Holiday Gift Ideas for Toddlers (18mo-3yrs): Here Are My Top Picks!
It’s thaaaaaaaat time of year again! ;) One of the most common messages I’ve been getting the past couple of weeks is: what gifts do you recommend for twin toddlers? As a result, I’ve put together my list that includes ALL of the items that are tried and true and keep my 2-year-olds entertained and learning! We have (and use!) everything on this list; so, I’ve added my two cents on each—but I’d say these are mainly for toddlers aged 18 months - 3 years old. Oh, and if grandma is asking what to get the kids, then just send her a link to this post. ;)
KidKraft Vintage Play Kitchen, $78.99 on Target.com
We ordered this vintage blue KidKraft play kitchen when our twins were ~20 months. They both immediately started pretending to wash their hands in the sink, answer the phone, and put items in their little oven, etc. Joules and Ames “cook” every day with theirs. Its adorable! And don’t forget the play food!
Click here to purchase!
2. Shape Mags, basic set starting at $39.99 on Amazon.com
Obsessed. Literally obsessed. My twins drag these colorful, magnetic tiles out of the closet about 4 times per day. They’re great STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math) toys for young kids. Lots of learning happening with these! My husband and I even find ourselves enjoying them! Because our twins play with their Shape Mags so often, we actually just purchased more! They have different kinds of sets, but the starter kit is a great one to try out first. Bonus: they’re super easy to clean up since they’re magnetic and stick together! ;)
Click here to purchase!
3. 6KU Scooter for toddlers, currently on sale for $39.97 each on Amazon.com
My twins got these right before their 2nd birthday. It took them about 1 month to fully learn the body mechanics to use a scooter, but when they did - they wouldn’t stop! Ames and Joules play with theirs every day. The size of the scooter is adorably perfect for a toddler aged 2-5 years old and the handlebars are adjustable in height depending on the child’s size. It’s very lightweight and compact. To make it even more fun? The wheels light up when you scoot along!
Click here to purchase!
4. Monogrammed Step Stools, averaging $60-$95 each on Etsy.com
My mom just bought these adorable step stools with the twins’ names painted on them for their birthday! So darling! They came from an Etsy shop but it appears that particular shop is not selling them anymore at the moment. There are several other Etsy shops that make very similar step stools, though. Below I’ve linked one that makes some similar ones.
Click here to purchase something similar!
5. Melissa & Doug Plastic Tea Set, $16.99 on Amazon.com
Because tea parties are a necessity! This is the plastic tea set Joules has—and to be honest, even Ames plays with it, too. The manufacturer says it’s best for 3 years + but my kids seem really interested in it and enjoy it at only 2 years old!
Click here to purchase!
6. Fisher-Price Food Truck, on sale for $49.98 on Amazon.com
This is another awesome gift the twins just got for their 2nd birthday in October! It’s been a big hit in our house!! It’s a little bulky, but too big. Both kids enjoy serving up some pretend tacos, pizza, and smoothies! It makes lots of sounds when you press on a variety of buttons and it has 3 stages of interactive sounds to allow your child to continue to learn as they grow. Suggested age is 18 months and up!
Click here to purchase!
7. Dr. Seuss Beginner’s Collection, on sale for $24.49 on Walmart.com
Alright, if you’ve been following me for a while, then you’re very aware that my twins LOVE to read. They particularly love to read Dr. Seuss. And to be completely honest, out of all of the books the kids have it’s MY favorite kind of book to read. In part, think it takes me back to my own childhood, but it also bends your mind with tongue twisters and the pictures are so engaging! Huge disclaimer: if you get these for a kid that’s very young (like 3 and under), then please only allow them to read these with your supervision. My mother and my husband’s mother had kept our 30 year old Dr. Seuss books from our own childhoods and so that’s what we’ve let our kids read. My kids have sometimes snuck some into their room during naptime and ended up tearing pages out, which wasn’t fun for any of us to see! So enjoy reading them, but read them TOGETHER. :) This beginner collection includes these FIVE hardcover classics: The Cat in the Hat, One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish, Green Eggs and Ham, Hop on Pop, and Fox in Socks.
Click here to purchase!
8. Pinkfong Baby Shark Official Sound Book, $22 on Walmart.com
I’d be lying if I said my twins didn’t love this book. In reality, they are just like every other toddler in the world and love everything Baby Shark related! They love to point out everything on the pages in this book, press the buttons, sing the songs, AND there’s even a Christmas page/song at the end of the book!
Click here to purchase!
9. Magnetic Sketch Pad (aka an Etch A Sketch), on sale for $13.99 at Target.com
This is the exact little magnetic drawing board that we have! It comes with a magnetic pencil and animal magnets. It’s easy to take with you anywhere for drawing entertainment—and it’s mess-free. Recommended for 18 months and up. Both of my little artists enjoy using it regularly.
Click here to purchase!
10. Melissa & Doug Alphabet & Numbers Sound Puzzles, on sale for $16.99 on Amazon.com
We have this alphabet puzzle and it speaks when it senses a letter being placed in it’s spot. After having it for 2 months, our daughter can now put all of the puzzle pieces in their place in under 3 minutes. It’s a great way to learn the alphabet. I happened to find on Amazon they are selling the alphabet AND the numbers puzzles for the same price as just one puzzle (BOGO!). Below is the link.
Click here to purchase!
11. Toy Marching Drums, $13.49 on Target.com
We got our twins some drums when they were probably ~21 months old. It’s so much fun to encourage them to tap into their musical side. Both Joules and Ames are fans of the drums! The three of us often sit down and make up our own songs while we each play an instrument. I can’t even tell you how cute it is when they play their drums together! Below you’ll find a link to a toddler drum set that’s perfect for 1 year and up!
Click here to purchase!
12. Step2 Art Easel for Two Kids, on sale for $36.49 on Walmart.com
My sister gifted this art easel to the twins for Christmas when they were about 14 months old. Given my husband is an abstract artist, it makes this particularly endearing. What I love most about the easel, though, is that it’s made for 2 kids. It has a chalkboard on one side and a magnetized dry erase board on the other side. It also comes with 94 magnetic pieces (alphabet letters, symbols, etc) and has a storage bin underneath. The manufacturer recommends for 3 years and up, however, we’ve allowed our kids to enjoy it under our supervision much younger.
Click here to purchase!
13. Baby Doll Stroller, $19.99 on Amazon.com
When Joules isn’t busy feeding her baby dolls, she’s usually pushing them around the house and “running errands.” This denim doll stroller we have is lightweight, has a little strap for the doll, and has a small storage bin underneath. It’s also easily foldable and doesn’t take up much space. Recommended for 2 years and up!
Click here to purchase!
14. Children’s Museum Membership, price varies
Check your local area to see if there is a children’s museum OR a museum with a children’s area inside of it. In our case, the Perot Museum in downtown Dallas is a museum of nature and and science but it has a huge children’s play zone with a variety of kids activities on the bottom floor—it’s a fabulous option! Their museum has a basic family package for $130/year that allows for 2 adults and children <17 years to enjoy the museum (including the kids zone). We started going so often that we ended up getting a membership just recently so we could go more often! It’s an opportunity for learning, playing, and family time! And in my opinion? This is applicable for kids of ALL ages.
Check your local area for pricing!
15. Radio Flyer Classic Dual Deck Tricycle, $44.00 on Walmart.com
This thing is so fun! The twins recently just got their Radio Flyer tricycles for their 2nd birthday. While they’re still learning how to peddle, the kids REALLY enjoy being on them. It’s sturdy, has a cute little bell to ring, and it’s not too heavy. Since tricycles are like a childhood right of passage, this is a great one to go with! Age recommendation is 2.5-5 years old and it comes in red or pink!
Click here to purchase!
Toddlers can be tricky to please, but based on my own experience, everything on this list should do the trick. ;) Hope some of you found it useful or at least got some inspiration! I also wrote a blog post last year with additional gift ideas here. And if all else fails, we all know they’ll still enjoy playing with the boxes and wrapping paper. YAY for another holiday season with our littles!
