Gifts for 1-Year-Olds: Tending to Growth, Giggles, and Lifelong Learning

The first year of life is a whirlwind of discovery and development. As your baby transitions from infant to toddler, they're not just growing physically but blossoming cognitively and emotionally too. At this magical age, your little one is becoming more mobile, more curious, and more engaged with the world around them. Their tiny hands reach for everything, their bright eyes observe with wonder, and their developing brains absorb information like sponges.

When selecting toys for a 1-year-old, consider how each item from Toys"R"Us supports their rapid development. Around this age, children are typically mastering fine motor skills, beginning to understand cause and effect, recognizing shapes and colors, and perhaps even saying their first words. The best gifts for these budding explorers encourage movement, problem-solving, sensory exploration, and language development—all while generating those precious giggles and moments of joy.

Toys"R"Us offers a wide range of toys that grow with your child, adapting to their skills as they develop over the coming months. Look for items that can be used in multiple ways, presenting new challenges as your little one masters each level. Educational toys from Toys"R"Us introduce basic concepts like counting, shapes, and letters, laying the groundwork for future learning and shaping your child's development throughout their first year.

Safety, of course, remains paramount. Toys"R"Us ensures that all toys are sturdy, free from small parts that could pose choking hazards, and made from non-toxic materials. Rounded edges, washable surfaces, and thoughtful design features make playtime both fun and safe for your curious toddler.

As you nurture your child's growth and development with toys from Toys"R"Us, remember that you are their favorite playmate. The toys you choose are tools for connection and learning, but your engagement—your smiles, your words of encouragement, your participation in play—creates the context in which true learning flourishes. Let's explore some wonderful gift options from Toys"R"Us that will support your 1-year-old's journey of discovery while creating opportunities for those special moments of connection.

Building Blocks of Early Learning

The foundation of lifelong learning begins with simple, engaging toys from Toys"R"Us that introduce basic concepts. For the littlest learners, counting and shape recognition form the building blocks of mathematical thinking.

The Little Tikes Rainbow Counting Worm brings numbers to life with its vibrant, stackable design. As your child arranges the colorful wooden blocks in sequence, they're not just playing—they're developing early numeracy skills and hand-eye coordination that will serve them throughout their first year. Discover more exciting options in the Little Tikes collection at Toys"R"Us for continuous playful learning.

For more advanced counting practice, the edxeducation Counting Bears with Matching Bowls from Toys"R"Us offers a playful approach to sorting and grouping. The set includes 60 colorful bear counters and 6 matching bowls, allowing your little one to practice sorting by color while developing early counting skills that will grow with them throughout the year.

The Bigjigs Toys Learn to Count Wooden Puzzle from Toys"R"Us takes number recognition a step further. This beautifully crafted wooden puzzle helps children match numbered tiles to the corresponding dots, introducing the concept that numbers represent quantities and setting the stage for mathematical understanding in the coming year.

Shapes, Colors, and Sensory Exploration

At one year old, children are fascinated by different shapes, colors, and textures. Toys from Toys"R"Us that engage multiple senses help develop neural connections and cognitive skills.

The Educational Insights Bright Basics Sorting Tree combines shape recognition with active play. As your child matches shapes to the corresponding openings and watches them slide down the tree, they're learning through hands-on exploration that will shape their development in the months ahead.

For a more portable option, the Learning Resources Snap-N-Learn Shape Snails from Toys"R"Us offers a delightful way to practice shape matching. Each colorful snail features a different shape, helping your little one develop recognition skills while strengthening those tiny fingers. You can find similar engaging toys in the Creative Thinking Play collection at Toys"R"Us to expand their playtime adventures throughout the year.

Language Development and Early Literacy

While your 1-year-old may not be reading yet, now is the perfect time to introduce the building blocks of language and literacy with toys from Toys"R"Us. Early exposure to letters and sounds creates a strong foundation for future reading skills.

The Learning Resources Snap-n-Learn ABC Elephants makes alphabet learning a hands-on adventure. These colorful elephants snap together from trunk to tail, helping your child learn letter recognition while developing fine motor skills that will serve them throughout their first year.

The Early Learning Wheels on the Bus Interactive Toy from Toys"R"Us brings a classic children's song to life, encouraging language development through music and repetition. The bright buttons and cheerful sounds will have your little one giggling while building vocabulary. Explore more delightful options in the Baby Shark collection at Toys"R"Us for musical playtime fun.

For future writers, the Scholastic Learning Mats: Alphabet Adventures from Toys"R"Us provides a gentle introduction to letter formation. While your 1-year-old may not be ready for tracing yet, the colorful mats and engaging activities will capture their interest and grow with them throughout the year.

Comprehensive Learning Systems

Some of the most valuable gifts for 1-year-olds at Toys"R"Us are comprehensive learning systems that address multiple developmental areas simultaneously.

The Teach My Toddler Learning Kit is a screen-free educational playset that covers alphabet, numbers, shapes, and colors. With coordinated learning materials including board books, posters, and puzzles, this kit from Toys"R"Us provides a structured approach to early learning that will support your child's development throughout the year.

The Ms. Rachel Wooden Learning Blocks from Toys"R"Us combine the familiarity of a beloved educational figure with hands-on learning. These blocks introduce letters and numbers through play, creating a joyful learning experience. For more timeless educational toys, explore the Baby & Toddler Toys collection at Toys"R"Us.

Looking ahead to preschool readiness, the Learning Resources Preschool Readiness Kit from Toys"R"Us provides a variety of tools to develop early academic skills. While some components may be for slightly older children, this kit will grow with your child, offering new challenges as they develop throughout their first year.

Fine Motor Skills and Problem-Solving

Developing those tiny hand muscles is a major focus at age one, preparing children for everything from feeding themselves to eventually writing. Toys"R"Us offers a range of toys designed to enhance these essential skills.

The Learning Resources Hoot the Fine Motor Owl offers four interactive activities specifically designed to enhance hand strength and coordination. The colorful owl design makes developing these skills a hoot and will keep your child engaged throughout their first year.

For a sweet approach to counting and fine motor development, the The Learning Journey Count & Learn Cookie Jar from Toys"R"Us combines number recognition with the satisfying action of placing cookies in a jar. The interactive modes add another layer of learning to this engaging toy that will grow with your child.

The MindWare Start-Up Circuits from Toys"R"Us introduces cause and effect in a fascinating way. As your little one pushes, slides, and flips the switches, they'll be rewarded with lights, sounds, and movement—a perfect introduction to problem-solving that will shape their development in the coming year.

Memory and Matching Games

Even at one year old, children can begin developing memory skills through simple matching games available at Toys"R"Us.

The Educational Insights My First Game: Bears in Pairs introduces the concept of memory matching in a format perfect for tiny hands. Opening the doors to find matching animals creates moments of surprise and delight while building cognitive skills that will serve your child throughout their first year.

Nurturing Growth Through Play at Toys"R"Us

The toys we've explored from Toys"R"Us represent more than just playthings—they're tools for growth, learning, and connection. As your 1-year-old explores these gifts, they're developing the cognitive, physical, and social-emotional skills that will serve them throughout life.

Remember that the most valuable gift you can give your child is your time and attention. When you sit on the floor and count colorful bears together, or help match shapes to the sorting tree, you're not just teaching numbers and shapes—you're building bonds and creating memories.

Visit your local Toys"R"Us to discover these and other wonderful gifts for your growing 1-year-old. Our knowledgeable staff can help you select toys that match your child's interests and developmental stage, ensuring that every playtime is filled with growth, giggles, and learning. Because at Toys"R"Us, we believe that every child deserves a world of play where learning and fun go hand in hand!