My son turns one this week! Do you have any almost-1-year-olds in your life? If you need gift ideas for a 1-year-old, look no further. The first birthday is usually pretty easy gift-wise, because no matter what you give….the wrapping paper is always their favorite part. Here are the developmental toys that my (nearly) 1-year-old is really loving right now, followed by the things we’re getting him for his birthday. For developmental toy ideas for all ages, check out my full list of favorites.
Gift Ideas for a 1-year old- Developmental Toys We’re Getting Our 1-year-old for his First Birthday:
Soft Foam Blocks: fine motor, gross motor. I’m thinking this one might be the favorite of the year. He loves things he can throw and chase, and the soft texture of these make them a good candidate. Stacking and sorting are important skills- blocks are great for this. Bonus: the covers are removable/washable.
Dimpl toy: fine motor. I’ve watched babies and toddlers play with these in my office for the last few years; they are mesmerized by them. This one is going in the diaper bag for sure.
Play tunnel: gross motor. He loves speed-crawling through tunnels at the park, so I think this collapsible (read: easy to store) tunnel will be a hit. I imagine it will be a good addition to the soft foam block “playground” that he already loves.
Quiet Book: communication. We’re always looking for “quiet” toys that can entertain little rascals at church, restaurants, etc. There are tons of options here- I chose this one because the chef theme got me.
Books: communication. You can never ever go wrong with books. We’re getting him these, because you can never start teaching about strong women too soon…and we love some girl power in this house.
Tried and True Developmental Toys our 1-year-old Already Loves:
Gymnasium Playset: gross motor. this one is a splurge, but it’s absolutely my favorite. My older kids use it to make obstacle courses (combined with the balance pods), forts, and with their Ikea tumbling mat to practice gymnastics. They are the perfect size to create a tiny indoor playground for the 1-year-old on rainy days.
Touch and Feel Flashcards: communication. Reading is absolutely the best thing you can do to help your child’s communication skills. When they are first learning words, it’s also important to just say the one-word name of objects, so they can clearly understand where the word begins and ends. These flashcards are very helpful for expanding vocabulary, and babies love being able to feel the tactile sections of the cards. My kids also have the animals and colors and shapes sets.
Megablocks: fine motor. These are perfectly sized for a one-year-old hand. They are easy for them to pull apart. My son has had lots of fun with these this year.
*This post contains affiliate links. I make a small percentage of each sale at no extra cost to you. I would never recommend products I haven’t used (with the exception of the items we are purchasing for this year’s birthday- labeled) or found to be useful or products that are not in support of AAP-recommended safety guidelines.
