These gross motor toys for young toddlers are the best indoor toys for active toddlers! Put your toddler's energy to use, and help them develop their gross motor skills, with these fun toys.
Toddlers are made to move, even younger toddlers (or "tabies" as they're sometimes called). Our LG has been trying desperately to act like an older toddler since right around her first birthday, but so many "toddler" toys, especially gross motor toys, are beyond her current abilities.
As a Montessori-inspired parent I believe in following the child. LG absolutely loves gross motor activities, so I knew I needed to help her cultivate this interest and provide her with safe, appropriate materials. I dug around to find the best gross motor toys for young toddlers and I'm sharing the results of my research with you today.
These toys are perfect for working out that toddler energy when you have a young toddler who just can't stop moving.
This post may include affiliate links, which means I may make a commission on purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you.
What are gross motor skills?
Gross sounds kind of icky! So what are gross motor skills for toddlers and why are they important?
Gross motor skills are large movements that involve the bigger muscles of the legs, arms and torso. Your gross motor skills allow you to do everyday things like stand, walk, dress yourself, and go up stairs.
Gross motor skills are related to other skills and abilities, including reaction time, proprioception (bodily awareness), physical strength, balance, and coordination.
Because gross motor skills are so essential in life, it's important to encourage gross motor skill development and watch for any gross motor delays. If you have concerns about your child's development, make sure to talk to their healthcare provider!
Gross motor milestones for young toddlers
All children develop at different rates, but there are generally established 'normal' timeframes for gross motor milestones. There's a comprehensive milestone chart from the CDC and you can look at for lots of information!
According to the CDC, an 18 month-old toddler can typically:
- walk alone
- push/pull/carry a toy while walking
- help with undressing
- eat with a spoon
- drink from a cup
- They may be working on stairs and running, too!
By two years old, most toddlers are beginning to run, working on kicking a ball, can stand on tiptoe, climb on and off furniture without assistance, go up and down stairs while holding on to a railing or wall, and throw a ball. (source)
Gross motor toys for indoors and outdoors can help your young toddler hone their skills and stay on track! They need plenty of opportunities to practice over and over again to really get these important skills down pat.
Gross motor toys for young toddlers - indoor toys for active toddlers
When selecting a gross motor toy for your toddler, it's always important to consider his or her current interests and abilities. Other than being on the lookout for small parts that might be choking hazards, it doesn't really matter if the toy says it's for older (or younger!) children if it's what your child is into now.
They seem so basic, but classic large, soft balls are fantastic gross motor toys! Young toddlers can work on picking them up, walking with them, and begin to start kicking them, too. LG always gravitates towards large balls when they're around and passing a ball back and forth with other toddlers has helped her start to learn the concept of sharing.
- Best Value For Money - Don’t pay extra for individual balls when you can get the most popular 4 variet playground balls in one playset + free pump.
- Bright And Fun Colors: We know each kids have their own favorite color, this set will come with red, green, blue, and rainbow color.
- High Durable Quality - Those playground balls are able to withstand heavy use and abuse from children. The plastic will hold its structural integrity...
One of our LG's favorite gross motor toys is this set of 'stepping stones.' She got them as a first birthday present and, honestly, they were a it tricky for her to use at first. By 14 months she started using support from a wall or furniture to climb on top, then within a few days she was able to step up and balance on top without any help!
Stepping up and down is her current favorite activity, but 'stones' like these can be used for years. I'm sure she'll be trying to step from stone to stone soon! LG also loves picking the stones up and carrying them around, which is more good gross motor practice, even if it's not what they're "supposed" to be for.
I'm happy to see LG working on stepping up and down because it will help her navigate stairs safely and walk in/out of the house when we go out to play!
One of the things I like about our stones is that they have a rubber gasket all the way around the bottom. This helps them stay in place instead of slipping away and causing bonks! I noticed that some of the other brands just have little rubber dots instead of a full gasket, so make sure to look for stepping stones with a full rubber ring.
2021 update: My daughter, now three, still uses these stepping stones almost every day. They're in fantastic condition and still provide her with gross motor fun two years after receiving hers.
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There are several brands and sizes of this type of toy. Gonge is the big brand name. The Gonge Riverstones come in a set with different sizes, including some smaller ones that are easier for younger toddlers to climb on. They also make some epic looking hilltops to add on later for even more challenging climbing.
On a recent trip to Atlanta, we stopped by this awesome place called HippoHop. They have inflatables, balls, playhouses, and foam play structures for children and toddlers. LG loved it so much! One of her favorite things was a foam tunnel like this one. It was up to make a U shape and she just climbed in and out over and over again.
A foam tunnel can be used as a chair, tunnel, table, and more, so it's a great toy that your toddler can use for years to come!
- MADE TO LAST. Soft, high-quality covers are durable and easy to wipe clean.
- FUNCTION AND FUN. Non-skid fabric on select bottom pieces ensures playsets stay put during play
- EASY TO MOVE. Handles make pieces easy to move for both parent and child.
We're super excited to order the Gonge River Set soon! We want LG to have a 'balance beam,' but all the soft ones are really long. Again, a floor balance beam is something she's been able to play with elsewhere (so I know they're a hit!), we just don't have one at home yet. You can just put a 2x4 down, but we don't want it to scratch the floor. The River looks like the perfect choice.
Young toddlers can practice walking a balance beam while holding your hand, but they're also great practice for stepping up and down.
- BALANCE STIMULATION: A set of 7 River elements that supports the child's balance ability in a fun manner by walking on creative paths. Engage core...
- SAFE AND SECURE FUN: Each River element features a non-slip rubber edge that ensures stability during play, both indoors and outdoors. Feel confident...
- STURDY AND CONVENIENT: Crafted with high-quality materials, these River elements are built to withstand the imagination. When playtime is over, stack...
Of course you can't forget about the classic rocking horse! They're great for working off energy and providing vestibular input, plus there are so many to choose from.
I personally prefer wood toys whenever possible, but the Little Tikes rocking horse is durable and easy to clean. It's a particularly good choice if you have multiple kids since it can withstand a lot of use! It also has a high-backed seat which means fewer tumbles and bonks for younger toddlers.
Pop-up tunnels are really popular with toddlers and young kids. I don't really have a favorite to specifically recommend, but I recommend looking for one without doors or flaps on the end. Yes, those caterpillar faces are cute, but in my experience the doors kind of get in the way and confuse, or even scare, younger toddlers, plus they can rip off with wear.
Hilariously, I've seen my daughter try to cram herself into a tiny pop up cat tunnel at Grandma's house because it resembles a smaller version of her own play tunnel.
I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the Moluk Bilibo, a favorite open-ended toy for many toddlers and children. You can spin, slide, and scoot in the Bilibo, or get creative and use it as a boat, shovel, etc. I don's really fit in the Bilibo, but I have sat on one and spun around.
2021 update: My daughter, now three years old, loves her Bilibo and calls it her "wiggle chair." If you have a high energy child, this purchase will help them get their wiggles out for years.
- Deceptively simple, elegantly shaped and magically attractive, the Bilibo inspires creative, imaginative, limitless play for boys and girls
- The iconic shell shape and bright colors are immediately appealing, arousing curiosity, intrigue and commanding immediate attention
- The award winning Bilibo was designed in Switzerland in conjunction with child development experts
Climbing toys for young toddlers
LG is sooo obsessed with climbing. She'd probably go up and down the stairs all day if I let her! Of course, she needs constant supervision at this point, which is why this foam set of stairs with a little wedge/slide is on our wish list! We can put it on top of our foam play mat and she can climb up and down much more safely (until she's hopefully so tired that she finally sleeps through the night...fingers crossed!)
- Finally, your child has something safe to climb, slide and crawl on that won’t get them into trouble! This soft slide is a great way for toddlers to...
- Great for use in playrooms or classrooms. Vinyl cover is durable, stain resistant easy to clean with a damp cloth and soap.
- Soft, but firm polyurethane foam shapes are covered with phthalate and lead free vinyl in bright colors that kids will love.
This 5 piece foam set offers even more options for climbing, crawling, and working out that crazy toddler energy!.
- Activity Playset: Five big, soft foam blocks for toddler and kids to use as they develop agility and hand-eye coordination, and improve important...
- Developmental Play: Brightly colored blocks encourage little ones to identify colors and stimulate imagination, creativity, dexterity, and spatial...
- Durable Materials: Dense foam core is covered in soft vegan leather; platform, wedge and half-moon shapes feature a non-slip base for stability
Although it's technically not a toy, a learning tower can be a helpful tool for toddlers. A learning tower is a child-safe step stool that allows your toddler to work alongside you in the kitchen, play with water in the sink, stand at the bathroom counter while brushing their teeth, and generally feel a part of your activities.
2021 update: We now own both a large and a small learning tower. They're both holding up fantastically and are important in my daughter's daily life. She uses both of them every single day.
- LEARNING TOWER FOR TODDLERS: This Learning Tower stool is inspired by the Montessori learning principles. It can lift your child up to counter height...
- DURABLE WITH SAFETY IN MIND: Our stable design safely brings your toddler to counter-height to participate in cooking, cleaning, crafts or other...
- ADJUSTABLE DESIGN FOR GROWTH: Easily adjust to four different heights as your toddler grows so you can use the step stool to gradually encourage...
The Step2Play slide is a fun choice for toddlers but it requires supervision for young toddlers because, honestly, the sides at the top are a bit too short for my comfort! That's okay, though, because LG is obsessed with climbing up slides so I have to watch her constantly, anyway.
- FUN PLAYTIME: Brings excitement of the park playground to the backyard or inside play area, encourage active play with multiple kids
- SOCIAL & ACTIVE: Climber play strengthens the muscles, improves fine motor abilities, increases physical and mental strength, encourages imaginative...
- SAFE PLAY: Easy entry steps with sure grip rails for safe climbing, hand-eye coordination, and balance during play
Beginner bikes and balance bikes for toddlers
Ride on top toys, beginner bikes, and balance bikes can work well for young toddlers. As always, make sure to follow the child and take your kiddos lead!
I recently really wanted to get our girl a beginner bike and her gross motor skills indicate she's ready, but she had absolutely no interest in riding on one. We'll keep giving her the opportunity to explore with beginner bikes until she's ready and interested!
As regular readers know, I'm passionate about natural material, non-toxic toys whenever possible. One of my favorite toy companies is Hape. Their quality is great and they use non-toxic materials. We own several Hape toys and love them all. Luckily they make a variety of ride on top toys and beginner bikes so we'll have plenty of options once LG is ready!
My top pick for young toddlers is the Hape Scoot Around. I've checked it out in person and I really like it! It has four wheels for stability, non-toxic, water based paints and finishes (because young toddlers still put things in their mouths!), and it's easy for toddlers to use as a walker before they're ready to really ride. Plus the bright green is cheerful and gender neutral, which makes it hand down to another kiddo later.
- RUBBERIZED WHEELS: The push bike’s four wheels are rubberized to protect your floors and ensure that the wheels last longer while your little one...
- MOTOR SKILLS DEVELOPMENT: Perfect for kids beginning to test their mobility and develop active motor skills
- IMPROVES STRENGTH: Short rides develop muscle strength as well as balance
The Scoot Around is perfect for indoors, but the Hape Kids Trail Rider is a better choice for outdoors. With grippier tires it's perfect for outside adventures!
- RIDE-ON BICYCLE: Dare to go on adventures on-road and off with this four-wheeled wonder. The Hape Trail Rider Push toy gives your young adventurer the...
- ENCOURAGE WALKING & DEVELOPING KEY SKILLS: This push toy for kids is designed to develop key skills such as coordination, balance, and confidence in...
- ERGONOMIC WOODEN SEAT: Ergonomic seat and frame geometry optimizes the ride experience. With an extra-large wooden seat so you can bring a friend...
The Hape Red Wonder Wagon is another sturdy choice for young toddlers. It can be used as a walker, pulled, or even ridden in! It arrives basically assembled, which is nice because who has the time to put together complicated toys? One note of caution - make sure to lock the handle up while your toddler is climbing around on it to help keep them safe.
- CLASSIC DESIGN: Beautifully made wagon will enchant and delight with its timeless red and white colors
- MOTOR SKILLS DEVELOPMENT: Perfect for kids beginning to test their mobility and develop active motor skills, dexterity, strength, and adventure...
- RUBBERIZED WHEELS: The Wonder Wagon wheels are rubberized to protect your floors and ensure that the wheels last longer while your little one scoots...
In general, balance bikes are recommended for toddlers 18 months and older. If your little one is large enough and has an interest, a balance bike is an absolutely fantastic gross motor toy that helps with strength, balance, and coordination! The Strider balance bike is a favorite because it's adjustable for years of use.
There are so many fantastic gross motor toys for older toddlers and pre-schoolers, but there are plenty of fun indoor gross motor toys for young toddlers available, too!
I really hope this list helps you out and please leave a comment with your top gross motor toys for toddlers if I've missed anything fun.
More toddler toy guides
If you have a toddler, you'll probably also enjoy this collection of the best non-toxic wood toys for toddlers. I list my favorite non-toxic wood toy brands and top picks by age!
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