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The 24 Best Educational Toys for Preschoolers | Top Learning Toys 2021
Updated January 2021
The mind of a preschooler is wide open and eager for learning. They are ready to explore, to experiment, to try new things, and to expand their knowledge of letter formation and vocabulary. You need to be very careful during the preschool years when selecting toys and activities to give to your child because their minds are very moldable at this age.
Though every preschooler is different, if you buy them unnaturally proportionate fashion dolls, they may be more inclined to fall into the trap that unrealistic beauty and expensive clothing are very important. If you buy them a toy doctor’s kit or a baby doll, the nurturing and empathetic personality traits of your child may be engaged. If you buy them an art supplies and an easel, they may learn to excel in creativity and imagination. Construction sets may encourage their growth in engineering and architecture. You get the idea. Gift your preschooler something that is going to encourage the parts of their personality that you want to shine. Ask them what they are interested in and help encourage their growth in all areas with appropriate educational toys.
Though every preschooler is different, if you buy them unnaturally proportionate fashion dolls, they may be more inclined to fall into the trap that unrealistic beauty and expensive clothing are very important. If you buy them a toy doctor’s kit or a baby doll, the nurturing and empathetic personality traits of your child may be engaged. If you buy them an art supplies and an easel, they may learn to excel in creativity and imagination. Construction sets may encourage their growth in engineering and architecture. You get the idea. Gift your preschooler something that is going to encourage the parts of their personality that you want to shine. Ask them what they are interested in and help encourage their growth in all areas with appropriate educational toys.
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The Best Educational Alphabet Tracing Toy for Preschoolers
• This popular alphabet tracing toy by Magnatab is a great way for your preschooler to learn the proper way to write letters.
• By using sensory-based learning, the stylus pulls up magnetic beads that children can see, feel, and hear so the learning is reinforced. • A unique toy for at home or in the classroom. • A lowercase board and a numbers board are also available. Read more... |
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The Best Educational Wooden Blocks Puzzle for Preschoolers
• This wooden puzzle by Coogam makes a great educational toy for preschoolers and kindergarteners alike.
• Improves attention, concentration, and logical thinking. • Built from high-quality wood, this toy puzzle is non-toxic and lead-free. Read more... |
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The Best Periodic Table Wooden Building Blocks Toy for Preschoolers
• This 20-piece wooden block set by Uncle Goose represents the entire periodic table of elements.
• This educational toy for preschoolers is handmade from sustainable Michigan grown basswood. • Encourages developmental play, and helps develop fine motor skills. • Printed with non-toxic, lead-free, and child-safe inks. • Made in the USA Read more... |
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The Best Educational Question Cards for Preschoolers
• The Melissa & Doug SmartyPants Preschool and Pre-K Genius set features 120 brain-building cards with questions, puzzles, and games.
• This educational game was developed with the input of educators to support the curriculum of the preschool grade level. • Makes a great gift for 3 to 5 year olds. Read more... |
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The Best Educational Train Set Toy for Preschoolers
• The Tender Leaf Toys train track sets offers preschoolers hours and hours of open-ended, imaginative play.
• This train set toy features a durable train track, along with adorable accessories including wooden trees, vehicles, animals, and a log cabin. • Building different train track layouts allows your preschooler to learn about construction and their environment in a fun way. • Made from eco-friendly sustainable rubberwood. • Formaldehyde-free and colored with non-toxic paint. Meets European, American, and Australian toy safety standards. Read more... |
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The Best Educational Weather Station Toy for Preschoolers
• The My Weather Station by Moon Picnic links all aspects of climate into a simple educational board. It teaches children how the various seasons can have typical weather patterns.
• This fun learning toy for preschoolers has 4 moveable parts and 5 weather symbols to display so little meteorologists can report and forecast the weather. • Made from solid beech wood from sustainable certified forests. Read more... |
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The Best Portable Educational Learning System for Preschoolers
• The LeapFrog Go System engages kids through video and audio for an experience that reinforces learning and helps preschoolers better understand educational concepts.
• A computer with internet is required for setup but is not needed after that unless you purchase more books. • The LeapFrog Go books (sold separately) introduce your preschoolers to the concepts of basic math, reading, and many other subjects. • See the Preschool 4-in-1 Activity Book Bundle here. • See the Learn to Read 6 Book Bundle here. Read more... |
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The Best Character Inspired Dresses for Preschoolers
• If your child is into theater education or the arts, they will love these character inspired dresses by Little Adventures.
• With multiple character options available, they come in sizes to fit 1 year olds all the way to adults. • These popular costumes for girls and boys are extremely affordable and are sure to encourage hours of open-ended play and enhance your child's imagination. Read more... |
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The Best Educational Monarch Life Cycle Puppet Toy for Preschoolers
• This educational, reversable puppet by Folkman's allows your preschooler to animate the life cycle of the monarch butterfly.
• Ideal for stage and puppet theater, storytelling, role-playing, and teaching. • Use the zippers of this learning toy to tuck and reveal the metamorphosis of the butterfly, use your hands to flutter the transformed monarch's wings. • Constructed from high-quality materials with exceptionally realistic details. Read more... |
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The Best Puppet Theater Toy for Preschoolers
• Let your little performer's spirit shine by coordinating and presenting a show to an audience of people (or stuffed animals).
• This open-ended educational toy by Guidecraft doubles as a toy store or a market store with interchangeable signs. • Comes with a blank chalkboard for original themes. Read more... |
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The Best Wooden Marble Run Toy for Preschoolers
• The Quadrilla Wooden Marble Run by Hape Toys is a high-quality heirloom toy that can be passed down from generation to generation.
• One of the best educational toys for preschoolers, this marble run teaches engineering and STEM principles. • Made from FSC certified sustainable wood, and a strategized production process to minimize environmental impact. • Colored with non-toxic water-based paints. Read more... |
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The Best Educational Board Game for Preschoolers
• The Hoot Hoot Owl educational board game encourages players to work together to get all of the owls to the nest before the sun comes up.
• Helps preschoolers learn the concept of strategy while helping teach them how to follow direction and take turns. Read more... |
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The Best Balance Board Toy for Preschoolers
• Multi-purpose wooden balance board by Wobbel doubles as a bridge, a hut, a step, a racetrack, or anything else your preschooler can imagine.
• Teaches physical education skills, coordination, and creativity. • Built with wood from strictly controlled plantations where replanting is guaranteed. • Contains a child-friendly water-based translucent lacquer. Read more... |
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The Best Parts of the Body Educational Puzzle for Preschoolers
• This wooden parts of the body puzzle by Kidzlane is one of the best educational gifts for preschoolers.
• This multi-layer stacking puzzle features bones, muscles, organs, skin, and more. • Promotes body positivity and confidence while teaching children about anatomy. • These puzzles come in both male and female versions and they do show all body parts including privates. • View the boy's puzzle here. • View the girl's puzzle here. Read more... |
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The Best Educational Insect Catching Kit for Preschoolers
• This educational Bug Bungalow Bug Catching Kit by B. Toys allows your preschooler to round up their favorite buds and critters for a closer look in their own bug carrier.
• The 4-piece bug catching playset comes with a mesh critter case, magnifying lid, tweezers, and magnifying glass. • Tested to meet all U.S., Canadian, and European safety standards. Read more... |
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The Best Playsilk Toy for Preschoolers
• This wildly open-ended toy by Sarah's Silks is both Waldorf and Montessori inspired.
• This gorgeous silk can be used in pretend play as water for a sailboat, fire for a camping stove, a sling for a doll or stuffed animal, a decorative backdrop for a make-believe scene, and so much more. • The silk is made with 100% real silk and hand dyed with eco-friendly dyes. Read more... |
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The Best Domino Race Track Toy for Preschoolers
• This Dynamo Dominoes race track set by Hape encourages early educational STEM development for 3 to 5 year old preschoolers.
• Includes a bridge and other unique obstacles to add to the racing fun! • Made from FSC certified sustainable wood, and a strategized production process to minimize environmental impact. • Colored with water-based paints. Read more... |
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The Best Puzzle Sticks for Preschoolers
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Some restrictions may apply. • This educational puzzle by Mudpuppy is designed for a 3 year old preschooler to 6 year old 1st grader and it includes 24 double sided puzzle sticks that create 6 unique puzzles. • Sort the sticks by background color, then use the included tray to arrange the sticks in the correct order to reveal fun animal pictures. • Printed with non-toxic ink and adheres to CPSIA, ASTM, and CE safety regulations. Read more... |
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The Best Lacing Board Toy for Preschoolers
• This wooden lacing board by PlanToys promotes creativity and helps teach fine motor skills and hand eye coordination.
• The wooden shapes are colored with water-based dyes, organic pigments, and formaldehyde-free glue. • Built with sustainably sourced rubberwood and crafted in a factory that utilizes solar energy. • A great developmental toy for ages 3 - 5 Read more... |
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The Best Digital Camera Toy for Preschoolers
• This KidiZoom kids digital camera by VTech features a twisting camera lens that lets kids easily take photos from different angles and directions.
• Teaches photography education, creativity, and out-of-the-box thinking. • Decorate your photos with over 50 special effects including frames, stamps, and wacky effects. • Includes a video recorder and voice recorder for more creative ways to play. Read more... |
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The Best Peg Board Stacking Puzzle for Preschoolers
• This colorful peg board kid's puzzle by Coogam features wooden stacking sticks that allow children to form different shapes, letters, and designs.
• One of the best educational toys for preschoolers, this puzzle encourages creativity, letter and number recognition, and fine motor skills. • Crafted from high-quality wood, non-toxic paints and finishes. Read more... |
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The Best Educational Doll for Preschoolers
• This educational toy by Sigikid allows your preschooler to unzip the doll's stomach to reveal it's organs and skeleton.
• Encourages understanding of bodily function and body composition. • Removes the stigma and mystery of the body while your preschooler learns about anatomy. • Encourages doctor patient play. Read more... |
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The Best Magnetic 3D Building Toy for Preschoolers
• This educational 3D magnetic building set toy engages the mind of your preschooler by fusing together math, science, and creativity.
• Features translucent, colorful shapes that connect together for hours of imaginative open-ended play • Encourages the development of spatial and tactile skills. • Made from food-grade ABS plastic which is BPA-free and phthalate-free. • Multiple sets available and may differ from item shown. Read more... |
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The Best Educational Video Game for Preschoolers
• This toy by Leap Frog is the only video game I let my kids play. I am not a huge fan of tablets and I love this toy because it does not use wi-fi.
• Featuring many educational games for preschoolers involving math, puzzles, music, literacy, and creative skills. • This game is best for 4 year olds - 6 year olds, however my twin 3 year olds played this and caught on relatively quickly with just a few minor struggles. Read more... |
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