What toys should my 15-month-old be playing with?

Developmentally, 15-month-olds are exploding with new skills. They are becoming little problem-solvers as they notice the world around them. Toys that help them figure out how the world works and how they play a part in it are helpful and fun for them. That could mean puzzles, trucks, or blocks. Anything that helps with fine or gross motor skills is helpful at that age. Fifteen-month-olds love bright colors, faces, and anything they can manipulate and do repetitively—such as a truck they can dump and refill.

What toys do 15-month-olds play with?

Popular toys for 15-month-olds include board books, puzzles, and cars. Anything that can harness a little imagination will be fun and help develop new skills, such as identifying and sorting shapes and colors. You don’t need to buy specific toys for this age group. You might have noticed that your 15-month-old loves playing with boxes, pots and pans, and other household items; those are good for exploring and imagining, too.

What games should I play with my 15-month-old?

Playing with toys like a dump truck or puzzle, or reading books together, are good options for 15-month-olds, but there are some old-fashioned games that you can play as well. You might throw and catch a ball or balloon to help with coordination, play with puppets to spark their imagination, or have a good old-fashioned dance party to promote coordination, imitation, and balance.

The 11 Best Toys for 15-Month-Olds of 2023

Toys for 15-months old — Verywell Family / Kevin Liang

Children are gaining more independence at 15 months old, so having the right toys on hand is very helpful to promote their new freedom. At that age, they're developing important milestones, like stacking blocks or hugging a doll. Many of these important developmental skills can be promoted through playtime with toys.

Safety is the most important feature in toys, so you’ll want to avoid anything with small pieces. While keeping toy safety in mind, also consider the entertainment value of the toy to ensure your kiddo has fun while learning. We carefully looked over toy safety, along with design, material, age recommendations, and value. A pediatric psychologist from our Review Board reviewed this article for accuracy surrounding key milestones for this age group as well as how play helps support development.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

VTech Drop and Go Dump Truck at Amazon

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Best Puzzle:

Melissa & Doug First Shapes Jumbo Knob Puzzle at Amazon

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Best Travel Toy:

Buckle Toy Blu Whale at Amazon

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Best Blocks:

Mega Bloks First Builders Big Building Bag at Amazon

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Best for Fine Motor:

Melissa & Doug First Bead Maze at Amazon

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Best for Gross Motor:

Little Tikes Cozy Coupe 30th Anniversary Car at Amazon

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Best Bath Toy:

Sago Mini Dennis’ Bathtub Squirter & Boat Floatie at Amazon

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Best Musical:

VTech Baby Babble and Rattle Microphone at Amazon

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Best Book:

First 100 Words at Amazon

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Best Educational:

BEST LEARNING Mushroom Garden at Amazon

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In This Article

Our Picks
How We Selected the Best Toys for 15-Month-Olds
What to Look For
FAQ
Why Trust Verywell Family

Amazon

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Pros

Develops fine and gross motor skills
Durable
Batteries included
Teaches tools and colors

Cons

Small parts could be a choking hazard

The VTech Drop and Go Dump Truck tops our list because it fosters multiple skills, sings dozens of fun songs, and features vibrant balls for learning fun. Repetition is a 15-month-old's best friend, so you’ll probably find that your kid enjoys dumping the brightly colored balls into the truck’s back dump section over and over and over again.

As they get older, children can work those fine motor skills by pushing the balls directly into the hole in the front of the toy, then watching them move swiftly into the back dump, all while the toy makes fun dump truck sounds and noises. Your 15-month-old can also work on gross motor skills, too, by walking the truck around with the attached string.

Price at time of publication: $18

Amazon

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Pros

Develops hand-eye coordination
Easy to grasp
Durable base

Cons

Pictures may peel off

Puzzles are a great toy option for 15-month-olds who are really starting to work on their hand-eye coordination. While any puzzle with big enough pieces will do (15-month-olds may still have a tendency to put tiny pieces in their mouths, so you do need to be on the lookout for potential choking hazards), we like Melissa & Doug’s cute house-shaped knob puzzle because of the vibrant colors and the large wooden knobs that are easy for tiny hands to grasp.

Price at time of publication: $15

Amazon

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Pros

Develops fine motor, cognitive, and problem-solving skills
Easy to clip on strollers and car seats
Includes a storage pocket for other toys

Cons

Can be difficult to unbuckle

Hitting the road with a little one can be stress-inducing for any parent. A screen won't hold a 15-month-old's attention for long, and bringing all of their favorite toys in the car or airplane isn't practical. “Blu,” the cute Buckle Toy whale, will keep little hands busy and entertained as they try to open and close the buckles in various clasp styles. They'll work on their fine motor, cognitive, and problem-solving skills on the go as a bonus. However, even if they aren't interested in the buckles, they'll still have a cute cuddly toy to snuggle with!

Price at time of publication: $25

Amazon

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Pros

Inspires creativity
Develops fine motor and problem-solving skills
Includes a storage bag

Cons

Can be hard to use for younger kids

It's never too soon to start building! This block set comes with 80 pieces and has a carrying bag that makes cleanup a breeze. These blocks work on a whole range of skills, including fine motor, problem-solving, and hand strength. Your child will learn how to both stack and take apart these blocks to make imaginative creations—and who knows, parents might even get in on the action!

Price at time of publication: $20

Amazon

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Pros

Stimulating
Develops fine motor skills
Durable

Cons

Suction cups could be stronger

Kids and adults alike will delight in moving brightly colored beads from side to side on the Melissa & Doug First Bead Maze. This toy helps stimulate your kid’s visual senses. Pushing the beads over the mazes from side to side works those fine motor skills.

What is great about this toy is that it has suction cups so it can easily adhere to a high chair or table without getting knocked over, making it the perfect toy for your child to play with while you are getting dinner ready.

Price at time of publication: $19

Amazon

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Pros

Develops gross motor skills
Can be driven or pushed from behind
Generous weight capacity

Cons

Doesn't roll well on high-pile carpet

The Little Tikes Cozy Coupe has been a mainstay for 30 years, a classic car that only gets better and better with age. Delight your 15-month-old and enhance their gross motor skills at the same time with this Amazon’s Choice product. The bright red and yellow colors are fun for kids, but the real fun is when your kid uses the steering wheel and uses their feet to push.

As your kid gets bigger, they can also work those gross motor skills by pushing the car from behind. This toy is meant for kids up to 50 pounds, so it will be with your family for many years.

Price at time of publication: $59

Amazon

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Pros

BPA-free
Easy to clean
Easy to grasp

Cons

Mold is possible if not cleaned properly

Upgrade your child’s time in the bath with something much better than the traditional rubber duck. The Sago Mini Dennis’ Bathtub Squirter and Boat Floatie pack comes with one adorable octopus named Dennis and his bathtub, both of which are small and easy enough for tiny hands to hold and squeeze. The top also comes off Dennis, which means it's easy to keep clean and mold-free. It's also BPA- and phthalate-free.

Price at time of publication: $13

Amazon

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Pros

Comes in various colors
Includes interactive songs and sounds
Batteries included

Cons

Noisy

This interactive musical toy for your 15-month-old will provide tons of tunes for them to listen to and help them find their own musical talent. The VTech Baby Babble and Rattle Microphone is great because it grows with your child (ages 3 months to 3 years) and comes with so many different ways to use it.

Using the microphone setting, your little one can discover their (sure-to-be-amazing) voice. The puppy button encourages them to sing along to their favorite tunes and gives them access to 60 additional musical features.

Price at time of publication: $15

Amazon

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Pros

Teaches words, animals, colors, and more
Has a board book option
Travel-friendly

Cons

Some reported printing errors in physical copy

As their vocabulary is rapidly expanding, you'll want to indulge their need to learn more with a cute board book that illustrates 100 words that are very useful to their daily life, like "highchair," "socks," "dog," and more. Your kid can point to anything they are interested in as you repeat (and repeat!) the words again and again. You'll get a kick out of how captivated your kid is with this book as you watch their growing mind work to put the pictures and words together.

Price at time of publication: $6

Amazon

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Pros

Rock, roll, or spin
Teaches colors and numbers
Lights up/plays music

Cons

Asks if you're still playing after inactivity

Give your 15-month-old an edge on education with BEST LEARNING’s Mushroom Garden toy, a product that has received multiple awards, including the Tillywig & Academics’ Choice Brain Child Award in 2017. There are tons of ways to play, like learning numbers and colors, listening to music, memory games, problem-solving, and imaginative play.

Price at time of publication: $40

Amazon

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Pros

Natural ingredients
Large size
Smell good

Cons

Not washable

Equip your budding Picasso with a set of beeswax crayons that color beautifully and smell delicious. Made of 100% pure beeswax and food-grade coloring, the Honeysticks crayons are safe for toddlers should they take a bite. The crayons are available in eight colors and are large to help tiny hands navigate easily.

Price at time of publication: $16

How We Selected the Best Toys for 15-Month-Olds

We chose the best toys for 15-month-olds by studying the design and features of more than 30 toys on the market and researching reviews from customers. We also monitored shopping trends to bring you the best, and most up-to-date, offerings on toys for 15-month-olds. We considered design, features, toy safety, age recommendations, material, ease of use, and value when reviewing products.

What to Look for in Toys for 15-Month-Olds

Safety

Avoid toys that can fit entirely into a 15-month-old’s mouth, especially anything with small pieces that can be removed or broken off, as they’re choking hazards. Look for toys that are sturdy, made from nontoxic materials, and don’t contain button batteries or high-powered magnets. If the toy has any loose materials, like ribbons or stuffing, avoid it.

Milestones

Tracking your child's developmental milestones can help you determine whether they're growing and learning at an appropriate pace for their age. Many toys can help children reach these important milestones. At 15 months, your child may:

Say three to five words and use them correctly: The First 100 Words book encourages communication and language skills.
Scribble with crayons on paper: Crayola Jumbo Crayons promote creativity and physical development.
Try problem-solving activities: To encourage cognitive skills, check out the Melissa & Doug First Shapes Jumbo Knob Wooden Puzzle.

Entertainment

If you want your 15-month-old to have fun and learn while playing, you’re in luck! There’s power in play when your toddler has the right toys. Toddler toys as simple as blocks, empty containers, and puzzles help cultivate a young child’s creativity and imagination. Provide opportunities for children to engage in pretend play by offering an empty cup or toys that encourage make-believe, like an age-appropriate toy phone.

Frequently Asked Questions

What toys should my 15-month-old be playing with?

Developmentally, 15-month-olds are exploding with new skills. They are becoming little problem-solvers as they notice the world around them. Toys that help them figure out how the world works and how they play a part in it are helpful and fun for them. That could mean puzzles, trucks, or blocks. Anything that helps with fine or gross motor skills is helpful at that age. Fifteen-month-olds love bright colors, faces, and anything they can manipulate and do repetitively—such as a truck they can dump and refill.
What toys do 15-month-olds play with?

Popular toys for 15-month-olds include board books, puzzles, and cars. Anything that can harness a little imagination will be fun and help develop new skills, such as identifying and sorting shapes and colors.
You don’t need to buy specific toys for this age group. You might have noticed that your 15-month-old loves playing with boxes, pots and pans, and other household items; those are good for exploring and imagining, too.
What games should I play with my 15-month-old?

Playing with toys like a dump truck or puzzle, or reading books together, are good options for 15-month-olds, but there are some old-fashioned games that you can play as well. You might throw and catch a ball or balloon to help with coordination, play with puppets to spark their imagination, or have a good old-fashioned dance party to promote coordination, imitation, and balance.

Why Trust Verywell Family

Katrina Cossey is a commerce writer for Verywell Family with nearly eight years of experience under her belt. Katrina’s background in journalism began at an Emmy Award-winning news station in Oklahoma before she obtained her B.A. in professional media. Her love for service journalism and helping others led to her commerce writing role, which allows her to research and recommend the best products for families, pregnant women, and kids of all ages. When she’s not writing and researching, you’ll likely find her outdoors with her husband and their thrill-seeking toddler son. Her son loves the "First 100 Words" book because of its padded cover, colorful pictures, and fun themes.

More Toys and Gifts for Kids

When it comes to toys and gifts for kids, our team has you covered. The Verywell Family team of editors (who are parents or have nieces and nephews of their own) have tested, gifted, and personally recommend every item we feature. Find more of our top gift and toy picks for every age and stage here: