Music teaches kids lots of skills. Learning to play music requires commitment and discipline and if you splash out on an instrument, you need to know your child is going to put time and effort into practicing their skills. Children can learn rhythm, beat, pattern recognition, and even math from music. Musical instruments for kids can also help to cultivate social skills while collaborating to make music together.
Parents rarely have to be convinced of the merits of teaching their children the alphabet or how to count, but adding music to their daily schedule can often be a stretch. But here’s the thing: there are SO many benefits to encouraging your child to learn to play music. But with so many musical instruments for kids how do you make the right pick?
To help you choose the right starter kit for your child, here is my list of the top musical instruments for kids.
What To Look For When Choosing The Best Musical Instruments For Kids
Choose the right musical instrument for your child will encourage them to learn to play the musical instrument; it boosts the love for music. Choosing the wrong musical instrument has the opposite effect. These features will help parents decide what is best for their little ones.
Your child’s age is crucial for picking the best musical toys; choose sturdy, age-appropriate instruments. Young children don’t have the hand-eye coordination, motor skills, or ability to play instruments that are right for older kids.
- Ages Under 2. Babies are too young to understand musical concepts; playing kids musical instruments means banging it for sound effects. The best musical instrument for kids so young is toy piano, little drums, xylophone, and maracas.
- Ages 2-4 Years. The best musical instruments for toddlers are instruments that develop the foundations of music concepts. Instruments like the violin, piano, kalimba, and keyboard are excellent for kids in this age group that understand why they are learning to play a musical instrument. Very young kids enjoy shaking musical toys like rattles, bells, rain sticks, and tambourines.
- Ages 5-6 Years. Children prefer instruments they don’t have to hold or lift, like the ukulele or guitar and other large string instruments. Great instruments for this age group are the piano, drums, and violin.
The child’s musical ability also influences the type of instrument. Musically inclined kids will prefer more complex instruments than children who use them as musical toys.
The child’s size determines what type of musical instrument they can handle. Smaller hands and height make it difficult to hold and play large instruments.
Some musical instruments for kids, like a child-size violin, come in smaller sizes for easier handling.
The child must be able to hold and play the instrument long enough to complete a half an hour practice session. Large woodwind and low brass instruments like the trombone, tuba, saxophone, concert harp, and Basson are too heavy for toddlers and small children.
Children play musical instruments for the sound effects. If your child doesn’t like the sounds of the musical instruments, they won’t enjoy playing them.
Let your child decide what they want to play. Some kids will clearly show which musical instruments they prefer. Many music shops allow for a trial session where they introduce kids to different instruments.
Musical Instruments for Kids Compared
The Best Instruments For Children Reviewed
Best Traditional Kids Musical Instrument: Kalimba Thumb Paino 17 Keys
The Kalimba Thumb Piano is an excellent beginner instrument for a kid or an adult. The traditional African Kalimba music is soothing and, based on logic, easy to learn. Have fun with your kid, accompany them on the guitar or sit back and relax listening to century-old sounds played by a modern kid.
Kids four years and older can play the kalimba; it doesn’t take hours to learn songs. Your kid can learn their first song within five minutes with the downloaded play guidance. The value for money purchase includes the Kalimba thumb piano, a tuning hammer, an instruction book, stickers, cleaning fabric, and the flannelette bag to keep the kalimba safe.
The thumb piano is handcrafted with high-quality material and ore steel bars. The polished smooth surfaces protect little fingers and soft nails. The natural air-dried wood, providing the ethereal timbre, matches with the natural wood grain. Keys embossed with letters and notes won’t fade or rub off like sticker notes finger pianos. A hand-rest curve design ensures hands are ergonomically correctly angled to play a song.
The Kalimba Thumb Piano comes with a 60-days unconditional return guarantee. It is an excellent gift for kids. Motivate your kid to play more songs with the free downloadable electronic songbook.
Best Keyboard Piano For Kids: Hamzer 61-Key Portable Electronic Keyboard Piano With Stand
Designed for beginners and intermediate-level musicians, the Hamzer 61-Key Portable Electronic Keyboard Piano is one of the best musical instruments for any kid. Hamzer is known for its professional quality keyboards, and this keyboard piano is no exception.
Kids learn quickly to play songs with single and fingered chords. The built-in recorder with playback features will help budding musicians improve their vocal and playing skills. It’s not for babies, but for any child who dreams of playing music. The integrated learning system features 61 keys, excellent acoustics, and the option to play traditional piano or organ sounds. The transparent stickers will help to identify piano keys.
Expect great sound from the built-in speakers; it features 255 timbres, 255 rhythms, 61 keyboard percussions, and 24 demonstration songs. Play for an audience through the external speakers or practice privately with headphones. The purchase includes a microphone with a 4 feet cord, audio input, output, and headphones. The keyboard features single and fingered auto-bass chords, chord timbre selection, vibrato-sustain-ensemble effects, tempo adjustment, volume control, rhythm sync, and program/edit rhythms for the best sound and effects.
The lightweight piano with its stand and stool is easy to set up and transport to music lessons and venues. With the three-position adjustments, the stand is adjustable to your kid’s height. For extended play, plug in the US-standard 110-120 volt power adapter or power it with 6 AA batteries (not included).
Best Set Of Percussion Instruments: Ehome Percussion Instruments With Storage Backpack
The Ehome 15 piece rhythm instrument set is a complete rhythm band in an easy-to-carry bag. These 15 instruments are perfect to get your little ones moving, grooving and marching to the beat in their own head. These child-sized instruments are awesome for group play-dates – with 15 to choose from, everyone will be able to play. They also help build up motor skill development, hand-eye coordination and creative expression for your young tyke.
Best Musical Toys For Elementary Schoolers: Fun Fiddle Kids Violin by Lil Virtuoso
The Fun Fiddle Violin is an easy-to-use electronic violin that plays seven beautiful classical pieces by Bach, Paganini and Mozart. This cool junior violin will instill a love of music in your child and teach them the basics of bowing and musical notes. They can also create original melodies by pressing the buttons and using one of three activity modes.
Great Musical Toys For Coordination: Schylling Kids Accordion
The Schylling kids accordion looks and sounds just like the real thing. It’s a finely crafted wooden musical toy that’s easy to play, but full instructions are included. This accordion has seven keys, a buckle and strap for the bellows, an air valve, harmonic and bass. Kids will be able to play simple tunes, which will stand them in good stead if they decide to take up accordion playing later in life.
Best Musical Instrument Set For Rhythm: Hohner 6 Piece Rhythm Instrument Set
The Hohner 6 piece rhythm instrument set is a complete rhythm band in a box. When your child opens up the box, they will find a tambourine, triangle with striker, rhythm sticks, cymbals with two mallets, a wood sounder and mallet, and a nylon wrist bell. Also included in the set are age-appropriate sing and play activity cards for kids to try out their musical skills. It’s a great set for making music at home!
Best Blowing Instruments For Kids: Click n’ Play Set of 2 Musical Wind Instruments for Kids
Children aged 3 years and above will have lots of fun learning to make music with this Click n’ Play set of two wind instruments, which features a toy saxophone and trumpet. Each instrument produces realistic musical notes and the keys are color-coded, so kids can learn to play the songs printed on the box. The set is an ideal introduction to learning how to play musical instruments.
Best Musical Sounds For Multiple Kids B. Toys Parum Pum Pum Drum Eight-Piece Drum Kit
The B. Toys Parum Pum Pum Drum eight-piece drum kit is perfect for toddlers and younger kids. It comes with silly centipede drumsticks, busy bee maracas, a clacker, jingle bell ants, a caterpillar tambourine, and shaka-shaka eggs. These drums have a carry handle to make it easy for small hands to walk around marching to their own musical rhythm.
Best Drum Set For Motor Skills Development: VTech KidiBeats Drum Set
The VTech KidiBeats drum set is the perfect sensory development toy for younger children. There are three drum pads and a cymbal, each with a distinctive sound, plus two drum sticks. Toddlers aged 2-5 years can play using letters, numbers, or follow-along systems. Or they can just have fun with a ‘free play’ session.No need for an additional padded drum throne; toddlers play seated on the floor or standing when elevated.
Best Classical Musical Instrument: Glockenspiel Xylophone Musical Instrument
Glockenspiel xylophones are a classic musical instruments for kids and even very young kids will love to have a go at making music on one of these wonderfully simple toys. This xylophone comes with two wooden mallets and a color coded songbook, so your child will be able to start playing simple tunes immediately.
Great Kids Toy To Sing And Play Songs: Hape Kid’s Wooden Toy Ukulele
The Hape Early Melodies ukulele is a nice, sturdy ukulele for young children. This is the perfect tool to teach kids all about basic rhythm and strumming. The instrument can be tuned very easily, so you don’t have to listen to hideous out-of-tune music. Buy your budding Beethoven a ukulele and she can have fun developing her natural musical talent.
Best Guitar For Young Rock Stars: Little Tikes PopTunes Guitar
If your child wants to become a rock guitarist, the Little Tikes PopTunes guitar should get them on the road to success from an early age. This fun musical toy is made from translucent grey plastic and features red and blue LED lights. Kids can play pre-sent tunes or practice their rock ‘n roll riffs on the strings. There is even a special effects ‘whammy bar’!
Best Drum Sounds For Preschoolers: Plan Toy Solid Wood Drum
The Plan Toy solid wood drum is a simple toy, but one that is bound to become a firm favorite in any musical household. Give your child this toy as a gift and let them learn all about rhythm through play. The drum is kid-friendly enough for toddlers and pre-school children and when struck with the rubber-tipped drumstick, it emits a pleasant melodic sound.
As the name implies, it comes with a wooden drum and a child-sized drum stick the perfect size for kids and toddlers alike. It’s one of our favorite instruments for kids due to it’s longevity; this drum should last long enough for your grandchildren to play with it.
Beautiful Instrument For Country Musick Fans: Clearly Colorful Translucent Harmonica by Hohner
If you’re looking for an inexpensive musical stocking filler or party favor, look no further. These cute plastic harmonicas are available in assorted different colors and come with a protective plastic sheath. They are a fantastic first musical instrument for younger kids and despite the cheap price tag, the scale is accurate and they are a great learning tool for musically minded children.
We have tried to include the best musical instruments for kids, from wannabe rock stars to classical musicians, but if you have any great recommendations, let us know your tips in the comments below.
Feature image courtesy of Flickr, fred_v.
Bryan is the current editor of Fractus Learning. Coming from a background of financial and governmental research, Bryan is excited about being able to meld his passion for technology and education in one place.
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15 Best Musical Toys For Toddlers + Kids (1-4 years old) 2022
While it’s no secret that music is essential for early childhood development, finding the best musical toys for toddlers can feel overwhelming. After all, you want something that supports the child’s development fully, while still being fun to play with at home ideally beyond the preschool years. Below, you’ll discover the best toddler music toys for 1-year-olds to 4 year olds. Including toddler music instruments, games, and even bedtime music toys and band sets!
Whatever you’re looking for, we’ve got you covered!
Best Music Toys For Toddlers
Best Overall Musical Starter Pack For Toddlers Development: iBaseToy Toddler Musical Instruments
If you’re not sure of which instrument to give your child, you can’t go wrong with this 23-piece variety pack from iBaseToy. It’s one of the most complete and well rounded musical instrument packs. It comes with popular classics like xylophones, maracas, castanets, multiple tambourines, and the tried and true recorder. As well as a kazoo, hand bells, castanets, shaker eggs, a tone block and more.
The bright colors are engaging for little ones and the analog toys will keep them off screens and engaged in the world around them. Plus it comes with a zip-up carrying bag so that you can easily pack these instruments away when music time is finished.
- Analog design with wood and metal construction
- Colorful collection
- Multiple duplicate instruments mean no fighting over who gets what
- Limited to percussion and woodwind instruments
Best Wooden Toddler Music Toys Band Set: Wooden Musical Instruments Toys for Toddlers and Kid
The natural wooden instrument set from Chriffer is a great choice if you’re looking to have a little family band jam. It builds fine and gross motor skills, while engaging sensory development and hand-eye coordination. The classic wooden instruments also teach patience, perseverance, and respect for music.
In total, this set comes with 11 instruments and a storage bag for easy clean-up. This set is made from natural wood which is unpainted and lead-free so you can let your little ones play with it without any worries of chipped paint or toxic finishes. Older babies will likely enjoy using these as teethers or rattles too while supervised! More importantly, all of the pieces are handmade and sanded to a smooth finish for added safety.
- Unpainted all-wood construction
- Includes woodwind and percussion instruments
- 11-instrument set
- Some instruments may not be durable enough for rough toddlers
Best Toddler Music Toys Band Set: CUTE Stone 5 in 1
There’s no shame in admitting that you want to contain the mess associated with play time. This five-in-one piano and drum set from Cute Stone is perfect and also travel friendly. Along with a miniature piano, you’ll get a xylophone, drums, and a microphone. Parents will appreciate the volume switch.
This battery powered toy also features drum beats and music, helping your child to find their rhythm. We like that the piano has four modes, allowing your child to also discover trumpet and guitar sounds. There’s also a numbers and an animal model. And for pure entertainment, there’s a whack-a-mole mode.
- Compact, travel-friendly design
- Early introduction to multiple instruments and sounds
- Also teachers animal sounds and numbers
- Volume control
- Drum tips may come off prematurely
- Only one microphone can be connected at a time
Best Xylophone Musical Instrument for Toddlers: Xylophone for Toddlers and Kids
If you’re just testing the waters, a full kit of instruments might seem like overkill — especially if you’re not sure if your toddler will enjoy playing them. This colorful xylophone from Small Fish is a great introduction to real music instruments for toddlers. It features a wooden base with brightly colored keys ranging from C to C. Each key is clearly marked and perfectly tuned.
We love that the batons feature adorable bears on them that do not pose a choking hazard and sound great when played. Best of all, this pick comes with a harmonica but also sheet music that corresponds with the marked keys. While it can be used by children as young as a year, we think toddlers and preschoolers will enjoy the easily labeled sheet music more.
- Great starter choice for an instrument
- Comes with sheet music to help children begin reading music
- Includes bonus harmonica
- Included harmonica might not be ideal for younger toddlers
Best Guitar Toy For Toddlers: Donner Soprano Ukulele Beginner Kit
Okay this isn’t as much a “toy guitar” as it is a real Canadian Maple Wood Guitar! This is the exact guitar we got my toddler for her 2nd birthday and she loves it! It comes with everything you need: carrying bag, strap, tuner pick, polishing cloth, extra strings, and picks.
If you follow Montessori at Home, this is going to be the best option on the list for little hands coming in at only 21 inch long. We love it because there’s no “toy noise” and it just a fosters a love of music and learning (parents will thank us for that!).
Ukulele’s are tuned differently than acoustic and electric guitars; As a result some guitar experts say they’re not ideal for beginners who plan to graduate to a full sized guitar in the near future. With that said, as far as toy guitars go, I consider it the best toy guitar for toddlers!
- Sizing works for toddlers through adults
- Comes with everything you need
- Multiple colors: Pink, red, blue, purple, mahogany, or black
- Wood
- No batteries
- Not a “toy” technically
- May be a large musical toy for young toddlers at first
- Different tuning than a regular guitar
Best Drum Musical Instrument For Toddlers: Ubblove Drums For Kids
Is there a little drummer in your family? Upgrade them from pots and pans with one of these cute drums from Ubblove. It comes in three styles: bongo, 8 in floor drum, and even a large 10 inch floor drum. Each comes with two kid friendly mallets.
You’ll like that these drums are made from durable wood and that it features rubber feet so that your kids can play it on a table or on the floor. Note though, that the drum head is made from plastic designed to look like sheepskin.
- Available in multiple sizes
- Durable design with a wood base and plastic drumhead
- Rubber feet so that kids can play with it anywhere
- Redcaps on ends of mallets may come off prematurely
Best Classical Musical Instrument Band Set For Toddlers: First Note the USA
If you follow montessori at home, you know the benefits of introducing real objects tailored to kids. This is why we love the First Note three-piece classical music band set of brass and wind instruments! They are designed to train your children how to play the trumpet, clarinet, and saxophone.
Each instrument features color-coded and numbered keys to help children learn finger placement and remember notes. Keep in mind that these instruments are made from plastic and covered in a silver coating to mimic the look of regular instruments. Likewise, children press the buttons to create sounds rather than a combination of blowing through the mouthpiece and pressing the buttons.
- A good introduction to proper finger placement for brass and wind instruments
- Color-coded buttons make remembering easier
- Comes with 14 songs with liner notes
- Younger toddlers may struggle to master finger placement
Best Piano For Toddlers: Melissa & Doug Learn-To-Play Toddler Piano With 25 Keys and Color-Coded Songbook
You can’t go wrong with a piano as an early instrument to introduce to your toddler. This cute and vibrantly colored piano from Melissa & Doug features 25 keys and comes with a songbook. You’ll like that the keys are color-coded, making it easier for children to follow along.
This piano is designed for preschool aged children between three to five years old. As is common with Melissa & Doug toys, this piano is also made from sturdy wood and has a classic upright piano design. Another nice feature we like is that you can personalize the piano with your child’s name and choose from a fun multi-color, blue, or pink options!
- Upright piano design
- Color coded keys and corresponding songbook
- Can be customized with your child’s name
- Music playback isn’t true and may not be ideal for true musical training
- May not be sturdy enough for children younger than three
Best Keyboard For Toddlers: Fisher-Price Teaching Keys Keyboard
Fisher-Price is a tried and true brand when it comes to toddler toys. The Teaching Keys Keyboard is designed for children as young as three, but is ideal for building key familiarity. This 32-key piano comes with 19 white keys that flashlights to guide little ones for hand placement.
You’ll also get eight musical instrument sounds, eight rhythms, four percussion sounds and 20 demo songs. You can also record music, adjust the tempo and use the one-key-one-note feature to play full tunes by pressing a single note. And parents will appreciate the volume control.
- Combines education and engagement
- Encourages fine motor skills
- Great way to introduce children to different musical styles
- Smaller size might be too compact for some children
Best Bedtime Music Toys For Toddler: Cocomelon Musical Bedtime JJ Doll
Show us a parent who doesn’t know CoComelon and we’ll be shocked! For little ones that are familiar with JJ, Yo-Yo, and TomTom, this Musical Bedtime JJ doll is a great way to incorporate music into bedtime routines.
The happy toddler toy has a plush body and comes with a mini teddy bear, perfect for toddlers to snuggle up with! And little ones will love that he sings the “Yes, Yes, Bedtime” song when you press his tummy. He also repeats seven sounds and phrases.
- Soft plush body makes it great for bedtime
- Plays seven sounds and phrases
- Includes “Yes, Yes, Bedtime” song
- May be distracting for some toddlers who want to play instead of sleep
Best Toddler Musical Toy Game: KKONES Music Super Frog Game Toddler Toys
Kkones Music Super Frog Game is a great light-up musical toy. It’s basically a fun twist on whack-a-mole. Features include two mallets, two different game modes, music, and it even lets you toggle between four different languages.
The objective is simple: when a frog lights up, whack it! This is ideal for younger toddlers and even aids in improving hand-eye coordination and attention spans. We like that you can increase the intensity level to make the game harder.
- Simple gameplay is deal for younger toddlers
- Aids in hand-eye coordination and improving concentration
- The game lights up and plays music
- It says “you failed” when you lose around
Best Music And Dancing Toys For Toddlers: Kidzlane Floor Piano Mat for Kids and Toddlers
If you want a musical toy that will get your kids (and you!) moving, then the Kidzlane Floor Piano Mat is perfect for the whole family. This mat measures six feet long, making it ideal for everyone to get in on the action.
Along with simply playing keyboard notes, this 24-key mat can play back built-in songs as well as eight instrument sounds. And it comes with 10 song cards that feature color-coded sheet music that matches the keys on the mat.
- Interactive design that encourages full-body movement
- 10 song cards for music training
- Ideal for all ages
- Audio playback can be staticy at times
Best DIY Music Instruments For Toddlers: KiwiCo Music + Rhythm Kit
What better way to foster a love and respect for music than allowing your child to DIY their own music instruments? KiwiCo has made this SO easy with their DIY Music & Rhythm Kit!
Your toddler will love assembling the xylophone and tambourine using the included materials. Plus it comes with a dancing streamer they can decorate too.
This STEAM-focused musical toy will encourage kids to use problem-solving skills to build their instruments. Then they can continue improving their hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills while playing them! This pick is ideal for children ages two through four.
- STEAM learning by combining music (arts) with engineering principles.
- Encourages full body immersion with a dancing streamer project
- Comes with xylophone and tambourine
- The building portion might be too complex for younger toddlers
Best Toy For Toddlers Who Love Music On The Go: Baby Einstein Toddler Jams Musical Toy
There’s nothing wrong with wanting some tunes to accompany you while you’re on the go! Now parents can stop handing over their phone and let their toddler play DJ with the Baby Einstein Toddler Jams Musical Toy! It’s a great addition to bring on strolls through the park or — if parents can handle it — on car rides.
This simple faux boombox offers three distinct stations along with more than 30 melodies and sounds. Parents will like the volume control while babies will love the colorful lights. Plus the compact size is perfect for little hands.
- Simple design ideal for younger toddlers
- Easy to use
- Compact size makes it travel-friendly
- Not necessarily an educational toy
Best Baby Sit-To-Stand Learning Walker Toddler Musical Toy: VTech Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker
Getting little ones moving is important, especially if they’ve finally progressed beyond learning to stand. The VTech Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker is designed to encourage little ones to start exploring the world around them on two feet instead of by crawling.
The front panel comes with a mini keyboard featuring five keys. These keys play music and sounds. But you also get interactive light-up buttons, a pretend to play telephone, and volume control for parents.
Toddlers will get a full workout and develop gross motor skills as they push this walker around the house. This toy comes with more than 70 sing-along songs, phrases, music, and sound effects. It also comes in four colors: blue, purple, orange, and pink.
- Transitions from baby to toddlerhood
- Improves gross motor skills
- Volume control
- Walker is not ideal for babies just starting to walk/pull themselves up as brakes have no resistance and babies can fall
How To Choose A Musical Toy Instrument For Toddlers + Kids:
When it comes to choosing a musical toy instrument for toddlers or young kids, the options are endless! Science has long proven a connection between learning music and enhancing concentration as well as academic outcomes. Consider the following to narrow your selection and find the perfect musical toy for your child!
Age/Size:
Check the recommended age range before purchasing.
A toy that’s too difficult could leave your child frustrated and defeated. A toy that’s too easy, could sit on the shelf collecting dust.
Keep in mind, the recommended age range is typically 3+ because of “choking hazards.” Any toy that has a screw or a small piece that could potentially come off typically has that warning/age recommendation as a result.
When choosing a musical toy for my toddler, personally, I look for something that is size appropriate – so her tiny hands can use it effectively, even if it’s not exactly as the musical instrument was intended to be played.
Quality/Durability:
Toddlers can be tough on things — especially toys. And if a child really loves a toy, it ideally will hold up to the wear and tear of toddlerhood! You want to look for toys that are made from sturdy materials.
They should be able to be thrown across a room or fall from a table or chair without falling apart. Make sure that if a product has seams, they’re securely pressed together. Products with hinges should also be reinforced so that they don’t break from frequent use.
As always, even the most quality and durable toys should be checked frequently to ensure they aren’t splintering, cracking, or developing any other issues that could pose a safety concern.
Best Musical Toys for Toddlers
Sound:
Are you looking for a musical toy that create a true sound to the musical instrument? For instance, do you want the sounds of a toy guitar to sound like a real guitar?
Or are you looking for something that sounds nice while also giving you control over the volume? While this won’t help you if you pick an analog instrument set for your child, volume control can be your best friend for other battery or electric-powered toys!
Engagement vs. Entertainment:
Do you want a toy that teaches or a toy that entertains?
Typically, it’s not recommended to select toys for entertainment purposes. Most parents ultimately want kids to play independently, and the foundation for teaching children how to play independently begins during the first year by selecting toys that foster concentration and engagement; not entertainment.
While light up push button toys may be fun for a few minutes, ultimately they do not provide the same level of skill development and refinement that, not only will help toddlers reach milestones, but also sets them up for a ton of success in the long run (think self esteem).
With that said, there is a time and place for everything. An entertaining push button electronic musical toy that inspires your toddler to dance, sing, and move around is still engaging them! It’s really about choosing whatever makes the most sense for you and your budget.
If you’re focused on either teaching your child to play an instrument ultimately though, you’ll want to choose toy musical instruments with color coded keys and sheet music.
Developmental Milestones/Skill:
Also consider your child’s dexterity. Toys that require fine motor skills such as precise finger movements might be a struggle for younger toddlers that are still trying to master those behaviors.
But along the same lines, musical toys should help to engage those motor skills or developmental milestones such as sounding out letters and words, or recognizing colors and shapes.
Best Toddler Musical Toy Instruments
FAQS About Toddler Musical Toys:
What benefits do musical toys have for toddlers?
Research has shown that musical toys — especially percussion instruments — can improve overall development. Musical toys can serve as an early language development tool for toddlers. Toys that incorporate songs can encourage recall and boost vocabulary. And in terms of physical benefits, musical toys can improve a child’s fine motor skills and aid in building coordination.
Are musical instruments safe for toddlers?
As long as you pick an age-appropriate toy for your toddler that doesn’t pose a safety risk, yes musical instruments are safe.
How early should I introduce musical instruments to my child?
You can begin introducing musical instruments as soon as your child is born if you wish. Don’t forget that your voice is also an instrument! Of course, they won’t have much interaction with physical instruments in the beginning, but if you keep them around your child to model using and taking care of them, your child will likely follow suit.
How can music provide structure in a child’s day?
Music is a great way to mark the passage of time and create predictable routines.
For example, playing a specific song when it’s nap time or time to clean up the playroom are great ways to incorporate music into a daily routine while regulating your child emotionally and mentally about what to expect next.
For the best results, you should use the same song for specific events to help build familiarity and develop a consistent routine.
What are ways I can encourage a love of music for my toddler?
There are plenty of ways to make music a lifelong love for your toddler. The simplest method is to frequently have music playing. Or, sing songs and dance with your child. Introduce them to a lot of different types and styles of music, and give them choices frequently about the music you’ll listen to or sing!
And of course, giving them musical instruments and musical toys that toddlers can play independently with or you can play with them, will help encourage a love of music.
Final Thoughts:
Finding the best toddler musical toy doesn’t have to be hard. At the end of the day, it’s just about finding musical instruments that meets your toddlers development and don’t give you a headache or break the bank!
Our personal favorite is the starter percussion band set from iBaseToy. It gives you a ton of musical instruments that work for 1 year olds, 2 year olds, 4 year olds and beyond the preschool stage! It’s loads of fun for the entire family to have band practice at home!
We are also quite partial to the Kidzlane Floor Piano Mat as it’s a nice gross motor activity that encourages a love of music and movement. Perfect to burn off that toddler energy indoors on a rainy day!
And of course, what child doesn’t love Cocomelon?! The Cocomelon Musical Bedtime JJ Doll is sure to be an absolute hit with most toddlers!