Last Updated on April 19, 2022 by Danielle
When toddlers are playing with blocks, they are getting a sneak peak at math and science skills. Here is a list of the best blocks for toddlers worth drooling over.
Blocks are the best toys ever. They are completely open ended. If you give your toddler blocks, the blocks can become a car, train, or castle. The only limit is their imagination.
Toddlers playing with blocks just aren’t developing their gross and fine motor skills, they are learning everything from fundamental math skills to spatial skills to creativity.
In fact one study showed that toddlers that played with blocks scored 15% higher on their language assessment test than those that didn’t. When children work with blocks, they are getting a taste of “fractions, shapes, and counting,” says Sharon MacDonald, author of Block Play.
What are the best blocks for toddlers? Toddlers play with blocks in stages. At first, gravity will be their best friend. Toddlers love knocking over huge towers. Their favorite lesson: What does up must come down. As they learn and grow, they will start to create more elaborate structures and need more complex sets.
Here is a list of the best blocks for toddlers worth drooling over.
Top 10 Best Building Blocks For Toddlers
Here are our top 10 blocks for toddlers that promote open ended and creative play.
Mega Bloks Big Building Bag, 80-PieceAges 1-5
These award winning blocks from Megabloks are our favorite blocks for toddlers. Toddlers like these more than Lego Duplo blocks. Why? They are a little bigger which makes them easy to put together and take apart. This set includes 80 colorful blocks. Bring this set of blocks out and toddlers won’t be able to stop building.
Magna-Tiles Clear Colors 100 Piece SetAges 3+
Magnatiles has been called the best toy ever and for good reason. While it is expensive, it might be the only toy you ever need. Why? The magnetic tiles snap together to create everything from towers to rocket ships. It is super easy to create very tall structures very quickly, without having to worry about them crashing down. Right out of the box, kids can build huge towers all while learning about geometry, logic, and math.
Mega Bloks Deluxe Building Bag, 150-PieceAges 1-5
How can you possibly make MegaBloks any better? Get more of them. This set includes 150 colorful blocks. The best part? Now you don’t have to fight over the pieces. There are enough blocks here for a couple of children to play all together. Children will love building huge towers, castles, and whatever your little builder imagines.
LEGO DUPLO My First Creative Building BoxAges 1.5-5
How do you introduce little ones to Legos? With this 70 piece Lego Duplo set. Lego Duplo sets are great for younger children because they have bigger chunkier blocks designed for little fingers. We like this set because it is totally open ended.
LEGO DUPLO My First Deluxe Box of FunAges 1.5-5
What better way to introduce your toddler to Lego than with this large set of Lego Duplo blocks. With 95 pieces, it is perfect for getting your child’s creativity going. You get a variety of blocks to build all kinds of stuff including windows, doors, and even adorable animals. It comes with pictures to inspire creativity like a train, plane, race car, and more. The larger sized Duplo blocks are perfect for little fingers.
B. One Two Squeeze BlocksAges 6mt-3
Babies will love chewing and squeezing these soft and squishy blocks from B. Toys. Each of the 10 blocks has fun friendly animals and numbers printed on them. They are fairly large and soft so you don’t have to worry about baby chewing on them. Babies will love experimenting with how many blocks they can stack before the tower comes crashing down.
LEGO DUPLO My First Number TrainAges 1.5-5
Chu! Chu! What little one isn’t fascinated with trains? With 31 pieces, young kids get to build this adorable Lego number train. Building this train is tons of fun. The addition of the little Dalmatian dog and little man is even more exciting for toddlers. The coolest part? When building the train, kids can stack the numbers on the train to help them learn to count.
Melissa & Doug 60-Piece Standard Unit BlocksAges 3+
This set of wooden blocks are similar to the ones in preschool classrooms. There are 60 smooth wooden blocks including cylinders, rectangles, squares, arches and many more shapes. There are more than enough pieces to let your little one’s imagination run wild. Every child should have these.
Do you remember Tinkertoy back in the old days? Tinkertoy has been around forever. This is not the Tinkertoy we grew up with. It’s no longer wooden, but it is just as fun. Kids will love tinkering with the spools, rods, and flags to create all kinds of fun creations. There are 200 pieces included in this set for endless combinations.
B. Bristle Block SpinaroosAges 2-6
Here is one of the most unique building toys for toddlers. These bristle blocks sort of look funky and super colorful. The blocks contain little bristles that allow the blocks to attach easily. With 75 pieces, kids can build flying objects, aliens, and castles. You’ll be amazed at all the stuff kids can create. The coolest part? This set includes 2 twisty bases so kids can make their creations spin.
Best Blocks For Babies
These blocks prove that even baby can be a builder. When choosing blocks for babies, choose soft cloth or foam blocks which babies can chew on and won’t get hurt with. Babies will love playing with these soft blocks on their own or with you. Later, they will love to build with them and knock the whole stack down. Why not? It’s fun. Here are the best blocks for babies.
B. One Two Squeeze BlocksAges 6mt-3
Babies will love chewing and squeezing these soft and squishy blocks from B. Toys. Each of the 10 blocks has fun friendly animals and numbers printed on them. They are fairly large and soft so you don’t have to worry about baby chewing on them. Babies will love experimenting with how many blocks they can stack before the tower comes crashing down.
Melissa & Doug K’s Kids Match and Build BlocksAges 9mt+
These soft foam blocks from Melissa & Doug are covered with cloth so they are a safe way to introduce babies to blocks when they are too young for solid blocks. The blocks have the cutest numbers, alphabet, and animals on them. In the beginning, baby will love to grab them, shake them, and look under the flaps. The best part? They are washable.
Best Stacking And Nesting Blocks For Toddlers
Shape sorters have been around forever and some of the best toddler toys. These blocks teach toddlers to match a geometric shape with its correct hole, helping to teach shape recognition and build fine motor skills. Toddlers are fascinated by the satisfying sound “thunk” the blocks make when they are dropped in the correct hole.
Melissa & Doug K’s Kids Stacking BlocksAges 9mt-3
Babies will never grow tired of this stacking and nesting toy. There is so much you can do with it. You can nest all the blocks inside of each other, stack them on top of each other, or even use them as a shape sorter. Little hands will love the 4 small shapes. Each side of each block has a shape cutout. The coolest part? Babies can stack all the blocks on top of each other and drop the shapes through.
Skip Hop Explore and More Rocking StackerAges 6mt+
How cute is this? This stackable owl buddy is a cute spin on the classical stacking toy. With its big eyes and colorful colors, baby will want to hug it all the time. The owl is actually made of 5 stackable components. Each of the pieces has a cool function. The head is rattle, the wings are perfect for teething, and there are tons of beads and textures to keep the other pieces interesting. All of his components can be stacked on the rocking base. What a hoot!
Tolo Toys Rolling Shape SorterAges 1-3
Toddlers will love trying to put the shapes into this fun shape sorter from Tolo. Even if they aren’t ready to put the shapes in, toddlers will love the little rattling shapes, each with their own distinct sound. We love that this shape sorter has 6 different shapes. There are 3 shapes on each side of the shape sorter, allowing for shape sorting and color matching fun. The coolest part? It’s fun to roll around on the floor.
Hape Color and Shape SorterAges 18mt+
Here is a great wooden shape sorter from Hape. The bright blocks with bevled edges are perfect for little hands. These blocks provide so many learning opportunities. They are great for teaching colors, sorting, and even spatial realtionships. Toddlers will love stacking the blocks and knocking down their little towers. The puzzle has 9 different slots and 3 basic shapes. The best part? The shapes are symmetrical so there is no wrong way to put them in the holes.
Best Cardboard And Foam Blocks For Toddlers
Cardboard blocks and soft foam blocks are great for younger toddlers. They are lightweight, so the blocks don’t hurt especially if they are thrown. Toddlers will have tons of fun building houses and knocking them down with these great blocks.
Melissa & Doug Deluxe Jumbo Cardboard Blocks Ages 2-5
If you have the room, these giant cardboard blocks from Melissa & Doug are tons of fun for toddlers. Toddlers will waste no time building large buildings, bridges, and castles. The set includes 40 pieces including 8 large red blocks, 8 medium blue blocks, and 24 small yellow blocks. The coolest part? They are sturdy enough to stand on.
80 Piece Foam Wonder Blocks Ages 9mt+
Made from non toxic Eva foam, these foam Wonder blocks give you all of the benefits of wooden blocks but are safer for toddlers. These are especially great if your toddler loves to throw things. Their made out of high density foam, which makes them a lot more durable than standard foam blocks. Just like wooden blocks, the 80 blocks come in different colors. Your little architect will love building castles and sky rises, but most of all they will love knocking them down.
Best Wooden Blocks For Toddlers
There is a reason every preschool has some type of wooden blocks. Not only do kids have endless fun building with them, wooden blocks seem to last forever. Just note that the painted ones don’t stack nearly as well as the unpainted ones as paint makes them more slippery. Here are our favorite wooden building blocks for toddlers.
Hape Basic Building BlocksAges 1-8
Made of solid natural untreated beech wood and in Germany, these are just like those wooden blocks in preschools. While they are super expensive, if you want the best quality wooden blocks, these are the ones to get. With a smooth and heavenly finish, they are designed to last forever. With 102 pieces, you get a wide variety of shapes and sizes for building towers, bridges, and castles.
Melissa & Doug 60-Piece Standard Unit BlocksAges 3+
Made of rubberwood, this set includes 60 smooth wooden blocks in cylinders, rectangles, squares, arches and many more shapes. There are more than enough pieces to let your little one’s imagination run wild. Every child should have these.
Hape Maple Wood Building BlocksAges 12mt+
Wooden blocks are cool but wooden blocks with color are even cooler. These colorful wooden blocks from Hape are perfect for young toddlers. The blocks are dyed using non toxic water based paint. The colors are bright and colorful and it is easy to stack them to create all kinds of cool things. Toddlers will love using all 50 pieces to build a tower as they practice their fine motor skills. It’s a great toy for building imagination.
Keva Structures 200 Plank SetAges 5+
Planks!!! Keva is one of the most amazing wooden building blocks we have come across. They are just planks. Sounds boring right? They are the closest thing to real architecture. The best part? There are no connectors or glue. All of the planks are exactly the same size and shape. You simply stack them to build cool structures. While designed for older children, these Keva planks are extremely versatile; young toddlers can make simple things out of them.
Best Magnetic Blocks For Toddlers
Kids love anything that is magnetic. That magnetic snap is so fascinating for them. While expensive, any blocks with a magnetic snap will likely be a hit with toddlers.
Magna-Tiles 100 Piece SetAges 3+
Magnatiles has been called the best toy ever and for good reason. While it is expensive, it might be the only toy you ever need. Why? The magnetic tiles snap together to create everything from towers to rocket ships. It is super easy to create very tall structures very quickly, without having to worry about them crashing down. Right out of the box, kids can build huge towers all while learning about geometry, logic, and math.
Magformers Rainbow 30 Piece SetAges 6+
Magformers are very similar to Magnatiles, but they are more affordable and have slightly different pieces. For toddlers they are great for learning colors and shapes. You can build large things very quickly without having to worry about them tipping over. Once kids start playing with these, they get very quiet and play with these blocks for hours upon hours. The only problem? You are going to want more sets.
Best Lego Duplo Blocks For Toddlers
No list would be complete without a whole section devoted to Lego. Here are our favorite Lego sets for toddlers.
LEGO DUPLO My First Number TrainAges 1.5-5
Chu! Chu! What little one isn’t fascinated with trains? With 31 pieces, young kids get to build this adorable Lego number train. Building this train is tons of fun. The addition of the little Dalmatian dog and little man is even more exciting for toddlers. The coolest part? When building the train, kids can stack the numbers on the train to help them learn to count.
LEGO DUPLO Mickey & Minnie Birthday ParadeAges 2-5
What’s cooler than a Lego train? A Lego train with Mickey and Minnie! This set features 24 blocks, perfectly sized for little ones. Featuring everyone’s favorite mousketeers, Mickey and Minnie, this building set offers an easy build, sparks the imagination, and promotes creative play. The beauty of the train is that you can rearrange it any way you like. The best part? Kids can learn to count from 1 to 5 as they place the numbered blocks onto the train.
LEGO DUPLO My First Construction SiteAges 2-5
Your little one can become a little construction worker with this fun 43 piece Lego set. You get a good variety of Lego pieces. It is fun to build stuff and tear it apart over and over. The coolest part? You get to build a little bulldozer and dump truck.
LEGO DUPLO My First Creative CarsAges 1.5-5
Lego and cars! What boy doesn’t love things that roll? With 40 different pieces, kids can easily mix and match just a few pieces to create all different types of cool cars. The chucky pieces are perfect for little mechanics. To build more cars, just take them apart and start all over. It is surprising just how much of creativity is packed into this Lego Duplo set.
LEGO DUPLO Batcave AdventureAges 2-5
Got a little builder that adores superheroes? Head to the Batcave with this 59 piece Lego set! With both Batman and Catwoman, this is one of the coolest Duplo Superhero sets. It’s fun to build the superhero bat cave in multiple ways with a shooting rocket and even rotatable bat signal. The coolest part? It has the Batmobile. Nuff said.
LEGO DUPLO Creative Ice CreamAges 1.5-5
There is nothing kids love more than ice cream and Lego. What could be better than making ice cream cones out of Legos? With 24 pieces including 3 ice cream cones, little ones will love creating all different kind of flavors. Our favorite is blueberry. Too bad you can’t lick them.
LEGO DUPLO Disney Princess CollectionAges 2-5
Got a princess lover? With this 63 piece Lego Duplo set, even little ones can build their own Disney castle out of Legos. This is such a cute set featuring Cinderella, Ariel, and Snow White along with each of their castles. Build Cinderella’s castle, Ariel’s underwater world, and Snow White’s cottage. The coolest part? The princesses have adorable fabric skirts.
LEGO DUPLO All-in-One-Box-of-FunAges 1.5-5
With 65 colorful Lego Duplo blocks, this is a great introduction set to the world of Legos. It features chunky Lego Duplo blocks which are perfect for little fingers and improving fine motor skills. The best part? It comes in a cool green plastic storage box.
LEGO DUPLO All-in-One-Pink-Box-of-FunAges 1.5-5
Over the last couple of years, there has been a great push to get more girls into building toys. There has been a great debate on whether pink and purple brick sets are a good way to get girls involved or reinforce gender stereotypes. Some girls will play with the regular Lego blocks. However, if she loves the color pink, this is a 65 piece Lego Duplo set is great way to introduce her to Legos. It comes in a cute pink plastic storage container.
LEGO Education DUPLO (144 Pieces)Ages 1.5-5
144 pieces! That’s how many Lego Duplo blocks this set contains. You don’t get Lego Duplo sets this big. Don’t expect great packaging. It comes in a cardboard box with plastic bags of pieces. Still, these are great because it comes with a ton of chunky Duplo blocks that are easy for toddlers to build and pull apart. Little builders can build structures, vehicles, or something out of the ordinary. It’s all up to their creativity.
Want to see even more cool toys? Check out our Gift Guide on the hot christmas toys of 2021.
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