50 Must-Have Toys & Gifts For 1 Year Old Boys

Here’s a toy that is ready to kick up some real fun around the playroom. The Fischer-Price Singin’ Soccer Ball uses an internal speaker and electronic computer system to create a rocking, rolling soccer ball that is as funny as he is smart. He’ll teach your 1-year old all sorts of songs about numbers and colors, or simply enjoy a game of kickball. This little guy is soft enough to take to bed as a special companion, but sturdy enough to hold up to some vigorous playtime. The interior electronics can be easily removed so the outer portion can be washed in a standard washing machine, which is a nice touch.

Here is another toy that works as well for a 6 month old as it does for a 2 year old. The Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker is actually 2 toys in one. The first part is a fun and dynamic play board that features numbers, letters, buttons, sounds, and cute characters, all of which can be interacted with. Even infants will get a kick out of the simple visceral play. When your kid is ready to start walking around, however, then simply attach the play board to the folding walker, and you’ve got a mobile activity center that is also a mobility enhancer!

Your kid might have more than a few years before they are eligible to join the NBA, but it never hurts to put a rock in their hands early on and hope for the best. The Smart Shots Sports Center is an electronic toy from VTech that provides kids with a fun way to play both basketball and soccer. An on-board computer sensor counts the shots, and the points are displayed on the digital readout, just like the real thing. If the ball becomes boring, kids can interact with a slew of different sensory features, such as buttons, cranks, and electronic sounds.

If there is one thing that all kids are interested in, it is pretending to be grown ups. The VTech Turn And Learn Driver Toy is one of the coolest new toddler-focused simulation driving toys on the market. With tone of different color buttons, shifting sticks, and flicking levers, your child will never run out of things to do with this awesome floor-standing activity board. A set of built-in songs, sounds, and phrases can either teach your kid about animals, or simply provide the background music for a make-believe drive through the countryside.

It doesn’t take much to keep a 1 year old boy entertained, but bright colors, moving parts, and mesmerizing motions go a long way to keeping them engaged. The Wonder Wheel Activity Center is a ballet of motion and color, offering a psychedelic spinning wheel with multiple spinners mounted inside of it. The base plate features a series of loosely connected rings that are great for occupying the fidgeting hands. The best feature, however, and one that more toys should emulate, is the suction-cup base panel that lets this toy stick firmly to the kitchen table while in use.

The Baby Einstein Wooden Piano Toy is one of our favorite musical toys of the year, not only because of its sturdy, long-lasting construction, but also because of the innovative and intuitive lesson cards that make learning and playing classic songs easier than ever. There are 6 song cards in total, each one clearly marked with color-coded notation that kids can play along with. The wooden touch-panels work like magic, with no actual ‘button’ to be pressed. Kids will be amazed at the touchpad, but also charmed by the notes and eager to make their own compositions.

Your kids very first race cars don’t need to be fancy, but they do need to be both safe enough and sturdy enough for a 1 year old kid. The Top Bright Wooden Race Ramp offers some of the best wood-based toy construction that we have seen in years, resulting in an awesome race car playset that never seems to get old. Little wooden racers that are capable of rolling in both directions will start at the top of the tower, and then with a little push proceed to descend the ramps one at a time, finally rolling out onto the floor or carpet, only to be snatched up for another turn. There are four cars included, enough for two boys to play together.

There’s nothing like a ball pit to really get the blood moving, and now, the UTEX 3-In-1 Pop Up Tent Set has arrived to offer just that, and a whole lot more. These inter-connecting segments include a play tunnel, a tent, and a cube-shaped ball pit chamber that fit together to create one of the coolest kids’ forts in existence. The whole set is built with form-molded wire so that it pops up into shape without effort, and folding it back down is a breeze. Plenty of vented windows allow for ample air flow as well as a viewing window so parents can keep an eye on things.

You’re going to need to get a pair of tiny overalls, because you 1-year old is about to take a full on tour around one of the coolest farms in the neighborhood. The Around the Farm Sound Book is a step by step walkthrough of all the most common farm animals, each one with their own realistic and charming sound. The book’s brightly illustrated pages form the left side, while a comprehensive sound panel on the right makes it possible to hear any animal at the simple press of a button. The hands-on nature of this story makes it better than just a regular book, and reading it with your kid is a surefire bonding experience.

One of the reasons that we’ve got more than one learning table on our list is because they are quickly becoming one of the most popular gift choices for one year old boys, not only because of their high multi-functionality but also because, pound for pound, they are just one of the best deals in the whole toy industry. Designed to engage the highly scattered but excited mind of toddlers and 1 year olds, these tables feature bright sights, fun sounds, and moving pieces that make the whole thing feel more like an ongoing party than a simple toy.

1 year old kids might have a lot of ambition, but more often than not they lack the coordination & balance to get them where they’re trying to go. The Baby Balance Bike from the toy makers at Avenor is a great way to introduce some wheels into your kid’s life. Four thick plastic wheels make for a bike that isn’t going to tip over. The seat is low enough that kids from 6months to 3 years old will be able to ride with their feet within touching distance of the ground. And, unlike a lot of kids’ bikes, this one can pretty much be snapped together within a few minutes, no tools required.

Two of the first concepts that infants learn about are color and shape, and training these facilities early in life is an important step in creating a foundation for a successful education and career. The Baby’s First Blocks from Fischer-Price is the perfected version of a classic toy. Lightweight, hollow-bodied shape blocks are not only easy for toddlers and infants to grab, but they’re large enough to not pose any kind of choking hazard. The carrying case doubles as an activity box; kids can complete the puzzle by inserting the shapes in the corresponding hole!

The rocking horse has been one of the most popular toys in the history of the earth, originating thousands of years ago and likely to survive for thousands of years in the future. Because the traditional rocking horse design requires no electricity, batteries, gears, or moving parts of any kind, it is virtually impossible to break this toy, and there is no chance of it wearing out even with extended use. Simply place your little one in the chair, show him where to grip, and watch as he takes off on a rocking adventure of his own creation.

Considering the state of the planet and out society, it is perhaps no surprise that Green Toys has been making such a big splash in the toy market over the last few years. With their line of eco-friendly, non-toxic toys, Green Toys has managed to cut out a significant little piece of the market. The BPA-Free Fire Truck is one such example of how they like to do things. This charming and well-designed fire truck toy is not only made from safe and sustainable materials, but it also has rolling wheels, a rotating lift ladder, and two removable side ladders.

The world of a 1 year old is full of new and vibrant things. Color, shape, motion, and sound are all extremely exciting concepts, so when a toy comes along that manages to take advantage of all of them, toy reviewers like us perk up and take notice. The Busy Ball Popper from Playskool is a hands-on visceral activity center that his hosted by a pair of adorable funny faces. A collection of brightly colored plastic balls will wind their way down the plastic chute. The funny faces will dance and sing the whole time, and since this toy comes in a fully recyclable package, you can rest easy that you aren’t going to be adding to the global rubbish problem.

Unleash the power of the cube! The Busy Learners Activity Cube is another VTech Toy Masterpiece that combines letters, numbers, colors, animals, and sounds to create one of the most immersive and satisfying toddler toys of the decade. Kids will love running their hands over the multi-featured surface of the Busy Learners Activity Cube, finding out what each and every button does. This is the kind of sensory stimulation that one year olds are constantly craving, so, considering the ridiculously low price, why not give it to them? Bonus features include BPA plastic and an automatic shutoff function that helps save batteries.

The best musical instruments for one year olds are the ones that provide simplistic, immediate sensory feedback. In other words, things that make a loud, clear sound when they are pressed, banged, or smacked. The humble Xylophone offers all of that and more, and this Classic Xylophone by Fischer Price also manages to do so in an incredible affordable way. Each metallic bar is coated in a brightly colored chip-resistant paint, making it as durable as it is fun to look at. It also is the only xylophone that you will find that is on wheels, letting your kid tow it around by the pull string so they never have to be without it.

Even kids who are as young as one year old might surprise you with how far they can get with just the power of their hands and knees. The motivated youngster might need a little bit of terrain variance in order to really get that physical energy out, and to that end, we’ve got just the thing. The Climb And Crawl Activity Set is a collection of soft, brightly colored foam shapes that can be used to construct an obstacle course of sorts for the growing toddler. Totally safe and non-toxic, this is one of those toys that you don’t have to worry about. They’re also really easy to clean, making them ideal for the classroom or multi-child household.

Just because an infant doesn’t know how to read doesn’t mean that it’s too early to start introducing them to even the concept of a book. By teaching kids that books are a fun and essential part of playtime, you are helping instill an ongoing interest in reading that will greatly help them later in life. This premium Cloth Baby Book has soft puppies to pet, a mirror to gaze into, and a series of fun and unexpected electronic sounds that bring the whole thing to life. Totally machine washable, this is a great gift for anyone you know who is expecting.

Everyone should remember Corn Poppers, one of the most popular toddler toys of the seventies and eighties. This classic toy is back in pretty much the exact same form, offering exciting and eye-popping entertainment for kids as young as 6 months. All it takes is a little push to get the Corn Popper going, and then the magic really starts! A collection of brightly colored, multi-size balls will bounce around inside the bubble, creating a visual display that is hard to look away from, and a fun popping sound that is sure to delight.

We have a feeling that a lot of you are going to recognize this classic toy design from the masters at Little Tikes, The Cozy Coupe was first released in the 1980s, but since then has developed a passionate following of parents and teachers alike for its reliable features, high safety rating, and great overall enjoyment factor. This covered car features a friendly face on the front end, inviting your child into the driver’s seat for a kid-powered adventure around the living room or lawn. Remove the floor panel and kids can push with their feet, just like the Flintstones!

One of the best things about shopping for a one year old boy is that they can hardly tell you to just go out and pick up the most recent Spider man figure. Rather, they’re going to take whatever you put in their hands, provided that it is bright enough, weird enough, and exciting enough to grab their attention. The Dimpl is an incredibly simple toy that consists of little more than a series of silicone ‘bubbles’ that can be pressed, pulled, popped, or whatever. This portable sensory activity is a great way to occupy your infant’s hands in the car, at the doctor’s office, or anywhere else that the full toy box is not available.

For decades, VTech has been developing a reputation for making some of the finest electronic toddler toys anywhere, and the Drop and Go Dump Truck is yet another example of what they are capable of. This fun and unique toy dump truck comes with three colorful boulders that can be hauled around from site to site, unloaded using the working dump mechanism. The rest of the truck is comprised of delightful plastic buttons, each one activating a different electronic sound effect. Kids will learn a little something about tools, colors, and music with this innovative and versatile VTech toy.

Ah, the elusive Cookie Monster, one of the most majestic creatures on Planet Earth. Watch as this blue bear-like creature heartily consumes copious amounts of baked treats. This classic Sesame Street character is now available in plush toy form, and that’s not all. This Cookie Monster comes with his favorite snack … cookies! Kids can pretend to feed the cookie monster with the cookie that is attached to his hand. A quick press of his tummy will activate signature sounds and tummy rubbing effects … everything you would expect out of a real Cookie Monster!

While the Foldable Play Mat from Hape is marketed for babies only, it actually provides and exciting and comfortable play space for children who are a bit older as well. One year olds in particular will enjoy setting up camp on top of this fun and idyllic safari scene, featuring smiling lions, quirky zebras, and bathing alligators. This mat folds up into a carrying case that is small enough to keep in the car or closet, and the foam panels are easily cleaned with either a vacuum or a simple soap & water wipe down. Tired of the jungle? Flip it over and you’re in the big city!

The moment that children become aware of their surroundings, they become interested in the things that we grown-ups like to ‘play with’. So to them, a set of car keys is nothing more than a shiny plaything that we aren’t thrilled about sharing. Instead of giving your toddler the keys to the Jeep, why not get them their very own set of pretend keys that they can do whatever they want with? A push-button working flashlight and a series of realistic car sounds means that this is the kind of toy that will keep kids occupied for hours on end.

Here is a cute little sorting toy that can help your child learn about colors, shape recognition, and more, all while having a ball with these friendly little chicken characters. Kids can try to match up the color of the chick with the colors printed on the eggshells, or they can simply enjoy the cute little tweeting sounds that each of them make when you press down on the head. These 6 chicks come in a very handy folding egg carton box, which makes cleanup and storage a breeze, not to mention transportation to the next play date.

One of the biggest challenges in shopping for a one year old is finding toys that are simultaneously entertaining and challenging, and that is a difficult balance to hit when you’re dealing with a child that is too young to even talk. Toys like the Jumbo Knob Puzzle from Melissa & Doug are the perfect blend of fun and challenge. This simple puzzle toy has five spaces and five knob-handled puzzle pieces, each one featuring a different shape and a different color. The shape names are printed in bold, easy-to-read lettering, and color-coded puzzle inserts give kids a bit of a hint on where the pieces are supposed to go.

While your 1-year old has probably not seen that famous movie scene from the motion picture Big, they’re still highly likely to appreciate the high performance musical possibilities for the RenFox Keyboard Floor Mat. This baby-centric activity mat has 8 different built in sounds and instruments, as well as black keys that play the corresponding musical tones. Because this is a soft mat, it folds up wonderfully and can be easily transported. The keyboard layout will encourage hand-feet coordination, while the musical training itself will help with memory, concentration, and creativity among other things.

One of the biggest risks when purchasing toys for a one year old is that they are going to quickly outgrow it, either physically or intellectually.  Toys that do not challenge kids are rarely very popular for very long. The Laugh & Learn Chair from Fischer Price utilizes what is called Smart Stages programming, which actually modifies the lessons and programs as your kid gets older. By providing increasingly advanced features and lessons, the Laugh & Learn Chair is just as engaging for a 1 year old as it is for a 3 year old. It also has over 50 built in songs and phrases, quite a lot for a toy in this price range!

No matter where you live, there is a pretty good chance that food trucks have become more popular in recent year, no doubt due to their delicious offerings and convenient serving style. Now, you child can experience all the fun and excitement of a mobile food operation for themselves with the Fischer-Price Servin’ Up Food Truck. As the newest addition to their Laugh & Learn line of hands-on toys, the Servin’ UP Food Truck is one of the most immersive toddler toys that we have encountered. One of the best parts is that there is plenty of room for multiple kids to play around this detailed and well-designed play set.

The Learn And Spin Aquarium is one of the coolest aquatic adventures to hit the shelves in some time, and it also happens to be one of the most affordable electronic toys for infants and young toddlers. This bright and colorful undersea toy features a lovable plastic crab that spins and dances inside of this underwater domain. Three colorful buttons will activate different electronic lights and sounds, offing your child a glimpse into the world of animals, or teaching them a little something about numbers. Our favorite part is the melodies … they’re so charming that they just might get stuck in your head!

While it seems inevitable that your toddler or infant will one day know a lot more about computers than we do, we still have a number of wholesome years before that time comes. The VTech Learning Laptop Toy is a great alternative to the real thing, offering 9 different dynamic buttons, each with its own corresponding noise. The screen lights up in response, creating an exciting, engaging effect that will have your kid absolutely enthralled. There is even a stationary “mouse” that moves realistically, introducing children to the basic idea of the keyboard without all that expensive and fragile technology.

Set your little rock star off on the right foot with the Baby Einstein Light & Roll Guitar Toy, one of the best toddler-based musical toys on our list. Designed to be set on the floor, this toy guitar features a trio of big, bright, numbered buttons that can be pressed in order to produce cool sounds and funny phrases. Or, activate one of the 10 built-in classical melodies, providing your child with a foundation for the ongoing pursuit of music. The many built-in tunes and lights are a guaranteed way to keep a young one’s attention.

Next up is a toy that you can only find on Amazon: the Little Tikes Lil’ Rollin’ Giraffe. This three wheeled trike style toy lets your little one wheel around the room with the propulsion from their own little legs. The front dual-wheel construction makes it nearly impossible to tip this thing over, and a thick single rear wheel  eliminates all the heel-busting hassle that can come with traditional tricycles. Parents will appreciate the rear wheel guard, while kids will love that the giraffe’s ‘spots’ come as custom stickers that can be placed anywhere that you’d like!

Little hands require shapes that are easy to grasp. Mega Blocks are the perfect introductory building block for your 1 year old kid, offering a jumbo-sized graspable design in bright, classic colors that kids are going to love. This BIG building bag includes 80 different building block pieces, all of which can be snapped together to create homes, towers, castles, and much more. As your kids grows, so will their Mega Block collection, and you can watch in amazement as their creations become more and more impressive. The zip-up carrying bag is a nice touch that makes this a great on-the-go stacking toy.

It always helps to make bath time a fun experience for the child, because chances are, it is going to make everything a heck of a lot easier for the parent. The Mickey Mouse Shoot And Store Bath Toy is a hoop & net style game that attached to the wall of your bathtub or shower with rubber suction cups. Kids will hurl floating plastic balls towards the net, trying to score points with their very favorite cartoon mouse acting as the backboard. When not in use, the balls can simply be stored inside of the net, which dries off fast.

If you put a Mozart record on, your 1 year old boy is unlikely to be moved. But put one of these interactive Mozart Magic Cubes in front of them, and they’re likely to start down a lifelong path of musical appreciation. This six-sided play cube has six different buttons, each of which features a cute cartoon character playing their favorite instrument. Press the individual buttons to hear the desired instrument, or smack the orchestra button and hear one of 8 real Mozart compositions that your kid can play along to. Each side also lights up along with the music, a feature that is sure to grab the attention of young children.

From Little Boy Blue to Tisket & Tasket, the Musical Rhymes Book by the toy pros at VTech introduces kids so some of the timeless nursery rhymes that we ourselves were raised on. By pairing these classic rhymes with a series of heartwarming pictures and fun, variable musical sounds, the VTech Musical Rhymes Book manages to secure its spot on our top 50 list of gifts for one year olds. At less than fifteen bucks, this is also one of the best deals that we found, especially for kids as young as six months.

The easiest way to tell an experienced parent from a newcomer is how they go about making bath time fast, easy, and enjoyable for all parties involved. Smart parents know that the best way to make bathing your child less stressful is by making bath time fun with a comforting float toy. The Octopus Bath Toy from Nuby might not have any electronic sounds, moving parts, or flashing lights, but she is hands down one of the most charming and adorable sea creatures that we have ever laid eyes on. She comes with a set of plastic floating rings as well, challenging kids to toss them onto one of her many tentacles.

The soft, comfortable flaps of the Peek-A-Boo Forest Book by LAMAZE are going to be incredibly enticing to the average one year old, but it is perhaps the heart-warming, educational content that really makes this a worthwhile gift for a 1-year old. The Peek-A-Boo Forest Book is a book full rhymes, with each page offering different word and image combinations that come together to tell a larger story. From basic reading skills to hand coordination and shape recognition, this is one of those rare toys that offers a lot more than you might think at first glance.

The makers of the Pound & Tap Xylophone were smart to design their newest toy with more than a little bit of wiggle room as far has how it is supposed to be played with. In fact, the versatility of this multi-functional toy is one reason why it is so popular among today’s kids. The included hammer can either strike one of the bell-filled balls, or send them rolling across the room with a firm smack. Alternatively, slide out the xylophone panel and use the mallet to play an awesome solo. The Pound & Tap Xylophone is a great way to encourage musical development and exploration for kids as young as 12 years.

In yet another impressive release, electronic toy maker VTech has managed to once again capture the hearts of little ones all over the world with the Pull And Sing Puppy, an electronic toy pet that you will be hard pressed to not immediately fall in love with. The Pull And Sing Puppy can be towed around with his colorful leash, or pushed by hand while he plays fun sounds and catchy musical responses. Big colored buttons can help teach about very basic numbers, and infant-level phrases help promote early-stage language development. Our favorite part however has to be the adorable light-up nose!

If you haven’t heard the term “kid-powered”, then brace yourself, because you are going to start seeing it just about everywhere. Instead of batteries, these fun Push And Go vehicles rely on the friction of motion to power their moving parts. Whether it is the purple brushed of the street sweeper, the rolling smasher of the paving machine, or the twirling barrel of the cement truck, these toddler toys provide a lot of motion, color, and excitement, without any electricity. Pull them back on their wheels and release to watch them speed across the floor, their various moving parts dazzling everyone in eyeshot.

Even though the iconic Radio Flyer brand has been around for over a century, it is nice to see them branching out into some thoughtful variations on their most popular product. This canvas-lines Radio Flyer wagon emulates the best parts of the class hand-towed wagon with a few major improvements. For one, the walls are bigger, and removable. There is also a removable canopy that can sit over the top of the wagon, protecting your children from sun and rain alike. Because it’s made of canvas, the whole wagon can be folded down like a camp chair, increasing the value of this utilitarian toy several fold.

A note to the new parents out there: if you have a new kid in the family, then you might as well buy a bunch of Radio Flyer products now, because you’re certainly going to be getting them sooner or later. This iconic American brand has been making some of the best wagons, scooters, and wheel-based toys of the last century, and they’ve done it again with the Radio Flyer Walker Wagon. Your toddler can load up their favorite toys and push them around with this hybrid wagon / walker combo. Just as easy to pull as it is to push, this is a versatile kid-transportation unit that is sure to last for many years.

Ride-on toy cars don’t need electric motors in order to be fun, and anyways, that’s not really the kind of thing that you want to get for a one year old anyways. The Little Tikes Cozy Ride-On Truck is more than enough awesomeness to keep your little one entertained. Simply plop them down in the driver’s seat and push them around the yard for a full-throttle good time. Or, remove the pop-out floor panel and let the kids’ legs hand down to the ground, turning this push-toy into a full-fledged, kid-powered mode of transportation. The fold-down tailgate is an awesome touch!

Boys don’t need to wait until they’re older to start playing with trucks, and in fact, you’d have a hard time trying to stop them. The John Deere Sandbox Vehicle 2-Pack has both a dump truck and a farm tractor to play with, but expertly designed to look like the real thing, right down to that iconic John Deere shade of green. The free rolling wheels offer seamless riding play, whether the construction site is in the backyard or up in the play room. The dump truck has a working dump mechanism, so your kid’s haul of dirt or grass can be easily dropped off in a hurry.

He is one of the most famous primates of all time, and now he is swinging out from the pages of his popular children’s books and directly into your kid’s arms. This Curious George Plush toy has all the cheeky personality of the beloved monkey, and is also super soft and cuddly. The fur is made of a polyester-blend that is easily washable with little more than towel and some warm water. The Curious George Plush is available in two sized, 12” and 16”, or you could just get one of each!

One of the certainties of raising a 1 year old is that sooner or later, he is going to find the TV remote and just go to town on the button pressing. And why not? Infants and toddlers love the instant sensory feedback of buttons and lights … anything that can produce an unexpected result. The Scout’s Learning Lights Remote from Leap Frog gives your kid something to play with while you’re watching TV that is way better than an old remote with no batteries. The Scout’s Learning Lights Remote has tons of sounds, melodies, and lessons that it can impart to the curious child, and the many different buttons are sure to keep them occupied.