Toys are an integral part of your child’s life. Toys are fun, no doubt, but they can add the best foundation to learning too. Fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, colours, and math were the critical elements in our research. Apart from this, kids need toys that develop their ability to think, relate, question, brainstorm and give an overall holistic approach to their development of mind and body.
Toys may not necessarily be expensive, but they can be budgeted and planned accordingly depending on the child’s interests and needs. The most important aspect that toys provide is endless imagination to the kids and long hours of entertainment, without the need for a screen time. Our team of mothers did a thorough analysis with the real experts by their side – the kids.
We have narrowed down 13 best educational toys for your toddlers which pass the safety and durability test as a priority. These toys have been carefully chosen keeping in mind the overall approach of a child towards the toy, the open endedness and its price so that it does burn a hole in your pockets.
Best Educational Toys For Toddlers
Top Educational Toys For Toddlers: 2020 Reviews
1. First Builders Big Building Bag
An award-winning set of 80 blocks, this toy brings to your child endless possibilities to build and stack. The large blocks and smooth edges provide stability and safety not just for your toddler, but even for you – we all know the pain of stepping over tiny Legos!
These blocks are big enough for those tiny little hands to hold, grasp and attach onto one another without any hassle. It provides an open-ended play and pushes your child to rack their creative abilities and put them to the best use.
Why do we like it?
- Big colourful blocks
- Light weight
- Easy to fit and dismantle
- Comes with an easy to carry bag to stock them up and pack
Things to look out for
- Blocks may not stick firmly, leading to a frustrated child
- California Residents to check for Proposition 65 warning
- Ensure that the bag has all the pieces as shown in amazon
Age: The manufacturer recommended is 1-5years. We agree.
2. LeapFrog Learning Friends 100 Words Book
While your toddler is enthusiastic to learn new words, have this LeapFrog Learning Friends 100 words book.
It improves the vocabulary skills of toddlers and creates interest to seek things well. Simply by touching the words on each page, you can hear each one of them through the interesting voices of the turtle, tiger, and monkey.
You can use this book in three different modes. By the hearing or music button, you can hear the words with an enjoyable music background. Moreover, it has a bilingual experience allowing you to read in English or Spanish languages.
Besides, there are 12 categories of words and kids will be aware of new words regarding animals, pets, food, mealtime, activities, colors, outside, opposites, and many more. It works with 2 AA batteries which are included only for demo.
The book is just 9.4*9.4*1.9 inches in size, and so it’s portable to take anywhere.
Why do we like it?
- With simple button touch means, you can hear the sounds of the words.
- Kids feel more interested to listen and learn.
- There are 12 different categories for fun learning.
- It supports two different languages – English and Spanish.
- The musical light star button is so exciting for children.
- There is superb volume control as per your desire.
- Age-appropriate words with bright colors
- Sturdy and green colored portable electronic book
Things to look out for
- Though 2 batteries come with the product, they are only for demo. And you have to purchase others for daily regular use.
- You have to be careful of the sensors that may get sensitive to any simple touch.
- Observe the translations of some words as some of them are not correct.
Age: It is well-recommended for toddlers of 18 months, and it will be useful for kids up to 4 years of age.
3. My First Flashcards for Toddlers
Learnworx makes learning fun for kids of all ages. And this My First Flashcards is for your toddlers.
It has 101 double-sided flashcards which show letters, numbers, shapes, body parts, and colors. Each of the cards has other relevant pictures on its backside. With 5.7*4.3 inches in size, they are handy for the young one’s hands.
The font size of the numbers and letters on them are large enough and easy to read. And the pictures are also bright-colored and interesting. So, it can enhance their visual development and color identification.
Without any chance of mess-up, the cards are thicker and tear-free. They are also round-edged, and so safe enough for the child’s hands. Besides, you can maintain them longer by a simple clean-up with a damp cloth.
Why do we like it?
- Good-quality and bright-colored flashcards
- Kid-friendly size and round-edged safe cards
- Easy maintenance and longer durability
- Enhances interaction with others
Things to look for
- The quality of the flashcards box is not that good.
- Some of the cards may be bent.
Age: It is suitable for toddlers above 12 months of age. But, always, the cards have to be used only under supervision.
4. Revanak Wooden Shapes Educational Toddler Toys
Unlike most plastic-made toys, this wooden educational shapes toddler toy from the Revanak brand is more enjoyable, safe, and durable. It develops hand-eye coordination, creative thinking, counting skills, motor skills, and color recognition.
It contains a wooden base with many short pegs on which various shapes are fit. So, the child will have to observe the shapes and place them properly on the pegs. The package comes with 20 wooden pieces which are of 13.5*2.95*2.2 inches in size.
Being made of premium-quality non-toxic natural wood which is free from BPA, Lead, and Phthalate. The wooden pieces are smooth with well-attached keys. So, they are more durable.
Yet, you have to follow some maintenance and care and avoid long exposure to sunlight and moisture to avoid easy damage on long-run use.
Why do we like it?
- Handy-size
- Superb wooden quality and more durable
- Nice and colorful wooden blocks
- It is easy to stack them up.
- The brand offers a money-back guarantee within one month if unsatisfied.
Things to look out for
- Some people complained that the pieces smelled paint-like, and some dark colors were rubbed off.
- There may be a choking hazard.
- The wooden base was chipped off during delivery.
Age: Toddlers above 1 year of age will enjoy this playing set. Yet, we recommend using it for kids above 2 years of age and also for those who do keep everything in their mouth.
5. Teytoy Baby Toy Zoo Series 26pcs Soft Alphabet Cards
Introduce your toddlers to zoo animals with this amazing Teytoy Baby Toy Zoo Series 26pcs Soft Alphabet Cards with Cloth Bag. This toy is carved with utmost care and precision for your infants and toddlers and is made up of durable fabric that withstands even the roughest of toddler.
It involves cognitive learning skills of the babies by teaching them alphabets and corresponding words in a fun manner and safe method. The cloth bag provided with this is very handy and can be carried anywhere to engage your kid smartly. The fabric used is nontoxic and safe for the kids.
Why do we like it?
- Strong and sturdy storage bag
- Bright colour and cute patterns
- Safe, non-toxic fabric
Things to look out for
- Product maybe smaller than it looks on screen
- Some letters may be repetitive/missing in the packaging
Age: Manufacturer recommends 0+ years. We feel that this should be offered to infants who have learnt to sit and can hold objects. Ideally 6+ months.
6. Kidzlane Colour Matching Egg Set
Teach your child to handle and carry eggs in the most effective and fun manner. This kit contains 12 cute little eggs in a carton that imitates the real-life egg carton. Your child can learn to count, match and sort with these plastic eggs.
Every half plastic egg has a unique color, number, holes and pegs that corresponds and matches with the other half and it is fun matching and coordinating them with each other.
This toy aids in improving the thinking abilities of the child, color recognition and grasping power. The case is sturdy and can be packed and stored easily when not in use.
Why do we like it?
- Sturdy and colourful design
- Durable and easy to carry and store outer case
- Child friendly design
Things to look out for
- The numbers are not clear in the eggs
- Not for toddlers who still mouth everything
- Some pieces are hard to handle for a toddler
Age: Manufacturer recommends 18months and up. At this age the toddler needs constant supervision with the eggs. We feel this should be offered to a child 2years and up.
7. Vtech Touch & Teach Word Book
This is the generation of smart learning and touch and play sensory games have been introduced to keep the kids at bay from the screen time and involve them in a more mindful manner. This is a touch and play musical book that incorporates teaching kids in a fun way with just a touch by their tiny little hands and fingers.
From gentle poking to loud bangs this book can take it all. There are 12 interactive pages which aid in increasing your child’s learning experience with more than 100 words, 15 melodies and 90 unique sounds, it also helps with the vocabulary by introducing the ABCs.
Why do we like it?
- Bright colours
- Easy to turn pages
- Toddler is engaged for longer hours
- Introduces new vocabulary to the kids
Things to look out for
- It can get loud and annoying
- Child can get frustrated with multiple instructions that are announced with every touch
- No physical buttons on the page to show the child where to press
- Book may stop functioning due to rough handling
Age: Manufacturer recommends 18months to 4 years. But we feel this can be used till 2-2.5 years only. Older toddlers get bored with this very soon
8. Dreampark Wooden Jigsaw Puzzles, 6 Pack Animal Puzzles
Wooden toys are safe and toxic free for the kids and are durable than the plastic ones. Dreampark Wooden Jigsaw Puzzles is a colourful wooden jigsaw puzzle designed in big, bold and colourful pieces; specially to fit into the little hands. The animal’s shapes are very cute and vibrant ensuring wonderful hand eye coordination.
This toy helps your kid to think and articulate the puzzle pieces to fit in the exact place and form the animals. A very informative toy that teaches your kid about various animals and enables their thinking capabilities.
Why do we like it?
- Great quality
- Perfect size
- No sharp edges
- Suits new toddlers to older toddlers
- Informative toy that teaches about various animals
Things to watch out for
- Easy to lose pieces
- No outline on the base for each piece
- Needs constant adult supervision
Age: Manufacturer recommended is 12mo and up
9. Giftinthebox Early Education 6 pack Wooden Jigsaw Puzzles
Giftinthebox wooden jigsaw puzzles let the toddlers enjoy a learning activity and classic match manipulative. The mixed bunch of animals and vehicles give a nice variation and doesn’t get monotonous in learning and teaching too. Apart from fun, this also aids in increasing the grip strength, hand-eye coordination, motor skills and observation ability.
The best part about these toys is that they are made up of high-quality wooden material and are safe for toddlers. They help in interactive learning by seeking help in solving the puzzles and improves their thinking abilities. They are perfectly sized to be held by the kids and enhances their fine motor skills.
Why do we like it?
- 2 categories of puzzles
- Storage bag
- Smooth edges
- Safe colours
Things to watch out for
- Might have a slight smell
- Some pieces are small and may be a choking hazard
Age: Manufacturer recommends 18 months and up. After our research we feel the animals are fine for this age, but the vehicles need to be reserved for ages 2 and up.
10. TOY Life 8 Pack Wooden Puzzles for Toddlers
With amusing and fun-filled animal wooden puzzles, this TOY Life 8 pack set for toddlers will be a big hit.
It has 8 different shapes including frog, dog, turtle, giraffe, lion, monkey, and duck with attractive colors. The puzzle pieces use safer environmentally friendly solid wood. Besides, their coloring is also water-based and harmless without toxic substances.
They are also smooth-edged so that the kids don’t hurt their fingers. The size is also feasible for better grip and avoids swallowing.
Children love to play with them often, and so they can develop and enhance motor skills, hand-eye coordination, problem-solving, and early math skills too. By the time they are ready for preschool, they excel in shapes, colors, and numbers.
Why do we like it?
- The pieces are made of high-quality natural wood.
- The wood is used from BPA, chemicals, Lead, and non-toxic.
- The size of the pieces is handy with an easy grip.
- They also have smooth corners and edges.
- The puzzles are so interesting with animal pictures.
- The colors are bright and attractive.
Things to look out for
- Some pieces may not fit properly.
- They may be damaged with improper maintenance.
Age: The manufacturer recommends it for kids from 12 months and up. But, they are very small and may not be suitable for 1-year old toddlers. So, it’s better to choose them for 2-3-year-old toddlers.
11. Simple First Words Let’s Talk Board Book
A wonderful board book for your child. It is a standard musical board book.
This musical board book is a fun way to teach your little one their first words in a clear audible voice. They would spend hours pressing the buttons on the book by matching the sounds to the picture, thus enabling their cognitive and matching skills and learning to speak the word at the same time. This is a very thoughtful board book that keeps your kid away from the screens for a long time.
Why do we like it?
- Clear audio
- One image per page
- Good battery life
- Improves thinking and matching skills in the child
Things to look out for
- Buy only from verified sellers
- Books come in different languages
Age: Manufacturer recommends 1 year and up
12. B.Toys – One Two Squeeze Baby Blocks
This set of One Two squeeze 10 baby blocks is unique from others. They are made of pure-quality plastic and have attractive colored cubes.
Kids love to stack them up over. They are designed soft enough so that they can squeeze and squeak them. They are also chewable as they are made of harmless BPA-free plastic.
The set comes with a reusable 100% recycled fabric bag that is washable and durable. So, you need not worry about the pack-up, storage, and portability.
The tiny toddlers will learn colors, numbers, hand-eye coordination, and motor skills when playing with these superb plastic blocks.
Why do we like it?
- Attractive colored cubes
- Superb packaging
- Sturdy enough to stack over
- The carrying case is also of good quality.
- They are squeezy and squeaky.
- The color won’t come out into the kids’ mouths.
Things to look for
- You can’t wash them underwater.
- Some of them are forming molds after use for a few weeks.
Age: As the recommendation of the manufacturer, this playing and the educational toy is useful for kids of six months and above.
13. Carson Dellosa – 54 First Words Flash Cards
Carson Dellosa first words flash cards is designed for early learners. This prepares your child for phonics, sight words and reading. It has a word with a picture on one side and the corresponding word on the other side. The child is confident to continue reading 2-word sentences once they have mastered the first words.
Flash cards are tried and tested methods to teach your kids their first set of words and improve their vocabulary. They form an essential part of the speech therapy sessions to indulge the kids and prompt them to use the sight words appropriately.
Why do we like it?
- Budget friendly
- Thick and durable cards
- Pictures are bright
Things to look out for
- Cards might be missing from the set
- Not suitable for toddlers who mouth things
Age: Manufacturer recommends 4-7 years
Conclusion
Now you have all it takes to select the best educational toy for your child. Educational toys are a novel approach towards a child’s holistic growth. A good educational toy will not only offer fun and entertainment but also teach them valuable physical and social skills. which help them with a holistic approach.
Only thing you need to watch out for are toys with small parts, toddlers are always interested in mouthing things. Offering various learning techniques with entertaining and fun ways ensures that the kid thoroughly enjoys the learning process and does not get bored with it. Kids these days constantly need brainstorming toys to keep them occupied as there is a wide audience who believes that screen time improves learning. These educational toys have been curated to prove that kids can be kept occupied and taught with these tools instead of turning a screen on.
Leave a Reply