Parents Guide to Toddler Toys

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Best Toy Brands for Toddlers

Several companies stand head and shoulders above the competition when it comes to the toddler toy market. They encompass each of the qualities listed above and provide stellar toys for toddlers. When you purchase toys from Fisher-Price, Melissa & Doug, LeapFrog, PlaySkool, Vtech, and Thomas & Friends, you can be sure your child is getting the very best toddler toys available.

Fisher-Price: Initially created during the Great Depression, Fisher-Price has always constructed durable toys with amazing play and learning value. While it only originally had a line of sixteen wood toys, these days, most stores devote an entire aisle to the number of Fisher-Price toys available. Focusing on a range of skills for kids of all ages, Fisher-Price is easily one of the most recognized toy companies these days.

Melissa and Doug: What started as an entrepreneurial experiment in 1988 has become one of the single best learning toy companies in the world. The fantastic toys that come from this company are geared toward kids of all ages, and with wood learning toys, craft ideas, plush items, musical toys, and puzzles, you know you’ll find the toys you’re looking for when you shop Melissa and Doug.

LeapFrog: A company dedicated completely to making learning toys for kids, LeapFrog is a relative newcomer to the toddler scene. With a strong focus on technology, each LeapFrog creation teaches kids a variety of necessary skills. From language to prereading to geography and math, LeapFrog offers great ways for kids to develop knowledge both in school and before they reach school age.

Playskool: Owned by the giant Hasbro toy company, Playskool is a name that is familiar to many toddler parents these days. With one of the largest selections of toys that focus on necessary motor and knowledge skills for toddlers, you can trust the Playskool name to bring you the toys that will let your child have fun while learning.

VTech: Committed to giving your toddler a headstart when it comes to technology and education, VTech was originally created in 1976. These days, with a wide range of products geared at kids of all ages, VTech makes the awards lists on a regular basis. In what they call “smart play,” VTech is redesigning the way kids and parents think about toys.

Thomas and Friends: Originally a line of bedtime stories by a dedicated father, Thomas and Friends has grown into an unbeatable line of toys, movies, and books that has every little would-be engineer not only excited about the world of trains, but also entertained, stimulated, and learning those all-important social skills as they watch Thomas the Tank Engine interact with the other major characters in the story line.

Whether you are looking for old classics or modern favorites, you are sure to find them through these great toy companies. Today’s child needs an early introduction to technology, and toys are a perfect way to teach them. LeapFrog and Vtech specialize in interactive, technological toys that will surprise, excite, and help your child learn with a modern twist. Fisher-Price, Playskool, Thomas & Friends, and Melissa & Doug offer technology-based toys as well as more traditional items. So, whether your child is playing a LeapFrog computer game, reading a Vtech interactive book, or putting on a show with a Melissa & Doug puppet, he’ll have all his learning bases covered – and have a great time.

Top 10 Toddler Toys

Whether you are shopping for your own little one or another child in your life, everyone can use some help and suggestions when it comes to picking out toys for toddlers. The following are rated as the top toddler toy items in the industry. While each is very different, they all share a commitment to quality and will entertain, stimulate, and teach your child.

#1. Live Butterfly Garden: Everyone – children and adults alike – is fascinated with butterflies. How does a caterpillar turn into a butterfly, your inquisitive toddler wants to know. Now you can show him with the Live Butterfly Garden from Insect Lore. This great habitat allows you to watch the transformation from larva to caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly. The Live Butterfly Garden comes with a voucher for three to five painted lady caterpillar larvae, a mesh observation chamber, feeding supplies, and an informational booklet with fun butterfly facts. Once your live larvae come in the mail, it will be two or three weeks until beautiful butterflies emerge. Your child can watch this amazing transformation through all its stages. Once the butterflies have emerged, you can observe them and set them free. Not only is this an invaluable learning experience, it is a great chance for you and your child to interact and discover something new together.

The Live Butterfly Garden is collapsible and can be reused as many times as your child wants. Perfect for children age four and up, this is a great item for homeschooling or extracurricular learning.

#2. Busy Ball Popper: The Busy Ball Popper from Hasbro (parent company of Playskool) is an engaging toy for your younger toddler. He will love the colors, movement, and fun, and you will love the chance he’ll get to work on his motor skills and visual perception. The Busy Ball Popper comes with five brightly colored balls, which your child can drop on the fun track. Either you or he can pump the plunger to build up air pressure. Once the balls are released, they travel down the track. At the bottom, the air pressure makes them pop out of the top. The fun cycle continues! Younger toddlers will love the repetitious movement and will be delighted as the balls continue to pop up and travel down the track.

The Busy Ball Popper also features great sound effects and eight fun songs to accompany the movement. Your child will love this feature, and he’ll improve his auditory perception as he listens. As your toddler grows, he can begin to place the balls on the track and pump the plunger. This will help further with motor skills and will also help him develop his cause and effect reasoning. This toy has great features and learning opportunities, which has made it a top choice among children and parents. It is also the winner of American Baby’s Best Toy, Child Magazine’s Best Toy, and the NAPPA Gold Award.

#3. WaterWheel Play Table: If your toddler is like most children, he loves the water. Whether he’s splashing in it, throwing things in it, or pouring it into cups and containers, he loves the sound, the feel, and the sight of water. Now he can have a whole beach-full of fun in his own backyard. The WaterWheel Play Table is a great watery activity center that will keep your child entertained for hours, as he pours, splashes, and spills his way to great motor skills and cause and effect learning.

The WaterWheel Play Table is a molded plastic play area. It stands high enough off the ground to keep dirt out and keep your child (relatively) clean while he plays. It is low enough, however, to allow him to reach everything comfortably. There are different sections so that when the WaterWheel Play Table is filled with water, there are lakes, canals, moats, and harbors. Two boats are provided for great imaginative play, and a cup is necessary for creating storms, floods, and more. The WaterWheel Play Table wouldn’t be complete without the water wheel! Your child can pour water into the wide funnel, which then pushes it through the water wheel. From there, it falls gently onto the Play Table.

The WaterWheel Play Table holds up to four gallons of water and is large enough to provide children with plenty of water and room to play. Children age one to four will love this great Play Table, and it is sure to be the favorite outdoor toy.

#4. Elmo Live: Is Tickle Me Elmo too tame for your fun-loving toddler? Does she need the next level in excitement featuring this adorable, loveable Sesame Street character? If so, she’ll love Elmo Live, the newest addition to Fisher-Price’s beloved Elmo collection. This Elmo sings, tells stories and jokes, and play games while moving, dancing, and moving his mouth in a realistic way. Your child will love the interaction she’ll find with this great plush item.

Elmo Live is recommended for children age eighteen months and up. Younger toddlers will easily be able to activate the animated Elmo with a tickle or squeeze to the tummy, nose, back, or foot. They’ll love the lively songs, bright red color, and soft texture of Elmo. Older children will appreciate the stories and jokes and will be able to participate in the fun games. This is a great toy because it keeps up as your child develops and his needs change. Great for playtime or snuggle time, Elmo Live will be an enduring favorite.

#5. Melissa and Doug Deluxe Standing Easel: Childhood is a time of learning and creating, and arts and crafts are a perfect way for your child to experiment with color and texture, while strengthening gross and fine motor skills, visual perception, hand-eye coordination, and cognitive ability. Who knew fingerpainting was so educational? The Melissa and Doug Deluxe Standing Easel is a great tool for any budding artist and will encourage hours of fun and creativity.

The Standing Easel has a chalkboard on one side and a dry erase board on the other, both of which are favorites among toddlers. There is also a paper roll on top for masterpieces your child wants to keep. The easel has a chalk tray, a paint tray, and four bright clips for hanging artwork. Your child will be able to keep all his supplies close at hand as he creates beautiful works of art. The Melissa and Doug Deluxe Standing Easel is also adjustable. Perfect for your three year old, it will still be around when he’s nine. As an added bonus, it is easily foldable. When not in use, you can store it quickly and conveniently.

#6. LeapFrog Leapster 2: You won’t believe the fun and learning that is packed into the LeapFrog Leapster 2. This handheld game is designed for children age four to eight and allows for ever-expanding levels of stimulation. The Leapster 2 is compatible with more than thirty games. The games adapt to your child’s current level of play so it can grow with your child and continually provide a perfect level of challenge. Games teach children language, reading, math, and science content as well as expose them to technological skills they’ll need in life. They’ll also develop better hand-eye coordination, motor skills, and more.

This is a great, versatile game. With the USB connection, your child can create art on his Leapster, upload it, print it, share it, and more. He can also connect to the internet to find even more activities and collect rewards. Parents can also connect to the LeapFrog Learning Path program online to see what their children are learning. Whether online or on the go, your preschooler will love this great game system.

#7. Musical Tea Set: Tea sets have long been among the best toys for toddlers, and your child will love the updated Musical Tea Set from Fisher-Price. Tea sets are great for practicing important socialization skills, including table manners. Your child will love to serve you little snacks and pour you tea. In your stead, her stuffed buddies will do just as well. The Musical Tea Set is made from durable plastic and features fun colors. Included in the set are a teapot, four cups, saucers, spoons, creamer, and sugar bowl and lid, all of which fit on the serving tray.

The Musical Tea Set plays “I’m a Little Teapot” when the top of the lid is pressed, and it simulates a tinkling pouring sound when tipped. Your child will love the added touch of fun and realism. Tea parties are great for encouraging motor skills, verbal skills, creative play, and socialization. Every child should have a great tea set, and the Musical Tea Set is a perfect choice.

#8. Amazing Animals Sing & Go Choo-Choo: Children love animals, and they love trains. Combine the two, and you have a great product that will entertain, engage, and stimulate for hours. Each car of the Amazing Animals Sing & Go Choo-Choo has a different fun feature, including a smokestack that lights up. From the fun, bright sliding beads to the trapeze artist monkey, this train provides opportunities for learning and enjoyment. Older toddlers will be able to crawl along next to the train as it chugs along, playing its lively tunes.

The animals have soft, rounded edges, moveable joints, bright colors, and fun rain stick sound effects. Your child will love these travelers, and younger children can use them as teethers. A great toy on their own, they’re even more fun with the train. Your child’s senses will have a feast of fun features to explore on the Amazing Animals Sing & Go Choo-Choo.
The Amazing Animals Sing & Go Choo-Choo has won several top awards, including the Parent’s Magazine Best Toys of the Year Award for 2006.

#9. Learn-to-Play Piano: Children love music, and the Learn-to-Play Piano is sure to please any aspiring musician. Melissa and Doug have created a toddler-sized piano with real working keys and the potential to create masterpieces of music. Made for children age three to seven, this piano features eye-catching colors and fun musical note graphics. Each of the twenty-five keys is hand tuned for great sound quality.

Your young toddler will love to experiment with the sounds of the Learn-to-Play Piano, and as he grows, he can use the included song book to play actual tunes. It is color coded and illustrated to allow for easy and quick learning. Your child can learn the musical scale, play songs, and perform to his heart’s content. This piano is a must-have for your little performer.

#10. Little People Racin’ Ramps Garage: Toddlers have a need for speed, and the Little People Racin’ Ramps Garage gives it them. They’ll love driving through the multi-layered, colorful garage. This great set includes a car, tow truck, mechanic, and driver, an automatic stop sign, an elevator with bell sounds, a gas pump, and an air hose. Parking garages have never been so much fun. Your toddler will refine his motor skills as he “drives” his cars around the garage. Opportunities for pretending and creative play abound. Little People toddler toy items have been making little people happy for generations, and the Racin’ Ramps Garage is sure to be an instant and long-lasting favorite. It’s durable enough to last through your child’s rough toddler years and versatile and fun enough to entertain him the whole way through.

The best toddler toys are made with every aspect of your child’s development in mind. Technological skills, motor skills, visual and auditory perception, pretend play, and fun are in store for your child. Playing is the work of childhood, and these toys are the perfect tools.

Best Toys