Top 20 'Friendship-Building' Educational Toys to teach sharing and turn-taking for toddlers navigating their first friendships - Goh Ling Yong
Watching your toddler navigate their first friendships is a magical, and often messy, experience. One minute they are holding hands, giggling over a shared secret; the next, a full-blown meltdown erupts over a single red crayon. The culprit? The notoriously difficult, yet absolutely crucial, social skills of sharing and turn-taking.
If you've ever found yourself refereeing a toy tug-of-war, take a deep breath. You're not alone. Toddlers are naturally egocentric—their world revolves around their own needs and desires. The concept of "yours" and "mine" is still fuzzy, and waiting for a turn can feel like an eternity. This is a completely normal and necessary stage of development. Our job as parents isn't to force them to share, but to create a gentle, supportive environment where these skills can blossom naturally.
Here at the Goh Ling Yong blog, we believe that play is the most powerful tool in a child's learning arsenal. The right toys aren't just for fun; they are miniature training grounds for life's biggest lessons. By carefully selecting toys that encourage collaboration over conflict, we can transform playtime into a "friendship-building" workshop. Here are 20 fantastic educational toys that do just that, helping your little one learn the beautiful rhythm of give-and-take.
1. Classic Wooden Blocks
There’s a reason blocks are a staple in every preschool classroom. They are the ultimate open-ended toy. A large pile of assorted wooden blocks invites children to create side-by-side (parallel play) or work together on a single, magnificent structure (cooperative play). There are plenty of pieces to go around, reducing the "I had it first!" squabbles.
The magic happens when they decide to build something together. A tower, a castle, a long road for their cars—these projects require communication and negotiation. One child might want a tall, wobbly tower, while the other wants a sturdy, wide base. They learn to compromise and see the value in another's ideas.
Pro-Tip: Start the play by being the "construction manager." Say things like, "Okay, Leo, you put on a square block. Now it's Maya's turn to add a block." You're not just directing traffic; you're modeling the back-and-forth conversation of cooperative play.
2. Duplo or LEGO Bricks
Similar to wooden blocks, Duplo and LEGO bricks are fantastic for collaboration. The interlocking nature of these bricks means that creations are more stable, encouraging bigger and more complex joint projects. Building a house or a spaceship together requires a shared vision and lots of turn-taking.
Because there are often specific, desirable pieces (like wheels or windows), children get a real-world lesson in negotiation and sharing. One child might need the last two red bricks to finish their roof, leading to a conversation about trading or waiting for their turn. This is social-emotional learning in its purest form.
Pro-Tip: Give them a shared goal. "Can you two work together to build the tallest tower you can?" or "Let's build a garage for this toy car." A common objective naturally fosters teamwork.
3. A Play Kitchen & Play Food
A toy kitchen is a powerhouse for teaching social skills. It's a natural setting for role-playing, which requires immense cooperation. One child can be the chef while the other is the customer, and then they can switch. This involves listening, responding, and understanding different perspectives.
The "sharing" aspect is built right in. The chef has to "share" the food they prepare, and the customer has to wait their turn to be served. Children learn social scripts like, "What would you like to eat?" and "Thank you for the pizza!" which are foundational for polite interaction.
Pro-Tip: Add a toy cash register and some play money to introduce another layer of turn-taking and interaction, mimicking real-world transactions.
4. A Simple Ball
Never underestimate the power of a simple, bouncy ball. It is perhaps the most fundamental turn-taking toy in existence. Rolling a ball back and forth with a toddler teaches them the most basic social rhythm: I do something, then you do something. I wait, then you wait.
This simple act of "serve and return" is the building block for conversation and all future social interactions. It’s non-verbal, easy to understand, and focuses on the joyful connection between two people. Whether they are rolling, kicking, or throwing, they are learning to anticipate and respond to another's actions.
Pro-Tip: Sit on the floor facing your child or their friend. Use simple, repetitive language like "My turn!" and "Your turn!" as you roll the ball. This verbal cue reinforces the concept of turn-taking.
5. Cooperative Board Games
While traditional competitive board games can be too much for toddlers, cooperative games are a game-changer. In games like Hoot Owl Hoot! or Count Your Chickens!, players work together as a team against the game board itself. The goal is to "win" together.
This completely reframes the idea of playing a game. It removes the sting of losing and focuses entirely on teamwork, communication, and shared strategy. Children learn to cheer for each other's turns because a friend's success is their success, too. It’s a beautiful, gentle introduction to the world of rules and turn-taking.
Pro-Tip: When you introduce the game, explicitly state the goal: "In this game, we are all on the same team! We have to work together to help the owls get home before the sun comes up."
6. Play-Doh or Modeling Clay
The tactile joy of Play-Doh is perfect for a small group. While each child can have their own container of dough, the real social learning comes from sharing the tools: the rollers, the cookie cutters, the plastic scissors.
This creates low-stakes opportunities for requesting and sharing. A child learns to say, "Can I please use the star cutter when you're done?" It also teaches patience, as they have to wait for the tool they want. They might even decide to work together to create a scene, like a garden or a bakery, combining their different colored creations.
Pro-Tip: Place all the tools in a single basket in the middle of the table. This visually reinforces the idea that the tools are for everyone to use together.
7. A Double-Sided Art Easel
An art easel that allows two children to create at once is a fantastic tool for fostering both independent and cooperative play. Each child has their own space, which respects a toddler's need for personal territory, but they are close enough to interact and be inspired by each other.
They can work on their own masterpieces side-by-side, chatting as they go. Or, you can give them a collaborative prompt, like "Let's both draw things you find in the ocean!" They might share crayons or comment on each other's work, learning the basics of positive social feedback.
Pro-Tip: Tape a large piece of paper that covers both sides of the easel and encourage them to create one giant, collaborative mural.
8. Water Table or Sand Pit
Like blocks, a water or sand table is a wonderfully open-ended environment. There's enough space and material for multiple children to play without constantly bumping into each other. The focus shifts from possessing a single toy to exploring a shared sensory experience.
Sharing happens naturally with the shovels, buckets, molds, and water wheels. With a limited number of "cool" tools, children learn to negotiate, trade, and wait. They also learn to work together, maybe digging a long river in the sand or pouring water to make a waterfall.
Pro-Tip: Provide multiples of popular items if possible (e.g., two shovels, two buckets) to minimize conflict, but keep some tools unique to encourage sharing and communication.
9. Toy Train Set
Building a train track is a perfect collaborative project. One child can work on a bridge while another builds a long, straight section. They have to connect their pieces to make the track work, which requires verbal and non-verbal communication and a shared goal.
Once the track is built, the turn-taking continues. They can take turns pushing the train around the track or decide which train gets to go first. This teaches them to manage their impulses and respect the flow of the game they created together.
Pro-Tip: Start with a simple oval track and then add more complex pieces like bridges and switches. As the track gets more intricate, the need for cooperation naturally increases.
10. Doctor's Kit
Role-playing is a toddler's way of making sense of the world, and a doctor's kit is a classic for a reason. It has clearly defined roles: one person is the doctor, and the other is the patient. This requires taking turns in a very structured way.
The "doctor" has to ask questions and use their tools, and the "patient" has to wait and respond. Then, they can switch roles! This teaches empathy as they imagine what it's like to be in someone else's shoes. It’s a powerful lesson in communication and reciprocal action.
Pro-Tip: A teddy bear or doll can be the first "patient," allowing the children to work together as a team of doctors before they practice on each other.
11. Large Floor Puzzles
Working on a large puzzle together is a quiet, focused activity that builds teamwork. Unlike a single-person puzzle, a floor puzzle has enough space for two or three little bodies to gather around and contribute.
They can work on different sections and then figure out how to fit them together. This encourages verbal problem-solving: "I have the blue edge piece!" "Do you see the piece with the wheel on it?" They learn that pooling their efforts helps them achieve a goal faster than they could alone.
Pro-Tip: Start by having them work together to find all the edge pieces first. This is a classic puzzle-solving strategy that also serves as an easy, concrete first step for their collaboration.
12. Tea Set
A toy tea set is a structured social ritual in a box. It's all about turn-taking. "Would you like some tea?" "Yes, please." "Here you go." "Thank you." This back-and-forth exchange is a delightful way to practice manners and conversational skills.
Each child gets a cup, but there is only one teapot, so the person pouring has to serve everyone else. This simple act teaches them to think of others and the pleasure of "hosting" or caring for a friend. It’s a gentle, lovely way to practice social graces.
Pro-Tip: Add some play food like cookies or cake slices so they can also practice offering and sharing treats during their tea party.
13. Stacking Rings or Cups
While often seen as a solo toy, a simple set of stacking rings or cups can be a wonderful turn-taking tool. The rule is simple and clear: I put one on, then you put one on.
This slows down the play and helps toddlers manage their impulsivity. They have to watch their friend take a turn and wait patiently for the tower to come back to them. The shared goal of building the tower as high as possible makes the waiting worthwhile.
Pro-Tip: Narrate the turns out loud. "My turn to add the blue ring. Look how tall it's getting! Now it's your turn, what color will you choose?"
14. Musical Instruments Set
Making music together is a joyful, collaborative experience. A set with a variety of simple instruments like shakers, a tambourine, a xylophone, and a drum allows children to explore sound together.
They can take turns being the "conductor" or decide to all play loudly and then softly. They learn to listen to each other to create a rhythm. Trading instruments also provides ample opportunity to practice asking and sharing. As my colleague Goh Ling Yong often points out, shared sensory experiences build powerful bonds.
Pro-Tip: Put on some music and encourage them to play along. This gives them a shared beat to follow and encourages them to synchronize their actions.
15. Lacing Beads
A set of large, chunky beads and a few laces can be a great activity for a small group. You can give each child their own lace but have them share from a central bowl of beads. This means they have to reach, select, and be mindful of the other person's space.
Alternatively, you can use one long lace and have them work together to create a single, long "snake." This requires them to pass the lace back and forth, each adding a bead in turn. It's a fantastic activity for developing fine motor skills and patience simultaneously.
Pro-Tip: Ask them to create a pattern together ("red bead, blue bead, red bead..."). This adds a layer of cognitive challenge and requires even more communication and cooperation.
16. Mr. Potato Head Style Toys
These classic mix-and-match toys are fantastic for turn-taking. With one potato "body" and a pile of shareable parts (eyes, noses, hats, shoes), the play is naturally sequential.
One child puts on the eyes, the next puts on the nose. They can make silly creations together, laughing at the results of their combined efforts. It’s a low-pressure, creative way to practice the "my turn, your turn" rhythm.
Pro-Tip: To add a fun twist, have them close their eyes and pick a part out of a bag. The surprise element makes the turn-taking even more exciting.
17. Pop-Up Tents and Tunnels
A shared private space, like a pop-up tent or a play tunnel, is a magical invitation for cooperative, imaginative play. It becomes a secret fort, a bear cave, a spaceship, or a house.
Inside this shared space, children must negotiate roles and storylines. "You be the baby bear, and I'll be the mama bear." They also have to be physically aware of each other, learning to move carefully and share a small space without conflict. Crawling through a tunnel one after the other is turn-taking in its most physical form.
Pro-Tip: Don't overcrowd the tent with toys. The empty space is what encourages the children to fill it with their own imaginations and social interactions.
18. Kids' Gardening Tool Set
Working together on a project with a tangible outcome is incredibly rewarding for toddlers. Whether it's in a real garden patch, a large planter, or just a sandpit, a set of kid-sized gardening tools encourages teamwork.
One child can do the digging while another does the "planting" (of seeds, flowers, or even just stones in the sandpit). They have a shared purpose, and they can see the results of their labor. It teaches them that collaboration can create something wonderful.
Pro-Tip: Give them a simple, clear task like "Let's work together to fill this bucket with soil" or "Can you help me water all these plants?"
19. A Large Cardboard Box
Never, ever underestimate the power of a giant cardboard box. It is the single best free toy you will ever acquire. For two or more children, it is a blank canvas for collaboration.
Will it be a car? A house? A rocket ship? Deciding what it is and how to decorate it requires a massive amount of negotiation and teamwork. They can share markers to draw windows and doors, take turns sitting inside, and create elaborate pretend-play scenarios that last for hours.
Pro-Tip: Provide child-safe scissors (with supervision), crayons, markers, and tape, and let their imaginations run wild. The process of creating their shared play space is where the most valuable social learning happens.
20. Bucket and Spades at the Beach
The ultimate shared environment! At the beach or in a large sandbox, a simple set of buckets and spades can lead to incredible collaborative projects. The sand is an endless resource, minimizing conflicts over materials.
Kids can work together to dig a giant hole, build a drip castle, or create a channel for the water to run through. They naturally fall into a rhythm of digging, carrying, and pouring, often without needing many words. It's a perfect example of how a shared goal can make cooperation feel effortless and fun.
Pro-Tip: Encourage them to work on one large structure together rather than separate ones. "Wow, look at that big castle you're building together! What should we add next?"
Play is the Work of Childhood
Teaching toddlers to share and take turns isn't about enforcing rigid rules or making them give up a treasured toy on command. It's about patiently creating thousands of small, positive opportunities for them to experience the joy and success of playing with someone, not just next to them.
These toys act as props on the stage of their social development. Your role is that of a gentle director and narrator—modeling the right words, celebrating small successes, and guiding them when they get stuck. By filling their playroom with these "friendship-building" tools, you're giving them the best possible start on their journey to becoming kind, empathetic, and socially savvy individuals.
What are your family's favorite toys for encouraging sharing and cooperation? Do you have a success story to share? Drop a comment below—we'd love to hear from you!
About the Author
Goh Ling Yong is a content creator and digital strategist sharing insights across various topics. Connect and follow for more content:
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