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From the time your baby is born, he or she takes in everything around them and learns from everything and everyone. Since the same goes for whatever games or toys they have, it’s important to pick the best educational toys for your toddler rather than ones that are just for fun.
And really, if you choose right, you can easily find toddler toys that are both fun and educational while also keeping them fully engaged at all times. Whether you need something for your younger toddler or your older toddler who’s ready to start learning about letters and reading in a more in-depth way, these are easily some of the best educational toys for toddlers right now.
Even though there is certainly some value in choosing electronic toys and that there are plenty of educational battery-operated toys, you also can’t go wrong with some of the originals.
Well, in terms of simplicity, anyway. This way your child is sure to learn from and enjoy at least one of the toys on this list of the best educational toys for toddlers, whether or not it requires batteries. Since your toddler is going to need to learn about letters, numbers, colors, and even reading, it’s truly never too early to start teaching them, even if it’s through their toys.
Jump to a specific section
- 1. VTech Touch & Teach Word Book
- 2. Baby Einstein Discovering Music Activity Table
- 3. LeapFrog Fridge Phonics Magnetic Letter Set
- 4. Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Magical Lights Fishbowl
- 5. Little Tikes Count ‘n Play Cash Register
- 6. Meigo Magnetic Blocks
- 7. Kidzlane Color Matching Egg Set
- 8. LEGO DUPLO My First Number Train
- 9. NextX Art Toy Color Matching Mosaic Pegboard Puzzle
1. VTech Touch & Teach Word Book
VTech is well known for its many different kinds of educational toys and the VTech Touch & Teach Word Book is perfect for toddlers who are ready to learn about reading.
By touching each word on the colorful pages, toddlers can learn to identify them more quickly. There are a total of 100 words with 90 different sound effects and 15 melodies on the touch pages. Depending on your toddler’s development level, they can play with the music, letter, or word-setting and learn regardless of their stage.
And if your younger toddler is behind in their vocabulary, the Word Book will help them expand it along the way as they learn.
- Child Age Range: The Word Book is for toddlers from 18 months-4 years old.
- Where To Buy: You can find it on Amazon or in-store at Walmart and Target.
- The Best Part: There are words your toddler might not have been familiar with before playing with the Word Book, like fountain and telescope, just to name a couple.
- The Not So Great: It might have almost too many sounds and games available for toddlers to really be able to concentrate and learn while they play.
2. Baby Einstein Discovering Music Activity Table
One of the best parts about an educational toy is that your child can play without even realizing that they’re learning at the same time. With the Baby Einstein Discovering Music Activity Table, your toddler can enjoy it for the music and colors right from the start, and eventually, they’ll learn about numbers and colors and learn to identify them on their own.
The table even has three different languages you can toggle between, so your child can even learn colors and numbers in languages other than your native one. The table is also completely interactive, giving your child multiple modes of play and different buttons and toys to press and spin.
- Child Age Range: The table is recommended for toddlers from 6-36 months old.
- Where To Buy: You can find it on Amazon or in-store at Target and Buy Buy Baby.
- The Best Part: Your toddler can learn from all of the little features on the table, but your baby can even play with it before they know how to stand.
- The Not So Great: For some little ones, the table might not be sturdy enough for them to be able to lean against it while playing.
3. LeapFrog Fridge Phonics Magnetic Letter Set
The LeapFrog Fridge Phonics Magnetic Letter Set is one of those learning toys for toddlers that almost every child has at some point in their learning journey.
You simply put the school bus on your refrigerator and add the 26 letter magnets to the refrigerator too. Your child can then put them in place individually and listen to the learning songs to teach them the different letters, sounds, and words that begin with the corresponding letters. And since it can be used as soon as your toddler can begin to stand, they’ll get used out of it for a while.
- Child Age Range: The Magnetic Letter Set is for children from ages two and up.
- Where To Buy: You can find it on Amazon or in-store at Buy Buy Baby and Walmart.
- The Best Part: Not only does it allow your child to learn what the different letters are, but also their sounds.
- The Not So Great: For some of the letters, the voice saying them might come out a little unclear and make some letters sound like others.
4. Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Magical Lights Fishbowl
Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Magical Lights Fishbowl. It might seem like a simple toy as far as learning toys go, but the LeapFrog Fridge Phonics Magnetic Letter Set will help your child with a variety of learning content.
It teaches not only ABCs and counting, but also shapes, colors, and even opposites. Sure, your baby might not yet understand all of the features when he or she first starts to play with it, but that’s the beauty of allowing them to play with each setting and learn as they go along.
There are even five different water friends for your toddler to put inside of the fishbowl, with lights and sounds throughout.
- Child Age Range: The fishbowl is suitable for children from 6-36 months old.
- Where To Buy: You can buy it on the manufacturer’s website and on Amazon or in-store at Target and Walmart.
- The Best Part: Even if your child is one to be rough with their toys, the fishbowl can handle rough play at times.
- The Not So Great: For older toddlers, it might be hard to keep their attention with this particular learning toy.
5. Little Tikes Count ‘n Play Cash Register
It’s especially important to teach letters and even reading to your toddler as soon as possible, but numbers are also important, especially since they’ll eventually need to know about counting, adding, and subtracting.
The Little Tikes Count ‘n Play Cash Register Playset [/easyazon_link] isn’t super complicated, but it does offer your child the ability to learn about putting different colors and shapes into groups, and yes, even what it’s like to add or take away different amounts.
They might understand the concept a little more as they get older rather than when they’re still younger, but it’s still a fun and an educational toy at the same time.
- Child Age Range: It’s designed for toddlers ages two and up.
- Where To Buy: You can find it on Amazon.
- The Best Part: As far as children’s toys go, it’s actually not all that noisy or even involved, while still engaging your child.
- The Not So Great: Unfortunately, it’s not a suitable learning toy for younger toddlers, as they might try and put some of the smaller pieces in their mouth.
6. Meigo Magnetic Blocks
Your toddler might eventually use Meigo Magnetic Blocks in preschool, so as long as they’re ready, there’s no harm in introducing the learning blocks to them even earlier. They promote STEM play and allow your child to learn as they go while building different shapes or structures using the magnetic sides of the flat square and triangle blocks.
The plastic that the blocks are made from is also non-toxic and food-grade to be as safe for your toddler as possible and when it comes down to it, the options for playing are virtually endless. The set even comes with a convenient bag to store them in and take with you.
- Child Age Range: The blocks are recommended for children ages three and up.
- Where To Buy: At this time they’re primarily available on Amazon.
- The Best Part: When it comes time to clean up because the blocks are magnetic, they’re easier to collect and put away.
- The Not So Great: Some toddlers who aren’t used to these kinds of blocks might have a hard time understanding how to use them at first.
7. Kidzlane Color Matching Egg Set
Since color identification is also a huge part of learning for your toddler, the Kidzlane Color Matching Egg Set can be a big help in that direction. But the eggs, which have numbers, are also meant to help your toddler learn how to count and sort.
Each egg is a different color and has a number on each half with the appropriate amount of dots to go along with the number. So not only will the dozen of eggs, complete with an adorable plastic egg carton carrying case, help your child learn about numbers and colors, but also hone fine motor skills as well.
- Child Age Range: The set is meant for toddlers from 18 months old and up.
- Where To Buy: You can primarily find it on the manufacturer’s website and on Amazon.
- The Best Part: Toddlers can learn about colors, numbers, and matching all at the same time.
- The Not So Great: For some little ones, it might be hard to actually see the numbers on the inside of the eggs.
8. LEGO DUPLO My First Number Train
LEGOs are enjoyed by kids of all ages, and you can get yours started early while also helping them learn, via the LEGO DUPLO My First Number Train.
The set has blocks with the numbers 0-9 to help your toddler learn how to put them in order while also playing and embracing their creativity. Since the blocks are large but still small enough for little hands to grip as they slide into place, it’s also a good toy for fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination, which are also very important at this stage.
- Child Age Range: The train is for toddlers from 1-½-3 years old.
- Where To Buy: You can find it on the manufacturer’s website and on Amazon or in-store at Target and Walmart.
- The Best Part: Your child can learn about numbers and counting, but also allow their imagination to take hold as they play.
- The Not So Great: The numbers on the blocks are stickers, so there is a chance that your toddler might rip them off.
9. NextX Art Toy Color Matching Mosaic Pegboard Puzzle
The NextX Art Toy Color Matching Mosaic Pegboard Puzzle is perfect for toddlers who need to work on color recognition, sorting, creative thinking, and hand-eye coordination. With 10 different picture pegboards and 26 different colorful peg buttons, your toddler can work on creating pictures by pushing the pins in the right spots.
The puzzle might not be an electronic learning toy or one that requires batteries at all, but it can also help promote creativity in your child will engaging their attention in something that doesn’t have any complicated buttons, bells, or whistles.
- Child Age Range: It’s meant for toddlers ages three and up.
- Where To Buy: You can primarily find the puzzle on Amazon.
- The Best Part: There are a variety of ways your child can choose to play with the pegs and pegboards.
- The Not So Great: There are times when the pegs may fall out of place easily, which can be frustrating for little ones.
Final Thoughts
Clearly, there’s no shortage of educational toys for toddlers. The important thing is figuring out which toys your child will actually play with and respond to without growing bored after just a few uses. In most cases, at least where these particular toys are concerned, that shouldn’t be a problem though.
Whether you prefer to go with blocks, puzzles, or something a little more hi-tech, there are tons of ways to allow your toddler to learn while they’re enjoying their toys. Don’t look at it as tricking them — just think of it as sneakily improving their preschool readiness.
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