Toys & Gifts Infants & Toddlers The Best Educational Toys for Toddlers to Combine Fun and Learning Inspire little minds with building, reading, matching, and more educational toys By Deanna McCormack, Ashley Ziegler, and Katrina Cossey Updated on October 24, 2023 Medically reviewed by Lyndsey Garbi, MD Fact checked by Marley Hall Print We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. 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. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Melissa & Doug Grocery Cart Push Toy and Puzzles at Amazon ($53) Jump to Review Best Building: Mega Bloks 80-Piece Big Building Bag at Amazon ($16) Jump to Review Best Matching: Kidzlane Egg Toy for Kids and Toddlers at Amazon ($15) Jump to Review Best for Sensory Learning: deMoca Quiet Book for Toddlers at Amazon ($30) Jump to Review Best Flashcards: learnworx Flashcards for Toddlers at Amazon ($29) Jump to Review Best Puzzle: Melissa & Doug Farm Animals Sound Puzzle at Amazon ($12) Jump to Review Best STEM: ToyVelt Dinosaur Take Apart Toys at Amazon ($27) Jump to Review Best for Fine Motor Skills: Learning Resources Spike The Fine Motor Hedgehog at Amazon ($11) Jump to Review Best for Memory: Banana Panda Suuuper Size Memory Game at Amazon ($26) Jump to Review Best for Reading: LeapFrog Learning Friends 100 Words Book at Amazon ($14) Jump to Review In This Article Expand Our Picks How We Selected and Tested What to Look For FAQs Why Trust Verywell Family More Toys for Kids Best Overall Melissa & Doug Grocery Cart Push Toy and Puzzles Amazon View On Amazon $53 View On Melissaanddoug.com $75 View On Michaels $77 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 Amazon View On Amazon $16 View On Walmart $16 View On Kohls.com $20 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 Amazon View On Amazon $15 View On Walmart $15 View On Staples $28 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 Amazon View On Amazon $30 View On Walmart $54 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. The 31 Best Toys for Toddlers to Engage in a Learning and Entertaining Playtime Best Flashcards learnworx Flashcards for Toddlers Amazon View On Amazon $29 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 Macys View On Amazon $12 View On Walmart $14 View On Macy's 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 Amazon View On Amazon $27 View On Walmart $36 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. The 8 Best Educational Toys for 2-Year-Olds Best for Fine Motor Skills Learning Resources Spike The Fine Motor Hedgehog Amazon View On Amazon $11 View On Walmart $23 View On Office Depot $22 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. The 10 Best Toys for Fine Motor Skill Development Best for Memory Banana Panda Suuuper Size Memory Game Amazon View On Amazon $26 View On Walmart $30 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 Amazon View On Amazon $14 View On Walmart $30 View On Kohls.com $18 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 Learn to Read Apps Best for Art Betheaces Aqua Doodle Magic Drawing Mat Amazon View On Amazon $18 View On Walmart $18 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: The Best Christmas Gifts for Kids The Best Developmental Toys for Babies The Best Tummy Time Toys The Best Active Toys for Toddlers The Best Outdoor Toys for Toddlers The Best Toys for Toddlers The Best Phonics Toys for Preschoolers The Best Toys for Learning Letters and Numbers The Best Musical Toys for Children of All Ages The Best Montessori Toys to Encourage Thoughtful Play The Best Sesame Street Toys The Best Outdoor Toys for Kids of All Ages The Best Dinosaur Toys The Best Toys for Fine Motor Skills Development The Best Toys for Independent Play The Best Snow Toys for Kids The Best STEM Toys for Kids Best Laptop Toys for Kids The Best Social Emotional Learning Toys The Best Robot Toys The Best Ride-On Toys The Best Cleaning Toy Sets The Black-Owned Gift Guide 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. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Important milestones: Your child by 2 years. American Academy of Pediatrics. How to buy safe toys. American Academy of Pediatrics. Ages & stages. Dauch C, Imwalle M, Ocasio B, Metz AE. The influence of the number of toys in the environment on toddlers’ play. Infant Behav Dev. 2018;50:78-87. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Helpful Report an Error Other Submit