Toddlers have a way of being interested in a toy for approximately six minutes. You know, just short enough so you don't have time to take a shower, respond to an email, or make dinner. That's why I'm obsessed with Montessori toys [1] (aka anything that encourages free play, exploration, and learning). Instead of playing with toys that light up and take so many batteries, Montessori toys stimulate kids' brains, help them problem-solve, and keep them entertained for longer. From sorting colors to stringing beads, preparing a plastic lunch, and pretending to fix things around the house, little ones will love the way these toys spark their imagination [2]. Maybe you'll get that shower after all, Mama!
Rolimate Wooden Puzzle Shape Sorter
Circles, triangles, and squares, oh my! Learn about shapes and colors with this Rolimate Wooden Puzzle Shape Sorter [4] ($13, originally $22). Kids can play with the four different shapes in four different colors, then stack them on the corresponding pegs.
Toddler Busy Board
For kids who like to untie their shoes, play with your belt buckle, or open and close your purse, the Toddler Busy Board [5] ($25) will be their new best friend. This interactive sensory board has nine unique things for little hands to buckle, tie, zip, button, open, and explore, promoting fine motor skills. As a bonus, it's made on a soft felt backdrop, making it lightweight and easy to hold.
Play22 Kids Cleaning Set
Make cleaning a game with the Play22 Kids Cleaning Set [6] ($22)! With a tiny brush, duster, sponge, magic cleaning spray, and other supplies, little ones will love walking around the house cleaning up on their terms (a parent can dream, right?).
Cotton Canvas Tent With Paint Set
Playing in tents has always been fun — it's a perfect secret hideout, after all! — but getting to decorate your own tent is even better. This Cotton Canvas Tent With Paint Set [7] ($110, originally $156) is made out of a plain white canvas, so your mini artists can color all over it, then play inside it. It's hours of entertainment!
QZM Magnetic Puzzles Art Animals
Learn about matching with the QZM Magnetic Puzzles Art Animals [8] ($20). Create beautiful pictures on the magnetic board, then color on the dry erase board. When the kids are done, fold it up in the carrying case for easy clean up!
Tractor Sand Play Set
Sand boxes can be messy, but this adorable Tractor Sand Play Set [9] ($30) has the perfect amount of sand in a kid-friendly carrying case. The included construction pieces make it even more fun, with mold sets, a dump truck and excavator, working figures, and more to play with in the sand.
Top Race 10 Piece Solid Wood Tool Box
Help fix up things around the house with this colorful Top Race 10 Piece Solid Wood Tool Box [10] ($28, originally $30). Kids can learn how to use a screwdriver and a hammer with this wooden toolbox.
Costzon Crawl and Climb Foam Play Set
Kids can let out their energy safely in this Costzon Crawl and Climb Foam Play Set [11] ($110, originally $130). It comes with five foam blocks in unique shapes for kids to crawl on, jump over, build up, and roll off. It's like a mini gymnastics room inside your house!
Coogam Letters Matching Eggs
This realistic-looking carton of eggs looks cute at first site, but when your kids break apart each one of the Coogam Letters Matching Eggs [12] ($24), they will love that it's actually a color- and letter-matching game!
Learning Resources Farmer’s Market Color Sorting Set
Help kids become more familiar with fruits and veggies in this Learning Resources Farmer's Market Color Sorting Set [13] ($30, originally $40). It comes with five buckets labeled with different colors for sorting, but you could have them sort by fruits or vegetables, their favorite to least favorite foods, or things they've tried or haven't tried.
Elephant Wooden Balance Game
Focus and patience are the primary lessons in this Elephant Wooden Balance Game [14] ($10). Tiny hands can practice carefully stacking colorful sticks in a pattern that allows the wooden elephant to carry them on his back!
Melissa and Doug Lacing Beads
Toddlers are too little to make friendship bracelets, but they are the perfect age for lacing shoe-strings through hand-painted wooden beads with these Melissa and Doug Lacing Beads [15] ($17). They can also line up the blocks by number, colors, or shapes.
Ehome Toddler Musical Instruments
Dance, wiggle, and shake your way to a toddler symphony with these Ehome Toddler Musical Instruments [16] ($33). This 22-piece set comes with bells for kids to shake or Velcro on their wrists, a drum, xylophone, mini clappers, a duck whistle, a mini recorder, and more.
Wood City Wooden Hexagon Puzzles For Kids
Wood City's Wooden Hexagon Puzzles For Kids [17] ($9) is like a real-life, hexagon-shaped version of Tetris! It features colorful pieces in unique shapes that can fit together in different ways, helping kids to problem-solve while playing.
Umtoy Digital Unlock Puzzle
Count the dots on each lock to find the right key on this Umtoy Digital Unlock Puzzle [18] ($20), or just try each one until you find a match! This is perfect for kids who love playing with their parents' keys or enjoy solving problems.
Boon Building Bath Pipes Toy
Montessori play doesn't have to stop in the bath! This colorful Boon Building Bath Pipes Toy [19] ($15) encourages creative thinking, as kids can stick each pipe on the wall (it suction cups to tile) and pour water through.
Janod Green Market Play Set
Pretend to work at a farmer's market with the Janod Green Market Play Set [20] ($120). This cute green-and-white stand includes bananas, carrots, potatoes, and other colorful produce, as well as a scale and a checkout for interactive play.
Aqua Magic Doodle Drawing Mat
Spread out this large Aqua Magic Doodle Drawing Mat [21] ($21, originally $30) in your playroom for your little artists to express their creativity. Toddlers can draw with water markers for clean fun, either freehand or with the shape, letter, and number stencils.
KangRuiZhe Montessori Materials Wood Math Blocks
Your kids will think they are just playing with this vibrant KangRuiZhe Montessori Materials Wood Math Blocks [22] ($15), but they will actually be doing math! In this cute puzzle, kids fit the numbers in their slots, then stack rings behind each one to visualize the numbers.
Montessori Letter Formation Sand Tray
Drawing is more fun with this Montessori Letter Formation Sand Tray [23] ($25). This cute tray comes with a wooden pencil so kids can draw letters or pictures, then erase them with a scraper tool. And when your kids are done, you can use it to relieve stress!
Amosting Color Matching Mosaic Pegboards
This set of Amosting Color Matching Mosaic Pegboards [24] ($16) feature scenes of animals, houses, and trees. Kids can tap into their creative side by filling the holes with the colorful pegs to complete the picture.
Usatdd Wooden Lacing Apple Threading Toy
Help the green worm wiggle through the red apple in this Usatdd Wooden Lacing Apple Threading Toy [25] ($9). Your toddler can learn sewing skills while pushing and pulling the wooden worm that is connected to string through the holes in the apple.
Learning Resources Smart Snacks Alpha Pops
The only thing better than licking popsicles on a summer day is playing with these Learning Resources Smart Snacks Alpha Pops [26] ($17, originally $25). These toy double popsicles come in every color of the rainbow, with one upper case and one lower case letter on each pop. Kids can match the colors and learn the different ways letters look at the same time.
Bigjigs Toys Wooden Magnets
Learning letters is more exciting when you can play with them on the fridge! These Bigjigs Toys Wooden Magnets [27] ($21) feature unique colors and fun patterns to keep a child's attention.
Mio Wooden Castle
Little ones can pretend to be king or queen of their own castle with this Mio Wooden Castle [28] ($118, originally $140). Builders can get creative, as it comes with 38 pieces including towers, flags, a drawbridge, and little beanbag dolls to play inside the kingdom.
Vanmor Preschool Geometric Board
This pretty flower-shaped toy is actually a unique puzzle featuring seven different shapes. Young ones can mix and match the 17 colorful blocks on the Vanmor Preschool Geometric Board [29] ($17), and learn about organization, matching, and shapes.
Coogam Clamp Bee to Hive Matching Game
Bees have never been more adorable! These tiny colorful bees inside the Coogam Clamp Bee to Hive Matching Game [30] ($16) need help getting back into their wooden beehive — and your kids could save the day! It will take focus and patience to use the bright red tweezers to return each bee to their matching color cubby.
Montessori Wooden Rainbow Toy
This Montessori Wooden Rainbow Toy [31] ($17) is a much more exciting way to learn about the rainbow! When stacked together, it forms a perfectly arched array of colors. When pulled apart, kids can create unique structures with the curved blocks.
Learning Resources All About Me Sorting Houses
These Learning Resources All About Me Sorting Houses [32] ($16) are great for arranging by color, storing little toys inside, or taking the roofs off and stacking on top of each other.
Fat Brain Toys Suction Kupz
If your kids enjoy stacking things or building towers, then they will like these Fat Brain Toys Suction Kupz [33] ($15). The bottoms suction to the table, window, fridge, or other surfaces, while the top allows for easy stacking. They can also be squished, chewed on, and used as actual drinking cups!