The Best Educational Toys for Toddlers to Combine Fun and Learning

Inspire little minds with building, reading, matching, and more educational toys

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Educational toys for toddlers we recommend on a blue background

Verywell Family / Amelia Manley

Educational toys are great for toddlers because they help stimulate learning, whether it’s through stacking blocks or simply reading a book, as young children reach developmental milestones. Look for toys that will add educational value to your child’s playtime and hone in on any of their interests to keep it entertaining. 

To begin our research, we surveyed 875 parents about what toys their children love to play with, how they play with them, and why they love to continuously use them. We also spoke with a pediatrician and reviewed guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) on how to buy safe toys and what to expect during the toddler years (ages 1 to 3). Moreover, we reviewed developmental milestones for toddlers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). When reviewing products, we carefully considered age recommendations, toy safety, milestones, design, ease of use, and value. Lastly, a board-certified pediatrician from our Review Board reviewed this article for accuracy on how to evaluate safe and age-appropriate educational toys for toddlers.

Best Overall

Melissa & Doug Grocery Cart Push Toy and Puzzles

Melissa & Doug Wooden Shape Sorting Grocery Cart Push Toy and Puzzles

Amazon

Pros
  • Versatile (several activities in one design)

  • Wood material is durable and high quality

Cons
  • Push handle isn't adjustable

Why We Recommend It

Melissa & Doug is a well-loved brand among parents we surveyed because of the company’s high-quality materials and educational toys—and this toddler grocery cart is no different. One of our writers received a free sample of the company’s Wooden Shape Sorting Grocery Cart and says the toy is even cuter in person. The cart arrives nearly fully assembled, minus attaching the handle with a screwdriver, which is a piece of cake. 

This toddler grocery cart is all about learning; it features a built-in matching game, two puzzle boards, 12 shape-sorting pieces that double as puzzle pieces, and a play coffee cup with a lid for imaginative play. Whether littles—ages 1 and up—play with the puzzles or sort shapes, the Melissa & Doug grocery cart encourages fine and gross motor skills, color and shape recognition, counting, problem-solving, and more. 

While the handle doesn’t adjust, kids can push the grocery cart thanks to moving wheels that glide on carpet and tile. The beautiful and durable wood is just the cherry on top.

Best Building

Mega Bloks 80-Piece Big Building Bag

Mega Bloks 80-Piece Big Building Bag

Amazon

Pros
  • Budget-friendly

  • Practices problem-solving and fine motor skills

  • 80 blocks included

Cons
  • Only blocks in storage bag

Why We Recommend It

The Mega Bloks First Builders Bag is our top pick because this set of blocks provides endless playtime possibilities. Blocks provide an opportunity for you and your little one to practice problem-solving and fine motor skills, as well as a great base for non-stop pretend play. 

The top criteria for a good set of blocks are durability, a safe and fun size, and disinfecting ability. The Mega Bloks are a parent favorite because they come with 80 colorful building blocks, including special shapes for under $20. They click into each other nicely without too much pressure (good for little hands) and can be stored easily in the zip bag they come in.

Best Matching

Kidzlane Egg Toy for Kids and Toddlers

Kidzlane Color Matching Egg Set - Toddler Toys - Educational Color & Number Recognition Skills Learning Egg Toy Egg Puzzle | Toys for Toddlers, Boys,...

Amazon

Pros
  • Durable case included

  • Teaches color matching

  • Easy to grab for little hands

Cons
  • Some eggs don't stay together

  • May be hard to open for some toddlers

Why We Recommend It

Whether it be with colors, shapes, or even animals, matching is a great skill to work on with toddlers. This affordable egg toy is designed to help your toddler learn to count, sort, and match. The set includes 12 plastic eggs, each of which has a different color and a number of small pegs that match up with another half with the same layout. 

Kids love to click and pull apart these eggs, and they are easy to grab for little hands. They come in a durable plastic egg carton, which also acts as a carrying and storage case. You can even use these eggs with pretend play for a fun learning experience in the play kitchen.

Best for Sensory Learning

deMoca Quiet Book for Toddlers

deMoca Busy Book for Toddlers 1-3, Quiet Book Montessori Toys for 1+ Year Old - Toddler Travel Activities for Preschool Learning, Felt Educational Sensory...

Amazon

Pros
  • Nine engaging activities

  • Machine-washable

Cons
  • Some pages not as engaging

Why We Recommend It

Keeping a toddler busy and entertained is a full-time job. The deMoca Quiet Book makes things a lot easier with nine engaging activities built into a brightly colored fabric, machine-washable book. 

The activities include matching velcro-colored shapes, learning to tie shoes and button buttons, and a clock to tell time. The book is perfect for sensory development and encourages dexterity and spatial awareness. This travel-friendly activity book will keep your toddler busy, and there aren’t any pieces or parts to lose.

Best Flashcards

learnworx Flashcards for Toddlers

LearnWorx Toddler Flash Cards - 101 Baby Flash Cards - 202 Sides - Learn Objects, Numbers & Play Games - Toddler Learning Educational Toys - 12 Months...

Amazon

Pros
  • 101 flash cards included

  • Large print

Cons
  • No shapes, colors, or numbers

Why We Recommend It

Flashcards are a little bit of an old-school learning method but are much loved by parents, teachers, and toddlers because they’re easy, fun, and great for on the go. We love this flashcard set from Learnworx. The set comes with 101 large-print, extra-thick cards that feature cute and bright pictures of objects and scenes like animals, foods, and household items.

On the back of the cards, prompt questions encourage counting, spelling, and more, like “How many lions do you see?” The cards wipe clean and store easily in a toddler-friendly box.

Best Puzzle

Melissa & Doug Farm Animals Sound Puzzle

Melissa and Doug Farm Animals Sound Puzzle

Macys

Pros
  • Realistic animal sounds

  • Puzzle pieces have peg for easy grasping

  • Wood is sturdy

Cons
  • Batteries not included

Why We Recommend It

Another solid educational toy for toddlers is this Melissa & Doug Sound Puzzle. Parents we surveyed recommend this educational toddler toy because it promotes fine motor skills, and kids can play with it independently. Each puzzle piece includes an easy-to-grasp peg for little hands. Once children place the puzzle piece into the correct spot, they’ll hear realistic animal sounds. While we love the farm animals theme, it also comes in musical instruments, vehicles, pets, and zoo animals.

Best STEM

ToyVelt Dinosaur Take Apart Toys

Toyvelt-dinosaur-take-apart-toys

Amazon

Pros
  • Helps with hand-eye coordination

  • Colorful

Cons
  • Not recommended for children under 3 years old

Why We Recommend It

Even though the concept of STEM might seem a little advanced for your toddler, encouraging exploration and play that involves invention and problem-solving are all part of it. This colorful set includes three or six dinosaurs and tools.

The idea is for your toddler to take apart and reassemble the dinosaurs using kid-friendly tools. Although this toy may not be right for a 1-year-old, a 3-year-old child will love the process of taking apart and fixing the dinosaurs. They will work on their hand-eye coordination, creative problem-solving, and patience, all while having fun.

Best for Fine Motor Skills

Learning Resources Spike The Fine Motor Hedgehog

Learning Resources Spike the Fine Motor Hedgehog

Amazon

Pros
  • Quills fit into hedgehog for easy storage

  • Works on fine motor skills

Cons
  • Does not make sounds/noises

Why We Recommend It

Want to know how to work on your toddler’s fine motor skills? Find a toy that keeps their attention! Spike the Fine Motor Hedgehog gets rave reviews because kids love it just as much as parents and grandparents. The brightly colored peg-shaped pieces can be placed in and out of the friendly hedgehog and are easy for kids to grasp. 

With this cute toy, you can also work on color recognition, sorting, and counting skills, then simply store it away as one piece. Good for a young toddler and your budget, and your toddler will love this fun little hedgehog.

Best for Memory

Banana Panda Suuuper Size Memory Game

Banana Panda - Suuuper Size Memory Game - Educational Game for Kids Ages 2 Years and Up

Amazon

Pros
  • Practice matching, focus, and sorting

  • Easy to learn

Cons
  • Only animals or vehicles offered

Why We Recommend It

Best for ages 2 and up, this giant Banana Panda memory game is a good way to practice matching, focus, and sorting. The game itself is easy to learn and fun to play. You can also use the cards as flashcards to introduce new words. 

The Banana Panda game has adorable colorful animal illustrations and the pieces are made of thick cardboard and are large enough for a toddler to see and grab. These easily store and are portable for travel or play on the go.

Best for Reading

LeapFrog Learning Friends 100 Words Book

LeapFrog Learning Friends 100 Words Book

Amazon

Pros
  • Introduces toddlers to 100 vocabulary words

  • English or Spanish offered

Cons
  • Batteries required

  • Touch can be sensitive

Why We Recommend It

You can count on LeapFrog to make an interactive educational toy that both you and your toddler will love. With the Learning Friends Interactive book, your toddler will be introduced to 100 vocabulary words and be able to touch the words and pictures on each page. The book also has fun facts, music, and sounds and can be turned to Spanish for language learning. 

The word categories in the Learning Friends Book include pets, animals, food, mealtime, colors, activities, opposites, outside, and more. Take this book with you in the car or while you grocery shop, and your toddler will be happily entertained.

Best for Art

Betheaces Aqua Doodle Magic Drawing Mat

Betheaces Aqua Doodle Drawing Mat

Amazon

Pros
  • Six drawing templates

  • No toxic ingredients

Cons
  • Pens may leak

Why We Recommend It

As any parent will tell you, any toddler art activity that doesn’t involve mess is a sure winner. With the Aqua Doodle Magic Drawing Mat, there is no mess, no toxic ingredients, and no ink. The magical pen transforms water into a mess-free color and disappears after a few minutes, so the fun doesn't have to end,

The Aqua Doodle also includes four drawing templates, four pens, and four shape stencils. The water drawing mat itself has a bright and colorful border and is large enough to be shared and played with outdoors (but it also folds up and is easy to take with you).

How We Selected and Tested Educational Toys for Toddlers

  • Expert Input: We spoke with Whitney Casares, MD, MPH, pediatrician, author of “Doing It All: Stop Over-Functioning, and Become the Mom and Person You’re Meant to Be” (releasing January 23, 2024), and founder of Modern Mommy Doc, to find out what to look for in educational toys for toddlers. We reviewed guidance from the AAP on how to buy safe toys and what parents and caregivers can expect during the toddler years, ages 1 to 3. Moreover, we reviewed CDC guidance on developmental milestones for toddlers.
  • Parent Survey: We surveyed 875 parents to learn more about what toys their children play with, how they play with them, and why they love them. Additionally, we asked parents and caregivers about their favorite brands and what makes them well-loved among their families.
  • Design and Features Research: After reviewing guidance and insights from our expert, the AAP and CDC, and parents, we studied the design and features of more than 30 educational toys for toddlers on the market.
  • Safety and Convenience Assessment: We considered toy safety, age recommendations, ease of use, developmental milestones, and value when reviewing products.

What to Look for in Educational Toys for Toddlers

Interests

The good news with toddlers is that they are naturally curious, so they can find interest in just about any toy. Also, little ones this age just love to play in general, and since there are so many opportunities to learn through play, that leaves a huge selection of educational toys to choose from.

According to Dr. Casares, toys that facilitate problem-solving, like shape sorters, are a great option for toddlers because of their natural interest in exploring the world around them. Additionally, consider interactive toys and toys that teach natural associations, like a horse in a barn, or a fish in the ocean.

Milestones

Development is still a major consideration when shopping for toys for toddlers because they’re still working on mastering many skills. Dr. Casares says play helps with every aspect of development, including gross motor, fine motor, social-emotional, and cognitive skills. In order to find the best toys for toddlers, it helps to keep some common milestones in mind when you’re shopping.

  • Cognitive Development: The Kidzlane Color Matching Egg Set is an educational toy for 1- and 2-year-olds that encourages problem-solving. 
  • Fine Motor Skills: Spike the Hedgehog helps toddlers strengthen their fine motor skills, like grasping.
  • Language Development: Naming objects is a milestone for toddlers between 1 and 2 years old, and LearnWorx Flashcards are great for helping little ones learn and identify new objects and expand their vocabulary.

Entertainment Value

While toddlers have a wide range of interests, their attention spans are typically short, so looking for entertaining and engaging toys is essential. It’s important to provide a wide range of activities for toddlers, according to Dr. Casares, so a toy that can be played with in multiple ways is more likely to keep a toddler’s attention.

Additionally, she suggests looking for toys that offer some kind of sensory or imaginative play because they’re not only entertaining for toddlers but also really great for supporting their development.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Are educational toys important to a toddler's development?

    Yes! During the toddler years, children grow and change rapidly in the areas of cognitive, physical, and social development, and educational toys can help them learn and grow. Toys that encourage building, matching, and moving pieces around help kiddos improve their hand-eye coordination, motor skills, and problem-solving skills, while those that encourage creative or imaginative play will help them learn and identify new objects and build their language and social/emotional skills.

  • What skills are toddlers learning at this age?

    Children start to learn and refine many skills between 1 and 3 years old. These include cognitive skills like reasoning and thinking things through and social skills like asking for help, building independence, and playing appropriately with others. Language skills also take a big step forward during this phase, as kids go from using just a handful of words to connecting words with images, speaking in complete sentences and communicating more complex thoughts.

  • How many toys should a toddler have?

    While it's smart to have a variety of toys that will encourage the development of different skills (such as blocks for motor skills and books for language skills), too many toys can actually lead to overwhelm—and research shows children who have fewer toys played with each longer and played more creatively.

    To keep your playroom from getting overloaded, store or give away toys that your child has outgrown, put toys on display (and encourage little ones to put them away at the end of playtime), and make books and educational toys the most accessible.

Why Trust Verywell Family

Deanna McCormack is a freelance writer and creative consultant based in Scottsdale, Arizona. She enjoys working with start-ups and regularly covers product launches in the lifestyle, beauty, and motherhood space. A self-proclaimed expert at baby registries and gift ideas, Deanna has two kids and is the co-founder of Loonie Kid, a Canadian clothing company for kids and toddlers.

Additional reporting by Ashley Ziegler and Katrina Cossey.

More Toys for Kids

When it comes to toys for kids, our team has you covered. The Verywell Family team of editors (who are parents or have nieces and nephews of their own) have tested, gifted, and personally recommend every item we feature. Find more of our top toy picks for every developmental stage and personality phase here:

4 Sources
Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Important milestones: Your child by 2 years.

  2. American Academy of Pediatrics. How to buy safe toys.

  3. American Academy of Pediatrics. Ages & stages.

  4. Dauch C, Imwalle M, Ocasio B, Metz AE. The influence of the number of toys in the environment on toddlers’ playInfant Behav Dev. 2018;50:78-87.