Skip to Content

7 Fun Transporting Schema Toys for Toddlers & Preschoolers

If your toddler or preschooler is in the transporting schema and you're looking for some fun toys to support this stage, this article is for you.

Today, I'm going to go over a little bit about the transporting schema and give you some tips on how to support it.

You'll also get a list of 7 fun transporting schema toys

This is one of my favorite play schemas, so let's get right to it!

image of a young child putting toys in a shopping cart, which shopping carts are transportation schema toys.

(This post contains affiliate links. Purchasing from these links costs you nothing extra, but helps with our website upkeep.)

What is the transporting schema?

The transporting schema is one of the 9 play schemas.

During this phase, young children demonstrate an intense interest in moving things from one place to another.

If you've noticed that your toddler or preschooler has been filling up their doll stroller with stuffed animals and taking them to the other end of the house, they may be in the transporting schema.

How can you support your child during the transporting schema?

There are plenty of ways to support your child during the transporting schema.

Melissa Kennedy wrote a comprehensive guide to play schemas for this site that you should check out.

She gave a list of wonderful transporting schema activity ideas, as well as some Montessori Practical Life transporting schema ideas.

Toys are another great way to support the transporting schema, as well.

I've observed all 3 of my children go through this type of schematic play and it's always been a pleasure to see how providing them with the right toys has helped them.

Here is a list of some of my favorite transporting schema toys.

7 fun transporting schema toys for toddlers and preschoolers

Push walker with basket

The transporting schema may fall during the time wherein your toddler is learning to walk or when they are simply still enjoying push walkers.

If this is the case, providing your child with a push walker that has a basket/container on it is a great idea.

Toddlers will enjoy loading up their toys and stuffed animals and pushing them to different locations around your home.

ROBOTIME Baby Push Walker, Wooden Baby…
  • 【Baby Push Walker Toy】 Our Wooden Baby Walker is a colourful…
  • 【2 In 1 Design Push Walker Toy】 The baby walker push toy…
  • 【Premium Materials & Stable Triangle Structure】 We have…

Radio Flyer pull wagon

Every child should have a wagon to pull their things around in, and this is an especially important item for young children in the transporting schema.

Since full-size wagons are likely to make a lot of noise and scratch your floors and walls up, this smaller-size Radio Flyer wagon is better for this stage.

This is one of the transporting schema toys that will be used for many years after the play phase has passed.

Radio Flyer 16.5” Retro Toy Wagon…
  • TOY-SIZE WAGON: This small wagon is perfect for stuffed animals,…
  • FEATURES: The wagon has rolling wheels, a seamless steel body,…
  • GREAT FOR CRAFTS AND GIFTS: Turn this Little Red Toy Wagon into a…

Dump truck toy

Dump truck toys make great indoor/outdoor transporting toys.

They can be loaded up with items from nature while your child is playing outside, or they can haul stuffies and toys inside the house.

This is also a great toy for children in the rotation schema, as well, as the wheels turn and the back lifts on a hinge.

CAT Construction Toys, Power Haulers…
  • REALISTIC LIGHTS & SOUNDS: Features flashing lights with…
  • MOTION DRIVE TECHNOLOGY: Push the vehicle forward to make the…
  • REAL WORKING FEATURES: The CAT Construction Power Hauler Dump…

Pipettes & tongs

Pipettes and tongs make great transporting schema toys.

They are also great for helping children develop fine motor skills, as well as hand-eye coordination.

This is a fun set that comes with a variety of items, including pipettes and tongs.

Learning Resources Helping Hands Fine…
  • GREAT FOR SENSORY BINS: 4 of our finest tools packaged together
  • KIDS FINE MOTOR TOOLS: Builds fine-motor skills with these…
  • STRENGTHEN HANDS: Strengthens hand muscles needed for writing

Toddler purse

Purses are so much fun for children in the transporting schema.

They can carry items around on their shoulder with a purse, and it allows them to take things with more places, like on outings.

There's no need to gender-stereotype when it comes to purses – my sons enjoy purses as much as my daughter.

mibasies Kids Purse Toddler Gifts for…
  • ❤ SUITABLE SIZE:This girls purse for kids 6-8 for will fit…
  • ❤ ADJUSTABLE STRAP: It will make the purse easy for her to…
  • ❤ FIT ESSENTIAL:Kids purses for girls age 8-10,can fit…
Image of transporting schema toys infographic.

Pulley system

Pulleys are one of the most fun toys for kids, no matter if they're in a developmental schema or not.

A pulley system, like the one featured below, is a great transporting schema toy for the outdoors that lets children experiment with force and gravity, as well.

FUQUN Treehouse Accessories for Kids,…
  • Pulley Gardening Tool Set: lever transportation toy, pulley set…
  • Educational Toys: experts around the world are recognising the…
  • Easy To Carry: Iron bucket can hold all the parts. Children can…

Kids' shopping cart

This was hands-down my daughter's favorite thing between the ages of 1 and 3.

She'd load her shopping cart up with anything she could find around the house and just push it all around.

Children really enjoy imaginative play as well as gross motor toys at this age.

So, if your child is in the transporting schema, as well, this is a great purchase.

Milliard Toy Metal Shopping Cart -…
  • Constructive Play- Encourage your child's imagination and…
  • Special Features- The Milliard Cart is loaded with extra features…
  • Made to Last- This cart was designed with a full metal frame that…

There you have it – 7 of the best, most fun, transporting schema toys.

I hope you got some great ideas from this list and that you continue to enjoy watching your child develop.

Remember, always base your toy selection on your child's interests and developmental needs.

Cheers and don't forget to subscribe!

Sharing is caring!

Aoife O Regan

Wednesday 15th of February 2023

Hello, hope you are well?

If you have any other articles regarding schemas and what toys are best used for them can you contact me please? I am interested in schemas such as Connecting, Orienteering, Enclosing, Positioning and Transforming. I am mostly interested in the pictures you've made to outline the other schemas best toys and hope you have some for these ones.

Kind regards Aoife O Regan