'It's a simple fact that kids love to play. Whether that means singing songs, drawing pictures, or dragging out that gigantic bin of toys that may or may not be gathering dust while your child favors something a bit more electronic in nature. The value of educational toys for toddlers can't be overstated.
Children will happily fill their brain with whatever they're fed, and while YouTube pancake art videos might keep them occupied it definitely isn't making the most of this very special time when your toddler's brain is at its most absorbent. I'm not saying that every kid who receives a toy piano will become the next Mozart, but I am saying that it's a better option than vegging out with endless Youtube playlists.
There are my favorite top 10 educational toys for toddlers. If you like what you see, simply click the photo and be whisked away to Amazon for an easy purchase. Let's jump into it!
Activity Cube
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Doors to open, animals to find, panels to spin! This activity cube features so much for little hands to do. The solid wood construction means that this will be an investment that can be passed on to your grandchildren and beyond. The rounded corners help to make it that much safer. My baby boy spends hours at a time exploring and learning with this activity cube!
Mr. Potatohead
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Your child will love putting his nose where his ear should be and building many different versions of the original potato friend! Store the parts in the figure’s Tater Tush. Potato figure comes with eyes, nose, mouth with teeth, hat, mustache, tongue, pair of glasses, 2 hands, 2 ears and 1 pair of legs with shoes.
Jumbo Blocks
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LeapFrog Learning Friends 100 Words Book
Your toddler's vocabulary is expanding rapidly, so utilize this educational toy for toddlers to introduce your toddler to more than 100 age-appropriate words chosen by learning experts. Word categories include: pets, animals, food, mealtime, colors, activities, opposites, outside, vehicles, clothes, body parts, and fruit.
Music Band Set
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Let your toddler rock and roll with this whimsical crocodile-shaped musical instrument set! Includes a drum, metallophone (or xylophone), guiro wooden block, and bell. Set contains 2 mallets for playtime duets. Fosters brain development, encourages a sense of rhythm, and hones small motor skills. This croc's whimsical design and playful expression make music time fun!
Smart Shots Sports Center
Whether you're raising a basketball superstar or a soccer rocker, this 2 in 1 spots center is sure to start your toddler off on the right foot. Encourage your little one while they improve their hand-eye (or hand-foot) coordination. The shapes on the side can also help your kiddo learn all about shapes and colors. Combining brains with body? That's a combination that's set for success!
MagnaTiles
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A fantastic combination of creativity, math, science, and tactile skills. This is the secret weapon that helped my two-year-old begin to understand symmetry. He builds things evenly on both sides to prevent it from falling apart. I'm sure he doesn't understand how or why, but the results speak for themselves. He understands that he needs to make an even shape to keep his creation together. Amazing!
Vtech Lil' SmartTop
A fantastic combination of keyboard, mouse, and piano with a screen that works and is sure to draw your child's attention. Features four modes of play that teach letters, phonics, music, shapes, and stories! The only way that I could improve this would be to actually feature a QWERTY keyboard. It might also be nice to have a rechargeable battery pack because my little one loves this. We go through AA batteries really quickly.
Art Desk Easel
Double-sided kid's art easel features a large dry-erase white board and spacious chalk board. Built-in trays and spacious art caddie allows little ones to neatly display their art supplies. Large storage compartments for coloring books, Notepads, painting supplies and more.
Pounding Bench
A pounding bench is an exceptional learning toy that helps children practice fine motor skills. The action of the pegs helps children name the colors and provides an effective, hands-on, screen-free play option. Deluxe Pounding Bench Wooden Toy with Mallet is a classic pounding toy with a design twist. As the colorful, non-removable pegs on the bench go up and down, they play peekaboo, taking turns showing their friendly smiles.
Final Thoughts
There are a huge number of educational toys for toddlers and some function better than others. Everyone has different gifts. My daughter picked up counting and math in a flash while my boy is much more adept at learning words and imitating sounds. If you're looking for something that every child can use, no matter their individual gifts then our grape scented foot deodorizer powder is sure to be a hit! You can also try the bubblegum scented foot deodorizer powder if that's more pleasing to you and your child. Finally, for some additional reading material don't hesitate to check out our blog all about dad jokes.