The Best Educational Toys for Toddlers, According to a Pediatrician

This adorable and affordable baby doll comes in a 12-inch size that is comfortable for toddlers to hold. It comes with a magnetic pacifier and removable dress, both of which can help tots with their burgeoning dexterity. 

Many parents in the What to Expect Community bought Baby Stella for their little ones and loved its soft material, which differs from the hard plastic of most dolls. Several said they used this doll when they were expecting another child so their older children could have their own "baby" and practice taking care of one.

It’s a great take-along toy, making it great for creative play on-the-go, too. There are additional accessories you can purchase for the Stella doll as well, like a diaper bag set, with items that attach to the magnetic doll for even more play as your little one gets older. And as an added plus, many reviewers said they were able to put this doll through the washing machine with no problem.

Weight: 3.8 ounces

Dimensions: 4 x 2.5 x 11.5 inches

Age range: 12 months and up

Ride-on toys help toddlers work on balance, build core strength, and — if used with other kids — practice taking turns and negotiating how to share space. This compact balance bike is designed for indoor use, made with non-slip, wear-resistant wheels that are gentle on floors, so you can feel free to let your tot scoot over hardwood floors with it. 

Parents confirm that their little ones were able to balance well by using this bike and practice their gross motor skills of steering, walking and riding. They also loved the wide cushioned seat that was easy for toddlers to sit on. The whole thing only weighs a few pounds, so parents said it’s easy to carry from room to room or take outside. 

What is also great about a bike like this is that it’s an excellent activity for children and caregivers to use together, whether pushing her around or helping her balance and walk around pushing the bike herself. Just note: You’ll likely have to buy a bigger bike by age 2 or 3.

Weight: 4 pounds

Dimensions: 13.8 x 7.7 x 18.5 inches

Weight limit: 44 pounds

Age range: 12 to 24 months

Unlike skinnier options that can be hard to grasp, these chunky Chalkola Dot Markers fit well in small hands and make large, satisfying dots across the page. And, because toddlers are messy, the paint is water-based and easily comes off clothes, hands and surfaces. In addition to being a great activity for toddlers and caregivers, it’s also great for toddlers and older siblings to use together. Preschoolers, for example, can layer the paint markers to learn about color blending. 

Parents love that this set gets them started with an included activity book, living children a kick-start in creativity. Just be sure to watch younger toddlers closely — while these markers are suitable for 2-year-olds, the caps are on the smaller side. 

Weight (total): 3.03 pounds

Count: 8 to 10 markers

Age range: 24 months and up

You might have added these colorful balls to your baby registry because they're suitable for little ones six months and older. But toddlers will also appreciate their soft, spiky texture. (Not to mention,  if their throwing and catching skills need work, they'll be less likely to get hurt with this lightweight ball than with harder sports balls.)

Gripping and tossing can help develop fine motor skills, while rolling, bouncing and passing can help your child practice hand-eye coordination and following directions like "roll the ball to Mommy." Parents loved that the soft spikes help kids grip them even while they’re still learning how to do so.

Weight: 12 ounces 

Dimensions: 4 x 4 x 4 inches

Age range: 6 months and up

Dollhouses are a wonderful way for children to partake in imaginative play, but many of them come with delicate furniture and lots of tiny pieces. This sturdy Fisher-Price Little People Playhouse, however, can be used starting at just 12 months. It has familiar sound effects, like a flushing toilet and light switch, and comes with three "dolls" that your child can easily hold due to their thickness.  

Parents liked that the house is compatible with other Little People sets, so toddlers can use other figurines with this set, too. And, while they play, they’ll also be exercising their fine motor skills like grabbing and pressing buttons.

Don’t forget to check the size of this item before hitting purchase — some parents are surprised by how large it is, so you’ll want to make sure you have the space for it.

Weight: 2.2 pounds

Dimensions: 28 x 6 x 15.98 inches

Batteries: 2 AA

Age range: 12 months to 5 years

Your toddler doesn't have to miss out on Lego fun just because she can't get a hold of those tiny blocks.  These colorful Lego Duplos can be used by kids as little as 18 months and, with parental help, young builders can create four familiar vehicles: fire truck, helicopter, taxi and garbage truck. In the process they will practice fine motor skills (all that clicking and pulling apart!) and color recognition — all while engaging in creative play and expanding their imaginations. And, of course, these Legos can be used in tandem with other Lego Duplo blocks and sets, so there’s always more fun to be had. 

Shelley Gingrich, Executive Director of Brand Solutions with What to Expect, loves how many years of play children can get out of Lego Duplos. Her two children love playing with them even though they’re a few years apart. "My daughter is 16 months, and she loves playing with them — putting them together and pulling them apart, pushing them around and putting them in boxes," she says. "My 4 year old still loves Duplos and now builds complex vehicles out of his imagination with the Duplos."

Like Shelley, many reviewers attest to their kids playing with Duplos for years.

Weight: 1.4 pounds

Dimensions: 11.1 x 10.32 x 3.76 Inches

Age range: 18 months and up

Counting, matching and sorting by color are just a few of the activities your child can practice with the adorable Spike the Fine Motor Hedgehog. Of course, they can also put their fine motor skills to the test by carefully putting each quill into the slots on the hedgehog’s body. Each quill is designed to be thick and has an indent at the top so that babies can easily grab them even while they’re still working on their grasping skills. Parents love how easy it is to store all the parts of this toy because everything fits neatly inside Spike’s back. 

Weight: 9.2 ounces

Dimensions: 9.1 x 9.1 x 3.9 inches

Age range: 18 months to 4 years

Aimed at kids ages 18 months and older, this realistic-looking play food set comes with 20 crush-resistant plastic pieces that include popular toddler fare like a hot dog and a bowl of macaroni and cheese. As your child gets older, you'll love watching her go from simply naming the food items and pretending to eat them, to creating dramatic make-believe scenarios involving kitchens and restaurants. Plus, reviewers said that the pieces felt surprisingly high-quality for the price, attesting to their durability even after a lot of play. Overall, parents love how much play potential there is — plus, say they can largely sit while engaging with their little one by "sampling" their creations. 

Weight (total): 1.52 pounds

Age range: 18 months to 5 years

Unfortunately, many alphabet letters come with tiny magnets that can break off and become choking hazards (though larger, child-safe ones can be excellent learning tools). This Elmo-themed alphabet set, however, is designed for children ages 2 through 4 and doesn't use magnets. Instead, the pieces fit snugly into their places, and under each one is a picture of an item that starts with the corresponding letter. There's a space for spelling out short sight words, and the brightly colored carrying case makes it a natural travel toy. There’s lots of play potential here outside of the obvious practicing letters, such as learning and sorting colors as well as practicing shapes to fit each letter in the right spot.

Shelley also uses the Elmo’s On-the-Go Letters with her children and loves the versatility of play it offers. "My 16 month old likes to try and figure out where each letter fits, or just play with the letters in general, like bang them together or put them in things," she says. "My 4 year old uses them to spell simple words, and points out the pictures in the case." 

It is important to note, however, the toy doesn’t make any noise. Some parents think of this as a missed opportunity for teaching their kids the sounds associated with each letter. The good news: This is where you come in, and it’s a great way to engage with your little one. 

Weight: 1.75 pounds

Dimensions: 2.5 x 10.8 x 12.8 inches

Age range: 2 to 4 years

For a classic toddler gift, you can't go wrong with a wooden puzzle featuring farm animals. This Melissa & Doug puzzle, aimed at kids 2 years and older, features a farmer and seven different animals, each with a peg that's easy for small hands to grasp. The pieces are also thick, which also makes it easier for little ones to manipulate the pieces and practice fine motor skills while they’re at it. Toddlers can practice cognition skills by identifying the different creatures and their habitats (such as a pond or pasture), which are also shown on the board. They'll also be working on hand-eye coordination as they match each shape to its corresponding slot. Adding to the fun: The battery-operated puzzle makes corresponding sounds when your kiddo puts the piece in the right spot. Overall, there’s a lot to keep your toddler engaged with this puzzle. Plus, parents noted how much they enjoyed playing together with their little one while putting this puzzle together, whether helping younger babies match shapes or making funny animal noises with older ones.

Weight: 1.19 pounds

Dimensions: 8.65 x 0.65 x 11.8 inches

Batteries: 2 AAA

Age range: 2 to 5 years