needed.
A high density polyethelene board is curved on the bottom with grip tape on top. Comes in many different colors.
Dimensions: 25.5 X 11.25 X 0.5 inches
Best for children over 4 ft tall. For s...Read more
Find your center with the balance board that can be used on any flat surface. Indoors or outdoors, this improves coordination and body awareness.
Kit contains 139 temporary tattoos, 4 tattoo markers (pink, blue, green, purple), 1 metallic silver marker, and 58 rhinestone accents.
Not a lot to say with this one. P...Read more
Remember gel-pens? This kit comes with temporary tattoo outlines that can be colored in with the neon markers. A huge hit at parties.
Foam mats stick to each other along the edge via heavy duty Velcro. Each side has a flap of fabric that can cover up the Velcro so there’s none exposed to scratch delicate skin.
Each set comes...Read more
Way better than couch cushions. Extremely strong Velcro may mean adults have to help take structures apart.
Over 1,200 tiny plastic beads can be arranged and set into colorful creations. Just spray some water on the finished design, let ‘em dry, and enjoy the new bead art.
This set come with portabl...Read more
Like Fuse beads, but with water instead of heat. Best for older children, as bead placement takes some patience and steady hands.
Made with a steel frame and solid, non-adjustable seat, this souped up trike has a hard plastic front wheel and two caster wheels in back.
Weight limit: 160 lbs
Product weight: 15 lbs
A trike that can quickly and smoothly drift and spin, this puppy can hold up to 160lbs.
A sold body has rubberized sections on the seat and foot grips. The steering column is covered in foam to protect shins and ankles. With the wheels holding the toy only a matter of inches off the ground, fa...Read more
No pedals. No motor. Just move the wheel to propel forward. A few tries is all it takes to get racing!
Like their smaller counterpart, the Midi is made of a rubberized plastic, giving it that easy-to-grip feel and helping the pieces stick to each other. Coming in an assortment of colors (red, blue, green, ye...Read more
Made larger for smaller hands, the Midi has all the fun of the Mini.
Plastic table is divided into two sections. One side holds 3 gallons of water while 10 lbs of sand fills the other. A winding plastic road acts as the dividing wall. Thick plastic lid has a small roadway en...Read more
Durable table holds water, sand, pebbles, or just about anything else. Drains on both sides, doesn't leak, and lid keeps out the animals.
Set includes: 48 identically sized gears in six colors (red, yellow, orange, blue, green, and purple), cranks, pillars, connectors, interlocking base plates, and an Activity Guide.
Gears are large e...Read more
Spatial thinking and motor skills get tested as this kit turns a gear toy into a 3D puzzle.
This 3-in-1 model kit creates three different dinosaurs, each with light up eyes. Each dino is mostly green in color, with gray, brown, and yellow highlights.
Kit contains 731 pieces and instruction...Read more
3-in-1 kit makes a Stegosaurus (our favorite), a T-Rex, and a Pterodactyl, each taking about 2 hours to complete.
Little plastic rain cloud has an opening on top and several smaller ones on the bottom. It opens from the side to allow for cleaning.
Dimensions: 3.6 X 2.9 X 2.75 inches
Little rain showers in the tub make for gentle fun, but also great for rinsing soap and shampoo off a kid's head. Opens up for easy cleaning!
Made of thick, durable plastic, this ride on toy has a rounded bottom lined with silicone suction cups that make a popping noise as it moves. The toy is rounded, not just curved, so it can rock back and for...Read more
Take a stand against gravity. It teeters, it totters, it wobbles, it makes sounds like popping bubble wrap!
Rubberized plastic pieces, identical in shape and size, interlock together. Pieces are small, only 20 mm (3/4 of an inch) long.
Colors for this set include: blue, green, red, yellow, purple, or...Read more
Stretch spatial thinking skills to make remarkable 3D shapes. One of our top toy picks!
Stainless steel grocery cart has four solid plastic wheels, red plastic handle bar, and a foldable sitting area with red plastic seat. The front wheels are spring-loaded. Three stabilizing legs help prevent...Read more
High-quality metal cart is great for pretend play! Just like the real thing, avoid leaning on the handle.
55 pieces of connectable and interchangeable parts that can be used to build a free-from dragon, serpent, or other creature.
Pieces include eyes, wings, heads, legs, foam fire, and large ‘body...Read more
Dragons, sea serpents, wyverns, and more! Arrange the pieces to make a fierce friend, gentle guardian, or a desk buddy. The pieces hold together well, usually.
Two plastic game trays are lined with plastic flaps that hold images of faces. A deck of cards has faces that match the ones on the trays.
Instructions are included.
A classic game of elimination, this toy may still prove fun for those who don’t mind how the toy’s quality has gone downhill.
Toys Description
Board game includes die, 4 timers, 22 Consonant, 6 Vowel, 40 Action, and 5 Steal cards. Instructions are also included.
For 2-6 players or teams.
The goal is t...Read more
Make sentences with words starting with the letters on the chosen cards, but think quick. You're playing against the clock.
Kit comes with all materials needed to create a carnivorous bog garden. Plastic base and dome lid keep the plants humid, while the peat moss planting material holds moisture similar to the bogs these plants...Read more
These feisty flesh-eaters may take up to 5 years to reach maturity, making this kit a lesson in patience.
The hard plastic clinic can open up the roof to hold small pieces. Six doors, each with its own color coded key, opens up to hold one of the two stuffed animals included in this set.
Set includes cl...Read more
2 fluffy friends and 6 keys with corresponding locks, this toy engages young childrens' imagination.
Small, brightly colored plastic pieces fit into the grid-like board. The board is part of the case, so the entire game can be stored easily. The puzzles increase in their difficulty.
Each piece has ...Read more
Fit the pieces into the grid to complete the puzzle! A fun challenge for ages 6-100.
Wooden pieces that interlock together to create buildings, fences, and other structures. Set comes with 699 pieces, including roofing slats, roof supports, chimneys, and logs of various lengths. All p...Read more
Stack the logs together to make a rustic town, or one mega-structure.
A large fold-out mat has 9 octagonal sections that each play a different note. Each section has a musical note symbol that lights up when played. Made out of plastic, the mat is easy to wipe clean.
...Read more
Dance and make music with this sturdy floor mat.
54 rectangles made of hard wood stack up to form a tower. A thin cardboard sleeve is included to help set up the tower. Instructions are also included.
Use the stacking...Read more
Take blocks from below to stack on top without destroying the tower. Great for all ages and any sized group.
Made of 98% natural sand and 2% polymers, this product is non-toxic, gluten-free, and non-staining. The texture is similar to that of damp beach sand. It flows apart when pressed between the fingers, but ho...Read more
Holds a shape like the perfect beach sand but also flows over itself like lava. A soothing tactile experience.
Made of a thick, recyclable, very durable plastic, the shell shaped Bilibo can be used in a variety of ways. Two holes on one side can be used as finger holds, or as an opening to string through rope.
For some kids, this may be the one toy to rule them all.
Game set comes with two cases. Each case has 5 plastic ships and white and red plastic pegs.
A classic game of strategy, each player tries to sink all five of their opp...Read more
The classic game of search and destroy. Those who remember older versions may be disappointed in the current quality.
Kit includes: 28 felt shapes (animals and rectangles), 8 colors of embroidery floss, fabric squares, ric rac, stuffing, 2 needles, 6 buttons, paper measuring tape, plastic thimble, tomato pin cushion, sciss...Read more
This beginner's sewing kit comes with colored felts and trim, though the quality may leave something to be desired.
Durable plastic airplane that can be taken apart into 21 pieces. The included drill can be switched from Forward to Reverse, and requires 2 AA batteries. Batteries must be purchased separately. The drill ha...Read more
Planes are cool. Planes you take apart and put back together are cooler.
Made of wood, this toy comes in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors, and textures, making it easy to cater to the needs and desires of the individual. Some versions are brittle while some are very flexible, ...Read more
No, really, sticks are great. Kids love sticks.
Blue plastic grid snaps together by connecting the legs and slider to the main body. Players take turns dropping their red or yellow plastic disks into the grid. Winner is whoever connects 4 in a row, first...Read more
A grander version of tic-tac-toe, this game often delights children, though we did notice the production quality is less than it was several years ago.
Standing at over 2 feet tall, children can send the two included Little People cars down the Wheelies Loops 'n Swoops Amusement Park’s two tracks. Both tracks start at the top of the playset and e...Read more
It’s Little People Wheelies at the Loops ’n Swoops Amusement Park, zipping and zooming up and down and all around!
Using simple air pressure, jumping on the launch pad will send foam rockets into the sky.
Connect the three leg pieces together to form the stand, then attach the launching tube to the stand with th...Read more
Stomping is always fun, but its even better when doing it sends rockets into the sky.
This basic playset comes with 607 pieces, including bricks of various sizes. 4 wheels, 2 eye pieces, and other unusual pieces. A booklet showing how to make various shapes like animals, people, and some veh...Read more
Lots of unusual shapes, but not so many plain blocks. Great for adding to an existing collection.
Plastic gears can be used to draw designs and patterns on a chosen drawing surface. Aside from the round gears, this set also includes 4 shaped gears, such as the triangle gear and the cross gear.
S...Read more
Use the gears to draw simple or complex geometric shapes.
25 fruits and vegetables come in an array of colors. 5 plastic buckets can be labeled with one of two included sticker sets. One set is just the color, while the other set has the colored background with th...Read more
Beautifully colored fruits and veggies help facilitate lessons in pattern recognition.
Set comes with toy broom, hand brush, and dust pan. The toys are plastic with the exception of the broom handle, which is made from a hollow metal tube coated in plastic. Each piece has a hole in the handle...Read more
A simple broom and hand brush set for kids who want to help clean.
Square-shaped sidewalk chalks come in 48 different colors. Cardboard box can be used for storage, and displays the color names on top.
Find a sidewalk. Chalk it up! Alt...Read more
Sidewalk chalk in bright, bold, Crayola colors. Also good for chalkboards.
Sink and stove upper snaps onto red plastic basin. Faucet pump snaps together and requires a Phillips screwdriver. The playset includes 14 accessories: a pan, a spatula, a pair of tons, two plates, two cups...Read more
An afternoon of pretend cooking and cleaning is made better by a real working faucet. Splish, splash, clean!
Plastic pieces snap together to create a structure that lights up when placed on the sound-activated base. Set includes 27 laser pegs, 191 tinted construction bricks, base, and instructions. Laser pegs cont...Read more
Build a T-Rex that lights up in a rainbow of colors! This is a great toy for adults who want to help out with construction.
Hard plastic soaker carries 2.4L (84oz) of water when completely full and fires with a pump action. The soaker switches between Distance, Scatter, and Flood mode by twisting the nozzle. Distance mode has th...Read more
A basic Super Soaker that gets the job done while holding 2.4L. Though if you're looking for a 90s throw-back, you might want to pass.
Contained within an 8 inch clear plastic sphere lies over 20 feet of twisting, turning maze track and a small metal ball.
A plastic stand is also included, to hold the sphere when not in use.
Getting a tiny ball around a plastic maze has never been so challenging, or so addicting.
A metal coil spring.
Dimensions are 2.75 X 2.75 X 2.15in. 78 coils. (Vintage had 98.)
Walk it down stairs. Shoot it into the sky. Bounce it up and down, just li...Read more
The classic favorite is now smaller. It still makes that familiar sound, but going down stairs may be a thing of the past.
The set comes with one game board, instruction set, game notebook, and 16 wooden animals. The game notebook gives layout directions for 60 different puzzles, increasing in difficult as the puzzles are comp...Read more
These wonderfully smart safari stumpers will have children working their brain overtime!
A wooden frame surrounds a white magnetic board, where the eight magnets and gears can be placed. The set includes five double-sided templates, each color coded so the corresponding magnet can be placed acc...Read more
A unique spin on magnetic toys, Switch & Spin Magnetic Gear Board lets kids build their own toy!