elizabethadventuresblogAre you on the hunt to find toys for an adventurous toddler that they will love? Look no further! I’ve gathered some of the best gifts for your toddler in this gift guide. I am always on the hunt for great and educational toys for my toddler and am sharing all that scouring the internet with you.
This list ranges from adventure toys designed to take on your adventures to outdoor themed toys for the indoors. Finding toys for an adventurous toddler is such a fun way to build upon their interests and provide hours of fun.
Gifts Under $10
EverBright Kids Flashlight
Light exploration is a favorite activity for toddlers. Chances are if you take them camping as well they see you using flashlights and lanterns. This kids flashlight is perfect for small hands and an inexpensive choice for a toy that will get a lot of love.
Playground Ball
Throwing and experiencing cause and effect is a fun way for toddlers to learn. This playground ball is essentially a mini kick ball, so it’s perfect for their smaller hands and arms. My son is constantly throwing his around and laughing as it bounces all over.
Busy Cube
This busy cube is a travel favorite! It is about the size of a Rubik’s cube and perfect for toddlers to explore the various sides. The cube is also a great way to provide fine motor activities as your toddler figures out how to make everything move.
Suction Cup Spinners
These suction spinners are a must for home and travel! They can attach to airplane windows, bathtubs, restaurant tables and more. I always have at least one in the bottom of the diaper bag I can pull out. They are also fun to hold onto the suction cup and let your toddler make them spin.
Star String Lights
String lights are another fun way to let your toddler explore and see lights. These star string lights are a whimsical way to bring the great outdoors in and double exploration with talking about space and stars. We love putting ours in our play tent to read books under.
Reusable Sticker Book
This three pack of reusable sticker books is by far one of my son’s favorite travel toys! It can keep him busy for well over 30 minutes at a time without adult assistance. Now that’s a big win for any toddler parent. They come in various packs and I love that they come in a set of three so you can rotate through them.
Water Wow! Mess Free Water Paint
The Melissa and Doug water wow books are a great travel toy because they allow art, exploration and fine motor skill to happen all without a big mess. They use water to turn the pages colors, so it’s easy to use wherever you are. If your toddler loves these books, they make dozens of versions based on things they are interested in.
Toddler Safe Knife Set
Toddler’s love being able to help their parents, whether that be at home or around the camp kitchen. These toddler safe kitchen tools are a great way to let them be involved in making meals. As they get bigger their can be given more independent task with them as well.
Washable Paint Markers
These paint sticks are an easy way to let your toddler explore colors and art with a little less mess. They are compact and there’s no need for a paintbrush or water, so they can easily be taken on trips as well. These are a fun way to provide fine motor skills development.
Hiking Alphabet Book
This Hiking Alphabet book is a favorite for many reasons. The artwork is beautiful and inviting. Each page has a letter, but multiple words that go with it instead of just one. It teaches toddlers about words related to the great outdoors that they may not know yet or hear when your out adventuring together. There are also multiple books in the Mrs. Peanuckle’s series to expand on. For more books to gift your toddler, check out my Amazon board book list.
Sidewalk Chalk Holder
These sidewalk chalk holders are a great way to make chalk a little less messy or help a child who may have a sensory issue holding chalk. Sidewalk chalk is such a fun childhood experience and something that can easily be traveled with for outdoor activities on the road. They are also a great option for travel as they help protect the chalk from breaking quite to easily.
Gifts Under $25
Stainless Steel Water Bottle
Having a good stainless steel water bottle is a must whether you’re venturing to the local park, flying across the country or hitting the trails. This brand has so many toddler friendly designs to pick from. It will hopefully grow with them as they get bigger since it holds 18oz. These water bottles are perfect at keeping their water cold while out venturing on hot days as well.
Kaleidoscope Camera
Chances are your toddler sees you constantly taking photos of them and nature. This wood Kaleidoscope camera is a fun way to let them use a camera too! The lens pieces are interchangeable so they can explore the various colors and feel included in photo taking until they are ready for a real kid camera.
LCD Doodle Board
This doodle board is a perfect travel toy for toddlers because it is compact for travel and mess free art. It’s an even more fun activity when you participate in it with them. My son loves when I draw him a picture and then let him draw over it. We take it on all our road trips and flights.
Sand Toys Set
This sand toy set is perfect for travel or the local sandpit at your favorite park. It comes with a large variety of toys, has a mesh bag so sand and water can get out and can be used with water. Thanks to the smaller size, we will pick out a few pieces and bring them with us on trips where we know there will be sand, too.
Stacking Forest Animal Puzzle
These wood stacking forest animals are a perfect toy for and adventurous, outdoor loving toddler. They are an easy way to discuss woodland creatures they may encounter outdoors as well and being useful in so many ways. They can be added to a sensory table, use with wood blocks, practice fine motor and stacking skill and so much more!
Coleman Adventure Mini Lantern
If your toddler loves camping this is the prefect toy for them! The Coleman lantern is easy for toddlers to turn on and off themselves. Toddlers love exploring light so they can have some independence with this toy as they do that. It is small and compact so you can even bring in on a camping trip just for them to use.
Montessori Light Switch Board
This light switch board is a travel and everyday must-have toy! It has been one of my son’s favorite toys for over 6 months now and he continues to seek it out. It’s interactive, helps develop fine motor skills and is perfect for traveling. Ours has been all over and has held up so well and the batteries don’t need constant replacement, which is a big win for traveling.
Wood Puzzle
Wood puzzles are a great way for toddlers to develop their fine motor skills. They area also a fun way to discuss and discover things found in the outdoors. These Melissa and Doug puzzles have multiple themes as well to pick from based on your toddler’s interests.
Explore Kit
This wood explore kit is a fun way to bring the adventures indoors. These pieces allow your toddler to use their imagination and engage in dramatic play as they use them to enact their outdoor adventures. They may even love them so much they venture outdoors with them too.
Memory Game
This memory game is a fun one for toddlers because it uses fun drawings of animals to help them learn about matching. They can also be used in a sensory table or played with in other forms thanks to them being made out of wood. The wood helps them be a more durable toy option than paper made memory games.
Busy Book
A busy book is a toddler travel must-have item. The book is felt, so it’s durable and easy to travel with. It has pages of interactive activities to keep your toddler engaged for long periods of time. My son loves engaging with his and his skills have grown greatly in a year of having it.
Resin Insects
Chances are your child sees all sorts of bugs if they travel and get outdoors regularly. These resin insect blocks are a great educational tool that can be used for years to come. They are also a perfect manipulative to use on a light table or in a sensory table. They come in various sets as well so you can find the right ones for your toddler’s interests.
Waterproof Zipper Bags
Waterproof zipper bags are a travel and camping must have! They can be used solely by an adult to store toys or other items or used alongside a toddler to help keep special toys or trinkets contained. I always use a bag or two for our travels. I love that they are durable (I’ve had them for years!) and keep all our contents dry. Keeping books and toys dry while traveling and camping is a must.
Pretend Play Reusable Bandaids
Once toddler’s start needing bandaids they tent to want them all the time. Instead of creating waste with disposable bandaids when they aren’t actually needed, try gifting your toddler these reusable bandaids instead! They come in a small tin, are made of felt and can easily be taken on trips, too.
Gifts Under $50
Baby Walker Balance Bike
This is a must-have first bike for your toddler! The baby walker balance bike is a great bike for toddlers to learn to use their legs and arms to make the bike move without being too unbalanced. It’s the prefect size for their tiny bodies and will help them transition to a balance bike, if that’s what you hope to use next. My son absolutely loves taking his bike everywhere.
Kids Camping Play Set
This camping play set is the perfect play set for a camping loving toddler! It has all the items they need to pretend they are out on a fun camping adventure still. It says 3+ but if your toddler is already experiencing camping and the great outdoors, they will most likely love their set even sooner.
Kids Explorer Kit
Similar to the set above, this explore set is such a fun way to bring a toddler’s love of outdoor adventures indoors. Better yet, most of these pieces can be used outdoors as well. They can take these pieces on a local adventure walk or carry them on a hike. Just remember if you are catching bugs to let them go and practice leave no trace principles on trail.
Bubble Machine
What kid doesn’t love bubbles?? This bubble machine is perfect to take outdoors and let your toddler have some bubble fun. One of the pluses to this model is that is can be plugged in or run off of batteries, making it a more universal item for taking outdoors.
Gardening Set
If your toddler loves playing in the dirt and being a helper, this garden tool set is a perfect toy to get them out helping you garden. You can even create a special space just for them to use their tools. In the spring, your toddler can help plant some seeds and then watch as they grow.
Balance Rocks
These balance rocks are the perfect gift for an active and adventurous toddler. They can help them with their gross motor development and improve their balance, which in turn can greatly help them with all your outdoor adventures and hikes.
Large Building Blocks
These large building blocks are perfect for toddler’s small hands and developing fine motor skills. They can more easily put them together and pull them back apart than smaller blocks. They are also durable so you can easily grab a handful to take on trips if they are a toy they really love. My son has been obsessed with his since he was at least 9 months old.
Snow Sled
Sledding is one of the best outdoor activities you can do in winter with an adventurous toddler. My son first started sledding at 9-10 months old and has been loving it ever since! Gifting a toddler a sled is a perfect way to continue venturing outdoors all winter together.
Kids Folding Camp Chair
If your toddler loves camping, a folding camp chair of their very own is the perfect gift! Not only can it be used camping, but it can go on all your outdoor adventures from the beach to a local park. This chair has multiple fun patterns to pick from as well.
Kids Explore Hiking Set
This Melissa and Doug explorer hiking set is such a fun way for toddlers to expand on their love of hiking with you. They can use their backpack around the house, on local outings or venture to the trails with their very own backpack full of hiking goodies to make them feel more involved.
Collapsible Tunnel
This collapsible tunnel is a fun way to help babies learn to crawl or give a toddler a new way to develop their gross motor skills. It can be used as a fun game or turned into a bear cave. It folds up so it doesn’t take up a large amount of house space either.
Gifts Under $100
Giro Bike Helmet
Every adventurous toddler needs a good quality bike helmet to keep them safe on all their big adventures. This helmet is perfect because it easily adjusts to various head sizes, so it can be used for a while. It has mips technology to provide the best protection should your toddler fall off their bike or scooter and hit their head. Having that safety feature is worth every penny if you ask me!
Sensory Table
A sensory table is one of my favorite things to have for a toddler and older kids. It provides endless learning and fun for all ages. There are amazing sensory toys and kits available but also endless learning you can bring into the home just from your backyard or neighborhood walks. Always practice leave no trace principles and don’t bring objects home for your table off the trails or campsites.
Canvas Play Tent
If your toddler loves the great outdoors and camping, this play tent is the perfect gift! Not only does it provide them a fun space to play or read, it comes with multiple accessories to enhance their place. The poles twist apart and come out of the fabric, so the tent fits into a smaller bag for easy storage. My son loves reading his books inside and watching the star lights.
Yoto Mini Player
The Yoto Mini Player is the perfect travel gift for any toddler. It is small and compact for all your adventures and has small cards to play audio books and music. They even offer make you own cards to record songs or stories not avaialble for purchase yet. This player can be used with headphones on a plane, can be used on roads trips, can be brought on camping or backpacking trips and so much more!
Wool Iksplorer Set
If you’re looking for a highly practical gift for your toddler, this wool set is a perfect option. Wool is great for hiking, camping and all outdoor adventures because it stays warm and yet cool at the same time. The material dries much quicker than cotton, too. We have two sets that my son wears multiple times a week. They make the perfect hiking outfit or base layer. You can use the code
ELIZABETHADVENTURES to save an additional 10% off all regular and sale prices.
Wood Rainbow Stackers
Wood rainbow stackers are a fun way to bring creativity to your home. Your toddler can do so much building or playing with this open-ended stacking toy. The fun colors are a great way to discuss colors with your toddler as well!
Waterproof Rain Suit
This is another highly practical gift for toddlers, especially if you live someplace where you get regular rain and snow. Toddlers love getting wet and dirty. A waterproof rain suit is the perfect way to let them still be adventurous toddlers while also helping to keep them dry. My son loves to just lay on the ground and in puddles so it’s a must for us! I prefer this rain suit over others because it is not lined with fleece, making it more versatile. A fleece lined suit can cause them to overheat while the unlined suit allows you to use as many or as little layers as the weather calls for each time.
Lean-to-Steer Scooter
If your child loves going on a bike, a scooter is a fun next step for them to work on their gross motor skills and find new ways to be adventurous. This lean-to-turn scooter is a great option because it folds down compact, making it easier to take on local and grand adventures.
Toddler Balance Bike
If your toddler is already riding a smaller bike or is showing interest in learning, a balance bike is a perfect way to let them learn to ride a bike in a fun way without the need for training wheels. They use their legs to make the bike move, similar to smaller bikes, only the two wheels requires them to learn the concept of balancing like a regular bike. Most kids who start with a balance bike quickly learn to ride a regular bike without training wheels.
LED Light Table
A light table provides endless fun for toddlers and older kids! This light table is a perfect gift because it already comes with some manipulatives to use on it, saving you from needing to purchase more from the start. You can make it fun and playful or education in so many ways. We love to put our resin insect block or leaves we find outside on our table.
Triangle Climber
A triangle climber is a fun way to encourage indoor gross motor development and risky play as your toddler learns to climb in various ways. This one is a great options too if you have limited space as it doesn’t have the large rainbow shaped climber many sets come with. One side of the slide has rock climbing type clips and the other side is smooth, making a fun slide. My son has loved his since he first got it around 9 months old!
Pretend Campfire Set
If you’ve ever taken your toddler camping, chances are they have been mesmerized by the campfire. This pretend campfire set is a perfect imaginative play toy! They can pretend to be camping with this fire and it even allows for fire safety discussions to continue away from a real fire. Having them learn fire safety young is so important and this is a fun way to do that.
Gifts Over $100
Wild Pines Train Set
There are so many train sets available today at various price points. This wild pines train set is the perfect one to splurge on if you have an outdoor loving adventurous toddler though. The set comes with various tree manipulatives, pretend water and a bear. It also comes with trains that can hold removable wood and a small magnet crane to help lift them. This can be given as a first train set or added on to one they have to allow for a more outdoor themed train experience. Although it’s a more expensive option, the add-ons it comes with make it well worth it!
Metro+ Stroller
If you and your toddler are constantly on the go and traveling, gifting them a travel stroller is the perfect way to continue those adventures easily as they get bigger and heavier. The best thing about this Ergobaby Metro+ stroller is that it folds down and fits into most airplane overhead compartments. So, whether you are venturing into a city, wanting more room in the car for other gear or traveling across the country, this is the perfect adventure stroller!
Modular Play Couch
A modular play couch is a great way to provide endless gross motor and imaginative play to your toddler. The mats can be turned into anything from a tent to a cave or be built into an epic climbing tower. It provides unique gross motor development skills while also being a safe and cosy place to fall. I personally loved that it gave me a new couch to cozy up on when we aren’t using ours for gross motor play.
Big Mo 20° Sleeping Bag
If you love camping or want to give it a try with your toddler, a good quality sleeping bag is a must! The Morrison Outdoor Big Mo is a perfect bag for your toddler. Not only is it specifically designed to be safe and comfortable on a toddler, it comes in two temperature ratings. The new designs now feature both degree bags with closable hand covers. I personally have both the 20° and the 40° bag for my son and use them both, depending on what we need camping. Most fair-weather campers will be just fine with the 40° bag.
Foldaway Treehouse
This foldaway treehouse is such a fun option for toddlers! It can be used indoors or outdoors, but because it folds away it is such a great option for small spaces or a rainy-day activity indoors. It allows your toddler to still be active inside on days you can’t get outside easily or provide a small structure for your yard when you don’t want a permanent one.
Wooden Sandbox with Cover
If you have an adventurous toddler, chances are they love exploring things like dirt and sand. My son would spend all day playing in both. This sand box is a perfect backyard addition! It has seats that fold up to be a bench or fold down to be a sand box lid. The sunshade is a perfect addition to protect them on those warm summer day and help keep the sand cool to the touch.
Play Kitchen
Adventurous doesn’t always mean outdoors. Maybe your toddler is adventurous with food or loves to help you in the kitchen. This play kitchen is one of my son’s favorite toys that he’s constantly going to when I’m also working in the kitchen. It is a fun way to let them feel involved with cooking other than having them helping you in the kitchen. As they get older it continues to be a fun space for imaginative play.
Happy Hiking,
Elizabeth
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Other Gift Guides
50 Toys for an Adventurous Baby | 2024 Gift Guide
30 Board Books for the Adventurous Toddler
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