Is your toddler constantly moving? Are your kids always on the move? Growing older, your baby will want to go out and getting active more and more. Especially, you’ll see they are more intrigued by physical activities like climbing on things.
Climbing is an ultimate part of your children’s development. It promotes toddlers’ strength and hand-eye coordination. However, when it comes to climbing, we’re often caught up by all the dangers that can be associated with the activity.
Thus, parents need to get the right climbing toys for their toddlers to explore and improve their physical abilities. Good news for everyone: Many great companies have been manufacturing the best climbing toys for kids toddlers for your reference.
What Are The Best Climbing Toys For Kids Toddlers?
- Best overall: Step2 Skyward Summit
- Best for small areas: Step2 Sports-Tastic Activity Center Playset
- Best for toddlers: Eezy Peezy Monkey Bars Climbing Tower
- Best for daycares: ECR4Kids GUS Climb-N-Crawl Caterpillar Tunnel
- Best for sports activities: Step2 Game Time Sports Climber and Slide
- Most reviewed: UTEX 3 in 1 Pop Up Play Tent with Tunnel
- Best design: ECR4Kids Indoor/Outdoor Buccaneer Boat
- Best for creativity: ECR4Kids SoftZone Climb and Crawl Activity Play Set
- Best for budget: Swing-N-Slide Climbing Cargo Net for Kids
- Best for kids safety: Step2 Panda Climber
- Best for babies: Children’s Factory Climb and Play 6-Piece Set
- Best for apartments: Little Tikes Hide and Seek Climber
- Best for beginners: Milliard Soft Foam Toddler Stairs and Ramp Climber
- Best for multifunction: Step2 Play Ball Fun Climber With Slide For Toddlers
- Best for Outdoor Activities: Easy Outdoor Space Dome Climber
Top 15 Best Climbing Toys for Kids Toddlers Reviews 2020
Best overall: Step2 Skyward Summit
Product Specs
Dimensions | 52 x 80 x 80 inches |
Item weight | 136.9 pounds |
Recommended age | 4 – 8 years |
Customer Reviews | 4.5 out of 5 stars |
- High-quality cargo net
- Junior hand grips for climbing
- Open-air climber peak
- Instruction is hard to follow
Looking like a real rock climbing wall, this Skyward Summit from Step2 is the perfect playground for your little adventurers.
The product features a durable cargo net with junior hand grips that can facilitate your curious kids to experience the most real climbing activity. They can start climbing their way out to the top from the cargo net using 12 mini hand grips.
By trying different techniques or strategies each time making their way to the summit, your kids can improve their creative and logical thinking. Once the kids climb to the peak, they will see an open-air peak for them to look around like a real mountain top view.
Best for small areas: Step2 Sports-Tastic Activity Center Playset
Product Specs
Dimensions | 27 x 29 x 15.5 inches |
Item weight | 8 pounds |
Recommended age | 12 month – 3 years |
Customer Reviews | 4.3 out of 5 stars |
- Multifunctional with a 3-in-1 sports design
- Convenient built-in storage
- Miniature steps and slide
- Pretty small, for kids with maximum weight up to 45 lbs only
This Sportstatic Activity Center from Step2 is one of the most versatile climbing toys for kids toddlers in the market. Featuring 3-in-1 sports, the playset allows your kids to play with a basketball hoop, a molded-in soccer goal, and a tethered baseball set.
The toy includes two easy-up miniature stairs and a mini slide. Your kids can easily climb their way to the top of the playset and scooting down the slide, without exposing to any dangers.
Speaking of the compact and convenient design, this Sporstatic Activity Center has a storage place on the wall for each sporting equipment. No worries about having your kids’ toys thrown around on the floor.
See More: Best Ride-On Toys 2020
Best for toddlers: Eezy Peezy Monkey Bars Climbing Tower
Product Specs
Dimensions | 70.1 x 46.6 x 65.5 inches |
Item weight | 25 pounds |
Recommended age | 36 months – 10 years |
Customer Reviews | 4.4 out of 5 stars |
- High-quality plastic with UV protection
- Interlocking pipes with double self-locking springs
- Lightweight and portable
- Some of the connector buttons are hard to compress
Simply design with just pipes and connectors, this Monkey Bars Climbing Tower from Eezy Peezy will give your kids endless fun during their playtime and backyard activity.
The tower features interlocking plastic pipes and connectors, allowing users to easily assemble. It also comes with double self-locking springs to ensure the durability of the toy, for your children’s ultimate safety.
Also, this playset is made of high-quality plastic that is enhanced with UV protection. This feature provides a long-lasting lifetime of the product, even when used outdoors.
Speaking of outdoor use, Eezy Peezy Monkey Bars Climbing Tower is lightweight with just 27 lbs, making it portable to easily move around the house.
Best for daycares: ECR4Kids GUS Climb-N-Crawl Caterpillar Tunnel
Product Specs
Dimensions | 85.4 x 39.4 x 42.5 inches |
Item weight | 45.5 pounds |
Recommended age | 36 months – 8 years |
Customer Reviews | 4.8 out of 5 stars |
- Materials ideal for outdoor use
- Easy to assemble
- Easy to clean and wash
- Plastic screws are loose and need to be tightened from time to time
The ECR4Kids GUS Climb-N-Crawl Caterpillar Tunnel features eight colorful pieces that can be easily assembled and built in different ways. Because of this feature, the model is perfect for imaginative play in any home or preschool.
All of the pieces are made of high-quality materials that are both weather and fade resistant. It is ideal to use in any environment from indoors to outdoors, from the playroom to the playground.
Speaking of safety for your kids, the play tunnel is not only designed with rounded edge design but also certified with Greenguard for minimal chemical emissions indoors. You can give your kids a good playtime yet still ensure their total safety.
Best for sports activities: Step2 Game Time Sports Climber and Slide
Product Specs
Dimensions | 30.5 x 62 x 42 inches |
Item weight | 26.1 pounds |
Recommended age | 24 months – 6 years |
Customer Reviews | 4.7 out of 5 stars |
- Easy to assemble
- Multi-sports and activities
- Durable and safe material
- A bit wobbly for some users
The Game Time Sports Climber and Slide by Step2 is another one of the best climbing toys for kids toddlers. Designed for the most fun kids can enjoy, the toy features a wide variety of activities, from basketball, soccer, slide, crawling and climbing.
The toy includes an easy climb stair for your little climber to enter the sports platform in a breeze. It also has a junior basketball hoop allowing kids to practice slam dunk. Moreover, your kids can also play with the crawl-through space and a small slide.
The toy improves children’s motor skills and physical development. Moreover, as the can share this toy with their friends, your kid can get better on coordination and social skills.
See More: Best Scooters for Kids 2020
Most reviewed: UTEX 3 in 1 Pop Up Play Tent with Tunnel
Product Specs
Dimensions | 119 x 31 x 34.6 inches |
Item weight | 3 pounds |
Recommended age | 6 months and up |
Customer Reviews | 4.7 out of 5 stars |
- Multifunctional for creative playtime
- Easy to assemble and disassemble
- Safe materials
- You will have to purchase the pit balls separately
The Play Tent from UTEX features a 3-in-1 design with a square tent house, a teepee house, and a long tunnel. All of these can be used together or separately, giving your kids a nice playtime with various games. They can crawl between the tents through the tunnel or play peek-a-boo through mesh panels.
The pop-up play tent is made of high-grade 190T polyester taffeta that is wear and tear-resistant. Moreover, the ball pit tent alone is compliant with all USA Safety standards. All the features ensure the product a long-lasting lifetime.
On top of that, this play tent can be easily assembled. It can pop up in no time and be folded away quickly for storage.
See More: Best Play Tents for Kids 2020
Best design: ECR4Kids Indoor/Outdoor Buccaneer Boat
Product Specs
Dimensions | 54.3 x 30.7 x 56.7 inches |
Item weight | 2.2 pounds |
Recommended age | —– |
Customer Reviews | 4.7 out of 5 stars |
- Pirate-themed
- Safe and durable materials
- Easy to install
- The sides of the top are low as per some parents’ concerns
Featuring a pirate theme, this Buccaneer Boat from ECR4Kids is perfect for kids that are into pirates. It has molded details for a pirate boat like a pirate’s flag, a parrot and anchor. The toy promotes children’s imagination and creative thinking.
The ECR4Kids Buccaneer Boat is made from plastic panels, it is not only easy to assemble but also easy to clean off dirt. The material is also Greenguard certified for minimizing chemical pollutants indoors.
Made for ideal indoor and outdoor play, the climbing toy can withstand sunlight or rain without wearing out too fast. However, you might surely consider using it indoors during the winter to ensure the safety of your kids.
Best for creativity: ECR4Kids SoftZone Climb and Crawl Activity Play Set
Product Specs
Dimensions | 16 x 8 x 24 inches |
Item weight | 9.1 pounds |
Recommended age | —– |
Customer Reviews | 4.7 out of 5 stars |
- Promote creativity and motor skills
- No assembly needed
- Easy to clean
- Quite small, just good for toddlers
Featuring a collection of five unique colorful foam shapes, the SoftZone Climb and Crawl Activity Play Set from ECR4Kids is one of the best climbing toys for kids toddlers to learn about climbing, crawling and sliding.
The five pieces don’t require assembling as it can be arranged into a variety of configurations. It allows your kids to improve their creativity and motor skills as they lift and stack the foam shapes in their ways.
The whole playset is made of dense and lightweight foam, offering your kids easy-to-carry pieces that are safe to play with. They also include a non-slip bottom to keep the pieces stable once placed down. To top it over, these pieces are easy to clean with just a simple solution of mild soap and water.
Best for budget: Swing-N-Slide Climbing Cargo Net for Kids
Product Specs
Dimensions | 96 x 30 x 11.5 inches |
Item weight | 1 pounds |
Recommended age | 36 months – 10 years |
Customer Reviews | 4.0 out of 5 stars |
- Boost strength and coordination
- Durable construction
- Easy to assemble
- No additional lumber for mounting included
The Climbing Cargo Net from Swing-N-Slide features a durable knotted rope with wooden dowels, offering your kids a challenging climbing experience. This will help boost strength and balance for your kids as they play with it.
The rope in this climbing set is braided and wrapped, then knotted around wooden dowels to provide the most durable and sturdy construction for kids to climb on. With its weight limit of 150lbs, it can load many kids of different ages and different weights.
Although the construction might seem complicated, the climbing set is easy to assemble. It even comes with detailed illustrated instructions and hardware for installing. With all the tools provided, you surely won’t have a hard time assembling it.
See more: Best Remote Control Cars for Kids Toddlers 2020
Best for kids safety: Step2 Panda Climber
Product Specs
Dimensions | 52.5 x 33.2 x 43.5 inches |
Item weight | 31.6 pounds |
Recommended age | —– |
Customer Reviews | 4.4 out of 5 stars |
- Durable poly construction
- Easy to clean
- Versatile all-in-one toy
- Hard to assemble
The Panda Climber from Step2 is one of the best climbing toys for kids toddlers for its versatility. This toy set features a variety of activities, namely crawling and climbing through tunnels, archways or stairway holes, or sliding.
Once your kids climb up to the top of the toy, there will be a large platform level with a safe rail enclosing for them to have fun while still be kept safe. Since it is portable, you can easily have the toy installed outdoors over any proper surface.
Speaking of the material, this climbing toy is made of durable poly material. It helps enhance the sturdiness of the toy’s construction while still be easy to clean. You can wipe off any dirt in a breeze.
Best for babies: Children’s Factory Climb and Play 6-Piece Set
Product Specs
Dimensions | —– |
Item weight | —– |
Recommended age | —– |
Customer Reviews | 4.7 out of 5 stars |
- No assembly needed
- Durable and safe material
- Promotes creativity and motor skills
- Small and not fit for heavy use
With a collection of 6 colorful foam shapes, the Climb and Playset from Children’s Factory will offer your little architects a fun and creative playtime. All the pieces are made of durable foam and covered in PVC-free polyurethane, which allows parents to easily wipe clean.
The set includes a large and small square block, a cut-out rectangle, a ramp, a cylinder, and a half-moon piece. The variety of shapes promotes the kids’ motor skills as they play and set up different building configurations. On top of that, these foam pieces are lightweight yet sturdy, it can stand up firmly for the little adventures.
Recommended by the manufacturer, the toy is perfect for toddlers and preschool children from 8 months and above.
See More: Best Walking Toys for Toddlers 2020
Best for apartments: Little Tikes Hide and Seek Climber
Product Specs
Dimensions | 23.3 x 51.9 x 39.8 inches |
Item weight | 24.2 pounds |
Recommended age | 12 months – 4 years |
Customer Reviews | 4.5 out of 5 stars |
- Easy to assemble
- Soft slope slide
- Promotes physical activities
- The rock-wall climb is a bit slippery and small
The Little Tikes’ Hide and Seek Climber is an excellent choice with excellent size for toddlers. The toy features a climbing rock-wall and a mini tunnel for your littler adventurers to have their hide and seek playtime.
With a small size, this toy is ideally suitable for toddlers to learn coordination and balance during their playtime. After your kid climbing up using the junior rock-wall that is designed for beginners, they can slide down the mini slope slide that guarantees the softest and safest landings.
Furthermore, with its lightweight, you can easily assemble the toy not only indoors, but also outdoors. Your toddlers can improve their physical strength while having fun with loads of adventure outdoors.
Best for beginners: Milliard Soft Foam Toddler Stairs and Ramp Climber
Product Specs
Dimensions | 40 x 20 x 10 inches |
Item weight | 10.45 pounds |
Recommended age | 1 month – 4 years |
Customer Reviews | 4.7 out of 5 stars |
- Promote motor skills and coordination
- No assembly needed
- Safe and soft foam pieces
- The Velcro strips only connect at the bottom, still gaps between pieces on the top
Proud of their product manufactured with safety, quality, and comfort, Milliard has confidence in their product, Soft Foam Toddler Stairs and Ramp Climber Gym Toy.
The pieces in this set are made of soft but sturdy polyurethane foam and covered with phthalate and lead-free vinyl in bright colors that will surely attract kids’ eyes. The vinyl cover alone is durable and stain-resistant, allowing parents or teachers to easily clean it with just a damp cloth and gentle detergent, or even normal soap.
With high-quality and safe materials, the pieces of this toy are soft for safe landings, yet also firm enough to support kids while climbing, sliding or walking on them. The foam pieces are also lightweight enough to easily be carried around and stack on, perfect to promotes creativity and motor skills for the children.
Furthermore, the toy set can be used separately or together for multifunctionality. With the Hook-and-Look strips, the kids can connect two pieces in a breeze. No button needed.
See More: Best Trampolines for Kids 2020
Best for multifunction: Step2 Play Ball Fun Climber With Slide For Toddlers
Product Specs
Dimensions | 35.8 x 53.2 x 38.2 inches |
Item weight | 25 pounds |
Recommended age | 18 months – 4 years |
Customer Reviews | 4.6 out of 5 stars |
- Enhanced multifunctional play
- Spacious design
- Promote motor skills and coordination
- Instruction isn’t understandable
Another playset from Step2 made it to this list. The Play Ball Fun Climber With Slide will give your kids a great time playing not only climbing but also pit balls. The children will learn and improve their physical and motor skills, STEM learning, visual and even social skills.
The toy features enhanced play where your kids can play with the ball drop wall and the pit for storing the balls or sensory play with water and sand. The pit has one non-leak drain plug so you or your kids can easily empty the basin after the playtime. They also have 10 balls included for your little adventurers.
Step2 designs the toy with a spacious playing area between the slide and platform, allowing multiple kids to enjoy their fun time together. They can climb, slide and play hide and seek together.
Best for Outdoor Activities: Easy Outdoor Space Dome Climber
This Space Dome Climber from Easy Outdoor will surely offer your kids a chance to improve on their comprehension and physical skills, and sometimes, their social skills.
Made of high-quality steel, the toy features the most sturdy and resilient construction that can give your kids the safest playground. It’s also rust and UV-resistant, perfect for outdoor playtime. No more worries about wear-out.
Speaking of social skills development, the space dome climber has a maximum capacity of 1000 pounds, which can handle more than 3 children at the same time. Your kids will be able to enjoy their playtime with friends in this colorful play dome.
For its pretty hard climbing level, the toy is recommended for kids age 3 to 9. Your small adventurers will have their best time enhancing their interpersonal traits and physical strength.
- Large capacity of 1000 pounds
- High-quality steel construction
- Enhance physical and interpersonal traits
- Hard to assemble
See More: Best Kids Bicycles 2020
Climbing Toys Buyer Guide: How to choose a good climbing toy for kids & toddlers?
A good toy can help with your children’s growth and development more than you ever think. With the best climbing toy for kids toddlers, your little adventurers can improve their best comprehensive skills both mentally and physically.
As there are a wide variety of options to choose from in the current market, it can be hard to know what is best for your children. We’re here to help. Let us take you through some important factors you should consider when it comes to picking the best climbing toy.
Recommended age
With the vast options, climbing toys come in various sizes and styles that can fit different ranges of age. Generally, the hard climbing level for older kids won’t be suitable for toddlers, and vice versa, the small toy won’t fit the size of a 4 or 5-year-old.
Moreover, the age recommended by the manufacturers is also the result of their research based on many other aspects, rather than the size. Each toy will have its development stage for a specific age range.
Thus, pick the toys that can fit best for your kids’ ages, for their best development.
Size
Each climbing toy can only handle a specific range of weights. The maximum weight load that a toy can carry is usually on the manufacturer’s specifications. This is one important factor to guarantee the safety of your kids, so do not overlook this.
While a small and light toy can fit perfectly for babies and toddlers, it can’t support the weight of older children. The best climbing toys for kids toddlers are those that can sturdily carry your children’s weight and even their friends’.
In some cases, the size of the toys can also be a decisive factor whether or not parents can place it indoors, or have to put it out in the backyard.
Materials
A climbing toy can be made of different materials. Some are made of soft foam, ideally for babies and toddlers, while some are in durable plastic or steel to carry bigger kids.
Pick the toy with materials that are most suitable for your kids. If your babies are small and prefer to move around with the toys, opt for foam pieces with attractive covers. If your kids are older than that, especially if they prefer outdoor playtime, get one with heavy-duty plastic or steel.
However, when it comes to plastic or steel, you should pay more attention to other safety factors, like rust-resistant or certificate for high-quality plastic used. No one wants a toxic plastic toy for their kids or a rusty climbing toy that can causes injuries.
Functions
A climbing toy sometimes has more functions than just climbing. Some toys are multi-functional, allowing your kids to have more fun, aside from climbing. Some toys feature a slide and mini steps for toddlers to climb up and slide. Others come with tunnels and caves for hide-and-seek time, or a basketball hoop for those slam dunk moments.
It’s a wide range of choices, you just have to pick the best climbing toys for kids toddlers accordingly to your kids’ preferences, or for the versatility that will help promote their comprehensive skills.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top brands for climbing toys?
The Top brands of climbing toys are ECR4Kids , Step2, and UTEX. As for Designs: ECR4Kids climbing toys. With colorful pieces, ECR4Kids climbing toys attract the kids’ eyes and keep them playing while still promotes their creativity and comprehensive skills. Great for Creativity Step2 climbing toys. Step2 toys with various themes and multifunction will boost your kids’ creativity as they spark ideas on how to play the toys in their ways. Most popular climbing toys is UTEX climbing toys. With the top-quality materials and sturdy construction built, UTEX produces the best climbing toys for kids toddlers. With many reviews praising with satisfaction, UTEX products will offer your kids a fun and safe playtime.
What are the benefits of climbing toys for toddlers?
While it can be seen as just a toy for playtime, a climbing toy can provide many physical and mental benefits for toddlers.
- Improve Physical Health: Climbing can help your children be active and therefore, help them build muscles and develop overall physical strength. As they need to climb up and hold onto the toy, their balance and motor skills will also be strengthened.
- Enhance critical thinking & problem-solving skills: While climbing up, kids have to evaluate and decide what the next step they need to take, or with some complex climbing toys, which route they should follow next. Thus, these simple thinking will eventually help promote your kids’ critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
- Stimulate mental development: Playing with climbing toys, especially multifunctional climbing toys with different sports included, children have chances to practice and develop their motor skills and coordination.
- Boost creativity and social skills: When kids have a fun time with their friends, their social skills and language will be improved as they communicate ideas with each other. Sometimes, their creativity will also be enhanced when they have role-played stories with friends.
I have a climbing toy set to assemble. How much safety area is required for it?
According to some manufacturers, the recommended area is roughly 1.8m (6ft) perimeter around the set. Position the set in the way that ensures plenty of room for children to access and use the swing, slide and climbing features.
Conclusion
The best climbing toys for kids toddlers will let your little adventurers enhancing their comprehensive skills, strengthening both their physical and mental health.
With our buying guide and top 15 picks, we hope you now have the necessary information to get your little ones the best climbing toys for both their fun time and overall development.