25+ Educational Toys For 4-Year-Olds (For Child Development)

What Are Learning Toys & Can Play Help In Child Development?

Learning toys are objects that have educational value.

Educational toys for 4-year-olds give your preschooler a head start in learning the basics of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics), the ABCs, etc. while they’re having fun.

Various skills and different concepts kids can learn during play:

Cognitive skills
Problem-solving skills
Reading and spelling
STEAM or STEM learning (*STEM means science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; STEAM includes arts)
Fine motor skills
Gross motor skills
Hand-eye coordination
Concentration
Number recognition
Letter recognition
Shape and color recognition
Sequencing

These also make the best gifts because educational play helps a child’s cognitive and physical development.

What Are Appropriate Toys For A 4-Year-Old Child?

Support your child’s development with age-appropriate learning toys to master newly acquired skills.

By four years old, most children have reached the following milestones: (1)

Can name at least a few colors
Can draw a person with at least three distinct body parts
Can predict what might happen next in a story
Can catch a large ball with their arms or two hands
Can properly hold a crayon or pencil between their thumb and other fingers instead of grasping
Can form a sentence using four or more words
Can answer simple questions
Can recall what happened during the day and tell stories
Can recite some or most words of a nursery rhyme or a simple song
Can pour water or serve themselves food (with or without adult supervision)
Can operate zippers, buttons, and latches

The best learning toys for four-year-old kids include the following:

Montessori toys
STEAM/STEM toys
Building blocks (preferably wooden blocks)
Puzzles and matching games
Pegboards and activity centers
Threading and lacing toys
Musical toys and instruments
Toys for pretend play
Construction and building toys
Games (e.g., smart toys, card games, or board games)
Active outdoor toys

What Do 4-Year-Olds Like To Play With?

Children have varied interests. A typical 4-year-old enjoys playing with toys that spark their interest, especially because kids this age are naturally curious and full of questions.

Dollhouses are popular with 4-year-old girls, while toy trains and cars might interest a boy this age.

Below are 29 learning toys you can consider for your little one.

The 29 Best Educational Toys For 4-Year-Olds

STEM & Montessori-Inspired Toys

1. KiwiCo Koala Crate – subscription-based (2-4 years old)

Pros & Best Features: Brand-curated subscription play set

Product Safety: Rigorous tests to ensure all safety standards are met

Materials: Solid wood, fabric, paper, and cotton strings

Age Range: 2-4 years old

Educational Value: Creativity, fine motor skills, cognitive skills, problem-solving, and math skills

Extra Features: Includes books for your little one

Certification: Certified by independent, third-party product safety testing labs

Made In: Not indicated

Product Recall: None

Cons: Can be pricey

Customer Reviews:

“The activities are interesting and at just the right level for my daughter to work on with little to no help from me.” – Reviewer on Kiwi Co

“Everything is cheap, dollar store things I could make on my own.” – Reviewer on Kiwi Co

2. LOVEVERY The Analyst Play Kit – subscription-based (46-48 months)

Pros & Best Features: Montessori play kit designed for improving analytical skills

Product Safety: Free from toxic, heavy elements and phthalates

Materials: Wood, cardboard, and fabric

Age Range: 46-48 months

Educational Value: Language skills, fine motor skills, sensory play, analytical skills, and practical skills

Extra Features: Includes sewing kit

Certification: Meets global safety and regulatory standards

Made In: Curated in Idaho; produced by a supplier network in Asia

Product Recall: None

Cons: Can be pricey; contains some choking risks to younger children

Customer Reviews:

“Everything is of great quality, durable and aesthetically pleasing.” – Reviewer on LOVEVERY

“I love this set and how the book is tied to the actual kit item.” – Reviewer on LOVEVERY

3. KEVA Brain Builders Junior (4+ years old)

Pros & Best Features: STEM-based building blocks

Product Safety: Meets toy quality and safety standards

Materials: Wood

Age Range: 4+ years old

Educational Value: STEM skills (physics and basic engineering), fine motor skills, strategy and planning, and hand-eye coordination

Extra Features: Includes a carrying case and 20 double-sided cards with a total of 40 puzzles to complete

Certifications: CPSIA (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act), ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials), & CPSC (US Consumer Product Safety Commission)

Made In: China (according to Amazon)

Product Recall: None

Cons: Some complaints about the product being too simple or that the planks aren’t enough

Customer Reviews:

“My kids got this for Christmas. I was a little concerned that it wouldn’t hold their attention for too long but out of all their Christmas gifts, this held their attention for the longest! They loved working so hard to make sure they made their sticks match the pictures.” – Reviewer on Amazon

“Very simple product, hard to believe all the hype.” – Reviewer on Amazon

4. MindWare Dig It Up! Discoveries: Wild Animals (4+ years old)

Pros & Best Features: Archaeology-inspired, 12-pod animal dig-up kit

Product Safety: Materials that meet toy quality and safety standards

Materials: Clay pods

Age Range: 4+ years old

Educational Value: STEM learning, fine motor skills, planning, coordination, and problem-solving skills

Extra Features: Includes excavation guides and chiseling tools

Certification: CPSIA, ASTM, and CPSC

Made In: Not indicated

Product Recall: None

Cons: Some complaints that this produces a lot of mess and can be pricey; contains small parts that can be choking risks to younger children

Customer Reviews:

“My 4.5 year old loves excavating and identifying the wild animals inside of each egg. It takes strength and persistence for him, so he’s developing his fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination while also having fun.” – Reviewer on Mind Ware

“Can be very messy so work on it outside. Kind of pricy for what you get.” – Reviewer on Amazon

5. Hape Robot Factory Domino (4+ years old)

Pros & Best Features: Domino set

Product Safety: Meets safety standards

Materials: Wood, metal, and plastic

Age Range: 4+ years old

Educational Value: STEAM learning (momentum, potential energy, gravity, and domino effect), hand-eye coordination, early engineering, fine motor skills, and problem-solving skills

Extra Features: Includes catapult, spinning arm, and a flag finish box

Certification: European and American safety standards – EN 71 and ASTM F963

Made In: Not indicated

Product Recall: None

Cons: Contains some choking risks to younger children

Customer Reviews:

“The dominoes are made of wood, which is a nice change from plastic toys.” – Reviewer on HAPE Toys

“The dominos are not the same size as the other Hape domino sets.” – Reviewer on Amazon

6. Educational Insights GeoSafari Jr. Talking Wildlife Camera (4-7 years old)

Pros & Best Features: Wildlife viewing camera with 130+ built-in high-resolution images and facts from Robert Irwin of Animal Planet’s “Crikey It’s the Irwins”

Product Safety: No sharp parts or glass

Materials: Thick plastic

Age Range: 4-7 years old

Educational Value: STEM learning

Extra Features: Includes two modes of play, with more than 120 fun facts and 120 quiz questions

Certification: Not indicated

Made In: Not indicated

Product Recall: None

Cons: Requires three AAA batteries (sold separately)

Customer Reviews:

“I love the fact this is toy Is educational, has multiple locations showing animal’s and has a quiz feature to test knowledge.” – Reviewer on Educational Insights

“I went to listen to the camera a week later. Already dead even with new batteries.” – Reviewer on Educational Insights

7. Learning Resources Splashology Water Lab (4+ years old)

Pros & Best Features: Science experiment toys

Product Safety: Free from phthalates

Materials: LDPE (low-density polyethylene) plastic

Age Range: 4+ years old

Educational Value: STEM learning

Extra Features: Includes waterproof experiment cards and washable pieces

Certification: CPSIA (Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act)

Made In: China

Product Recall: None

Cons: Doesn’t include the colorful liquids shown on the box

Customer Reviews:

“We were able to mix colors in the different beakers and test tubes.” – Reviewer on Learning Resources

“Honestly I didn’t like that it didn’t say on the box what you needed so I didn’t have everything to play with it and had to go out and get everything.” – Reviewer on Learning Resources

Words, ABCs, Numbers, & Colors

8. Melissa & Doug See & Spell Learning Toy (4+ years old)

Pros & Best Features: Illustrated spelling puzzle boards

Product Safety: Free from lead (heavy metal) and other toxic materials

Materials: FSC-certified wood (Forest Stewardship Council)

Age Range: 4+ years old

Educational Value: Spelling and reading, fine motor skills, pincer grasp, and problem-solving skills

Extra Features: Includes a storage case

Certification: CPSIA; complies with US, EU, and other safety standards

Made In: China (according to Amazon)

Product Recall: None

Cons: Quality issues; some complaints about splinters and missing letters

Customer Reviews:

“So much fun to watch our grandson pick out the letters and say the sound of each letter!” – Reviewer on Melissa & Doug

“the finish is not right the wood has too many splinters and my son got a splinter as we where opening it up.” – Reviewer on Amazon

9. Montessori & Me Movable Alphabet Montessori Wooden Letters (preschool age)

Pros & Best Features: Learning toy set for alphabet and spelling

Product Safety: 100% child-safe lacquer

Materials: Eco-friendly hardwood

Age Range: Preschoolers

Educational Value: ABC recognition, spelling, and reading

Extra Features: Includes a wooden box used as a board and container

Certification: Meets CPSC standards (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission)

Made In: China

Product Recall: None

Cons: Quality issues; some complaints about shipping damage

Customer Reviews:

“We love this! My 3 and 5 year old like spelling out their name and site words with this.” – Reviewer on Amazon

“The letters arrived damaged. For example, some where bent. Others were chipped, and we cannot use because it poked my child.”

10. Educational Insights Alphabet Rubber Stamps (4+ years old)

Pros & Best Features: Lowercase alphabet rubber stamp for spelling

Product Safety: No sharp parts

Materials: Rubber

Age Range: 4+ years old

Educational Value: Letter recognition, spelling, cognitive learning, reading, planning, concentration, and fine motor skills

Extra Features: Includes thick plastic storage case and stamps with punctuation marks

Certification: Not indicated

Made In: Not indicated

Product Recall: None

Cons: Has small parts (potential choking risks for younger children); some complaints about missing letters

Customer Reviews:

“Sturdy and durable product for students who like to “smash” down on the ink pad. Just the right size for their fingers too.” – Reviewer on Educational Insights

“Love the font but the letter cutting should have been deeper. It leaves a mess around the letter when a young child uses it.” – Reviewer on Amazon

11. Melissa & Doug Deluxe Wooden Stamp Set – ABCs 123s (4+ years old)

Pros & Best Features: Alphabet, number, and color learning set

Product Safety: Free from toxic materials such as lead and other heavy metals

Materials: FSC-certified wood

Age Range: 4+ years old

Educational Value: Spelling, reading, counting, number recognition, letter recognition, color recognition, and fine motor skills

Extra Features: Includes a storage case

Certification: CPSIA; also complies with US, EU, and other safety standards

Made In: China (according to Amazon)

Product Recall: None

Cons: No lid

Customer Reviews:

“5 yr old grandson loves this! The workbook that goes with it is great for kindergarten readiness.” – Reviewer on Melissa & Doug

“I bought this for my Great Granddaughter and am really suprised it doesn’t come with a hinged or slide out lid to stop the stamps falling out.” – Reviewer on Melissa & Doug

Matching Toys & Memory Cards, Puzzles, & Board Games

12. Osmo – Little Genius Starter Kit for iPad (3-5 years old)

Pros & Best Features: Smart toy with matching puzzle pieces for hands-on learning adventure
Product Safety: BPA-free (bisphenol-A, a toxic chemical used in making plastics)
Materials: Durable, dishwasher-safe silicone
Age Range: 3-5 years old
Educational Value: Cognitive learning (vocabulary, letter recognition, and phonics), fine motor skills, and problem-solving skills (construction)
Extra Features: Includes base and a reflector
Certification: Not indicated
Made In: Not indicated
Product Recall: None
Cons: Can be pricey; requires a smart device (iPad or Amazon Fire tablet)
Customer Reviews:

“We got this for my 2 year old and he loves to play his “homework”.” – Reviewer on Amazon

“Super pricey, definitely not worth it. Keep your expectations low.” – Reviewer on Amazon

13. Sphero indi Educational Robot Student Kit (4+ years old)

Pros & Best Features: Activity set for a computer-free, screenless programming experience for your little one but can be used as a supplement for indi learning robots (for 1-3 players)

Product Safety: Latex-free materials; online privacy and safety

Materials: Rubber color tiles and paper

Age Range: 4+ years old

Educational Value: STEAM, computational thinking, planning, concentration, and computer science skills

Extra Features: Includes customizable stickers, quick start guide, and programming challenge cards; can be used with the free Sphero Edu Jr app

Certification: Complies with COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act)

Made In: Not indicated

Product Recall: None

Cons: Can be pricey; requires regular charging (charger included), with the toy estimated to run for 2+ hours of play on a full charge (according to Amazon)

Customer Reviews:

“Definitely promotes creative thinking and problem solving. We loved this little robot programming thing.” – Reviewer on Amazon

“It doesn’t really make sense to us why there are red color cards in the kit that would make Indi stop.” – Reviewer on Amazon

14. Peaceable Kingdom Alphabet Learning Fun Tote (4+ years old)

Pros & Best Features: Alphabet and reading box set

Product Safety: Products meet toy safety and quality standards

Materials: Laminated paper and magnets

Age Range: 4+ years old

Educational Value: Alpabet recognition, hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, early reading and talking, and concentration

Extra Features: Includes a parent guide, various activity sheets, and a box that turns into a carrying case for easy transport when you’re on the go

Certification: CPSIA, ASTM, and CPSC

Made In: Not indicated

Product Recall: None

Cons: No reviews yet to check other buyers’ experiences; contains small parts (possible choking risks to younger children)

Customer Reviews: None

15. ThinkFun Zingo! Sight Words (4+ years old)

Pros & Best Features: Bingo-themed interactive word game for sight words

Product Safety: Child-safe materials that meet U.S. and European safety standards

Materials: Plastic and cardboard

Age Range: 4+ years old

Educational Value: Critical thinking skills

Extra Features: Includes bingo-inspired cards

Certification: CPSC, ASTM, and CEN (European Committee for Standardization)

Made In: China (according to Amazon)

Product Recall: None

Cons: Some complaints about quality issues

Customer Reviews:

“I was able to play this with a 2yr old, 6 and 8 year olds! They were able to keep their interest on the game for quite some time.” – Reviewer on Amazon

“The slider that puts the tiles out jams up like every 4th slide.” – Reviewer on Amazon

Educational Building Sets & Blocks

16. Fat Brain Toys Timber Planks 300 Piece Set (3-11 years old)

Pros & Best Features: 300-piece wooden building block set

Product Safety: Child-safe materials

Materials: High-quality New Zealand Pine wood with natural finish

Age Range: 3+ years old

Educational Value: Open-ended play, fine motor skills, visual-spatial skills, creativity, early engineering and planning, critical thinking, and imaginative play

Extra Features: Includes a canvas storage bag

Certification: ICTI (International Council of Toy Industries) and ASTM

Made In: China

Product Recall: None

Cons: Quality and safety issues; some complaints about sharp corners and lack of a guide book

Customer Reviews:

“Our kids really liked these blocks. Already they are building towers and skyscrapers.” – Reviewer on Amazon

“The planks have sharp corners and the set doesn’t come with a booklet of ideas to get started.” – Reviewer on Amazon

17. Magna-Tiles Dino World XL 50-Piece Set (3-99 years old)

Pros & Best Features: Dinosaur-themed, magnetic building toys
Product Safety: Free from BPA, latex, and phthalates
Materials: Food-grade ABS plastic (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene)
Age Range: 3+ years old
Educational Value: Fine motor skills, creative thinking, pretend play, cognitive skills, early engineering skills, and STEM learning
Extra Features: The dinosaurs have movable parts for pretend play; compatible with other Magna-Tiles sets
Certification: Complies with US, EU, and other global safety regulations
Made In: China
Product Recall: None
Cons: Contains magnets; has to be regularly checked for loose parts to prevent choking risks
Customer Reviews:

“My granddaughter loves Magna-Tiles and she’s crazy about dinosaurs. This was the PERFECT Christmas gift.” – Reviewer on Macy’s

“My 3 year old son loves his Dino MagnaTiles! He plays for hours and it really encourages creativity and imagination!” – Reviewer on Target

18. Educational Insights Alphabet BubbleBrix (3-6 years old)

Pros & Best Features: Building blocks with alphabets

Product Safety: No sharp parts

Materials: Plastic

Age Range: 3-6 years old

Educational Value: Tactile and sensory play, fine motor skills, planning, concentration, and cognitive learning

Extra Features: Includes an activity guide and storage bucket with handle

Certification: Not indicated

Made In: China

Product Recall: None

Cons: Can be choking risks for younger children

Customer Reviews:

“They link together very easily, my 4-year-old has no trouble putting them together and pulling them apart.” – Reviewer on Amazon

“I received defected one, letter “D” was manufactured in the wrong way. Couldn’t combine it with any other blocks.” – Reviewer on Amazon

19. Melissa & Doug Construction Building Set in a Box (4+ years)

Pros & Best Features: Wooden construction toy set with functional bolts and screws

Product Safety: Free from toxic materials such as lead and other heavy metals

Materials: FSC-certified wood

Age Range: 4+ years

Educational Value: Cognitive learning, STEM learning, sorting and planning, fine motor skills, problem-solving, and constructive play

Extra Features: Includes a pre-drilled storage box that can also be used with the construction set; also includes building plans for a motorcycle, crane, race car, and airplane

Certification: CPSIA; complies with US, EU, and other safety standards

Made In: China

Product Recall: None

Cons: Quality issues; some complaints about flimsy parts that easily break

Customer Reviews:

“Bought this to go with the work bench. Love it and so does my son.” – Reviewer on Melissa & Doug

“Unfortunately it is very flimsy – four of the wooden pieces have snapped, in “clean” snaps that are nigh impossible to fix with wood glue.” – Reviewer on Melissa & Doug

20. Hape Quadrilla Cyclone Wooden Marble Run Blocks (4+ years)

Pros & Best Features: Wooden marble run set

Product Safety: Meets safety and quality standards; non-toxic and child safe

Materials: FSC-accredited wood and marbles

Age Range: 4+ years old

Educational Value: STEAM learning (potential energy, momentum, and gravity), early engineering, hand-eye coordination, logical thinking, fine motor skills, and problem-solving skills

Extra Features: Includes accelerators, spiral funnels, and app for sample configurations

Certification: European and American safety standards – EN 71 and ASTM F963

Made In: Not indicated

Product Recall: None

Cons: Contains some choking risks to younger children

“Made from wood rather than plastic like most other marble runs advertised, it is durable, colourful and simply great fun.” – Reviewer on Amazon

“The only major disappointment was that no paper instructions were included which is a total let down as all our other sets has them and our 7 year old loves to build them on his own using the instructions.” – Reviewer on Amazon

Imaginative Play, Role Play (Props & Dress-Up Clothes), & Pull Toys

21. Tender Leaf Toys Woodland Stores and Theater (3+ years old)

Pros & Best Features: Wooden play set with two sides

Product Safety: Child-safe materials; meets safety standards

Materials: Wood

Age Range: 3+ years old

Educational Value: Social skills, pretend play, gross motor skills

Extra Features: Includes a toy kitchen on one side and a puppet theater on another

Certification: American, European, New Zealand, and Australian toy safety standards

Made In: Indonesia

Product Recall: None

Cons: Can be pricey; some complaints about assembly problems and lack of instruction sheets

Customer Reviews:

“This is a beautiful piece and the wood is lovely quality. All the little thoughtful elements are incredible.” – reviewer on Tender Leaf Toys

“this toy broke by a tiny 3 year old. The opening literally fell off and is now a useless toy, Do not buy!!!” – Reviewer on Amazon

22. Honeysticks Natural Watercolor Paints (3+ years old)

Pros & Best Features: Eight-color paint set

Product Safety: 100% natural, food-grade ingredients

Materials: Non-toxic colors

Age Range: 3+ years old

Educational Value: STEAM learning, fine motor skills, coordination, planning, and cognitive skills

Extra Features: Includes a natural wooden paintbrush

Certification: Not indicated

Made In: New Zealand (handmade)

Product Recall: None

Cons: Can be pricey

Customer Reviews:

“They are more money than some of the other products I’ve bought before but they are non toxic, and the colours are nicer, so I would buy them again. Good quality.” – Reviewer on Amazon

“The paint grew mold… I can’t believe it… opened it up and has green mold on it and the brush this is TRASH.” – Reviewer on Amazon

23. Craft-tastic Color Your Own Magical Unicorn Friend Craft Kit (4+ years old)

Pros & Best Features: 84-piece craft set with pre-sewn, customizable unicorn doll and different accessories

Product Safety: Meets toy safety and quality standards

Materials: Fabric (polyester), acrylic yarn, plastic beads, and metal hair clip

Age Range: 4+ years old

Educational Value: Creativity, fine motor skills, self-confidence, patience, and imagination

Extra Features: Includes play booklet with “unicorn magical secrets”

Certification: CPSIA, ASTM, and CPSC

Made In: China (according to Amazon)

Product Recall: None

Cons: Some complaints that the product requires adults to help create the project; contains small parts that can be choking hazards to younger children

Customer Reviews:

“My daughter loves arts and crafts and getting into sewing this is a great project she’s really enjoying it!” – Reviewer on MindWare

“Adults have to help put it together. :-/” – Reviewer on Amazon

Musical Toys

24. Vtech KidiBeats Kids Drum Set (2-5 years old)

Pros & Best Features: Freestyle drum or play along with nine preset melodies

Product Safety: Meets US and European safety standards

Materials: Child-safe materials

Age Range: 2-5 years

Educational Value: Musical creativity, visualization memory, sensory development, and phonics

Extra Features: Includes lights for learning numbers and ABCs

Certification: US (ASTM), Europe (EN71), and Canadian Hazardous Products Regulations

Made In: China

Product Recall: None

Cons: Size issues; some complaints about the toy being too small for its price

Customer Reviews:

“Kids love it. Not too loud so it doesn’t annoy anyone!” – Reviewer on Amazon

“I thought this drum set would be a little bigger . It’s really small.” – Reviewer on Amazon

25. Hape Sonic Playground (4+ years old)

Pros & Best Features: Xylophone rail (plays a musical scale when marble races over it)

Product Safety: Meets toy safety and quality standards; non-toxic and child-safe materials

Materials: FSC-accredited birch and rubber wood and marbles

Age Range: 4+ years old

Educational Value: Musical learning, fine motor skills, concentration, STEM skills (gravity), problem-solving capabilities, and spatial thinking

Extra Features: Includes sections that can connect this toy to any Hape Quadrilla marble run playset

Certification: American (ASTM F963) and European (EN 71) safety standards

Made In: China (according to Amazon)

Product Recall: None

Cons: Contains small parts that can be choking risks to younger children

Customer Reviews:

“Very interesting sonic playground marble attachment. Nice Sound.” – Reviewer on Hape Toys

“Easy to put together, nice sound and the grandkids (age 3 and 5) love it!” – Reviewer on Amazon

Educational Toys For Your Child’s Mini Library & Study Area

26. Leapfrog Storytime Buddy (2-5 years old)

Pros & Best Features: Plushie with light-up tag button (makes Buddy talk and sing when pressed)

Product Safety: Soft cloth plushie and cardboard books

Materials: Soft cloth and RoHS-compliant plastic (*RoHS means Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances)

Age Range: 2-5 years old

Educational Value: Early reading skills, role play, and cognitive skills

Extra Features: Includes five read-along books

Certification: RoHS certification

Made In: China (according to Amazon)

Product Recall: None

Cons: Quality issues; some complaints about the reading toy breaking down after a few days

Customer Reviews:

“Had a variety of activities — songs, learning alphabet, etc. Very good price for what it does!” – Reviewer on Amazon

“I gifted it to someone and it stopped working in 2 days! How embarrassing!” – Reviewer on Amazon

27. VTech Explore and Write Activity Desk (2-5 years old)

Pros & Best Features: Interactive learning desk with five activity pages

Product Safety: Child-safe

Materials: Thick plastic

Age Range: 2-5 years old

Educational Value: Learning ABCs and phonics, creativity, cognitive learning, and social skills

Extra Features: Includes a matching chair

Certification: Meets US and European safety standards

Made In: China

Product Recall: None

Cons: Some parts require batteries (sold separately)

Customer Reviews:

“My granddaughter loves it. She loves using the chalkboard and the educational cards are great.” – Reviewer on Bed Bath & Beyond

“The pen doesn’t respond to anything after hardly any use. Not worth the price.” – Reviewer on Target

28. Imagine Childhood Mini Book Library (3-7 years old)

Pros & Best Features: Collection of children’s storybooks (sold individually)

Product Safety: Child-safe printed materials

Materials: Hardcover

Age Range: 3-7 years old

Educational Value: Reading, vocabulary, concentration, and cognitive skills

Extra Features: Can be bought together as a mini library

Certification: Not indicated

Made In: Not indicated

Product Recall: None

Cons: Can be pricey

Customer Reviews:

“This book is gorgeous, both in the illustrations and the quality of the book itself.” – Reviewer on Amazon (“The Sun Egg”)

“There are typing errors, gender stereotypes (the boys are allowed spears and the girls expected to prepare food), and unexpected and violent death (they kill a snake then carry its body around).” – Reviewer on Amazon (“Children of the Forest”)

Toys For Learning Life Skills (Cleaning Sets & Construction Toys)

29. Little Tikes 2-in-1 Buildin’ To Learn Motor/Wood Shop (3-7 years old)

Pros & Best Features: Dual-sided workshop with some play tools

Product Safety: Free from BPA, latex, PVC, phthalates, lead, and other heavy metals

Materials: Child-safe plastic

Age Range: 3-7 years old

Educational Value: Fine and gross motor skills, arm and hand strengthening, hand-eye coordination, concentration, STEM learning, problem-solving, imaginative play, and practical learning skills

Extra Features: One side for the wood shop, and the other for the auto and motor shop; includes storage space for around 50+ realistic toy accessories

Certification: US (ASTM F963) and Europe (EN-71) safety and quality regulations

Made In: China

Product Recall: Recall

Cons: Quality issues; some complaints about the product’s durability and quality of some parts

Customer Reviews:

“Comes with extra screws, handheld light, plyers. This is a neat table, it keeps a young child busy for hours.” – Reviewer on Little Tikes

“The circular saw is awkward and clicking when lifting up and lowering back down.” – Reviewer on Amazon

DIY Educational Toys

Ideas for DIY Montessori toys include:

Musical instruments
Stacking boards
Pegboards and activity boards
Montessori math spindle box
Lacing and threading toys
Color and shape sorter box
Nesting toys
Hammering toys
Number board

FAQs

What Toys Are Used In Preschool?

Educational and learning toys are primarily used in preschool classrooms.

For example, Montessori schools focus on wood and other natural materials from the real world, while Waldorf schools encourage make-believe play that includes dolls and fantasy characters.

How Do I Choose The Best Educational Toys?

Learning Skills & Educational Milestones

Toys that can help your child learn and master new skills
Toys that support their educational milestones

Toy Quality & Longevity

Many best-sellers are popular due to their quality
High-quality toys tend to have a higher price tag but they’re worth your money because they can last longer

Toy Safety

Always check for any aspect of the toy that might harm your child (e.g., risks and hazards of choking, strangulation, poisoning, laceration, burning, etc.)
Consider choosing toys that are free from toxins and other harmful substances (bookmark “Our Family Health & Safety Philosophy” for your guidance)

Toy Types, Age Range, & Your Child’s Interests

Children have varied interests that can also be influenced by their age.

For example, toys for 5-year-olds might be boring and “too simple” for 10-year-olds.

Some children prefer doing art and other creative stuff, while others enjoy pretend play, reading, or doing other activities (e.g., sports).

Other Learning Toys For Different Age Groups

Toy Recalls To Monitor

Rollerblade USA Inline Skates Recall (2023)
Calico Critters recall (2023)
Kids Preferred recall (2023)
Target Toy recall (2022)
Haba recall (2022)
Kidoozie Play Tent recall (2022)
Monti Kids recall (2022)

References

(1) https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/milestones-4yr.html