What's hot and new in toys for toddlers in 2014? Innovative new building sets expand imaginations, and classic toys like LEGOs continue to dominate as favorites. Check out the slideshow for the top toys for toddler boys in 2014, based on a combination of user ratings and best sellers.
What's your little boy's favorite toy this year? Share it with us in the comments!
Check out our entire "Best Toys for 2014" series.
The Hottest Toys for Boys 2014: Toddlers
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Fisher-Price I Can Play Basketball
Average rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Grows with your child from small to tall and from beginner to pro!
Real mom raves: This is definitely a great hoop for my 2 yr old and my 4 yr old. I totally love it as well (once it was assembled) and have fun playing hoops with them. I must admit though I assembled it myself (the mom) and I really struggled. I ended up liquid-soaping everything and then it worked a bit easier but it was tough. But worth hanging in there to do it.
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Play-Doh 24-Pack of Colors
Average rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Twenty-four 3-ounce cans of Play-Doh, all different colors.
Real mom raves: The color selection in this pack makes satisfies everybody's color needs in our household. There are several shades of pinks, blues, yellows and it also includes white and black. Grant it, if you're not careful, you can end up with a big rainbow colored blob by the end of the day. We buy this big pack for the value and give our kids a few containers at a time.
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STRIDER ST-3 No-Pedal Balance Bike
Average rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Ergonomically designed for Toddlers. Small grips and seat for small hands and legs. Puncture-proof tires that don't need air.
Real mom raves: I happened to find one of these at a yard sale and snatched it up for my son when he was 4. He had already been struggling with a typical toddler bike with training wheels, and we decided we wanted to try something else, so we bought the Strider. He was a little awkward for the first few days, but within a week he was riding at quite a decent clip and even lifting his feet up for a few seconds here and there. By the end of the summer he could coast for long periods of time on the bike with his feet up on the footrest. We were absolutely AMAZED, and he was SO PROUD of himself.
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Thomas Wooden Railway - Hiro
Average rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Realistic engine and styling. Easy-to-use magnet connects to other engines!
Real mom raves: Have liked all wooden railway cars in this line & Hiro is no exception! Well made. My son loves him.
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LEGO Duplo Building Set-71 pieces
Average rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Features 1 DUPLO figure, a wagon base, a window, a building plate and a lot of basic bricks
Real mom raves: My 2-year-old son played with duplos all the time at the child center at our gym, so we bought him some for home. He plays with them almost every day. This set is nice because you can add some of the plain block sets to it and store them in the box.
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Magformers Rainbow 30 Piece Set
Average rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Magnetic construction set that includes 30 pieces total: 12 triangles, 18 squares.
Real mom raves: I bought the first small set of 32 pieces 4 years ago and kept saying, I gotta buy another one, but balked at the price. But interestingly, over those 4 years, my son kept saying, I love this set, I wish I had more pieces. So I finally realized that all the toys that were inexpensive only entertained him for a few uses and now they sit scattered all over the house, unused. With this toy, more pieces is better than less. Get the larger set and then every Christmas and birthday, buy another set to increase the building power. It will be the toy of choice in power failures, long car rides, or just rainy afternoons.
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Melissa & Doug Fire Chief Role Play Costume Set
Average rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Bright red, machine-washable jacket trimmed with reflective material. Includes a fire chief helmet, a "fire extinguisher", a bullhorn with sound effects, and a shiny badge
Real mom raves: I bought this for my 3 year old to wear for Halloween and have for dress up for a while to come. It is nice quality, the jacket is flexible and soft - not plastic. The helmet is heavier duty than his other fireman's helmet and can be adjusted for size. The props are fun. They don't stay in the velcro loops all that well, but what 3 year old would leave them there for long anyway? The siren sound effect on the loudspeaker isn't appallingly loud and it's fun. That's what it's all about.
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Step 2 885200 Easel For 2
Average rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Includes 77 foam magnetic letters, numbers and signs to use on the magnetic surface. Quick setup, folds flat for storage.
Real mom raves: I ordered this easel for my 2 year old son after reading many excellent reviews. He loves the magnetic side so we are using it to learn small words. The easel includes some magnetic letters and numbers, which I was pleasantly surprised to see. Although they are fairly small, which could pose as a choking hazard. Overall, he really enjoys his new easel and I was satisfied with my purchase.
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Fisher-Price Imaginext Eagle Talon Castle Dragon
Average rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Cool sound effects and light up features, and communicates with Imaginext's Castle
Real mom raves: Very durable. I doubt that this dragon can be broken unless he was thrown onto concrete from a height with enough force that a 3-12 year old could never achieve. The dragon's legs, wings, tail, head, and all the moving parts are sturdy and thick enough that they can withstand very rough play. The moldings and seams are extremely well done, I was very impressed by Fisher-Price's craftmanship.
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Green Toys Ferry Boat with Mini Cars Bathtub Toy, Blue/White
Average rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Dishwasher safe and made from 100% recycled plastic for hours of bathtime or pooltime fun!
Real mom raves: The deck if he ferry is well-designed with indents and inclines so the cars don't fall out accidentally, and the ramp is ingenious... A simple and durable approach which has enough angle flexibility to let you drive cars into the ferry when it is floating next to "shore" or on the floor inside the house.
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B. Parum Pum Pum Drum - Lime
Average rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Drum with big handle and patterned carry strap for little hands.
Real mom raves: I love that the instruments are brightly colored and fun. It's also fantastic that they store within the drum itself (with space for other instruments; we use the drum to store all the music toys we can, and there's enough room). The drum can be worn around your little one's neck.
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Thomas the Train: All Around Sodor
Average rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Thomas can talk to his friends as he moves around the track. Thomas' eyes and mouth move while he talks!
Real mom raves: This is a great train set for small kids. It's simple, compact and the train is easy for small kids to operate and get lined up on the track without assistance.
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Melissa & Doug 20 Animal Magnets in a Box
Average rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Includes 20 wild and domesticated animals in a compact wooden case.
Real mom raves: When I was considering this purchase I would have liked to have known which 20 animals are included. Well, here they are: pig, sheep, horse, cow, rooster, tiger, monkey, elephant, giraffe, rabbit, goldfish, duck, dog, goat, cat, frog, turtle, lion, panda, zebra. Good quality with full magnet back. Nice pictures that are just the right balance between realistic and cute.
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Melissa & Doug 60-Piece Standard Unit Blocks
Average rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Build towers and towns with this 60 piece set!
Real mom raves: The craftmanship and detail approaches perfection while the variety of play becomes infinite. My son (4 years) continues to astound us with his imagination and engineering feats when he builds with the "Standard Unit Blocks." This will be his second box, allowing him to expand the existing set and enjoy his play even further.
