Because toddlers definitely weren’t made to sit still. Help your little one burn off all that energy with these awesome active toys designed to help your child get moving – and improve their gross motor skills at the same time!
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1 | This indoor playground setup perfect for backyard-less homes
This easy-to-install home gym for older toddlers and preschoolers (3+) is perfect if you don’t have enough space at home for a full climber type situation. All you need is a free doorway! (Just make sure there’s plenty of ~wiggle room~ for your child to work with on each side!)
Your little monkey can climb, swing, and develop crazy-good balance, coordination, and upper body strength, all without having to step foot in a Gymboree.
2 | This balance board to help your little one figure out this whole coordination thing
This wooden balance board is technically for adults, but I love using it with kids, too. It’s sturdy enough for pretty much anything your little daredevil might want to use it for, plus you can steal (I mean, borrow) it when ab day rolls around.
In addition to balance, balance boards (or “wobble boards”) are great for helping kids improve their core strength, posture, and coordination.
By the way, if you don’t like the idea of giving your toddler a full-grown balance board, check out this cute (and extra kid-friendly) monkey wobble board instead!
3 | These yoga cards that will help your toddler find their zen (at least, for a few minutes)
These yoga cards are, hands-down, my favorite way to introduce the wonderful world of yoga to little kids. Children are hardcore visual learners, so it’s really helpful to have clear and colorful pictures to help them learn different poses!
Here’s how I like to use these cards with toddlers: First, I choose 3-5 cards with beginner poses on them (think Downward Dog, Mountain, or Cobra). Then, I let the little yogi choose which pose they want to practice together first. Keep it silly and fun, and don’t hold any one pose for too long!
Once your child is familiar with a few poses, they can even use the cards to practice yoga independently – and maybe even give you a minute to breathe.
4 | Speaking of yoga: Check out this kid-friendly yoga mat, too!
Sure, your kid could get their Downward Dog on without a mat. But then you’d have to vacuum again. Plus, practicing poses on a mat will help your child develop a little more spatial awareness (read: staying on the mat most of the time) and experience better “grip” (read: not falling so much) than he would sans mat.
I love this Yogi Junior mat because (1) just look at those smiling animals, don’t you just want to squeeze them? and (2) the quality is amazing – durable and PVC-free, complete with gorgeous, vivid colors.
These mats even come in two-packs, if you have a pair of lil yogis at home!
5 | And this adorable story to add to your next “Mama and Me” yoga session
Here’s a trick to introducing yoga to your toddler: Use stories! Most kids aren’t really into the whole sweet and slow yoga sequence thing, the way you may (or may not) be. They generally like to keep things moving during a yoga sesh and, of course, they want it to be fun, too.
If you’re not a natural storyteller, yoga books like this one (my personal favorite) can be an amazing addition to yoga time with your toddler.
Pro Tip: You can also get “You Are A Lion” as a board book if your little one is currently going through that super-fun book tearing phase. (The hardcover is gorgeous – you definitely don’t want your toddler to ruin it.)
6 | This keyboard playmat perfect for your lil music maker
This toy comes with all kinds of opportunities to teach your little one about instruments and (super-basic) music theory. But even if you never get too deep into Music 101 with your child, they’ll still have an amazing time exploring this giant keyboard.
They’ll love walking, running, crawling, jumping, stomping, and dancing (did I miss anything?) across the huge keys. And you’ll love hearing them erupt into giggles when they realize they can make music – with their feet.
7 | This versatile sensory ball (because every kid should learn how to throw a ball)
Your kid doesn’t have to be able to dunk or bend it like Beckham (is that reference dated?), but they should work on developing some basic ball-handling skills.
Rolling a ball? Great start. Throwing, catching, and kicking said ball? Awesome. Love it.
Old-school rubber playground balls work, too, of course, but this popular sensory ball is a fun alternative – or addition – to your toddler’s toy collection. If your child likes this style of ball, you can also check out this multi-pack of smaller sensory balls, too!
8 | This soft pogo toy that’s way safer (and cuter!) than whatever you had as a kid
This foam pogo toy is an awesome tool to help your child develop balance, coordination, and cardiovascular health. Plus – for your child’s enjoyment – the pogo squeaks as they jump.
For kids, jumping is both an important gross motor skill and a fun form of exercise. The Flybar pogo works by extending the fun. There are tons of color and design options, too – from pretty in pink to panda to one that even has flashing LED lights.
9 | This creative, multi-use balance beam that’s just really cool
Okay, so what I love about this balance toy is that there are so many different ways to use it. Your child can actually create different walking paths by taking the colorful pieces apart and reassembling them to suit their whims.
Want an old-fashioned, straight-and-narrow balance beam? Done. Wanting something more squiggly? Yup, they can make that, too. Get a few sets of these, and all of a sudden, your toddler is creating circles and more!
Versatility is one of the most important features to look for in an early learning toy. Creative, open-ended toys like this one offer kids more possibilities for play. That makes this unique balance toy an awesome option if you’re looking for a movement toy that will grow with your child.
10 | Also, these stepping stones your child will be obsessed with
Kids seriously love these! These balance stepping stones are exactly as simple to use as you’d think. But what’s really cool is that you can adjust the distance between the stones to make it easier for younger children or more advanced for older kids.
They’re also light enough for young children to move on their own but tough enough to take a beating. (That’s good because if there’s one thing little kids are great at, it’s testing a product’s durability.)
Pro Tip: Use these to create a challenging obstacle course for your little one. Set up a winding path of these stepping stones, a few throw pillows, and a balance beam, and watch your little one go!
11 | These surprisingly versatile scarves your lil one can use for dancing & other hijinks
Yes, you can (and should) bring this classroom fave home! Movement scarves are great for living room dance parties, toddler-friendly throwing and catching practice, and generally just running around like crazy (scarf trailing behind).
These scarves are also awesome open-ended toys. I’ve seen children use these scarves as blankets for their baby dolls, “masks” to hide under while playing peek-a-boo, and even as an outdoor toy to explore the wind on a breezy day. What will your little one come up with?
12 | This bubble machine. (Seriously. Watch a little kid chase bubbles for 20 minutes straight, then try to tell me it doesn’t count as cardio.)
This is the epitome of a no-prep movement activity for toddlers or preschoolers. Turn this bubble machine on and immediately watch your little one become just deliriously engaged in popping those bubbles.
Standing on her tiptoes to reachhh a wayward bubble, chasing a pack of drifting bubbles through the backyard, or diving to the floor like an Olympic volleyball player to pop the “big one” – she’s gotta get that bubble. And she’ll have so much fun doing it, too!
This bubble machine can run on batteries or wall power, making it the perfect portable choice for all your child’s indoor or outdoor bubble-blowing needs. Oh yeah, and this thing can run for two hours straight. (Just make sure to stock up on plenty of bubble solution!)
13 | This creative, open-ended movement toy great for spinning, stepping, rocking, climbing, & anything else your child can think of!
Okay, so you may be wondering, What exactly is that thing? And how is it a movement toy? The magic of this toy lies in its simplicity and versatility. Basically, the Bilibo is whatever your child wants it to be – a seat, a climbing toy, a turtle shell, a sit & spin…
Invest in a few of these creative toys, and see what your little one comes up with. (Stacking, building a rocking seat, creating an obstacle course…?)
Some parents whose kids have special sensory needs say their little ones are particularly fond of this toy, so definitely check it out if that sounds like your munchkin. But this open-ended toy is also an awesome choice for any curious, active child, special needs or not.
14 | These movement dice that active kids love
Okay, so you can definitely make your own movement dice at home or choose a cheaper set of dry-erase dice if you want to go that route.
That being said, these colorful visual dice are, hands down, my favorite to use with toddlers or preschoolers. Young children really benefit from having an image of each movement to refer to while they’re playing. Having a picture right there on the dice means that your little one can use these on their own – even if they don’t know how to read yet!
Playing with movement dice is so simple, too, but tons of fun (and good direction-following practice for little ones, too!) You can even switch out the actions on the die, choosing simpler movements for younger kids or more complex actions for more advanced children.
15 | This cute soft bowling set to help your child work on their aim (bumpers not included)
This sweet and simple soft bowling set is a great way to incorporate more deliberate movement into your child’s day!
Bowling can help your little one work on gross motor skills like rolling and aiming a ball, as well as social-emotional skills like focus and patience (setting all those pins up can be challenging for little kids!)
Bonus: This colorful playset of animal friends offers plenty of opportunities for your child to practice identifying different colors, animals, and patterns while they play, too!
16 | This climbing playset that has endless posibilities for active play
This unique climbing toy would fit in perfectly in a nature-themed playroom (you can dream, right?), but it’s versatile enough for your child to play with almost anywhere.
Your little one can practice climbing, crawling, jumping, and even running across these cute toy logs. Meanwhile, your child is developing balance, coordination, and confidence in their physical abilities.
These are also perfect for encouraging your lil adventurer to use their imaginations while they engage in active play. Maybe they’re a frog on a log, or a lumberjack in the woods, or a brave princess-knight rescuing someone from the deep, dark forest (I don’t know, they’ll figure it out!)
17 | This adorable balance bike (no training wheels required)
So, full disclosure: I’m not a huge fan of those pedal bikes for toddlers that you – the parent – have to push to get your child to go anywhere. They’re cute, but trikes and bikes are supposed to be movement toys for the kids riding them, not for Mom.
That being said, your child might not be ready to use a pedal bike yet, even if they love the idea of riding one. No worries, though – balance bikes are the perfect choice for those in-between kids!
Unlike those powered-by-mom pedal bikes, balance bikes actually allow little ones to work on gross motor skills while they ride. And kids love the boost in independence and self-confidence they get when they ride their beloved balance bike all by themselves!
(By the way, the model pictured is extra cool because it has a chalkboard finish. Yes, seriously, your kid can decorate this bike!)
18 | This 3-in-1 sports activity center for your future Troy Bolton
This is such a clever activity center for kids. With this toy, your little one can practice playing basketball, soccer, and ring toss – and you don’t even need multiple pieces of equipment.
This toy is adjustable (between 2′ and 4′), which is a must when you’re looking at sports activity centers. You want something that your child can use for as long as possible, after all!
Overall, this cute, multi-purpose activity center is a solid choice to help your toddler or young preschooler improve their hand-eye coordination and develop gross motor skills.
19 | This endlessly entertaining nest swing that’s also amazing for kids’ brain development
Your child will love swinging and spinning on this soft swing, whether you hang it in a cozy corner of their room or out on the front porch.
By the way, swinging is not just fun for kids – it’s also important for their brain development. Swinging (and other activities, like swaying, rocking, and bouncing) help kids learn to effectively integrate sensory experiences by strengthening their vestibular and proprioceptive systems.
If you don’t feel like pulling out the dictionary right now, that just means that swings help kids learn to sense that their bodies are moving, as well as where their body parts are in relation to each other. The result? Kids with better balance, coordination, and spatial awareness. (Not bad, right?)
20 | And, finally, this super-fun scooter board (like what you used to play with in PE but better)
You remember those old plastic scooters from gym class? Those were fun, but they weren’t without their flaws (mainly: pinched fingers. Just so many pinched fingers.)
This adorable scooter board takes all the fun of those old-school models minus all the drama. No more pinched fingers, broken wheels, or cracked plastic. In every way, this scooter board is a higher-quality alternative to the one you grew up with. (It’s even padded to give your child a comfier ride!)
Not to mention, your little one will have so much fun developing upper body strength and coordination while scooting and sliding around on this bad boy.
Loved these ideas? Don’t forget to pin this list for later!
Thanks for stopping by! I hope you discovered a few movement toys you and your little one will love playing with for a long, long time. Now, go get moving (and have fun)!
♥ Meg
