Best Gift Ideas For One Year Olds

Budget:  Under $30

Our Pick: Crayola Easy-Clean Finger Paint Set ($29.99)

Why did we choose this?

This set is perfect for little ones to explore colours and develop their creativity without making a big mess. It comes with everything you need to use it right away.  The finger paint case contains the paper and paint while the child uses the small muscles in their hands and fingers to move the paint around under the clear cover.  It’s safe, non-toxic and easy to clean. 

What are the benefits of using the Crayola Easy-Clean Finger Paint Set?

• Finger painting helps to develop and strengthen fine motor skills
• Introduction to primary and secondary colours while exploring colour mixing
• Helps to develop creativity
• Helps to develop concentration and focus
• A great toy for children who don’t like getting their hands dirty!

Honourable Mentions:

• Metal Xylophone (Lion) by Goki ($23.99)
• Crayola Washable Palm Grasp Crayons ($8.99)
• Plan Toys Fountain Bowl Set ($29.99)
• Fruit Knobbed Puzzle ($13.99)
• Chunky Puzzles (7pcs) ($28.99)
• Set of 6 Nylon Scarves ($24.99)
• Peek-A-Who? ($9.95)
  
  

Budget: $30 - $50

Our Pick: InnyBin ($35.99)

Why did we choose this?

We love toys that invite young children to explore and the InnyBin is designed to be explored. It includes 6 chunky colourful shapes with different textures that can be safely explored with all of the senses. The child’s exploration is enriched by the sides of the cube, which are made of colourful elastic bands that bend and move as the child puts the shapes in and out of the bin. It has just the right amount of challenge to hold a young child’s attention as they learn to remove and replace the shapes from the cube.   

What are the benefits of using the InnyBin?

• Helps to develop fine motor skills 
• Helps to develop hand-eye coordination
• Helps to develop spatial reasoning skills
• Helps to develop problem-solving skills 
• Helps to develop the child’s inner scientist - they can explore, experiment and discover! 

Honourable Mentions:

• Hammer Bench by Goki ($39.99)
• SpinAgain ($44.99)
• Grimm’s Medium Rainbow ($45.99)
• Rain Stick by Goki ($32.99)
• Lidzy ($33.99)
• Plan Toys Assorted Vegetable Set ($42.99)
• Plan Toys Shape Matching Puzzle ($30.99)
• Grimm’s Stacking Bowls - Natural or Rainbow ($43.99)

Budget:  $50 - $100

Our Pick: Wooden Blocks Set ($79.99)

Why did we choose this?

Blocks are so versatile! They can be used and played with in so many different ways, making them one of the most beneficial toys for brain development. These blocks are Made in Canada and include 29 mid-size wooden building blocks of different shapes, colours, and wood species. The blocks are contained in a handmade Artisanal wooden toy box for easy storage too.   

What are the benefits of using a Wooden Blocks Set?

• Helps to develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination
• Helps to develop early math skills - learning about shape, size, colours, weight, balance, comparison, experimentation, etc. 
• Fosters creativity and imagination
• Helps to develop language skills
• Helps to develop problem-solving skills 

Honourable Mentions:

• Plan Toys Hammer Balls ($67.99)
• Plan Toys Shape and Sort ($67.99)
• Square Gel Floor Tiles ($60.99)
• Cascading Spinning Tops ($59.99)
• Wooden Transport Truck ($79.99)
• 1 Year Old Book Bundle ($69.99)
• Hape Toddler Beginner Music Set ($64.99)
• Hape’s My First Musical Walker ($99.99)

Budget: $100 - $200

Our Pick: Sweet Cocoon Multi-Activity Baby Walker ($119.99)

Why did we choose this?

This beautiful Multi-Activity Walker is great for little ones learning to walk. We love that it includes an invisible and removable brake that allows the wheels to be locked and gradually released to control the speed of the walker. When they’re not using it to walk around and explore, there are 9 activities built-in to develop their fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination and more.

What are the benefits of using the Sweet Cocoon Multi-Activity Baby Walker?

• Encourages a child to move and strengthen their gross motor skills 
• Helps to develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination 
• This walker includes the following features:
• Abacus
• Shape box
• Maze
• Gears
• Rotary sound button
• "Scratcher-Scratcher"
• Magnifying rotating mirror
• Drum
• Metal xylophone

Honourable Mentions: 

• Wooden Blocks in a Truck ($124.99)
• Deep Sea Adventure ($159.99)
• Ice Cream Cart Push Along Trolley ($124.99)
• Running Rabbit Ride On ($161.99)

Budget:  $200+

Our Pick: 1 Year Old Montessori Box ($274.99) 

Why did we choose this?

We have made gift-giving so simple with this 1 Year Old Montessori Box. This box includes 6 beautiful and high-quality materials designed to meet the developmental needs of a young toddler. Many of these materials will continue to be used in the years to come as they are meant to be repeated and explored for as long as the child shows an interest.  

What are the benefits of the 1 Year Old Montessori Box?

• The items in this box were carefully selected by an Infant Toddler Montessori Teacher (MACTE), Registered Early Childhood Educator and Masters Level Early Childhood Educator.
• Each piece is designed to support a child's development from 12 - 36 months and includes instructions on why and how to introduce them to your child
• The box includes the following items:
• A Wooden Blocks Set is the perfect open-ended toy for children of all ages. Explore the shapes and colours while developing skills, such as stacking, sorting, and matching.
• A Wooden School Bus with Peg People promotes imaginative play. Children practice removing and replacing the peg people to develop fine motor skills and the pincer grasp.
• The Wooden Slotted Box with Chips is a popular Montessori material that is introduced at 15 months. It is great for developing fine motor skills, hand eye coordination, and independence.
• The Wooden Shape Sorter Puzzle challenges young children while they manipulate and sort the shapes into the correct slot. Each shape has a knob that helps to develop the pincer grasp while strengthening fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
• Our Mouse and Cheese is great for developing hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. Threading and unthreading the rope helps to build critical neural pathways that are the basis for future complex actions.
• The Sensory Tubes are used to develop the tactile, visual, auditory and olfactory senses, language skills, fine and gross motor skills, concentration and focus, visual discrimination skills, self-regulation skills and more. They are very versatile and will be used for many years!

Honourable Mentions:

• Little Blue Truck Bundle - Truck & Animals ($229.99) or Truck, Book & Animals ($236.99)
• Arch Climber (starting at $334.99)
• Small Climbing Triangle with Small Ramp (starting at $419.99)