At ages 1–2, a child’s brain is growing at lightning speed. The right toys can spark curiosity, improve motor skills, and lay the foundation for lifelong learning — all while being super fun! 🎉
In this post, we’ve handpicked the best brain-boosting toys for toddlers aged 12 to 24 months, focusing on sensory, cognitive, and fine motor development.
🎯 What to Look for in Toys for 1–2 Year Olds
- Safety First – BPA-free, non-toxic, and no sharp edges
- Sensory Engagement – Bright colors, different textures, sounds
- Motor Skill Support – Toys that involve grasping, stacking, pushing
- Simple Cause & Effect – Buttons, flaps, or movement-based surprises
🧩 Top Brain-Boosting Toys for Toddlers (1–2 Years)
1. Wooden Shape Sorter
Encourages problem-solving, hand-eye coordination, and shape recognition.
Wooden Angle Geometric Blocks Stacker Shape Sorter
- Toy Dimension: 13.7”x 2.6”x 1.8”, Weight: 1.1 pounds.
- High Quality: Solid wood construction and durable water paint finish non-toxic also the round corner without wood dust. Completely child safe and exceed international safety standard.
- Cute Design: Classic shape sorter toys, 5 different shape with fitting hole for post, round shape, 5 different bright color perfectly sized for toddlers’ hands
- How to Play: Multiple paying way, select and name the geometric shape or color, stacking the block puzzle and march it in right place (posts that fits the hole of the blocks) etc.
- Color: Multicolor; Included Items: 20 block pieces & 1 detachable and removable wooden with 15 posts
2. Stacking Cups or Rings
Boosts motor skills, size comparison, and sequencing logic.
Stacking Toys For Kids | 6 Rings Multi-Colour Kids Toys
- Little’s junior ring is an attractive educational toy which helps your baby recognize different colours and sizes while having fun stacking them in order.
- Little’s junior ring helps your baby naturally develop concepts of colour, shape and size through fun filled play activity.
- Helps in developing the finger skills of the baby
- Vibrant colors and attractive designs make this toy, an engaging and informative play tool ; Type: Junior Ring ; Ideal For: Boys and girls.
- Age Range Description: Infant, Toddler
3. Soft Activity Cube
Each side has zippers, textures, mirrors, and sounds. Great for exploration!
Life Skill Builder Cube Montessori Toys
- 👶【6 IN 1 Busy Cube】This interactive busy cube features different learning activities on each side, bringing varied sensory experiences as well as operating fun, greatly satisfying baby’s curiosity and exploring fun
- 👶【Develop Skills】 This Montessori cube incorporates a variety of fingertip activities, including spinning, pressing switches, pushing and pulling, etc.
- 👶【Portable Travel Toy】Our busy sensory toys are lightweight and easy to carry, which is a great source of entertainment while traveling and a great distraction for babies to keep them entertained and busy.
- 👶【Friendly to Toddler 】6 sides of play, each with a unique activity will provide babies with different tactile experiences.
4. Sensory Toys for Toddlers
Montessori Toys with Toggle Switch.
Busy Board V1.5 with LED Light
- 👶Sensory Toy for Independent Baby – Our Montessori busy board is designed with 6 ways of power switches bringing different difficulties.
- 🚦Great Educational & Developmental Toys – Funny toys is a great source of learning during the first years of baby’s life, baby’s brain develops rapidly.
- 🕹️【Natural Wood & Smooth Corners and Edges】Made of premium natural wood, the busy board has passed the strict quality tests and it is safe and friendly to babiess skin.
- 💡【6 LED + 6 Buttons Light Up Busy Board】Light switchboard includes different colored lights and buttons that can improve kids’ sustained concentration and perception of cause and effect.
5. Sensory Balls Set
Variety of textures stimulate touch, grip strength, and crawling motivation.
Sensory Balls Toy Pack of 6
- Safe and Soft Design: Made from high-quality, BPA-free silicone, these soft sensory balls are perfect for tiny hands.
- Vibrant Sensory Stimulation: The B4BRAIN Sensory Balls Pack of 6 features colorful, textured silicone rubber balls that engage your baby’s senses.
- Encourages Motor Skills Development: These squeaky balls help improve gross motor skills and hand-eye coordination as babies reach, grasp, and throw.
- Interactive Playtime Fun: The delightful squeaky sounds of these sensory balls captivate your child’s attention, making playtime engaging and fun.
6. Musical Drum or Xylophone
Sound recognition, rhythm, and early interest in music = brain booster!
Xylophone Musical Toys for Kids (8 Scale)
- 🎵[Baby Piano Xylophone Toy] This set included 1pcs fresh yellow xylophone piano and 2pcs small hammer. Each bar has a number on it.
- 🎹[Safe to Play] Our fresh Yellow piano xylophone for kids toddlers made with non-toxic, non-BPA and lead-free durable ABS plastic.
- ✨[Learn While Playing] Kids can hit the bars with a hammer or press the keys to make their own music.
- 🎁[Excellent Gift for Kids] securely packed in a nice box, this colourful and cute 2 in 1 piano xylophone for toddlers will be a perfect gift toys for 1-3 years old girls boys on birthday, Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving day, Christmas.
7. Chunky First Puzzles
Big pieces with animal shapes or vehicles improve logical association.
Wooden Learning Educational Board for Kids
- 🧩 “Educational Wonderland”: Unlock your 2-year-old’s potential with our wooden puzzle, designed for early learning.
- 🚀 “Learning Adventures Await”: Dive into interactive play with our 2 years kids activity toys, promoting growth and fun.
- 🎨 “Wooden Wonders”: Discover durable wooden toys for kids 2+ years, fostering imagination and creativity.
- 🔍 “Explore & Learn”: Engage in stimulating activities for 2 year olds, enhancing cognitive development.
8. High-Contrast Flash Cards (Black & White + Color)
Excellent for visual development and early vocabulary building.
high Contrast Flash Cards for New Born Children
- Usage Innovation: Compact pack 12 PCS black and white baby flash cards, double-sided 24 pages cover various Shapes, Geometric Figure, etc. It is a good choice to activate baby’s right brain development.
- Enhance Visual & Brain Development: The black and white flashcards are designed for baby from birth to 12 months, high contrast patterns will stimulate babies’ visual and give them a beginning to Know Things gradually.
- High Quality: Photo-grade card papers coated with premium anti-dazzle film, easy to recognize and protect babies’ eyes well.
- Elegant Design: Each card measures 5.90”X 5.90”, proper size for hand-held or place it anywhere to show baby the cards.
9. Pull-Along Toys
Encourages walking + spatial awareness as they drag their buddy along.
Giggles Funskool Pull Along Digger The Dog, Activity & Learning Toys for Babies
- Digger the dog shall become Your kids first companion.
- Digger the dog is irresistible with his large floppy ears, lovable droopy eyes and a cute tail.
- Lots of fun actions for little ones as the dog is pulled along.
- Develops social skills, role play helps in baby’s first steps. Recommended Age : 12 Months +
10. Peekaboo Cloth Books
Tactile + interactive storytelling = imagination + bonding time!
Peek-A-Boo Jungle Book – Soft Cloth Book for Baby
- CLOTH BOOK WITH PEEK-A-BOO FLAPS: Skillmatics Peek-A-Boo! I See You! cloth book is designed with soft flaps, behind which hide colourful jungle animals for your baby to discover.
- 8 COLOURFUL PAGES: Our cloth book includes 8 colourful pages with peek-a-boo flaps, crinkle pages, and moveable animals to inspire exploration and hand-eye coordination.
- LEARN THROUGH PLAY: This jungle adventure helps your baby learn about wild animals’ characteristics and features.
- INTERACTIVE BOOK: This book helps your baby understand the process of reading – turning pages and following a storyline. It builds their understanding of sequential events and fosters imagination and curiosity.
🧠 Bonus Tip: Let Your Child Lead
Watch what fascinates them and allow open-ended play — that’s where real brain magic happens. 🎈
💡 Need Gift Suggestions for 1–2 Year Olds?
Check out our dedicated page:
👉 Smart & Fun Gift Ideas for 1–2 Year Olds
📥 Get a Free Toddler Brain-Play Printable Pack!
Subscribe to our newsletter and get a colorful PDF with 5 simple at-home brain-boosting activities for toddlers!