Best Toddler Toys to Improve Gross Motor Skills

Toddlers love jumping, but parents don’t always love the idea of a trampoline due to safety concerns. This mini version is a nice compromise. It has a built-in handle for extra stability so your little one can hang on while they bounce. And even though the surface is more than large enough for a toddler to freely jump around on, the trampoline itself has a relatively small footprint and fits nicely in the corner of a playroom or in a finished basement. Just keep in mind: it’s for indoor use only.

Is the Nugget a piece of cool, modern furniture? Is it a fort? Is it a pirate ship? We’re not sure…and that’s exactly the point. This kid-sized modular couch is anything your toddler wants it to be, and kids love to do just about anything but actually sit on it. It’s great for climbing on, jumping off, walking across or whatever else your little one wants. They’ll build gross motor skills (and confidence) and have a ton of fun while they do it. They may even decide to sit down on it someday…but maybe not.

Crawling is a gross motor skill that’s beneficial for toddlers long after they’ve mastered it and moved onto walking. This crawl-through tunnel is the ultimate toy to break out on a rainy day. It collapses and stores completely flat, so it’s perfect for small spaces or for tossing under a chair or the couch until you’re ready to play. It’s also made from wipe-clean materials so you can play indoors or out.

You’ll start to notice your toddler making big strides in balance as they begin to master walking (and running!). These “stepping stones” are a fun, creative way for little ones to build balance and coordination—two important gross motor skills. The bottoms are lined with a non-slip rubber rim so they’ll stay put on smooth surfaces, and each stone varies in steepness for added difficulty. They’re also great for encouraging open-ended play.

A scooter is one of the best toys for building and improving gross motor skills—and the Micro Kickboard is one of our absolute favorites. Its three-wheel design and lean-to-steer capability makes it stable enough that even younger toddlers get the hang of it easily. This model features an adjustable handlebar and a high weight limit so it can grow along with your little one. Just don’t forget a helmet!

Adding a pull toy to your collection makes it easy for your toddler to engage in active play indoors. This adorable wooden giraffe is just right for new walkers. It features wide, stable wheels and a long string so your toddler will be able to easily push and pull it along.

The Rody horse was created over 30 years ago and toddlers haven’t stopped bouncing on it since. Its unique design and rounded shape create just the right seating area for little ones to climb on and bounce safely. Riding Rody will help your toddler build muscle and improve gross motor skills overall—plus, its cool design looks pretty awesome in any play space.

Popular among the Montessori crowd, these simple wooden climbers offer your toddler a chance to practice balance and coordination. They also help your little one build self-confidence as they learn to climb up and eventually over the triangle. They fold up for easy storage and many come in sets with a little double-sided ramp for sliding and more climbing options. It’s a good idea to place it over a padded playmat so your tot has somewhere soft to land.

We’ll get this point out of the way now—this climber isn’t that fun to put together. But we promise it’s worth the work!

A dome climber checks all the boxes when we think about the characteristics that make up an ideal toy. It encourages active play; it builds lots of skills (especially gross motor); it’s completely open-ended; and it’s great for toddlers and kids of multiple ages. This one is made from powder-coated steel that’s weather and rust-resistant and works for children ages three to 10. It’s a smart addition to any backyard space.

It’s often the simplest toys that have the most benefits, and that’s definitely the case with the Bilibo. Its unique design and quirky shape make it a magnet for toddler curiosity, and your little one will find an endless number of ways to play with it. There’s a ton of gross-motor-skill-building uses like climbing in and out, spinning and jumping on and off this one-of-a-kind toy. It even works for outdoor fun.

The Cozy Coupe has been an iconic toddler toy for 40 years and counting. It’s a fun, easy way for your toddler to improve their gross motor skills, too. Ride on toys require the coordination and balance, and work many of the larger muscles in the body. And toddlers love pushing and steering this car around with their legs. This version has a removable floorboard that protects the feet of younger toddlers who aren’t quite ready to push the car on their own.

Learning should be fun! Let their imagination run wild while building important gross motor skills with this simple, open-ended Montessori balance board. It can be used to balance and rock or turn it upside-down and you have a bridge or slide.

You don’t need fancy or complicated toys to help with your toddler’s gross motor development; sometimes the basics are just right. This outdoor game set includes three classics: rings, bean bags and cones. Everything can be used together or separately for various games and challenges, and they’re all great for improving your little one’s gross motor skills.