37 Best Toddler Climbing Toys 2023 (Indoor & Outdoor) | Every Day Above Dirt is a Good Day

34 Shares

Knowing the best toddler climbing toys is a must if you have littles at home!

You are here because you most likely have a child climbing every surface of your home looking for sharp edges and anything to play with that could cause harm (plugs, outlets, sharp corners, etc).

So, you already know how important different types of SAFE way climbing toys for toddlers really are.

If you are anything like me your toddler was born with an innate instinct to scale every elevated surface in sight. Which can be absolutely terrifying for us parents!!

I am here to offer help by giving your child a safe place to climb. And, so you can find the best climbing toys for your toddler.

Because after all, climbing has a ton of benefits for your little one!

A List of Benefits of Climbing Toys

Gross Motor Skills: They are great for developing and strengthening their gross motor skills. That ability to control the muscles of the body for large movements.
Hand-Eye Coordination: Climbing requires that their hands and sight work together, so this is an excellent way to practice this skill.
Fine Motor Skills: They are simultaneously working on coordination between their smaller muscles as well. The grasping and gripping of climbing really works on their fine motor skills.
Active Play: to build mind, body connection while strengthening their muscles and heart.

I’m going to give you a list of the best toddler climbing toys that are great for your active toddlers to play outdoors and indoors.

I’ve done the research for you because I know you don’t have time.

After all, your toddler is probably trying to figure out how to jump from your kitchen table to you counter tops as you read this. So, let’s get busy!

Some affiliate links are used at absolutely no extra cost to you.

The climbing toys listed are all top rated, best options with at least 4.5 stars and can be available today to order!

I’ll lay each post out to look like this….

So, you can easily find the title, age range and a brief description about each climbing toy.

Best Toddler Climbing Toys: OUTDOORS

This is a list of the best toddler climbing toys for outdoor play. You will find that some can also be used indoors but that’s just a perk because now you have options and options are always a good thing!

I’ve included play structures that are a great addition to any home’s backyard. Especially those with curious toddlers that will climb the fence if you don’t provide them with different ways to climb.

Pikler Triangle: Outdoor & Indoor Climbing Toy

There are a lot of different variations of the Pikler Triangles great for indoor and outdoor climbing.

The approach of Dr. Emmi Pikler was based on ” based on a kind and respectful relationship between an adult and infant, through tender care moments, a naturally paced motor development, free movement and uninterrupted play.”

And some of these toys follow the Montessori philosophy, “an education philosophy and practice that fosters rigorous, self-motivated growth for children and adolescents in all areas of their development, with a goal of nurturing each child’s natural desire for knowledge, understanding, and respect.”

So, you can know that the Pikler Triangle and Montessori toys are more than just a great climbing toy!

I’m going to list the Pikler Triangle starting for younger toddlers and then move onto older toddlers.

Small Pikler Triangle

6 months to 2 year olds

Great option for younger toddlers because it’s not too big or too small. So, it’s also great for small spaces. It meets your younger kids right where they are developmentally. Plus it folds flat & weighs less than 10 pounds. So, it’s very easy to handle and store.

Foldable Pikler Triangle

1 year olds – 6 year olds

This is a Montessori climber set made with natural materials. Great for sensory practice and designed to develop gross motor skills, physical strength, spatial awareness, agility & balance. Plus, there is a climbing wall for extra adventure! It is a small size and foldable which means it’s great for easy storage.

Colorful Pikler Triangle

1 year olds – 4 year olds

An excellent choice for younger children. It’s easy to move through and with a little imagination this climbing toy can become a castle, a car garage, a teepee, etc. This Montessori play set helps develop independent play while children work on their motor skills and imaginative play. Another great thing is that it has awesome storage since it’s foldable in case you are in a small space.

Foldable Pikler Triangle with Triangle

3 year olds – 20 years olds

This is the perfect climbing toy for toddlers and older children. It is a Montessori toy and it looks like a climbing triangle. There are 3 different items… triangle climber, ramp and climbing arch. The best part is it encourages active movement while developing motor skills..

Dome Climbers

There are also a few options for this type of toddler climber that are all so fun! I especially love how they have bright colors and they’re great for older kids as well.

Eezy Peezy Monkey Bars Climbing Toy

3 year olds – 8 year olds

This Monkey Bars Climbing Tower will create tons of fun for your little ones and help them burn all that energy. This climber is also a great way for your child to build muscle strength as they practice pulling themselves up on the climbing frame. (anchors not included)

Climbing Dome with Canopy and Swing

3 years old – 10 years old

Great for working on hand eye coordination. These climbing grips were designed for little hands, so they’ll be easy to grip. It has more space for siblings and friends are welcome to join in on the climbing adventure.

Geometric Dome Climber Play Set

3 years old – 8 years old

Dome play can help kids improve their coordination, balance skills, cooperation, comprehension skills, and confidence. All together it’s a good idea to help keep them physically fit.

Climbing Dome with Detachable Canopy

3 years old and up

All the perks of a dome climber with the added fun of this spider web climbing structure that turns to a tent! It helps to provide a sunburn-free fort for kids in hot summer or a warm cave in winter. Perfect for free play!

Young Explorer Adventure Climber

18 months old – 6 years old

Play structures like this are simple to set up and a great way for your toddler to be set up for imaginative play. The steering wheel inside can easily turn this toddler climber into a car, train or bus! Plus, it can easily fit through a doorway if you did want to take it inside.

Summit Climber Climbing Wall

4 years old – 8 years old

This climbing wall looks like so much fun!! It resembles a real rock and will give your child a chance to explore in your own backyard!

Clubhouse Climber Play-Set

2 years old – 6 years old

Great for imaginative play and hand eye coordination. It’s also set up to encourage independent play for toddlers. And, it’s just so cool looking!

Safari Truck Climber

2 years old – 5 years old

Neutral Safari themed colors. It’s designed to look like a real off road safari vehicle. The oversized wheels, rugged front grill with headlight decals and open rooftop all make this toy look so realistic and ready to climb! There are wide-step stairs to access the top platform.

Game Time Sports Climber

2 years old – 6 years old

sports climbing toy with basketball hoop

We have had this toy since my first son was 2 years old. He’s now six years old with younger siblings and they still play with it!

Your kids will love the bright colors. And the little basketball hoop is perfect for a mini game of pick up. It’ll be fun for them to play independently or for socializing with siblings and friends.

Little Tikes Rock Climber

2 years old – 6 years old

This climbing toy can grow with your toddler. It has an adjustable slide with two sets of climbing holes for younger and older kids. It has a telescope, steering wheel and climbing wall which are all perfect for imaginative play. All while they are getting some physical exercise in the safety of your backyard.

Climb-N-Crawl Caterpillar Tunnel

3 years old – 8 years old

Your child will love this crawl activity playset! They will be able to play and climb while also working on developing gross motor skills. As they crawl, climb and play in this colorful play structure that can be configured multiple ways. Different configurations help keep them engaged over and over again!

Portable Treehouse

3 years old – 12 years old

This comes with an adjustable frame and can be sized just right for your young toddler or older kids. It’s a great way to have physical activity and use their imagination.

Best Toddler Climbing Toys: INDOORS

Here is a list of the best toddler climbing toys that are great to use indoors!

You know those days when you can’t go outside because it’s raining, cold or someone is sick. These are the days you will be so thankful you thought ahead and had some awesome climbing toys ready to go!

Some may not be only for climbing but there are still so beneficial for physical development and your small children will definitely find a way to climb on them. Because they always find a way!

I’ve listed these toys in order from younger toddlers to older toddlers.

Floor Sofa Modular Furniture

Infant – Adults

Unleash creativity for the whole family in your living room! This 8 piece set can be combined into your creative ideas! Like a tree house, a reading corner，a little playhouse，a play table. Or just build and climb!!

Soft Scape Toddler Playtime Corner

9 months – 3 years old

Great for babies and toddlers because it’s safely designed with no sharp corners and made with soft foam. This beginner corner climber is meant to stimulate imagination. Designed to be put in a corner and rearranged again and again. This one comes with attachments to keep the cushions together.

Stack-A-Block Big Foam Construction

9 months old – 5 years old

The best thing about these blocks is that they are made with dense foam and perfect for soft play for toddlers. It helps activate gross motor skills as they stack, create and climb these big foam blocks. They’re made of soft materials, durable and easy to clean!

Kids Corner Climber

1 years old – 3 year old

There are a variety of colors you can choose from and this one does not come with the attachment to keep the shapes together. But, it still helps develop color recognition and keeps their attention while freely climbing in a safe space.

Grow n Learn Tunnel Climber

1 years old – 4 years old

Another great soft toy climber option. But, this one has a tunnel! There are endless climbing opportunities that will aid in gross motor skill development and active play.

Activity Tunnel with Ball Drop Game

1 year old – 3 years old

There are two ways to play. Your toddler can crawl through the soft tunnel or enjoy the ball pit with the spiral ball drop. The ball play is created to flex their fine motor skills and work on hand-eye coordination. Plus, there is super easy storage for small spaces.

Toddler Wood Triangle Climber

1 years old – 6 years old

Oh man this indoor playground offers so much! It’s a Jungle Gym, Triangle Climber Ramp, Hammock, Slide, Swing, Geo Dome, Monkey Bar, Swedish Rock Wall and Climbing Net. All activities are the appropriate size for toddlers and older kids. Plus this Montessori set can be tilted as needed for baby gyms, freestanding or climb and slide. It supports your child’s innate path of psychological development and gross motor skills.

4 in 1 Montessori Climbing Toy

1 years old – 6 years old

This indoor jungle gym allows for natural gross motor skill development and the freedom of movement. Toddlers can safely practice climbing, find their way over the top with the climbing ladder and then slide back down. Then older kids can create different shapes or build forts. The max load is 132 pounds.

Discovery Playhouse

18 months – 6 years old

So many safe climbing opportunities for the adventurous toddler playhouse. It sets up your child for imagination and independent play. Plus, easily fits through a doorway so you can transition from indoors to outdoors easily.

Young Explorer Activity Climber

18 months old – 6 years old

This climber features two levels of play with crawl through spaces and slides. It has easy-grip hand and foot holds for safety. The steering wheel and slide helps develop gross motor skills.

Indoor Slide for Kids – Durable Eco-Friendly Foldaway Cardboard Slide

2 years old – 5 years old

This toy can be climbed and then slid down and then put away when your child is all done playing! It’s lightweight and a great portable way to turn any room into a playroom. Your little one will be entertained for a long time.

Jungle Gym Montessori Waldorf Style Wooden Climber Playset

2 years old – 6 years old

With this climbing play-set motor skills are worked through the rock climbing wall, rope wall climber, monkey bars and swing. Plus, it’s a great chance to help them improve their courage.

Balance Beam Balance Blocks

2 years old – 6 years old

Another great way for your young toddlers to create an obstacle course and work on balance in a safe environment. You can use these indoors or outdoors.

Two Sided Rock and Roll Teeter Totter

2 year old – 6 years old

This one won a Parent and Teacher Choice Award! It has a dome climber for kids on one side and a four seat seesaw teeter totter on the other side. The toddler climber helps build balance and stability in younger toddlers and older kids. Kind of like a balance board. It can be used indoors and outdoors.

Stepping Stones for Kids

3 years old – 5 years old

Playing with these stepping stones help kids determine distance and height while building confidence in their balance and coordination skills. Stacking the stones is the best way to create different steepness and difficulty in climbing. The perfect tool to create children’s games, obstacle courses or the floor is lava! Great for working on their problem-solving skills.

Kids Play Tent with Ball Pit

3 years old and up

Let your baby and toddlers’ imagination grow as they throw balls into the basket hoop. The fort tent can be used on its own or combined with the tunnel to connect to another tent. Endless opportunities for fun, discovery and always climbing.

Wooden Triangle Climber Play Tent with Climbing Wall

3 years old and up

The Costzon Triangle Climber is specially designed with a climbing wall and a bell. It offers a compact tent for your toddlers to climb and enjoy. The colorful climbing grips help exercise kid’s motor skills. It’s a great way to encourage independent play!

Indoor Doorway Gym Set for Kids

All Ages (weight limit = 300 pounds)

This climber set was made for fun and exercise. It easily converts from a pull-up bar to a child’s jungle gym play set with a rope ladder. So, this one is good for the whole family! Safety tested and certified to ASTM standards. It’s capable of holding up to 300 pounds but weighs under 10 pounds, so it’s perfect for small spaces!

Bonus-for Active Toddlers (to burn energy)

Wooden Wobble Balance Board

18 months and up

Good news! This balance board has so many uses! It stimulates the vestibular system which helps general development and learning. This board can also support the muscles responsible for correct posture and their sense of balance. Great for young kids but also for adults!

Sit ‘n Spin

18 months – 6 years old

This classic toy is great for working on hand eye coordination while strengthening their core. Plus, they are just loads of fun and may even take you down memory lane!

Jump ‘n Slide Bouncer

2 years old – 8 years old

This little tikes bounce house has been such a great find for us. We do not have a large house but it easily fits in our bonus room. It’s an absolute lifesaver on those days when you’re stuck inside and your kids have energy oozing out of their ears!

Mini Trampoline

3 years old – 6 years old

A perfect choice for any family with young children! They’re is a handle bar for stability and I promise you they’ll have so much fun seeing how high they can jump!

I have been so excited to share the best toddler climbing toys with you! I know what it’s like to have curious little kids that want to explore everything!

But, usually what they choose to explore is not the safest choice.

With this list of the best toddler climbing toys for INDOOR and OUTDOORS. I hope you now feel like you know exactly how to help your child climb in a safe way!