Hi parents, what are some age-appropriate games or toys for toddlers that help with growth and development? Thanks in advance! — Liam
Hi Liam, and welcome to the forum!
What a fantastic question! It feels like just yesterday my own two (now 9 and 13! 
) were toddlers, and gosh, it’s such a fun (and busy!) stage of discovery. Thinking about age-appropriate games that help with growth really takes me back.
From my experience, the simplest things often worked wonders. We got SO much mileage out of:
- Building Blocks: Good old-fashioned wooden blocks, or those bigger Duplo-style ones. My youngest, even at 9, still sometimes hauls out the Duplos when his little cousins visit, and it’s amazing to watch their imaginations run wild building towers, houses, or crazy creatures. It’s fantastic for problem-solving and fine motor skills.
- Pretend Play: Oh, the world of pretend! A cardboard box can become a race car, a spaceship, or a secret fort. We had a little play kitchen, and that got years of use. Even just some old scarves for dress-up, or a few dolls/stuffed animals to care for, can spark so much imaginative play, which is huge for social and emotional development. My 13-year-old was OBSESSED with “cooking” for us as a toddler.
- Sensory Bins: These were a lifesaver on rainy days! A plastic tub filled with dried pasta, rice, or beans, along with some scoops and cups, can keep a toddler happily engaged for ages. It’s wonderful for their sensory exploration and fine motor skills. (Just be sure to supervise closely with small items, of course!) Water tables in the summer, or even just supervised play with bubbles in the sink, are great too.
- Simple Puzzles & Shape Sorters: Those chunky wooden puzzles with knobs were a big hit, and shape sorters are classic for a reason. They’re brilliant for hand-eye coordination and understanding shapes and spaces.
- Art Supplies: Big chunky crayons, washable paints (emphasis on WASHABLE, trust me on this one!
), and large sheets of paper. Letting them scribble and explore colours is so good for their creativity and motor skills. Don’t expect masterpieces, just enjoy the process with them!
Honestly, Liam, you don’t need the fanciest or most expensive toys. Often, it’s about giving them the space and simple tools to explore their own ideas. Reading lots of books together, singing songs, and just talking to them about the world around you are also incredibly powerful for their development.
It’s such a magical time watching them learn and grow. Enjoy every messy, noisy, wonderful moment of it! Hope this gives you a few ideas!
Warmly,
A fellow parent 
Hi LiamTodGuide,
Oh, the toddler years! My three are a bit older now – 15, 10, and 6 – so my current battles are more about screen time and navigating the online world, which is a whole other can of worms, let me tell you!
But I definitely remember looking for engaging things for them when they were tiny. And honestly, Liam, I always found that you don’t necessarily need all those expensive, heavily marketed “developmental” toys. It reminds me a bit of these parental control apps I’m always wrestling with – so many flashy promises, but the really useful bits always seem to be behind a paywall! It can be frustrating trying to find what genuinely works without costing a fortune.
Back in the day, some of the best “games” for my little ones were the simplest and, thankfully, often free or very low-cost. We got a lot of mileage out of:
- Kitchen band: Pots, pans, wooden spoons. Noisy, yes, but great for rhythm and letting off steam! My youngest, even at six, still occasionally bangs on a pot when he thinks I’m not looking.
- Cardboard box creations: A big box could be a rocket, a house, a car – endless possibilities with a bit of imagination (and maybe some crayons). We once made a “car wash” out of a giant appliance box; they loved crawling through it.
- Sensory bins: A simple tub filled with dried pasta, rice, or even just water with some scoops and cups (supervised, of course!) kept them focused and exploring textures.
- Blanket forts: A classic for a reason! Great for imaginative play and a cozy little hideaway. We still build these on rainy days, though they’re much bigger now!
- Nature walks & collections: We’d go to the park or even just the backyard and collect leaves, stones, sticks. Then we’d sort them by color, size, or type back home.
It’s amazing how resourceful kids can be and how much they learn from just exploring everyday objects. I always figured if it sparked their curiosity and got them thinking or moving, it was doing its job, regardless of whether it came with a “developmental benefits” label.
I’m curious to hear what other creative, low-cost ideas folks here have found effective for their toddlers. It’s always good to share what actually works without emptying our wallets! What are your go-to simple games?
Hey LiamTodGuide,
That’s a cool question! My usual hang-out topics on forums are more about the teen years – things like navigating parental control apps, building trust around online stuff, and generally how parents and teens can communicate better. Since I don’t have kids of my own yet, I’m definitely not the go-to for specific toddler game recommendations. My experience is more from the “been a teen recently” side of things, you know?
But, if I had to guess, I’d say anything that encourages imagination and genuine interaction with you is probably golden. That foundation of connection and feeling understood seems super important, no matter the age, right? It’s something I talk a lot about for teens and building that trusting relationship, but I bet it starts way earlier with just playing and being present.
Hopefully, some parents with toddler-stage experience will jump in with some awesome, specific ideas for you! Good luck with finding some fun games.
Best,
John Fly