Cars & Trucks: 15 Gifts that Won’t Disappoint

What is it about cars and trucks that little ones find so exciting? It’s true; garbage trucks stop them in their tracks and the site of the UPS truck coming is always sure to delight (okay, that’s true for all of us…!). Here are a handful of truck-themed toddler gifts that will elicit the same excitement as the real thing – we promise!  

1. Sturdy and eco-friendly, Green Toys’ Recycling Truck ($29.99) is made from 100% recycled plastic with no metal parts to get rusty. This is a truck that’s meant to be played with, inside and out. It’s perfect for dirt, mud, even sand. The back tips, and the rear door opens and closes, too. Ages 1+

2. The simple wooden Car Transporter by Tender Leaf Toys ($29.99) looks cute on a shelf or on the floor. It features a detachable carrier, four brightly colored cars, and a lift-down boarding ramp to help cars get on and off. Each piece is painted with non-toxic, water-based paint. Ages 3+

3. “Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site” board book ($7.99) by Sherri Duskey RInker is a perfect story for little ones who love trucks and diggers. One by one, the Crane Truck, Cement Mixer, Dump Truck, Bulldozer, and the Excavator finish a day's work and get ready for bed. Illustrator Tom Lichtenheld, who has worked on other books like "Steam Train, Dream Train" and "Duck! Rabbit!" has made even cement trucks look cute. Ages 2-6

4. Candylab Toys Taco Candyvan ($15.95) was inspired by the trailblazing spirit of the very first food trucks. Not your typical Matchbox truck, this miniature food truck, a solid wooden car with a sturdy alloy diecast base, is perfect for kids and collectors alike. Made from solid beech wood, it also features water-based paint and a clear urethane coat. Ages 3+
5. “My First Big Book of Trucks” ($8.99) is the ultimate mega coloring book for any child who loves trucks. It’s 192 pages of kid-friendly pictures of just about every kind of truck you can imagine, just waiting to be colored. Ages 3-5

6. MudPuppy offers a variety of themes in its My First Puzzle Pairs series, but it’s the “Transportation” puzzle ($12.99) that makes our list. Ten sturdy 2-piece puzzles make up this set (20 pieces total), and children will delight in matching up the pieces to form dump trucks, school buses, fire trucks, and more. Winner of Oppenheim Platinum Best Toy Award, this puzzle, which contains 90% recycled paper, teaches problem-solving, basic educational concepts, and enhances fine motor skills for little ones. Ages 2+

7. We have dozens of Schleich animal figures in our house, but Schleich’s Pickup with Horse Box ($59.99) comes with a wonderfully realistic pickup truck and attached horse trailer that will appeal to slightly older children. The trailer roof is detachable and fits two horses, and the set includes a driver, a horse, and accessories like a blanket, grooming brush, harness, bridle, saddle, hale bale and carrot. Ages 4-12

8. Janod’s Brico’Kids DIY Truck ($24.95) is more than just a truck; it’s also a construction set with nuts, plates, and screws, which sit readily in the back of the truck, and a pull toy. Includes 17 pieces - wooden parts and plastic wheels, hammer, screwdriver and wrench. Ages 2+
9. Adults aren’t the only ones who get excited about the UPS van approaching. Kids will recognize and love Bruder Toys’ MB Sprinter UPS Van ($69.99) as well! Both side and rear doors open, and the set includes pallet Jack and two pallets as accessories, a UPS driver and shipping boxes. Ages 4+

10. Hape Toys’ Crane Lift ($49.99) will keep kids busy for hours. It’s a large scale interactive playset, standing almost 22 inches high, that encourages children to use their imagination for creative play. Lift and lower wooden blocks, turn the crane, and set up a make-believe construction site with the included signs and cones. Ages 3+

11. Kids recognize and love school busses, and Playmobil’s School Bus ($24.99) is a great option with a little more bells and whistles. The set comes with four figures, front and rear lights really work , the door opens and closes, and the roof comes off for easy access inside the bus. Ages 3+

12. Etsy seller Tickled Peach Studio specializes in personalized gifts and stationary, but the 20-piece Personalized Construction Puzzle ($18) in particular caught our eye. It’s an adorable puzzle with a backhoe and a child’s name of your choice above it. It’s Made of sturdy puzzle board and a storage box is included. Ages 2+

13. Tender Leaf Toys’ Construction Site ($24.99, pictured top) set includes five different construction vehicles that kids can easily identify: a dump truck, front loader, excavation digger, crane, and steam roller. Each truck is made of sustainable rubber wood and birch plywood and features moving parts to keep little ones busy and engaged. Ages 3+

14. Etsy seller Smiling Tree Toys offers a handcrafted Personalized Old-School Truck ($16) that makes our list of top truck gifts. Hand sanded and finished with a homegrown organic oil blend, the truck can be played with or gifted as a keepsake. Ages 3+ 

15. To the Rescue Magnetic Firetruck ($48.95) by Jack Rabbit Creations ($40) combines a love for trucks and a love for magnets – both of which toddlers seem to love. Wooden hunky figures make for easy play and magnets let them sit safely in the back. Ages 3+