These indoor and outdoor toddler climbing toys are great additions to help your little kids get their energy out and build gross motor skills.
My oldest child is a girl. She was born active and reasonable and altogether did not get into sticky situations.
And then, well, life changed around here.
They were up on tables and retaining walls and couches and trying to jump from high heights to cushions and all over. They were active and slightly wild and had a lust for life that, for a mom, is kinda scary.
The best way to harness this energy?
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Give your toddlers something productive to do
If you’d like to help your toddlers with their gross motor skills and give them a way to get their energy out so they’ll nap well later, climbing toys are the way to go.
Truly, you can let them play on the climbing toys during independent play time, free play, or any ole time they gravitate towards them.
Read: 45+ Easy Outdoor Games And Activities For Kids Your Family Will Love
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Climbing Toys Help Build Gross Motor Skills
So, gross motor skills are skills or abilities that allow people to do things that involve the large muscles in their body. As a result, any movement involving the torso, arms, and legs to complete whole-body movements fall under this category.
Did you know that playing will help your child build gross motor skills?
Muscle strength, endurance, balance, coordination, and postural control are key in developing gross motor skills.
Want your kids to learn to independently follow their routines? These visual routine cards do the trick.
Learn MoreThese developmental skills can be learned and achieved through playing!
Clearly, it’s wise to provide your toddler with ample opportunity and space to practice these skills. Besides, it can even help with brain development and behavior later.
Here are toddler climbing toys that build gross motor skills:
- Edx Educational Step-a-Trail – This Step-a-Trail 6 piece obstacle course can build coordination and confidence through physical and imaginative play.
- SURPCOS Crawl and Climb Play Set- This activity Crawl and Climb Foam Playset is a bestseller among toddler climbing sets. It allows toddlers to freely combine foam structures for creativity and imagination, while improving hand-eye coordination and motor skills.
Indoor Toddler Climbing Toys
As a mom, safety is always a top concern. Don’t discourage your child from being a little ball of energy because you’re unable to spend a long time outdoors. Toddler climbing toys for indoor can be super fun and effective in helping your toddler get his/her energy out.
Indoor toddler climbing toys can be a safe way to facilitate active learning and help you get some things done!
Be sure to place larger toys in a big enough area and stay close to monitor. Honestly, I’ve been known to bring out the larger climbing toys and fold laundry in the corner.
It’s much more enjoyable to watch my toddler jump on his toy, then into my folded laundry.
I recommend setting some space aside in a play room, behind furniture, or even in the garage to store some indoor toddler climbing toys.
- Climb and Crawl Activity Play Set– This 6 Piece Climb and Crawl Set includes lightweight foam shapes for climbing, crawling and sliding. It is safe for toddlers and preschoolers.
- Climbing Cube and Tunnel – CPSIA Certified Safe – Pikler Climbing Gym for Toddlers & Kids is an indoor clumping gym for toddlers and great for improving balance, control, and muscle growth.
- Constructive Playthings Wooden Rocking Boat– This Wooden Rocking Boat doubles as climbing steps and is great if you have multiple children.
- Step-a-Logs – Skip-a-Logs is an indoor climbing toy that is stackable. Its benefits include teaching balance and coordination.
- Tunnel Maze -This Indoor Foam Climbing Gym for Kids and Toddlers that includes stairs, slide , tunnel, and more.
Learn how to do a 30 minute, 1x a week strategic play session at home with your child to help them process their life through play and build a strong connection with you.
Learn MoreMore Indoor Climbing Toys…
- Foam Climber – This Indoor Active Play Structure has additional soft base pieces and is great for safe exploring.
- Climber Slide– Talk about an indoor gym! This Toddler Climber Slide is sure to get their energy out! I also love the bright colors.
- Foam Big Building- This set of Big Blocks for Stacking and Climbing will spark imagination and is great for sensory development.
- Butterfly Climber– Great for improving crawling, climbing, and motor skills, the Butterfly Climber is sure to be a favorite!
- Climbing Indoor Slide- This Climbing Slide has excellent safety ratings and is designed to increase strength while climbing.
- Foldable Wooden Climbing Triangle Ladder for Sliding & Climbing- This Wooden Climbing Triangle for Toddlers is an indoor climbing toy that will grow with your kids.
- Balancing Path– Great for exercise and gross motor skills, the Balancing Path is designed to build coordination and balance.
- Sports Climber and Slide– Perfect for gearing toddlers up for climbing and basketball, the Sports Climber is sure to have your toddler getting that energy out.
- Balance Stepping Stones– Balance Stepping Stones are sure to encourage imaginative playing as well as testing your toddlers balance.
Want your kids to learn to independently follow their routines? These visual routine cards do the trick.
Learn MoreOutdoor Toddler Climbing Toys
Outdoor climbing toys can be a real source of fun and active learning for toddlers.
Not to mention, your yard will be the gathering place for your friends with toddlers!
I recommend setting up your outdoor play area in an open area that is shaded for part of the day. Be sure to include plenty of room around toys for lawn care…
- Monkey Bars Climbing Tower – This Monkey Bar Climbing Tower is active outdoor fun for toddlers!
- Play Ball Fun Climber – Toddlers will have a blast with this Climber with Slide! It includes a ball drop, stairs, and slide.
- Caterpillar Tunnel– The Climb-N-Crawl Tunnel is a sturdy structure sure to be fun for toddler play!
- First Slide– Perfect for outdoor playtime the First Toddler Slide will be sure to get that energy out.
- Adventure Climber– The Adventure Climber is a parent’s choice for climbing and sliding toddlers.
- Geometric Dome Climber– This free standing Dome Climber Play Center is perfect for the climbing toddler’s play time outdoors.
- Little Wheels on the Bus Climber– The Bus Climber includes a slide and an interactive musical dashboard.
Read: Outdoor Play Tips To Get (And Keep) The Kids Outside!
Get my cheat sheets and find your family’s groove. Chore, independent play, meal, nap, bedtime, and MORE routine ideas!
More Outdoor Climbing Toys for Toddlers…
- My First Jungle Gym– This Jungle Gym is an expandable modular educational playlet, perfect for outdoor play.
- Rock Climber and Slide– The Little Tikes Rock Climber Slide has high safety ratings and is an easy climb for younger toddlers.
- Pig Nose Rock Climbing Holds- These Rock Climbing Holds are perfect for creating a backyard climbing wall. The mounting hardware is included.
- Kids Dome – This activity center, Dome Play Structure, includes monkey bars, trampoline, and slide. This toddler climbing toy is suitable for older toddlers and children.
- Hide and Seek Climber– The Hide and Seek Climber features an easy rock wall and crawl tunnel for beginner climbers.
- Climbing Pyramid– This colorful Quadro Climbing Pyramid is a great outdoor gym for older toddlers and toddlers with lots of energy to burn.
- Teeter Totter and Climbing Bridge– Best used with multiple children, the Teeter Totter and Climbing Bridge encourages balance and imagination.
Learn how to do a 30 minute, 1x a week strategic play session at home with your child to help them process their life through play and build a strong connection with you.
Learn MoreFAQs about toddler climbing toys
As with most developmental milestones, each toddler can vary depending on physic, environment, and personality. As early as 6 months, babies can begin to try to crawl up stairs. However, when children have been walking competently for a few months- typically around 15 or 16 months old, they can start climbing most stairs or structures. Climbing down, now that’s a different story. Most children won’t be able to walk down stairs without falling until after 2 years of age.
Climbing is good for toddlers because it builds physical strength and gross motor skills. The presence of these in a toddler can lead to a healthier and active lifestyle.
You can help your toddler learn to climb by providing opportunity and space for him/her to practice climbing. Play equipment designed for climbing and developing gross motor skills is helpful, as well as having your toddler play with children who are already climbing well. Remember that each child develops individually and proving positive encouragement can go a long way.
Muscle strength, endurance, balance, coordination, and postural control are key in developing gross motor skills. Basically, activities that require your toddler to activate balance and hand-eye corrdination are helpful.
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