Christmas is around the corner and if you’re like me, you’re probably still trying to find unique gifts for the little ones. Look no further in this guide of farm toys for kids — timeless joy, providing a spark of inspiration to the mind of any curious child. Our kids don’t need more digital gadgets or screens. Let’s get real.
These are the kind of toys I played with when I was younger, so I decided to seek out modern-day farm toys with the expectation they will delight your child. Yes, there’s some nostalgia behind this article, but I genuinely feel we need to return to a simpler way of life. We should look for inspiration wherever we can find it.
On Christmas day, you’ll see the joy on their little faces, exercising their creativity in a fun and stimulating manner — truly. Kids are naturally drawn to toy farms, tractors, toy farm animals and various other farm related toys. It seems to be written in our DNA.
Beyond Christmas, no matter what the occasion, these are gifts that say “I love you.”
Wonderful Farm Toys for Kids
There is a common fascination between children and farm animals. In fact, farm toys seem to be well favored among most children. Pretend play with cool farm toys for kids such as farm sets creates the perfect opportunity for toddlers to learn about common animals through carrying out the animal sounds and various actions commonly associated with those specific animals.
Beautiful Farm Playset | Comes with a Storybook
As a crucial role in fostering their development, the right toys can help curb your child’s imagination through play. You may not think much in a toy your child plays with but for budding minds a toy can play a big role in their growth. Different toys can serve to help children achieve and improve necessary skills through play by their design. The beauty in farm toys is that there are so many to cover all important areas of development. These are also an easy go-to for kids of various ages that are neutral for boys and girls.
Cool Farm Toys to Consider for Encouraging Development
There are important areas in development that children should reach by the time they are ready to attend school. Some of these skills are best learned hands-on through playing to achieve those crucial milestones. Many of the toys covered in this section can apply to more than one area of development. Specific skills these can help achieve include:
Imaginative play – this is an important skill for children to gain which can easily be achieved through toys. Toys that promote pretend play are curbing areas of development that will help them use social skills and role play. When children play and pretend with another child or with a parent it’s also fostering their language skills as they express different actions and ideas.
Cause and Effect – Toys that make noises and sounds may not seem too appealing to parents after a while but when the sounds are activated by pushing or opening something it’s a teaching mechanism for kids. This is why so many toys have features that will play music or sounds when an action is performed.
Toy tractor farm toy by ERTL | Great attention to detail
Fine Motor Skills – these are the skills necessary for dexterity to grasp small objects and perform tasks like fastening buttons and holding a pencil or crayon. Toys aimed for improving fine motor skills help to strengthen the muscles in the hands and fingers in order to carry out these tasks. Farm toys provide a lot of fine-motor skill development through their various functions.
Gross Motor Skills – These are the movements of larger muscle groups and coordination between movement of the arms and legs. Toys that work and stimulate gross motor skills are valuable in helping children build endurance, balance, coordination, and strong muscles for activities like crawling, running, walking, standing, jumping, and sitting.
Problem-solving – There will be much use for problem solving skills in life even from an early age. Toys that implement imaginative play also encourage problem solving skills. Many cool farm toys for kids provide problem-solving opportunities through pretend play and actions like building corrals to contain the farm animals or keeping the horses in the stables.
One factor that makes farm toys specifically great for feeding into your child’s development is the realistic component they provide. The actions associated with typical farm duties and simply looking after animals correlate to real-life situations like responsibility, performing specific tasks and a way of life.
Children instinctively learn about their world around them just by observing and absorbing what they see. You don’t have to live near the country or on a farm to understand how things may work or what happens on a farm. Children do come to find some interaction or experience with animals whether it’s visiting the petting zoo or watching cows grazing in a field during a car ride.
Fisher-Price | Little People Animal Friends Farm
Whimsical farm toy set for kids.
Features:
- Open and close the barn door and gate to hear animal sounds and music!
- Includes 7 figures–Farmer Eddie, cow, goat, chicken, horse, sheep and pig
- Also includes a hay bale
- Folds up and everything stores inside!
- Perfect size for little hands
Fisher-Price is well-known for making toys geared towards children from babies to toddlers and even grade schoolers with fundamental elements included that stimulate growth and development. The Little People Animal Friends Farm is no exception with the classic-style red barn that is easy to recognize. It’s one that has engaging activities and is suitable to grow with young children from a year old and up. Stickers that match the animal to its stall in the Animal Friends Farm allow them to recognize and identify the animals along with sounds that correlate to the sound they make such as ‘moo’ or ‘neigh’.
KidKraft Farm Train Set
Captivating farm toy for kids. Plenty of stuff they can interact with.
Features:
- With its brightly colored pieces and close attention to detail, our Farm Train Set makes a great gift for any occasion.
- Long, winding track
- Molded drive-through mountain
- Smiling farmers, three horses, one chicken, one pig and one cow
- A windmill, a trough, a farm house and other fun accessories
- Compatible with Thomas & Friends wooden train sets and Brio wooden train sets.
This set combines two popular favorites among kids – farms and train sets! The set comes with an easy-to-assemble track that can be adjusted for a multitude of possibilities and problem solving skill-building. The track pieces are interchangeable with other KidKraft sets and easy to piece together for endless fun.
There is a lot going on in this set for incredible imaginative play and role playing on so many levels from gathering eggs from the chickens to driving through the mountains. Open-ended play components let your child build their own little world and can also promote cognitive development as they recreate the scenery. It can easily be expanded to cater to growing minds with more imagination and adventure.
Interactive farm toy train track set.
Green Toys Tractor Vehicle
Beautiful and well-made farm toy for kids.
Very safe, versatile and fun; with no metal axles (no rust) or external coatings (no chipping or peeling). This toy has been designed to be free of any harmful chemicals. This toy is as green as it gets. No external coatings, paints, or dyes.
Features:
- Ages: One and up
- Requires: Ready to play indoors or out
- Made in the USA from 100 percent recycled milk jugs
- Sturdy design features detachable rear wagon and no metal axles
- Encourages development of gross and fine motor skills
- Phthalate and BPA free
- US supply chain reduces greenhouse gas and saves energy
- Easy to clean–can even go in the dishwasher
- Parenting Magazine “Best in Play” 2013 Toy Fair Award Winner
Learning important tasks are a requirement on the farm when it comes time for harvest. This simple little orange tractor has a detachable trailer that is perfect for indoor and outdoor use to put your little harvester to work. Encouraging problem-solving skills, this tractor can carry small loads from point A to point B. Fine motor skills are achieved through attaching, loading and hauling the trailer behind the tractor while the physical action of pushing the tractor along puts those gross motor skills to use.
Lastly, it’s also packaged with recycled and recyclable materials with no plastic films or twist ties, and printed with soy ink. It’s nice to know that the Green Toys company is doing their part in fostering learning in children while simultaneously helping the local economy in a sustainable manner. It’s great for everyone, especially you, the parent and consumer looking for quality products for your child.
See more toys from Green Toys on Amazon or visit their site to learn more about the company. which are all made in the USA.
The bold design makes this farm toy tractor a great buy.
Schleich Feed Set
The attention to detail is impressive. Have a look and decide for yourself. A fantastic farm toy for kids that will complement other Schleich farm sets.
Features:
- Unparalleled Attention To Realistic Scale & Detailing
- Easy to use
- This product is manufactured in China
- By adding the latest food set to the Schleich world of horses, it becomes even more beautiful
- Hand Painted
- Highly Detailed
- 16-piece set
A nice compliment to the tractor vehicle toy above or an addition to any farm set, this feed set contains accessories that you would find on the farm. Provide feed for your child’s toy animals with the realistic detailed hay bales and harvest produce with these vegetable crates. Feed your child’s imagination as they role-play with this feed set.
Makes for a great addition to any farm toy set.
Melissa & Doug Toys
Toys consisting of characters or toy figures are a great way to engage your child’s imagination. This is especially true in toys that are not equipped with too many extra features and bells and whistles. Melissa & Doug toys are a great way to fuel a child’s imagination and creativity with simpler-made toys. Their toys are designed to inspire imagination and encourage creativity through activities that are encountered in actual day-to-day life from life on the farm to life in the kitchen. The quality and craftsmanship in their products also provide long-lasting toys to create memories that can be passed down to generations.
Melissa & Doug | 20 Wooden Farm Magnets in a Box
Beautifully illustrated magnetic pieces will captivate and enthrall young minds. A farm toy for kids well-worth your money.
Ages : 24 months – 5 years
Features:
- 20 wooden magnets
- Farm theme features sheep, rooster, goat, pig, hay bale, cow, goose, barn, tractor, apple tree, and more
- Convenient wooden storage case
- Sturdy wooden construction
- Great for matching, sorting, and storytelling
Magnets are exceptionally great toys for young learners because they can stick to any magnetic surface, keeping less mess on the floor. The magnetic factor itself provides a learning element for children as they discover what types of surfaces and objects they will ‘stick’ to and what won’t. These can keep a child entertained for long periods of time through skillful activity. They’re great in stimulating hand-eye coordination along with fine motor skills to grasp objects. The wooden farm magnets in this Melissa & Doug collection encourage storytelling.
Simple farm toy set is perfect for young children.
Melissa & Doug Latches Barn
Kids love playing with animals. Kids simply love animals. This will take your child back to a simpler time. Another great farm toy for kids.
Features:
- Painted wooden barn with working latches and locks on doors that open and close
- Unlatch and open the six doors to reveal friendly animal pictures
- Includes four 3-inch tall flocked farm animal figures that fit in the barn
- Helps teach fine motor skills, counting skills, colors, and animal recognition
- For ages 3 years and up; 10.25” x 9” x 7.5”
This Latches Barn implements the simple mechanism of latches and locks which are incredibly effective in enhancing fine motor skill development. The hinged-latches and locks are easy enough for children ages 3 and up to unhook for opening and closing the doors of the barn. It also includes 4 toy animal figures to encourage pretend play.
Nicely designed and colorful farm toy set. Wonderful attention to detail.
Melissa & Doug | Hide & Seek Farm
Features:
- Magnetic puzzle board with hinged doors for open-and-close fun
- Open the doors to reveal removable animal magnets
- Features 9 doorways and magnets
- Sturdy wooden construction
- Promotes memory and fine motor skills
Magnets are fun and a learning experience. Latches and hinges are fun and aid in fine-tuning key fine motor skills. The Melissa & Doug Hide & Seek farm brings these two elements into one with a simple yet very engaging activity for children between the ages of 3 and 5.
The hinged doors open to reveal barnyard animals hiding inside which can promote cognitive development as they seek and find their farm friends. Additionally, the magnetic pieces are specifically shaped to fit in their designated spot on the board adding a problem-solving element. The magnetic component of the pieces sticking to the board also makes this a great toy to take on the road.
Melissa & Doug | Fold and Go Wooden Barn
I love the blocky design of this farm toy for kids. Made from wood and designed to perfection. Overall, a really nice toy set that kids will love.
Features:
- Portable wooden barn opens wide for easy play access and closes up to take with you.
- Features a handle for easy transport.
- Includes seven realistic plastic farm animals, a wooden ladder and a folding corral.
- Sturdy wooden construction
- Promotes imaginative play
The realistic characteristics in the Fold and Go Wooden Barn invite children to play out different scenarios using the farm animals in ways they may see on an actual farm. This type of set would be suitable for children between 3 to 6 years of age with greater detail that seems less like a baby or toddler toy. There’s also an adjustable corral that can be attached in multiple ways and into different shapes.
Love the stylized look of this farm toy set. An instant classic.
Melissa & Doug | Farm Blocks 36-piece Play Set
This a very cool farm set. Colorful and nicely illustrated. One of the best farm toy for kids.
Features:
- Build the barn and enjoy hours of farm play.
- 36 pieces, including a colorful barn, fences, stable, silo, trees, tractors, and animals.
- Includes wooden crate.
- 13.75″ x 10.5″ x 2″
- Ages 3+
For some hands-on engagement, here’s a toy your child can put their problem-solving skills to the test by assembling the barn to build their own farm. Blocks provide excellent skill building value for children. This playset combines that value in a fun farm set that promotes creative thinking with numerous possibilities. They’ll also gain hand-eye coordination and balance as they stack the blocks.
Blocky look and styling is immediately inviting. Kids will love this farm toy set.
Melissa & Doug | Take-Along Show-Horse Stable Play Set
Horses, horses, horses…I love horses. Kids love horses. Most normal humans love horses. I guarantee any child will love this farm toy set for kids. Did I mention the part about the horses 🙂
Features:
- 8 toy horses stored in a wooden take-along stable for galloping good times
- Stable doors swing open smoothly and close with latch
- Includes a breed guide with basic facts about the featured horses
- Write-on name tags let kids name the horses and label the stalls
- Includes extension activities to encourage creative play and learning
There’s something magical and awe-inspiring about horses that captivate young animal lovers. This stable playset provides some valuable facts to learn more about specific breeds of the horses such as the ones provided. Encouraging role-play and fine motor skills with swinging doors and latches, there are a lot of valuable features this set provides for children from 3 years of age and up.
Kids love horses so I’m confident that your child will immediately fall in love with this wonderful toy horse set.
Melissa & Doug | Fold and Go Wooden Horse Stable Dollhouse
Features:
- Lots of sliding and swinging doors and a folding corral
- Happy home for 4 plastic horses
- Sturdy wooden handles make it easy to take the fun along
- Great quality
- 9.5″H x 13″L x 7.25″W
- 3+ year
This two-story wooden horse stable has many features that encourage play and provide possibilities for learning. The stable is fully assembled so it’s ready for play for children ages 3 and up and comes with an adjustable corral. The two-story barn has multiple stables to place the horses with realistic characteristics for role play and encourage counting from the number of horses to the number of stables among other elements.
Classic styling ensures that this farm toy design will remain in vogue for a very long time.
Learn more about the Melissa & Doug Brand. They have some wonderful toys for boys and girls of all ages.
John Deere Toys
As one of the major brands in manufacturing farm equipment, it’s no surprise that John Deere has become available in kid-friendly toys that encourage and stimulate skills they’ll gain through play. An added sense of development that comes into play with John Deere farm equipment and toys is imitation. Children love to imitate what they see and instills a new element of learning. If it’s not uncommon for dad or grandpa to be found loading the front loader or carrying a load in the tractor trailer, you can bet there’s a future farmhand nearby eager to be able to join the fun.
John Deere 1st Farming Fun
This one is more likely to be loved by boys. Whoever you buy this for, I’m sure they will appreciate it. Well-made and lots of fun. One of the best farm toys for kids.
Features:
- Fun farm play set
- Set includes 20 pieces!
- Includes four different vehicles- Combine, gator, tractor & front loader; Animals, farmers, fencing & cargo
- Suitable for ages 18 months and up
A love of the farm and John Deere can be instilled from early on with this 1st Farming Fun playset that consists of 4 toy John Deere vehicles, farm animals, and accessories. With toy cargo and feed for the animals there are multiple ways to play with the set that lay the optimal foundation for pretend play, problem solving, and fine motor skills. The set is suitable for babies and toddlers from a year up and can provide long-lasting engagement as they grow older and learn how to utilize the toys in different ways. Additional sets can be added to expand your child’s collection for more farm-related action.
John Deere is probably the most popular toy tractor design. It’s an iconic brand that everyone is familiar with.
John Deere Animal Sounds Hayride
Features:
- Animal sounds and a hay ride, what could be better than that? Cute animals, fun sounds, what a great toy and a great gift!
- Plays “Old McDonald”
- Animals make sounds when pushed in their correct seats
- for Ages 18 Months and up
This adorable 6-piece farm set includes a farmer, a tractor, and 4 farm animals for easy animal recognition. Toddlers can push the tractor to tow the animals along. The toy animals can be removed from the wagon which has pictures to indicate the spot for each animal. When the correct figure is placed in its spot it makes the animal sound to reinforce animal and sound recognition by cause and effect. Press the farmer to hear the classic tune of ‘Old McDonald’.
John Deere Ground Force Tractor with Trailer
Features:
- 2 speeds plus reverse; 2¼ & 4½ mph. (4½ mph lockout for beginners)
- Accelerator pedal with automatic brakes
- Farm tractor wheels provide traction on grass, dirt, gravel or pavement.
- Extra large stake-side trailer
- Working FM radio
- Adjustable seat with flip-up armrests
- Two speeds: 2-1/4 or 4-1/2 mph, plus reverse
- Parents control the speed with the 2nd gear lockout feature
- 12-volt rechargeable battery and charger included
- Weight capacity: 85 lb.
- 26-1/2 in. x 67-1/2 in. x 24-1/2 in.
- For ages 3 to 7 years
- Made in USA
You don’t have to live on a farm to experience the joys of driving a tractor. This powered tractor has many realistic features including an accelerator pedal and steering wheel to give your budding farmhand a taste of the real deal. The attached trailer allows children to move objects around the yard and carry out specific tasks. Coordinated movements through operating the functions provide valuable problem solving skills that are easy enough for children from 2 to 7 years of age.
Read our in-depth reviews of the Peg Perego ride on tractors.
John Deere 70 Piece Value Set
Features:
- Complete farm toy set with, vehicles, animals, buildings and fences.
- Great Value
- 1:64 scale 70 Piece playset from ERTL
- Inspired by real-life John Deere farm vehicles
This value set is a bit more complex but provides great value that can grow with your child from toddlerhood into their teens. The durable construction is very realistic and provides skill and problem-solving to assemble together. The 70-piece set comes with a large machine shed and multiple farm vehicles, animals, fences and accessories for open-minded possibilities. The doors actually slide open and closed on the shed with a detachable roof for easy access to place the vehicles and/or animal figures inside.
John Deere Sandbox Vehicles
2-Pack : Dump Truck & Tractor
Features:
- Durable plastic construction perfect for sandbox play
- Includes two vehicles, a dump truck and a tractor
- Free rolling wheels let vehicles roll easily over any surface, and make for frustration free play
- Fully-functional parts including a moving dump bed and front loader
- Perfect for hours of sandbox fun
Outdoor play is just as equally important for kids to exercise their minds along with their bodies. Take the fun from the farm to the park or the beach with these toy John Deere Sandbox vehicles. A real functioning front loader and dump bed are perfect for discovering and exploration to push through and pick up sand, dirt, or other materials. They’ll also learn more about the characteristics of different types of materials such as which are easy to maneuver and push around from sand to dirt to water.
John Deere farm toys are always popular with kids.
Learn more about ERTL John Deere toys by visiting their site.
The Beauty of Farm Toys as Gifts
Encouraging your child’s development is essential to their growth and toys like these make it effortless. Children are naturally drawn to different types of toys and there is great variety here to foster your child’s imagination and skills they’ll gain for future use. While helping them learn through showing them different actions with toys, allowing them to learn on their own is equally important in developing and gaining crucial skills.
