Fun & Quiet Toys for Toddlers That Won’t Annoy You

The toddler years are some of the most enjoyable... and also the loudest! Before they're ready to have learning toys for kids, such as science experiments, the toys for two- to four-years-olds are notorious for being flashy, blinky, noisy, and obnoxious. It's enough to drive a parent crazy, but don't worry... we've got you covered! We made a list of fun and quiet toys for toddlers that won't annoy you.

Here's the criteria we looked at when choosing what toys to recommend:

• No batteries. Let's just be honest, battery operated toys are almost always annoying. Not to mention the toddler tears that will be shed when the batteries eventually die.
• Not noise-making. Rattles, spinners, and other devices specifically for the purpose of making noise will not be included here.
• Inspire creativity. With as much screen time as most young kids get these days, it's important to balance with some good old-fashioned imagination play. These toys will all help with raising your child without a screen in their face.

With these three goals in mind, we've put together a list of 15 incredible toys we think you'll love. This article is a must-read if you're looking for fun and quiet toys for toddlers that won't annoy you!

As a writer, I absolutely love when it's bath time for my toddler. She loves to swim and splash, so I can set her up with a few toys and she'll entertain herself for a full 45 minutes or so. This is a great time to get some work done at my laptop or do some chores around the house.

Obviously, with bath toys, it's important to keep in mind that you'll still need to supervise your child at all times to avoid drowning. But if your kids love to swim, this is a great choice for fun, quiet play.

We chose this fishing rod set because it's perfect for younger toddlers. The hook and loop design helps encourage hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills, too! Plus, with no sounds, bells, or whistles, this toy is both a fun and quiet toy that won't annoy you.

Foam blocks are like manna from heaven for parents who need some quiet time. This 70-piece set has everything your little one will need to build for hours, and when their creation falls down it won't take your whole house with it!

Help your child build with this set or leave them to their own imagination. Either way, you won't get a migraine from the loud clanking sound of wooden blocks hitting together.

A perfect item for the on-the-go mama, this fold-up drawing pad is compact, easy, and reusable! It has a waterproof nylon backing, too, so it won't get ruined if something spills on it.

The markers included with this mat are non-toxic and refillable with just water. The color disappears after it dries, so your toddler can make a new design every 2-10 minutes! You can also buy additional markers.

If you're a mama-on-the-go and you need fun and quiet toys for toddlers that won't annoy you while you're running errands, this is definitely the one for you!

Speaking of coloring, you really can't go wrong by investing in some bulk coloring supplies. Toddlers love to create their own world on paper, and allowing them to do so gives mamas the relaxing break they need.

The Creativity Tub by Crayola is a great fun and quiet toy for toddlers because they can scribble and scrabble all over. Just have some scrap paper or a coloring book handy, and this can entertain your toddler for hours! (And if I'm being honest, this one is fun for the parents, too! I love coloring with my daughter!)

These medical toys tend to get written off as gender specific for girls, but that really can't be further from the truth. Every child loves to pretend to be a doctor and this kit is a great choice for a fun and quiet toddler that won't annoy you.

This kit is great if you have multiple children, since they can entertain one another... but it also works well for just one child. Line up their stuffed animals, action figures, and dolls and label them each with a sickness. Watch to see how your child chooses to care for each sick toy. (It's mesmerizing, honestly!)

For those moments when you're doing the dishes and need your toddler to stay nearby, these refrigerator magnets are perfect. Pro tip: since one of the trials and tribulations of a stay at home dad is to keep your kid in one place while you're getting stuff done, you can totally put them in a high chair for this to keep them in one spot! As one of the best fun and quiet toys for toddlers, they'll keep themselves busy naming animals, saying colors, and rearranging their magnets while you get some things done.

Melissa & Doug has tons of options for fun and quiet toys for toddlers that won't annoy you. One of our favorites is this Let's Play House! set, which has a mop, broom, duster, and brush with dustpan. Give your toddler a list of chores and set them to it! Your house might not be any cleaner at the end, but it's still cute to watch them pretend.

Today's play kitchens are way cooler than the simple plastic ones we grew up with, but they're just as fun and entertaining! We chose this one from KidKraft because it doesn't have flashy lights, loud noises, or beeping phones, hence it being one of the must have fun and quiet toys for toddlers. It's just a simple, modern kitchen design that is incredibly well-built and fun.

You'll need some accessories, so make sure you check out the next one on our list, too!

When parents buy a kitchen set for their toddlers, they usually also buy a cool master set of plastic and cardboard foods. What many forget, though, are the utensils! You can't make good food without good utensils, so make sure you grab this set when you're stocking the cupboards. If you really want to go all out, you can get dish-ware and flatware too!

There's a whole line of Buckle Toys perfect for babies and toddlers, but we're featuring the Blu Whale. This fun and quiet toy for toddlers is perfect for places that demand quiet time activities. The whale's mouth opens up to a secret pocket for storing smaller toys. Meanwhile, the buckles teach your toddler colors and numbers!

Sometimes kids just need to fidget, and that's when parents really appreciate having some sensory tools on hand. These stretchy strings, help keep your toddler's hands busy which can help keep them calm and prevent overstimulation.

This set of 5 strings is perfect because you can keep them in different rooms of your house. We even recommend keeping one in your car or diaper bag. Your toddler can enjoy this toy in shopping carts, in their car seat, and just about anywhere else they go!

With these hand puppets, your toddler can essentially create their own world! They can put on a show for siblings, keep themselves busy creating dialogues, and enhance their creative spirit. These soft and cuddly hand puppets help strengthen hand-eye coordination, communication skills, social-emotional connections, and self-confidence through play. Kids can use these hand puppets to act out scenes, increase their vocab and foster their imagination, without playing with those loud, obnoxious toys that whirl and buzz.

Todd Parr's book series is a must have for every toddler. With titles like The Feelings Book, The Family Book, and It's Okay To Be Different, these books help toddler brain growth. We also love the message these books teach about acceptance and understanding... each one teaches kids a valuable lesson.

Read these to your toddler or help them with the words. It's never too young to start learning letters and words. Allowing your kids the opportunity to begin reading at any age can help them get into reading and enjoy it for when it's a necessity.

Want a more modern version of the shapes block from when we were kids? Well, look no further! This egg shape matching game is a great way to teach your toddlers shapes and sizes, and also help improve their hand-eye coordination.

Each egg set matches color, shape, and size... so they all fit together just one way. Kids will play for hours!

LEGO DUPLO blocks are specifically made for toddlers. They're larger than standard LEGOs and they don't require the same skill level, so they are best for smaller hands.

This Animal set creates a train with zoo animals, which are super cute and easy to assemble. Above that, though, they are fun and quiet toys for toddlers that won't annoy you!