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10 Best Climbing Toys for Toddlers (2021 Reviews)

Toddlers are tiny, growing people who need to learn many complex skills throughout their development. One way to enhance and encourage their strengthening of these skills is by getting them a climbing toy. These climbing toys encourage toddlers in a variety of ways.

The best climbing toys help kids develop their motor skills and teach other skills along with it. Some of the toys on this list are great for encouraging your child’s imagination, while others can teach the importance of sharing and communication.

Our list has hand-picked the most stimulating and engaging climbing toys for your growing toddler. Toddlers are sure to love these climbing toys, and they won’t even realize all the motor skills they’re developing as they play.

1. Costzon Crawl and Climb Foam playset

This foam playset comes in three different colors: multi-colored, ruby red, and deep powder. Their prices range depending on the color you want, but it’s not a steep investment, even factoring in the color your child would like the most. This playset is recommended for kids aged nine months to three years.

The foam playset contains five differently shaped blocks that children can assemble and disassemble however they like. They’re perfect for climbing and encouraging imagination and hand-eye coordination in toddlers.

The foam inside the pieces is made from environmentally friendly cotton, and the outer surface is made of soft, synthetic leather. The foam itself is thick but elastic, gentle enough for crash landings, but structured enough for climbing. Costzon made sure their playset is easy to clean and made from non-harmful, ASTM-certified materials.

2. Step2 Play Ball Fun Climber With Slide for Toddlers

This Step2 climbing toy is meant to be used by children aged 18 months to 4 years. It only comes in one color palette, but that’s not a bad thing. This structure allows toddlers to climb the steps and use the slide and even crawl under the climbing toy itself (it can make a great hiding place during a game of hide and seek!)

Besides the toy’s actual climbing side, Step2 has a ball drop wall and pit for fine motor skill development. This climber comes with ten play balls to use in the drop and pit. When children play with the ball side of this toy, it helps teach communication and sharing.

This climber with a slide is low maintenance and durable, mainly because Step2 has a reputation for making long-lasting products. The structure is free of BPA, Phthalates and zero VOC, making it kid-friendly and safe to play with.

3. Eezy Peezy Monkey Bars Climbing Tower

These Eezy Peezy monkey bars are great for indoor and outdoor play, meant for children ranging from 36 months to six years old. It only comes in a green/blue color, but the color isn’t the most impressive part of this toy. This climber is able to hold up to 150 pounds while only weighing 25 itself!

This toy is incredibly durable by being both heat and freeze-resistant and made of high-quality, UV protected plastic. The plastic itself won’t rust if left out in the rain, but the base connectors could rust, so it’s best to be mindful of that. It’s even got a removable top so you can easily bring it indoors or outside.

The Eezy Peezy monkey bars climber helps kids build dexterity and balance. Their hand-eye coordination improves, and they enhance their fine motor skills as they learn to place their hands and feet without needing to look at what they’re doing.

4. ECR4Kids Indoor/ Outdoor Buccaneer Boat with Pirate Flag

This buccaneer boat is the perfect toy for your child if they love to play pirates. It’s constructed of bright, colorful pieces and has an attention to detail with a parrot and pirate flag. This toy is great not only for home environments but also in preschools or childcare centers.

The buccaneer boat stands at almost 5 feet tall and has a ladder so your little captain can climb up to the helm and back down. The wheel itself moves, so your child can really feel like they’re the captain of this adorable ship.

The recommended age for children to play with this ship is 2 to 6 years. Though there are no choking hazards, it ensures that your little buccaneer is actually tall enough to play on the ship with no fear of them falling over the upper railing.

5. Costzon Wooden Climbing Triangle Ladder

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This wooden triangle ladder is made of high-quality, durable all-natural pine wood. Though having a wooden toy may sound daunting or possibly unsafe, Costzon makes sure these ladders are extremely polished and smooth before adding a BPA free, non-toxic varnish.

This toy can hold up to 135 pounds and is great for children aged 12 months and older. This wooden ladder is perfect for your child as they grow because it has three different climbing difficulty levels. To adjust, all you have to do is move the spacing between the wooden poles.

Kids that use this wooden ladder encourage and strengthen their motor skills and control over their balance. Plus, the wooden ladder has a remarkably strong foundation for how quickly it is able to be assembled. It’s also easy to store when playtime is over!

6. KINSPORY 10 Pc Colorful Pig Nose Shape Children Rock Climbing Holds

These pig nose-shaped climbing pieces are perfect for your family if you want to try a DIY rock-climbing wall at home. These high-quality climbing holds can be used indoors or outdoors and come with a mounting hardware kit if you’re unsure if you’ll have the proper tools for installation.

Even if you don’t want to make a completely DIY rock-climbing wall, these pieces can easily be added to already existing play items like jungle gyms, wooden playsets, or playgrounds. These climbing holds are made from durable, weather-resistant plastic, and each piece has 2 mounting holds for extra secure attachment.

Rock climbing helps keep children active and improves their agility, endurance, flexibility, and strength. This toy can be used for all ages, as long as adult supervision is used at all times. Perhaps the best part of this purchase is KINSPORY’s lifetime warranty—if you’re unhappy, their customer service will correct it immediately.

7. Quadro My First Rugged Indoor/ Outdoor Climber

This climber is unique in a few ways, most notably that it allows children to design their own climber before playing on it. The climber is made of high-quality, non-toxic, and recycled materials that have been UV stabilized for lots of outdoor play.

Children 1 to 6 years old will love this toy because it encourages skill building in a few different ways. It helps them use their imagination to build the set they want to play in, but also helps strengthen their critical thinking skills and motor skills.

While the toy itself is impressive as a climber, it’s also possible to expand the set by getting add-ons. Quadro sells additional kits that easily add to the existing climber and add even more hours of fun to your child’s playtime.

8. Rainbow Craft Ninja Obstacle Course

This Rainbow Craft Ninja obstacle course is great for kids with lots of energy and outdoor space. This kit comes with a heavy-duty towing strap “ninja line” that’s curated for children’s safety during use. It also comes with a multitude of colorful rings, rungs, and a swing.

Though it may look intimidating, it’s perfectly safe for children 3 and older to play on with adult supervision. Plus, if you have older kids, they can benefit from this toy as well. It’s a win-win! Plus, all Ninja obstacles can hold up to 180 pounds.

This obstacle course is perfect for outdoor family bonding. Children should never be left alone with this, but it’s the perfect time for you to spend with your family. Plus, you’ll be encouraging your children’s development of strength and fine motor skills.

It’s especially fun for kids who love the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!

9. Little Tikes Little Baby Bum Wheels on the Bus Climber and Slide

This Little Tikes climber is recommended for kids ranging from 12 months to 4 years old. If your child is a fan of the video series Little Baby Bum, they’ll be over the moon to play with this Wheels on the Bus climber. As you’ve probably guessed, when your child hits the steering wheel’s horn, the song “The Wheels on the Bus” plays.

In addition to making noises, this toy also has an ignition and gear shifter on the dashboard for even more imaginative play. This toy is great for both indoor and outdoor playtime, and your child will have lots of fun switching between using the climber and slipping down the slide.

The climber is made of durable, safe materials and the slide has a gentle incline, so your child always has a safe landing. Depending on how your child goes down the slide, it’s important to keep an eye on them just in case something goes awry. Kids will be kids, and sometimes that means they go down slides backward.

10. Step2 85314 Game Time Sports Climber and Slide

This sports climber is recommended for kids aged 24 months to 6 years. Like other products from Step2, this climber is notoriously durable and will remain in peak condition for a long time, leading to lots of playtime for your child.

The climber not only has easy climb stairs but also has a basketball hoop built-in for communicative play between your child and their friends. Kids will learn how to share and take turns when “shooting hoops” and increase their social and language skills.

Climbing up the stairs will also develop their critical thinking, as it takes time for them to figure out the best route up. The slide and crawl-through space are added bonuses that make this toy perfect for hours of play. You can even play basketball with your child and encourage not only physical activity but teach them how to share the ball as well.

Guide to the Best Climbing Toys for Toddlers

Not all climbing toys are the same. You want to give your toddler toys that are not only fun, but also well-made and safe. Here’s a closer look at what to consider when shopping for the best climbing toys for toddlers:

Climbing Toy Assembly Tips

While most of the climbing toys that made our list are relatively straightforward during assembly, it ultimately depends on the toy you choose for your child. Some of the toys are easy to assemble and won’t work up a sweat. Others, on the other hand, can induce a headache.

The best piece of advice we can offer seems a little strange and repetitive, but it’s true. Always follow the directions included with the product. We’ve all fallen prey to thinking, “I’ve done this before,” leading to more assembly time and frustration than necessary.

Additionally, always take stock of all the parts that came in the package and compare it to what you should have according to the instructions. Sometimes, though not always, companies have mixups that lead to crucial pieces being left out of packages on accident. Just make sure you have all the pieces before you start assembling to save yourself a headache further down the line!

Which Toy Will Your Child Enjoy the Most?

It’s unfortunate to say, but you’ll never know unless you try. Kids are funny and can be very picky about something one day, then turn around and be fine with it the next. Sometimes kids won’t be interested in a toy, but don’t give up hope. It may just take them some time.

Sometimes you, as the parent, have to get a little ingenious in enticing your child. Kids can have a mild interest in two toys, but if you put the two in question together? You may have just cracked the toy code and given them hours of fun with two toys they wouldn’t have otherwise shown interest in.

What to Look for in a Climbing Toy

The toy being age-appropriate should be the first goal when choosing a climbing toy. If your child uses a toy that’s not meant for their age, they could get hurt. You’ll need to choose a climbing toy that fits your child and allows them to develop their skills through play.

Like we’ve mentioned, many climbing toys are great for enhancing the development of your child’s motor skills. Some come with added bonuses, too, like encouraging the imagination or helping instill the importance of sharing and taking turns.

Ultimately, a climbing toy should be interactive between both you and your child. Obviously, you won’t gain the same skills as an adult, but it’s a good chance to play with and bond with your child when they hone their motor skills and further their imagination.

How Long Will Your Child Play with the Climbing Toy?

Don’t be surprised if your child only plays with it for a few minutes a day. Depending on their age and energy levels, it makes sense they can only play with it for that long. While many of the toys boast that they “provide fun for hours,” your child might not have these “fun hours” all at once.

What Materials are Best

Also, always choose climbing toys that are made from safe, non-toxic materials. It seems like an easy decision, but sometimes the price looks so good that we forget to check the other boxes we need to. Always make sure you’re choosing toys that have been ASTM certified and/or made with non-toxic materials.

Final Word

The climbing toys for toddlers on this list are the best of the bunch. We made sure each toy is perfect for the recommended age and won’t break the bank. They’re safe and fun toys that promote the development of many key skills. While some of these skills are developed on their own, others can be encouraged by group play with others their age or even with parents.

We know your children are going to love these climbing toys. Some are great for indoor play, and others are better suited for play outdoors. However, all of them are great contenders to help develop their motor skills and hand-eye coordination — and they’re plenty of fun, too!