The Best Climbing Toys for Toddlers (Indoor and Outdoor)
It’s no surprise that young toddlers and even older kids have a great need for movement! Offering things that they can climb on, both for indoor and outdoor use, is important for an active toddler. In this post, you will get a list of the best climbing toys for toddlers to help channel that physical activity in a great way.
Pikler Triangle
A Pikler triangle is one of the best indoor climbing toys for a toddler. This is a great choice for young toddlers; even my 9-month-old baby has begun crawling on their Pikler triangle.
You can think of a climbing triangle as one of the first climbing toys for a young child. It is a fun way for younger toddlers to achieve those developmental milestones.
Check out this blog post on how to choose the best Montessori climbing triangle. You’ll also find some discount codes for some of the best climbing triangles on the market!
We have the Piccalio Climber Pikler Triangle Set, and it was a great fit for our boys when they were older babies and young toddlers!
This pickler ramp and platform is the perfect toy for a young toddler, even as soon as babies start moving around and crawling up and over things.
A child will love to climb up or slide down the ramp. There are so many different ways that this ramp and platform can be used, it aids itself to imaginative play very well!
However, we have also loved this platform and ramp as the boys have gotten older, as an accessory to their Wheely Bugs.
Swedish Wall Ladder Jungle Gym
This wall-mounted Swedish Wall Ladder Jungle Gym from Avenlur is the right climbing toy for an active toddler! I like how it has a small footprint for a climbing structure because it uses wall space! This would be a great climbing toy for small spaces, especially during the colder months when there is more time indoors.
A climbing wall allows younger kids to refine their climbing skills and build confidence. This product comes in two heights, making it flexible for your ceiling height.
I love that you can attach a swing, a rope ladder, or the rings to this wall-mounted jungle gym.
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3-in-1 Wooden Climbing Arch, Rocker & Seesaw for Toddlers
When you are trying to make the most of your space and budget, there isn’t much better than something that does more than one thing. This 3-in-1 Wooden Climbing Arch, Rocker & Seesaw for Toddlers offers so many different opportunities for play for a toddler within one beautiful climbing structure!
Climbing Arch
What I love about a climbing arch, besides the fact that there are no sharp edges, is how this one climbing structure can support both the physical and mental needs of a child.
A play structure like this just invites creativity! It can be used like a climbing arch or flipped the other way and could become the material that transports a child into imaginative play!
Investing in a versatile climbing toy is a good way to encourage creativity!
Climbing Building Blocks
If you are looking for a safe way for your young toddler to crawl and climb, these climbing building blocks are a great addition to your play area. These foam pieces can be moved around to create a safe play structure for your little one.
The different shapes encourage creativity and imagination at an older age. They encourage them to be active creators in their climbing endeavors.
There are many different ways that you could arrange these building blocks to offer new interests or challenges for the mobile child!
One item that has been on my list for our home is a Nugget play couch!
Climbing Cube
A climbing cube can be a fun climbing toy to aid in imaginative play! It can be turned in all directions to meet the creative needs of the child! A play cube encourages a child to move and crawl.
Non-Climbing Gross Motor Toys
Crawl Tunnel
A crawl tunnel wouldn’t encourage climbing, but it could be a great addition to a movement area in your home where there are other things to climb on.
The motion of crawling is very beneficial for a young child, and moving through a tunnel like this will encourage that crawling motion.
This caterpillar tunnel is collapsible, which makes it a great option for small spaces!
Wobble Balance Board
A wobble balance board has many benefits for a young child. It supports gross motor development as well as developing balance and coordination. When the board is used in a U-shape, it rocks back and forth. A child could either stand or sit on the board while rocking it back and forth.
This board will encourage the progression and refinement of their motor skills. I like this option for a toy or material in a home environment because it can be used in more than one way and will bring so much fun to a child’s play!
Balance Bike
A balance bike has so much to offer to a toddler! When you consider the developmental benefits of it, just think about all the skills that go into learning how to ride a bike! Things such as learning how to turn corners, avoid obstacles, and focus on balance and movement.
A balance bike supports the skill of motor planning, meaning the ability to know how to move your body to do various actions, in this example, the ability to turn corners.
Your child will likely move from a balance bike to more of a 2-wheel strider bike with no pedals. This Wooden Balance Bike from Aida Kids is a great place to start!
Wooden Folding Slide
Having some indoor play structures that allow for fun and movement but can also easily be stored away when they aren’t being used is a win-win! This folding wooden slide is both beautiful and functional.
Outdoor Climbing Toys
Pyramid Monkey Bar Climber
This pyramid monkey bar climber looks so fun and inviting for a child to come and climb on. A climbing frame like this gives opportunities for different gross motor movements, such as climbing and swinging from a bar.
Dome Climber
Dome climbers are a great outdoor climbing toy for older toddlers. A dome climber encourages problem-solving skills as the child navigates how to move around on the dome. It can also be a great way to burn off excess energy!
A dome climber may be a great investment and will continue to be a great gross motor toy for big kids as well.
Leveled Climbing Stones
If you are looking for a less permanent climbing toy for outside, these climbing stones may be a good idea. You can arrange them in different ways to make outdoor play so much fun!
Why Climbing Toys Are Important for Toddlers
It is no surprise that toddlers are busy little people exploring their environment and developing so many new skills. By offering climbing toys you are helping to support their gross motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and overall their physical development.
Children will naturally progress in their physical development if given the opportunity to explore safely. Things like a pickler triangle, and an outdoor jungle gym are great ways to offer opportunities for movement!
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