8 Unique Toys For Toddlers (a video gift guide)

DWELL: Unique and imaginative toy ideas for children.

December is almost here! Yikes! My holiday shopping lists are barely started, how about you?

I’m still working on my list for my daughter. It’s tough. We are so grateful in our house for all that we have and the toys our daughter already owns. But it is nice to give a gift and have something new and fun at Christmas, isn’t it?

I know. Toddlers can be tough to buy for… especially if they already have a bunch of toys. (And, let’s be honest, many toddlers are happier playing with the box than the toy inside!)

Are you in need of a unique gift idea for a toddler you know? Don’t want to duplicate a toy they may already own? Or maybe you just want something different that encourages lots of activity and/or imaginative play?

Well, I’m sharing and reviewing 8 unique children’s toys in this week’s YouTube video that might help you with your shopping list. These items are unusual and not your typical run-of-the-mill inexpensive plastic toys you will find in the big box stores.

I wholeheartedly recommend all of these toys. They are all under sixty bucks (most are under $30). The majority of them are pretty simple toys without a great deal of bells and whistles. (Sometimes, I think those can be the best toys, don’t you?) We own and regularly play with all but one of the toys. (That one will be a holiday gift this year for my daughter. Shhh!)

Watch the video here to see these toys in action. Be sure to check out the full list with a mini review of each toy below the video:

8 Unique Toddler Toy Ideas

We love these toys! (This list contains affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Statement for details.)

Clockwise from the top left:

Holztiger Wooden Animal Figurines (ranges from $7 to 20) I have a major soft spot for wooden toys. They are classic and timeless. Wood toys may not have loads of bells and whistles but they requires kids to imagine. These wood animal shapes are lovely to hold. The finish on them is hand-done. The animals have a nice weight to them but have kid-friendly, rounded edges. They are fun to play pretend and also look sweet on a nursery or playroom shelf.
FlyBike® Foldable Tricycle (about $40) We own a couple of different little bikes for our daughter and this one is by far her favorite. It is compact, lightweight yet sturdy. The best part is that it can easily be collapsed and folded for travel.
Melissa & Doug Alphabet Express Jumbo Floor Puzzle (about $12) This giant puzzle is fun! We love building a big train across the floor and learning our animals and alphabet at the same time.
Plui Rain Cloud Tub Toy (about $12) This little tub toy is a water physics lesson disguised as an adorable rain cloud. (Watch the video to see how it works.)
Waliki Toys Benny the Jumping Bull Inflatable Hopper (under $20) I’m planning to give this purple guy to my daughter this holiday. We’ve gifted Benny to a couple of other toddlers we know and he’s always been a big hit. A great gift for an active and bouncy kid.
Grimm WaterWaves Nesting Wood Toy (about $40) Just like the wooden animals, this wood puzzle has an heirloom feel to it. We’ve turned these wavy blue puzzle pieces into roads, mountains and fences. When the puzzle is put together, it is a gorgeous ombre blue wave shape that looks lovely on a playroom shelf. (Or in an older child’s surf themed room? Or even at a family beach house?)
Gonge Riverstones (about $60) This set of sturdy plastic stones is fun for active kids. You can set them up in a pattern and step and jump on them. These stones are a fun rainy-day activity when you can’t play outside. We make up different games with the colors and I imagine a toy like this will grow with a child over time.
Moluk Bilibo Seat (about $20-30) This little curved piece of plastic is difficult to explain. It is a very strong seat… or rocker… or step… or toy bin. It can really be anything your child imagines and that’s what I think is so great about it. It stimulates and encourages the imagination.