Top 20 Toddler Toys That Are Fun & Educational—And Keep Kids Entertained for Hours! Leave a comment
If you’re a busy mom like me, you know the struggle of keeping a toddler entertained long enough to get something done (like actually finishing that cup of coffee while it’s still hot!). The best toddler toys aren’t just fun—they also help little ones develop important skills like problem-solving, creativity, and coordination.
I’ve rounded up 20 of the best toddler toys that are both educational and engaging—and trust me, these have all been mom-tested and toddler-approved! All of these also make great gifts for birthdays and holidays!
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1. Wooden Shape Sorter Toy
⭐ Why It’s Great: Helps toddlers with hand-eye coordination, shape recognition, and problem-solving skills. Plus, they love the challenge of getting the pieces to fit just right!
- Wooden dump truck and shape sorter in one
- Includes nine colored wooden blocks in different shapes and two wooden play figures
- Back door lifts and truck bed tilts to dump blocks
2. Magna-Tiles 32-Piece Set
⭐ Why It’s Great: These colorful, magnetic building tiles encourage creativity, spatial awareness, and STEM learning—plus, they keep kids busy for hours!
- What’s Included: 32 translucent geometric shapes in 6 different colors. This set includes Squares (2 Large, 14 Small) an…
- What Makes It Unique: You’re looking at the original and most celebrated set in magnetic construction! Features classic …
- Developmental: Certified STEAM toy, per Dr. Gummer’s Good Play Guide, in partnership with The Toy Association, for aidin…
3. LeapFrog Learning Friends 100 Words Book
⭐ Why It’s Great: This interactive book teaches 100+ words in English and Spanish, perfect for early language development.
- Interact With Friends: Meet learning friends Turtle, Tiger and Monkey who will introduce the alphabet through more than …
- Learn Categories: This baby activity book includes word categories such as pets, animals, food, mealtime, colors, activi…
- Learn Sounds: Touch the words on the pages to hear new vocabulary, sound effects, and fun facts; hear the two theme song…
4. Busy Board Montessori Toy
⭐ Why It’s Great: A perfect travel toy, this board lets toddlers practice zipping, buttoning, and buckling, helping with fine motor skills.
- Montessori Learning: Montessori Activity Board offers a natural learning experience through play, featuring 25 engaging …
- Unique & Upgraded Busy Board: Our innovatively designed Busy Board stands out with expanded sections for more fun compar…
- Safe & Educational: Crafted from polyester fiber, this sensory toy is ideal for children aged 3 years old. Its gentle te…
5. VTech KidiBeats Drum Set
⭐ Why It’s Great: Kids can jam out while learning numbers, letters, and rhythms—a total win-win!
- Kids learning toy has three drum pads and cymbal each with its own unique sound for sensory development
- Toddlers can play along to 9 melodies in styles including rock, dance and pop; music toy teaches letters, numbers, and m…
- Kids drum set has 4 modes of play: Free Play, Letters, Numbers, and Follow-Along; each drum features a unique LED light
6. Melissa & Doug Water Wow! Books
⭐ Why It’s Great: These no-mess water coloring books are reusable, making them perfect for car rides and quiet time.
- Three water reveal activity books with water pen in each
- Colors & Shapes, Fairy Tales, and Animals water reveal pads
- Water reveals pictures; dry to erase and reuse
7. Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Smart Stages Piggy Bank
⭐ Why It’s Great: A cute piggy bank that teaches counting, colors, and fine motor skills through play.
- Musical toy piggy bank with 40+ songs, sounds and phrases
- 2 Smart Stages learning levels teach numbers and counting, colors, and Spanish words
- Drop the coins into piggy’s back or press the nose for fun songs, sounds and phrases
8. Wooden Rainbow Stacker
⭐ Why It’s Great: Encourages hand-eye coordination and creativity while looking super cute on a shelf!
- OPEN ENDED TOYS：Unlike The Traditional Rainbow Blocks, We Combine 12 Rainbow Blocks, 11 Semi-Circular Blocks, 11 Rectang…
- INTEGRATED SKILL DEVELOPMENT：Rainbow Building Blocks Can Stimulate Children’S Sense Of Challenge And Hands-On Ability, I…
- THE PERFECT FAMILY GAME:When Children Play Alone, This Is A Great Toy To Improve Their Patience And Develop Their Indepe…
9. Little Tikes Cozy Coupe
⭐ Why It’s Great: This classic ride-on car builds gross motor skills and provides endless fun.
- Made in the USA. The Little Tikes Company is located in the heartland of America.
- LET KIDS DRIVE – Kids can easily and safely steer the Cozy Coupe car with it’s built in safety features. Kids can kick a…
- LET MOM AND DAD LEAD THE WAY – This has a back handle for parent-controlled push ride action good for either indoor or o…
10. Pop Tubes Sensory Toy
⭐ Why It’s Great: These stretchy, poppable tubes are great for sensory play and fine motor skills.
- 【Fun Gameplay】These fidget toys can fold, bend, overlap, stretch, rotate, and make sounds in different ways. Cultivate c…
- 【Safe Material】These pop tubes are made of plastic, are non-toxic and tasteless, are very safe for children, and can be …
- 【Perfect Gift】Very suitable as your child’s birthday gift, Christmas stocking stuffing or even Easter basket stuffing. Y…
11. Lovevery Play Kits
⭐ Why It’s Great: Designed by experts, these kits grow with your child and include high-quality, Montessori-inspired toys.
- THE BEST BIRTHDAY GIFT FOR 1-YEAR-OLDS: The Babbler Play Kit taps into your toddler’s growing curiosity of the world aro…
- BONUS BOOK: “Where is Crew’s Shoe?” Board Book: Lift the flaps along the way to find the missing shoe, making prediction…
- LEARN THROUGH PLAY: The Babbler introduces engaging activities focused on balance, object permanence, spatial awareness,…
12. Hape Pound & Tap Bench with Xylophone
⭐ Why It’s Great: Toddlers can hammer the balls down while making music—teaching cause and effect and hand-eye coordination.
- Pound the balls and they will drop on the xylophone, tinkling out a pleasant scale of notes
- Pull out the xylophone and play a tune directly on the keys
- Great fun exploring rhythm and melodies
13. Melissa & Doug Play Kitchen Set
⭐ Why It’s Great: Encourages imaginative play while helping toddlers learn about food, sharing, and creativity.
- HEALTHY PRETEND PLAY: Melissa & Doug Food Groups Wooden Play Food is a sturdy wooden food set that features items from t…
- FUN AND EDUCATIONAL: This play food for kids set helps children plan a well-balanced meal. It helps introduce the basics…
- EASY TO STORE: Four wooden crates are included to sort the food into groups – dairy, produce (for fruits and vegetables)…
14. Fisher-Price Smart Stages Puppy
⭐ Why It’s Great: This plush puppy teaches songs, numbers, and phrases as kids interact with it.
- Plush learning toy for babies that introduces over 100 first words with 75+ songs, sounds, tunes and phrases
- Press Sis’ hands, foot, ear, and heart (5 activations in all) for lights, music, sounds and phrases
- 3 Smart Stages levels grow along with your baby and teach parts of the body, shapes, counting, the alphabet and more
15. VTech Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker
⭐ Why It’s Great: Perfect for little ones learning to walk, and the interactive play panel teaches colors, numbers, and animals.
- Removable Tray: The activity-packed, detachable panel is perfect for babies who can sit up; it can also re-attach to the…
- Auditory Training: The activity center for baby boys and girls includes five piano keys that play musical notes and a te…
- Motor Development: 3 shape sorters, light-up buttons, and colorful spinning rollers are featured on the baby rolling wal…
16. Mega Bloks First Builders Bag
⭐ Why It’s Great: These chunky blocks are easy to stack and encourage creative building.
- Portable, folding table building set
- 30 pieces include building blocks and special parts
- Build a town with house, bakery, mailbox, and more
17. Montessori Wooden Busy Cube
⭐ Why It’s Great: Keeps toddlers entertained while developing fine motor skills and problem-solving.
- 【ENGAGING SHAPE SORTER】The wooden shape sorter cube toys contain 8 diverse shapes in different colors and a sturdy box w…
- 【MONTESSORI LEARNING TOYS】As kids try to get the shapes out and put them back in, they exercise hand-eye coordination, f…
- 【MULTIPURPOSE STORAGE BOX】The sturdy wooden box is not only a shape sorter toy, but also a compact storage box that all …
18. Playfoam Pals Sensory Toy
⭐ Why It’s Great: Soft, squishy foam that doesn’t dry out—perfect for sensory play and creativity.
- SPARK MORE CREATIVITY! Let’s try something new! Educational Insights toys and games provide opportunities for self-expre…
- MORE PLAYFOAM = MORE LEARNING FUN: Get even more creative with squishy, squashy, sensory-stimulating Playfoam in the big…
- SUPER FOR SENSORY BINS: Totally tactile Playfoam is perfect for preschool sensory bins! Squish, squash, dig, discover, a…
19. LCD Writing Tablet for Kids
⭐ Why It’s Great: A mess-free way for toddlers to practice drawing and pre-writing skills.
- 【 Mega Size Rechargeable New Generation Ever】21 Inch Mega size Flagship Model with built-in rechargeable battery with a …
- 【Eyesight-Protective Writing Tablet for Kids Toddlers Girls Boys】 Kinayue kids drawing tablets are no radiation, no glar…
- 【Educational Learning Toys for Toddlers Kids】 The multi-functional drawing doodle pad is a good educational learning toy…
20. Toddler Balance Bike
⭐ Why It’s Great: Helps improve balance and coordination while being a fun way to move around!
- GROW IN FUN: Recommended ages for 12-24 months. The infant balance bike is the best birthday gift for toddlers to learn …
- SAFELY RIDE: No pedal and fully widened closed wheel to avoid clamping baby’s feet. 135 ° turning limit and gravity stee…
- STURDY & COMFORTABLE DESIGN: The mini balance bike equips sturdy aluminum alloy frame, non-slip TPU handle, and a softly…
Final Thoughts
Finding the perfect toddler toy that’s both fun and educational is a game-changer! These picks will not only keep your little one entertained for hours but also help with their development in the best way possible.
Do you have a favorite toddler toy that keeps your kiddo busy? Drop it in the comments—I’d love to hear what’s working in your house!
💡 Don’t forget to share this list with other busy moms who need some toddler toy inspiration! 💡
