• The “into everything” phase that toddlers (12-36 months) go through is actually a sign of healthy brain development and curiosity – not being naughty – and the right educational toys can help channel that energy into safe learning experiences.\
• Choosing the right educational toys can be a lifesaver for parents of curious toddlers, helping children develop essential skills and making playtime a breeze.\
• Certain types of toys like busy boards, posting boxes, stacking sets, and climbing structures are tailor made to meet your toddler’s urges to press, climb, dump and explore.\
• As they grow and develop, toys like wooden blocks and loose parts become – and stay – valuable assets to your child’s playroom.\
• When shopping for toys, look for ones that are built to last, have secure parts and are specifically designed with safety in mind for kids who still love to mouth and bang things.\
• Setting up a “yes space” at home where everything is safe to touch is a fantastic way to reduce those constant “no” battles and encourage your child to explore independently.\
• Educational toy collections are always being updated, so you can keep learning fresh and engaging for your child.

If your toddler is anything like mine, they’re at that “into everything” stage where they can pull off the shelves, open cupboards, press the dishwasher buttons and attempt to climb the coffee table in one morning before you’ve even had your first cup of coffee. I know, I know, it sounds chaotic. But here’s the thing most parent guides won’t tell you: this isn’t a behaviour problem. It’s actually brain activity at it’s finest. Between 12-36 months your toddler’s brain is literally unstoppable, driven by a desire to explore, test and understand the world around them through touch, movement and repetition.

Learning through play is what educational toys are all about. And by choosing the right ones you can turn that chaos into something really valuable – learning experiences for your child.

When we talk about educational toys, we’re talking about the ones that tap into what little learners are already desperate to do – climb, mouth, bang, tip out and explore. We’re not talking about gimmicky products that will be forgotten in a week. We’re talking about tools that actually work with your child, not against them.

This guide is for parents looking for practical advice on choosing educational toys that really support healthy development. We’ll focus on finding toys that are practical for your home, fit in small spaces and are budget-friendly. By the end, you’ll have some really useful examples and some great strategies for making the most of this fascinating phase.

How curious toddlers learn: why being “into everything” is their superpower

Between 0-3 years, your child’s brain is busy building neural connections at a rate that’s never going to be matched again. That constant curiosity that drives them to open every drawer? That’s them building their brain architecture.

Toddlers who are “into everything” learn through three key mechanisms:

• Repetition – they learn by doing the same thing over and over again (50 times with that spoon for example). This strengthens neural pathways.\
• Cause and effect – what happens if I press this? Push that? Drop this from here? These experiments help build their logical thinking.\
• Sensory feedback – touching, tasting, listening and watching teaches them how the world actually works.

Developmental stages shape what your toddler is drawn to explore at different times. Between 12-18 months they love pulling up, standing and testing height; between 18-24 months it’s all about climbing and tool-like play; and by 24-36 months they’re into early problem solving and pretend play.

Matching what your child wants to do with what they can do in a safe way is the key to educational toys. Rather than saying “no” to every cupboard they want to open, you can give them a busy board with doors, latches and switches that do the same thing. Stacking cups become physics lessons on gravity. Simple ramps teach cause and effect when cars roll down them.

Core educational toys for toddlers who touch, climb and explore

This section is all about the “workhorse” toys that curious toddlers will reach for every day. These aren’t novelty items, they’re the tools that every little learner needs to develop essential skills. Many of these educational toys are available now, so you can shop our collection today.Montessori toys are all about getting kids hands on so they can learn to be independent. Typically made from natural materials these toys have a special way of helping kids use those materials to develop their fine motor skills and problem solve through play.

These Educational Toys Are The Real Deal

Educational toys promote learning through play. Choosing the right educational toys can turn daily chaos into meaningful learning experiences. Educational toys help children develop essential skills for school and life.

They really do help kids develop the skills they need to do well in school and even more so in life. I’m talking building blocks, puzzles, the works – even musical instruments. And then there’s STEM kits and nature kits which are basically just loads of fun hands-on experiments that teach kids about science without them even realizing it.

Busy Boards – AKA The Answer to a Toddler’s Prayers

Your toddler is obsessed with fiddling with light switches and door handles? A busy board is just what they need. They’ve got switches that flip, zippers that pull, latches that unlock and the lot. These kind of boards really help kids develop fine motor skills, hand strength, problem solving and persistence – basically all the things you want them to learn at this age.

A good busy board will keep a toddler in line for about 15-20 minutes – a godsend for frazzled parents

Hand-Eye Coordination Toys – Because Toddlers Love Putting Things In Things

Toddlers have this thing where they love to put things inside other things. And it’s great. You can get wooden posting boxes, shape sorters with big pieces that they can easily pick up, coin box toys with big wooden discs… the list goes on.

These toys really do help with hand-eye coordination, colour recognition and maths concepts. Plus the repetitive action of posting helps build focus and concentration – essential for future learning.

Stacking and Nesting Sets – You’ve Got To Get Yourself One

Stacking cups, nesting boxes and ring stackers are great for so many things – building towers (and watching them come crashing down), filling and emptying with water or rice, sorting by size. And because they’re so simple kids can get loads out of them over months and months.

They help with spatial awareness, word skills and cause-and-effect – all really important stuff.

Builders for Small Hands – Get Them The Right Tools

From around 18 months onwards kids are ready to start building with big blocks, magnetic tiles, and large connecting bricks. Just make sure the bits are big enough for their little hands to hold on to.

Building and knocking down is loads of fun for kids, and it also helps them develop problem solving, engineering skills and perseverance – and that’s invaluable. And when it all comes tumbling down they’ll just pick themselves up dust themselves off and try again.

Climbing and Movement Toys: Crawling and Climbing Toys

For kids who climb everything, toddler-safe climbing triangles, soft foam blocks, and low balance beams provide appropriate outlets. These are a great way to answer the urge to scale furniture while building core muscle strength, balance, and body awareness.

Rather than constantly removing your child from the back of the couch, a small indoor climber gives them a safe place to develop these crucial gross motor skills.

Sensory-Rich Toys For Kids Who Love To Squish, Pour, And Make Noise

Many “into everything” toddlers are also sensory seekers. They crave squishing, shaking, rattling, and pouring experiences that engage multiple senses at once.

Tactile Play: Soft, Moldable Materials

Toddler-safe play dough (supervised from around 18 months), squishy foam beads, and large nontoxic water beads in sealed containers provide satisfying tactile feedback. These materials support fine motor development and creative exploration.

Avoid loose small pieces for children under 3 years who still mouth everything. Sealed sensory bottles with water beads offer the visual fascination without the choking risk.

Water Play Setups

A plastic storage tub on the floor, bath toys with wheels and cups, and simple DIY funnels made from clean bottles create engaging water play. These teach early science concepts: full/empty, float/sink, and pouring control.

Water play often has a calming effect on highly active toddlers, making it useful for winding down after high-energy play.

Music and Sound Play: Sound and Music Toys

Real-sounding but toddler-safe instruments like shakers, small drums, xylophones, and rain sticks support rhythm awareness, listening skills, and coordinated movement. Look for instruments with solid construction that can withstand enthusiastic banging.

Music play naturally incorporates counting (“one, two, three, shake!”) and games that blend fun with learning.

Visual Sensory Toys

Liquid motion timers, prism blocks, and light-and-color blocks that can be held up to a sunny window spark scientific curiosity about how things work. These tend to encourage calm, focused observation—a nice balance to active physical play.

Safety note: Always supervise wet or messy play, especially with children who still mouth objects. Avoid any toys with small loose parts that present choking hazards.

Open-Ended Play: Toys That Grow With Your Child (And Survive The “Into Everything” Phase)

Open-ended toys can be used in many ways across several ages, instead of having one fixed “right” use. They represent the best long-term value for families.

Blocks and Building Sets

The same set of solid wooden toys or magnetic tiles serves completely different purposes as children grow:

This versatility means one quality set can provide years of play.

Loose Parts

Simple, durable objects become whatever a child imagines them to be. Large wooden rings, chunky pebbles, scarves, and metal bowls can be filled, poured, banged like drums, and later used for pretend cooking.

Loose parts encourage creative thinking because there’s no “correct” way to use them. Teachers often incorporate similar materials in classroom settings for exactly this reason.

Simple Dolls and Figures

Cloth dolls, wooden peg people, and animal figures without electronic features support early pretend play. Toddlers act out everyday routines—bath time, going to the park, feeding the baby—which develops empathy, language skills, and emotional understanding.

These simple figures help children process their feelings and practice social scenarios through play.

Ride-Ons and Push Toys

Sturdy ride-on cars, push carts, and doll buggies satisfy the urge to move and transport things. Toddlers love loading items into wagons and pushing them across the room.

These toys develop balance, coordination, and the physical confidence that supports all movement-based learning.

Value perspective: Open-ended toys survive from 18 months well into the preschool years. Investing in quality wooden blocks now means you won’t need to buy replacements. Compare this to single-purpose electronic toys that often get abandoned within weeks.

Choosing Educational Toys In 2025: Safety, Space, And Sanity

The 2025 toy market is overwhelming. Many educational toys are in stock and available for quick purchase, making it easier to find the right option without delay. Here’s how to filter it into sensible choices for children who bang, throw, and mouth everything.

Safety Checklist

Before you buy or add to cart, verify:

• Age ratings (pay special attention to “3+” warnings for children under 3)
• Secure, screw-closed battery compartments
• Non-toxic finishes and materials
• No small detachable parts for children under 3
• Appropriate safety markings for your region

Material Choices

Material Choices Table:

For “into everything” kids who drop, bang, and mouth toys constantly, favour durable, wipe-clean materials.

Space-Saving Ideas

Choose multi-use items where possible. A low shelf can double as a toddler climbing step. A play table with built-in storage reduces clutter. Limiting how many toys are out at once actually increases focused play.

Budget Strategies

Budget Strategies:

• Buy one high-quality open-ended toy per season (quarterly throughout 2025)
• Use second-hand options where safety can be verified
• Rotate toys every 1-2 weeks instead of constantly buying new products
• Recognize that ordinary household items (pots, wooden spoons, cardboard boxes) are powerful educational resources

Digital vs. Physical

Electronic learning toys and apps exist, and some customers find them helpful. Interactive laptops guide children through letter formation and phonics, helping them recognize and practice letters. Interactive literacy tools also support phonetic word building and vocabulary expansion. However, for children under 3, real-world hands-on play remains more powerful for core development than screens. Physical toys develop motor skills, sensory processing, and social interaction in ways screens simply cannot replicate.

If you do use digital resources, treat them as a small supplement rather than the main educational tool during this critical learning window.

Turning Your Home Into A Safe “Yes Space” For Explorers

A “yes space” is an area where your toddler can move, touch, and experiment freely because everything within reach is safe. Instead of constant battles and “no” on repeat, they can explore independently while you actually drink that coffee.

Practical Room Setup

• Low, open shelving where toddlers can see and reach toys independently
• A soft rug for comfortable floor play
• A stable toddler table for sitting activities
• One or two small climbing or crawling elements (like a foam climber or low balance beam)

You don’t need an Instagram-ready playroom. A corner of your living room works perfectly.

Safety Adjustments

Make the space genuinely safe:

• Anchor all furniture that could tip
• Use cupboard locks for areas with unsafe items
• Cover electrical outlets
• Offer alternatives (like a busy board) so children still have satisfying things to open and press

The goal is redirecting curiosity, not suppressing it.

Organising Toys

Simple baskets or clear boxes with picture labels help toddlers see what’s available and make independent choices. Sort by category: blocks in one basket, cars in another, dolls and figures together.

When toddlers can find what they want, they engage more deeply instead of dumping everything to search.

Daily Rhythm Ideas

A realistic 2025 weekday might look like:

• Morning: A tray of blocks and cars set out as an “invitation to play”
• After lunch: Water play in the kitchen or sensory materials
• Afternoon: Books, puzzles, and quieter activities
• Before bed: Soft toys, gentle music, and winding-down time

Short, repeated play sessions work better than expecting long independent play from children this age. Roll with their natural energy patterns rather than fighting them.

FAQ: Educational Toys For Curious, “Into Everything” Toddlers

These questions cover common concerns from parents of very active, curious toddlers who are ready to explore the world through play.

For example, core educational toys include:

• Building blocks
• Shape sorters
• Stacking rings

Fun educational toys like frogs-themed games or puzzles can also help children develop problem-solving skills.

Are battery-powered toys bad for toddlers who are into everything?

Battery-powered toys aren’t inherently bad, but they require careful selection. Look for secure screw-closed battery compartments that strong little hands can’t pry open, sturdy casings, and no loose parts.

The key is choosing toys that respond meaningfully to what your child does—like simple remote-control cars or electronic instruments—rather than toys that just flash and make noise when a button is pressed. The former builds real cause-and-effect understanding; the latter often becomes background noise.

Balance any electronic toys with plenty of non-electronic options like blocks, puzzles, and pretend-play materials. Your child benefits from a range of play experiences.

How many educational toys does a toddler really need?

Fewer than you might expect. A core set of 8-12 well-chosen items typically provides everything a toddler needs:

• Building blocks
• One posting or sorting toy
• Stacking/nesting set
• Simple puzzles (2-4 pieces for beginners)
• Vehicles (cars, trains)
• Dolls or figures
• One musical toy
• One climbing or ride-on toy

Rotate toys every week or two—store some away and swap them back later. This maintains curiosity without constant new purchases. And remember: ordinary household items like pots, wooden spoons, laundry baskets, and cardboard boxes are powerful play materials that cost nothing.

What if my child only wants to play with “non-toys” like remotes and cables?

This is completely normal. Toddlers are wired to copy what they see adults using, so real-life objects hold special appeal.

Provide safe “real” alternatives:

• An old battery-free remote with tape securing the battery door
• A basket of clean keys
• A toy telephone with actual buttons

Some parents keep a “toddler drawer” in the kitchen with safe real items like wooden spoons, plastic containers, and whisks.

Keep truly unsafe objects completely out of reach rather than repeatedly saying “no.” Redirect to safe alternatives that offer similar sensory experiences—the satisfaction of pressing buttons, the weight of real objects.

Are screen-based learning apps useful for kids under 3 who are very curious?

Current research suggests that children under 3 learn best through hands-on, real-world play and interaction with adults, not from screens alone. The rapid brain development happening during these years requires physical manipulation, sensory input, and human connection.

Occasional short, shared screen time—like looking at animal pictures together and naming them—is generally fine. But screens shouldn’t replace physical play, movement, and face-to-face conversation.

If you do use screens, treat them as a small extra, not the main educational tool during the intense 1-3 year learning window.

How do I know if a toy is too advanced or too simple for my toddler?

Use this quick rule of thumb:

• Too advanced: Your child becomes frustrated and gives up immediately every time.
• Too simple: They ignore it completely or show zero interest.
• Just right: They can use it independently in at least one way, with obvious “next steps” to grow into.

Watch how your child actually uses a toy. A puzzle they currently bang and loosely match can become one they fit precisely as skills develop. You can remove some pieces to make toys easier, demonstrate one small step, or simply set something aside and try again a month later.

Children develop at different paces, and interest often matters more than age. Read your child’s cues and adjust accordingly.

The post When Your Toddler Is “Into Everything” (And What That Really Means) appeared first on Kids Toys Shop.

Parenthood can feel overwhelming sometimes. This is especially true when it comes time to pick the right toy for your child. But when you’re choosing an educational toy for that special 3-year-old in your life, remember that playtime is one of their favorite opportunities to learn and explore. The best educational toys are ones that kids love to play with — ones that they ask for again and again.

At age 3, your child is growing and developing at a rate you’ve probably never seen before. Their language skills, motor skills, imaginations, and social understandings are blossoming before your eyes. Educational toys are more than just fun distractions during tantrum- and sugar-filled moments. They can actually help build your child’s brain during these critical years of development.

This is why we put together a list of the best educational toys for 3-year-olds of 2026. Don’t worry about picking between girls toys or boys toys; we have you covered. Down below, you’ll find toys that all children of any gender can fall in love with. Educational toys that spark your little one’s curiosity and help them love learning!

What makes a toy educational for a 3-year-old?

Just like every child is unique, every stage of childhood is different. Your 3-year-old isn’t quite a toddler, but they’re not all the way to preschoolers either. Here are some of the developmental milestones you can expect from a child who’s just turned three:

Learning and Thinking: 3-year-olds start to understand the concept of cause and effect, solve basic problems and puzzles, and enjoy symbolic and imaginary play.

Doing More Independently: Fine motor skills have come a long way since babyhood, and they’ll continue to get even better as your child practices coordination. Gross motor skills let your child run, jump, climb—and maybe even ride a bike!

Talking: Remember when you thought your toddler saying two words at a time was impressive? Now your 3-year-old is speaking in full sentences. They can tell you what they want, what they think, and where they want to go. Expect many questions as well this year, as they start to ask “why?”

Social and Emotional: Your child is now capable of playing with other kids, sharing (mostly) and identifying their emotions, whether they’re feeling happy, sad, mad, or scared.

Good educational toys for 3-year-olds focus on these skill areas. But they also have to be fun. Little ones have short attention spans, so their educational toys have to actively engage them.

Best Educational Toys for 3-Year-Old Boys

Boys will be boys! While there are many toys that all children enjoy playing with, these educational toys specifically cater to your preschooler boy.

Building and Construction Toys

Magnets Building Tiles: Many preschool and kindergarten classrooms use magnetic building tiles. They’re translucent colored tiles with magnetic edges that your child can use to build great things. Magnetic building tiles help your child learn basic geometric shapes, spatial concepts, and even engineering. Bonus: The pieces literally snap together, so your child will feel a sense of accomplishment when the structures they build don’t fall over. Look for a set with at least 60 pieces.

DUPLO Construction Sets: DUPLO bricks are bigger than LEGO bricks, so they’re perfect for your child’s tiny hands. These construction sets come in a variety of themes. From construction sites to fire trucks to farms, your child can learn how to build while using their imaginations to create stories and role play.

STEM Toys

Preschool Coding Robots: Children’s coding robots are the newest educational toy on the market. These toy robots teach your child basic coding skills without needing a screen. Your child will learn logical thinking skills, sequencing, and how to solve problems. Coding robots have directional buttons or cards that your child will input to make the robot go. It’s fun, educational, and your child will love the cause-and-effect of pressing the buttons and watching the robot go!

Simple Science Kits: Science kits are another great way for your child to learn while exploring. You can find science kits geared towards 3-year-olds that teach basic concepts such as magnets, water play, colors, and more. Just make sure that the kit has larger pieces that aren’t messy and provide quick results.

Active Educational Toys

Balance Bike: Balance bikes aren’t exactly a toy, but they’re one of the best educational tools you can buy your child. They teach all sorts of physics-related concepts while building confidence and independence. Balance bikes help with gross motor skills and developing coordination.

Bowling Set/Sports Set: Oversized toys are always a hit with young kids. Look for a bowling set that has numbered pins or a basketball hoop with learning tools attached to it. You could even buy a soccer goal and color-code the ball. Physical activities that involve education are great for preschoolers.

Best Educational Toys for 3-Year-Old Girls

You may find that your daughter enjoys all of the toys listed above for boys. But in general, these educational toys are a hit with girls ages 3.

Creative Expression Toys

Deluxe Art Center: Creative expression is important to a lot of people, and it never hurts to start early. Buy your child an art center filled with washable markers, crayons, stamps, stencils, and more. Pair it with large paper and let them express themselves. If your child is anything like mine, they will love making art just as much as playing with it.

Play Dough Set: Play dough is another tool that allows kids to express themselves creatively. Buy your child a high-quality play dough set and attach it to a toy that they enjoy. We have cookie baker play dough sets, doctor kits, and STEM toys with play dough included.

Reading and Literacy

Books for 3-Year-Olds: This may seem obvious, but buy your child books. A lot of kids begin to lose interest in reading around age 3 because books can be challenging. Get your child books with lift-the-flap pictures or textures. Many book companies offer book bundles for kids this age.

Toy Magnetic Letters: Help your child learn letters and words with magnetic letters. You can find sets of the alphabet as well as word-building machines specifically for preschoolers. My daughter loved recognizing letters and words before age 3!

Dress-Up and Pretend Play Toys

Dollhouse: Dollhouses are one of my favorite educational tools for kids. Not only will your child learn about family dynamics and daily routines, but they can use their imaginations to create new stories. When purchasing a dollhouse for children, look for ones with diverse families orlando. And bonus points if the doll furniture allows your child to create their own storylines.

Doctor/Vet Kit: Kids love dressing up, so why not buy them a clothing set that doubles as education? Doctor kits come with toy instruments and you can even buy your child a scarf or toy mink lashes to wear as they learn. You can do this with almost any career your child is interested in. Vet kits, chef hats, and even astronomer outfits are great educational tools.

Remember: Learning doesn’t have to stop when they’re old enough to read on their own. Children love learning when it’s fun, so buy your child educational toys that they’ll enjoy! Whether they want to play with trucks and build things or wear lipstick and bake cookies, they can still learn while having fun.

Gender Neutral Toys Every 3 Year Old Will Love

Best Overall Toys for Toddlers Who Love to Learn

Toddler boys love to build things.

Toddler girls love imaginary play.

But really… every three year old loves to explore, create, stack things up and knock them over, open and take things apart, learn words for everything they can think of, and sing at the tops of their lungs. Gender stereotypes aside, the toys that reach the most kids are educational toys that focus on basic concepts all children love.

Puzzles

Wooden puzzles are one of our favorites because they challenge kids without causing frustration. A 12-24 piece wooden puzzle with large pieces is perfect for building spatial skills, problem solving abilities and patience! Choose ones with animals on them, cars, or every day objects to talk about as you build the puzzle together.

Shape sorters don’t have to be boring! Look for ones that have multiple functions like pattern matching or sequencing.

Musical Toys

Learning songs, pitches, rhythms, and tempo is another way to teach kids at just three years old. Kids instrument sets with toys like xylophones, drums, maracas and mini keyboards are GREAT for introducing music.

Another option is an interactive music player that teaches cause-and-effect, patterning, and sequencing while they press buttons to make music or learn songs.

Sand and Water Tables

Grab some funnels, cups, trucks and buckets and let kids dig into water tables and sand tables outdoors (or on a towel indoors in case of mess). These are great toys for teaching scientific concepts like volume, measuring, cause-and-effect relationships, and more while letting kids fully explore different mediums.

Bug Catchers and Scopes

Kids are fascinated with insects, animals and exploring the outdoors. Help them discover more with magnifying glasses, bug catchers and simple scopes that allow them to get a closer look at the things they find. This will help develop patience and magnify (pun intended!) their sense of curiosity.

Bath Toys

These aren’t just for the bathtub! Bath toys like rubber ducks, boats and floating books can be used over and over again and throughout your toddler’s entire life. From bath time to pretend play with water at the kitchen sink, there are endless ways to learn while playing with water.

Building Blocks

Stacking cups, classic blocks and wood or foam bricks are the building blocks of childhood! These toys teach kids spatial relations, math skills as they learn about shapes and problem solving skills as they figure out how to build that super tall tower without tipping it over.

Blocks can be used for hours of fun and kept challenging by switching up how they’re used. Simple stacking cups can turn into creating roads for their toy cars, building forts with blankets or obstacle courses for toy dolls to run through.

Large Balls and Kick Balls

Think large muscles need exercise too? You bet they do! Introduce kids to balls with giant foam ball sets, play balls for kicking or basketballs. Kids will learn coordination, spatial concepts and how heavy work can feel amazing too!

LeapFrog Learning Coach Laptop

This laptop is perfect for teaching kids at three how to read. It has over 700 words and sounds plus sentence structure games. Plus it’s screen automatically shuts off to prevent glare and keep little eyes safe.

Omega Pegboard

Move over IKEA! These pegboards come with pieces in various shapes and colors that encourage your child to create anything they can imagine!

Construction Toy Sets

Construction trucks, people, wood pieces and more will have your kid building like pros in no time. Help them create streets for their trucks to drive on, designs with the wood pieces or fictional worlds with their action figures.

Kid-O Toys Sorting Shape Challenge

Not only will kids learn how to sort with this toy, but they can practice shapes and patterns as they grow! Each piece is made to help challenge kids as they develop and learn new skills.

Is Learning Loud

There are so many options out there when it comes to toys that help kids learn. The toys that should grab your attention are the ones that reach all types of kids regardless of gender. While there are definitely stereotypes out there that boys love building and playing with trucks, and girls love dresses and pretend play, remember that at this age, all kids love to play!

Toys That Develop Fine Motor Skills

Fine motor skills are defined as using small muscles in our hands and wrists to control movements like handwriting, fastening buttons and zippers and even using utensils. Here are some of our favorite toys that help develop these skills.

Lacing Beads

Lacing beads and cards that allow your child to lace large beads with thick string through holes or lurees with large plastic needles work on hand-eye coordination and the pincer grasp (holding something with your pointer finger and thumb) used for writing.

Yui2 Bees Tweezers Color Sort Game

Does your kid love to sort things? This game incorporates learning colors, shapes and sizes while your child uses toddler-friendly tweezers to sort various objects into the correct color cup.

Brushie Brick Shape Sorter and Puzzle Set

Kids will love building with these colorful blocks! Each piece focuses on shapes and can connect to the shape sorter portion of this toy to allow your child to practice creativity and fine motor skills.

Wooden Bead Maze

This fun toy allows kids to practice their fine motor skills by stringing wooden beads through a maze to match the color that the bead is. It comes with 8 songs and educational phrases that will keep them learning with every play!

Speech Blubs Sing & Sounds Pear Toy

This soft pear toy allows kids to learn colors and sounds as they squeeze the pear. Eight melodies and over 50 phrases are included as well as a color light that flashes with each squeeze.

Melissa and Doug Classic Shape Sorter

This shape sorter twists and turns with your child! They can practice fine motor skills with the small knob they use to turn the sorter along with matching shapes and colors with the iconic wooden shapes that spill out of the sorter.

Leapfrog LeapStart II Learning Tablet

This interactive toy is great for learning letters, sounds, shapes and even beginning speech! Children will press the colored dots on each page to see and hear the response. Over 700 words and educational sentences are included on this great learning tool.

Tonello Dancing Caterpillar Toy

The Tonello Dancing Caterpillar Toy can also help kids work on fine motor skills as they use their feet to press the stepping stones on the caterpillar. Each step triggers sounds, lights and motions.

Kid-Safe Scissors

Yep. Your toddler needs scissors too! These toddler safe scissors allow your child to use them just like regular scissors to help develop fine motor skills.

Skill Builders Perfect Pegboard Sets

Move over LEGO, these builds are fun too! Help your kids improve spatial relations and math skills with these colored pegboards. Build coordinates with shapes and colors to create anything your child can dream up!

Learning Categories to Consider

When you’re researching toddler toys and education toys for 3 year olds there are many categories to consider. Here is a list of categories to look into that will help your child develop in all areas of their growth.

Science Exploration Toys

Not all science toys have to teach facts and formulas. Encourage your child to learn science concepts while playing with toys that focus on shapes, bugs found in nature, water, sand, colors and more.

Simple Board Games

Simple board games are great way for kids to learn turn taking, following directions and even expressing emotion while playing. Wins are fun but teaching your child that it’s okay to lose sometimes is a great skill to learn at any age!

Art Supplies

Even though your child isn’t in school yet, they can still benefit from art supplies. From crayons and markers to paint and play-dough, you’ll be surprised at how creative toddlers can really be!

Sand and Water Table Toys

In the list of toddler toys above we mentioned how fun water tables and sand tables are for teaching basic scientific concepts. You can further enhance your childs play by adding toys specifically for these tables like toy trucks to dig with or funnels for dumping and sand.

Duplicates of Every Day Objects

Ever notice how much fun toddlers can have with two of the same item? From stacking cups, blocks, gloves, books, you name it. Purchasing multiple of the same item will allow your child to begin to recognize the concept of counting and how two is more than one.

Books Books and More Books!

There is no such thing as too many books when it comes to toddlers. Reading to your child is one of the best ways to help them learn. Not only will you be helping with their literacy skills but you can also learn and grow with your little one by getting lost in a book together.

Categories of Toy to Avoid

Toy packages and descriptions can be misleading. Here are a few categories of toys to avoid, though you may find one or two every once in awhile that are decent.

Bulky Plastic Toys

While some plastic toys are great, if a toy looks like it would break after one bite or fall apart with rough play avoid purchasing it. Cheaply made toys are just that, cheap. They will break and not provide your child with a long term toy.

Battery Operated Toys with a Lot of Electronic Features

Some electronic toys are great, but if the toy does everything for your child than what are they learning? There is nothing wrong with purchasing your child a toy that makes sounds or interactive features but make sure your child is actually having to play with it.

Conclusion

When your child turns three you may be wondering what toys are best for them. Yes, there are many educational toys on the market that can help but allowing your child to learn through play with open-ended toys is key. Teaching your child isn’t always about buying the newest educational toy on the market. Let them think, create and explore on their own!

Take advantage of the toys on this list that don’t require batteries and watch your toddler learn something new every day. From toys that teach kids to play outdoors to sing and dance, there are endless toys out there that cover all categories of education. Your child is you’re number one priority so make sure you’re picking the best educational toys.

Remember, education doesn’t have to be school. Let your toddler teach themselves right at home!

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