Children who have learned to identify their five senses now find an interest to use all of them. Learning to walk, speak and imitate sounds and words are the three skills to emphasize the most. Toys to choose include musical toys that allow a child to repeat a number, letter and eventually words with sequencing. Push-pull toys enhance walking and puzzles, nesting blocks and other preschool building sets allow a child to learn spatial relations and hand-eye coordination. Be aware that children at this age put mostly everything in their mouth so the toys should be LARGE in size.
What is this?
Toy Description
Made of sand and polymers.
Each bag has 10oz of product.
Available in green, red, purple, pink, blue, and teal.
Play
Use it like a modeling clay or other dou...Read more
Something between modeling clay and beach sand, the never-drying Mad Mattr is moldable, squishable, and easy to clean.
Approximately 10 inches tall.
Requires 2 AA batteries, which are included.
A switch on the bottom sets the toy to off, demo, or on.
Press the belly to m...Read more
Pi-KAA! With 10 sounds, light-up cheeks, and moving ears, this Pikachu is surprisingly durable. Just be sure to switch it from ‘demo’ to ‘on’ to hear all the sounds.
Bootsie is a responsive toy cat. She changes her expression by moving her eyebrows and makes various cat noises to indicate her mood. Using motion and touch sensors, Bootsie responds to being hugged, petted...Read more
Cute, sassy, and sometimes hisses at people when she’s left on. Kids love her, though.
Each toy stands about 8 inches tall. Internal parts are covered in fabric and some stuffing, but due to the inner workings, the toy is not a true "stuffed animal." Unlike traditional mechanical pl...Read more
Still cute, but issues have arisen over decreased quality.
Interactive puppy playset includes puppy, milk bottle, adoption certificate, and instruction manual.
Require...Read more
Breathes, naps, and barks just like a real pup, so long as you don’t get a defective one.
Dimensions: 14.5 X 14 X 8 inches
Weight: Approximately 6 pounds once batteries are installed.
A crystal shaped tool is included to fill the water tank on Torch’s head. Tank holds 1 or ...Read more
Adorable baby dragon breathes a fine mist that looks like fire. Better for younger children, as it doesn't do much else.
Club 5 Bunch sets (sometimes listed as Kelly Bunch Club 5, or Kelly Club Bunch 5) include Kelly and four of her friends, though different sets may have different friends.
Each friend comes with her ...Read more
Even though Kelly was replaced by Chelsea in 2011, the Club 5 Bunch sets are still a good find at garage sales or online. Charming, and much more realistic body shape than older sister, Barbie.
It’s a giant top! Made of thick plastic, the conically shaped toy is large enough to fit one or two children with ease. Three children could possibly fit if they are small and very determined.
Crawl inside to spin and roll inside this sturdy, well made giant top. A favorite for sensory play!
Plastic tubes contain crayon cylinders that can be twisted up and down, kinda like a tube of lipstick. The crayons have a fairly large tip, and are easy to grip.
The plastic is clear so kids ca...Read more
Twist 'em to push up more crayon. Easy to use, and no more peeled paper labels or broken crayons.
A stacking toy for children with four brightly colored, textured rings. Each ring has a small button that can be pressed to make an animal noise- a bird, cow, pig, or frog. Batteries are included.
<...Read more
A brightly colored, patterned, and textured ring stacking toy for babies and toddlers. Each ring has a button that makes a different animal sound.
The Darda Create-a-Course Building System has 150 pieces that children can mix and match to build their own racetrack. The set also comes with instructions for thirty different race car layouts.
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Unfortunately, this toy is no longer being produced. We are still looking for the best alternative.
Plastic swing with T-bar strap that folds up and down, shoulder straps that clip into the T-bar, and short ropes to hang the swing from a swingset. Hanging the swing from a tree will require additional hard...Read more
A simple thoughtful plastic swing for young kids up to 50 pounds.
Doors open in the plastic game board to reveal areas where one of the hidden treasure balls may have ended up.
Game includes two card decks (Beginner and Advanced), 6 treasure balls, plastic game bo...Read more
A game where children have to match letters, numbers, shapes and colors to find six bouncy balls and unlock the treasure chest.
A small, plastic mailbox with envelopes and packages for kids to deliver. Comes with a buzzing bee, ladybug, and caterpillar to make it seem like it’s outside. Recommended for ages six months to three...Read more
Unfortunately, this toy is no longer being produced by Little Tikes. We are still looking for the best alternative.
A small magnetic drawing board with a sliding eraser lets kids create endless doodles. The small drawing pen is attached to the board by a small string, keeping the pen from getting lost. No batteries are r...Read more
We question the quality of this version since it doesn't seem to stand up to the heavy-handed artists that older versions typically saw. We list an alternative in our review.
Wooden gameboard has 4 sets of Number Keys around the edges. Each set has numbers 1 through 10.
The gameboard (gamebox?), lid, two dice, and instructions are included.
Play<...Read more
A quick-paced numbers game that lets kids practice their number recognition and basic math skills. Fun, too.
A small, plastic version of Noah’s Ark that comes with Noah, and pairs of different animals like zebras, lions, elephants, and giraffes. The animals can easily be stored inside the ark, as the top com...Read more
The Noah's Ark Little People set comes with four pairs of animals, a small book explaining the story of Noah, a plastic Noah, and the blue and yellow ark.
Kids can catch butterflies and glow in the dark fireflies that fly out of the elephant’s trunk in the newest version of Hasbro’s Elefun! Comes with nets to catch butterflies. Game needs four &ls...Read more
Watch the butterflies fly out of the elephants trunk and catch them with nets. The butterflies fly out fairly quickly though, so the game is over in about fifteen seconds.
An adjustable basketball hoop for kids age two to eight. It can go as low as two feet and as high as six feet. Comes with a small basketball to play basketball with.
Th...Read more
A basketball hoop with adjustable heights to fit children ages two to eight. Comes with a kid-sized basketball to play with.
Wild Planet’s Animal Scramble is suited for young kids and works on the concepts of sharing and turn taking. It comes with a tall giraffe and four other smaller animals that can fit inside- a monkey, ...Read more
Gets children up and moving while learning about a variety of animals. With a treasure hunt mode, kids are given clues about each animal and have to find them.
Plastic capsule has a single push button at the bottom, and a rubber stopper on top. Just remove the stopper, fill with water, and get to playing. Pressing the button forces air into the capsule, making a c...Read more
Remember this little guy? Oh yes you do! An excellent travel toy. Just don’t dampen the ring-catching fun by messing with the stopper.
Similar to the popular Lite Brite peg toy, the Quercetti Fantacolor Pegboard set includes sixteen different images and 48 brightly colored pegs that children can use to create a variety of pictures.
Sixteen pictures and 48 colored pegs for kids to create their own masterpieces and work on colors, matching, and hand-eye coordination.
Cardboard game boards are divided into sixteen squares, each with a letter and objects that start with that letter. Game cards have four objects on each side.
The boards and cards are both double-si...Read more
Is the object called out on your board? Add a token, and get four in a row to win. A game for pre-readers.
Solid wooden art table includes a paper roll holder, so paper can be slid along the table’s top. The surface is a dry erase board. A storage tray attaches to the side.
There are no chairs or s...Read more
A solid wooden art table with an attached paper roll holder. A high quality staple for the crafty kid, we don’t have anything negative to say about it.
With Cranium’s Giggle Gear Fun Fairy mask and voice changer, kids can transform themselves and their voices into a character of their choice.
Kids can put the dif...Read more
Unfortunately, this specific model of Giggle Gear is no longer in production. However, a similar alternative are the Giggle Gear Goggles still being sold by Cranium.
Pegboard has little holes where the pegs fit in. Coming in different sizes, the rounded pegs are used to make pictures.
Pegboard is 11 X 8 inches.
Kit includes 1 pegboard, 1 plastic carrying...Read more
A classic, this peg-n-hole toy lets kids create colorful mosaic images. Good for times when quiet play is needed.
With eight different petals to touch and play with, let your child explore neat flashing lights and new songs with the Sunshine Symphony from Neurosmith.
A child can to...Read more
Let children explore their senses and four varieties of music with the Sunshine Symphony toy by Neurosmith.
A set of eight, vibrantly colored cupcakes that help children ages two and up enhance their knowledge of colors and shapes.
Play The main goal of this toy is to help children ...Read more
Children can explore six different shapes and colors while playing with Smart Snacks Cupcake matching toy by Learning Resources.
With the simple press of a button, children can learn interesting facts about different types of animals found around the world.
To play with this toy, a child simply n...Read more
Unfortunately, this model in the See 'n Say collection is no longer being produced. However, we have found an alternative- the Classic See 'n Say Farmer Says.
Children can take their little ponies on a marvelous adventure inside a big castle, up in an elevator, out onto balconies, and many other places with Hasbro’s My Little Pony Celebration Castle.
Unfortunately, this toy is no longer being produced. The My Little Pony brand has other Castles available that are similar, like the Crystal Palace Playset.
The Naturally Playful Kangaroo Climber made by Step2 is built for a child who loves to play and is always on the go.
Children can climb up, down, and around on the Kang...Read more
Fit for the active child, watch them climb up, down, and inside- a toy for kids eager to get moving.
Made of a synthetic stuffing-like material, these fluffy balls feel remarkably similar to real snowballs, but without the numbing cold.
Their texture is difficult to describe. Soft like a ball of co...Read more
You're never too old to enjoy an indoor snow fight. These puffballs are soft enough to bounce off TVs, and dense enough to be throwable. Crunches like snow, too.
Beat the timer and try to pull a worm out of the apple that matches the color of your card- a game specifically designed to help kids who struggle with motor skills improve their abilities while having fun ...Read more
Watch the squiggly worms move and find the worm who's color matches the color on your card and you've got a match!
This soft, plush globe is suitable for ages 6 months to 2 years and combines fun songs and play with learning.
To play with the globe, children can press on ...Read more
Interactive, plush, and unfortunately, no longer in production. We’re still looking for the best alternative.
Building bricks that connect together. Made of translucent, brightly colored plastic, these let light shine through.
Colors include: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple.
This set in...Read more
Like Duplo blocks, but wished they looked like crystal or colored glass? Well, look no further.
The playset closes up and locks with two little swinging levers on the back. A handle makes the whole set easy to transport. All the included pieces easily fit inside the case.
Set includes four peo...Read more
This clinic, along with all its many accessories, pack up nicely in the durable carrying case.
50 building blocks that are translucent and brightly colored. Made of a plastic thinner than that of Duplo blocks, which we assume is to help light shine through.
Two sets of wheel bases are include...Read more
Pretty, but don’t actually click together. These have to be stacked, which most adults, let alone 2 year olds, find frustrating.
A sturdy and thoughtfully designed walker has a wide wheel base and an adjustable handle. Two sets of red press buttons on the sides are used to change the walker’s position. The lower set changes the...Read more
The best walker for hardwood floors, this one also has plenty of room for small feet and can adjust for differences in baby height.
Plastic boat has four colored openings along the top, each corresponding to one of the four included plastic balls. The balls rest in the opening, but easily pop down into the boat when smacked with a hand ...Read more
Smack the balls into the openings to help with coordination, motor skills, color recognition, or just to blow off some steam.
Pup toy has four wheels, a short pull string attached to a bone shaped handle, a bobbing tail, and 28 keys.
Dimensions: 5.3 X 13.9 X 8 inches
Pup sings the alphabet while being pulled along. Interactive and very cute, the pull-string may be too short for some kids.
Plastic barn opens up to reveal animal stalls and a loft, with plenty of room for the included animal friends. The playset includes Farmer Eddie, a horse, a cow, a pig, a goat, a chicken, a sheep, and a hay...Read more
Sweet looking animal faces greet children from their pens inside the barn. The sounds aren't much, so maybe no batteries are needed.
Foam mats stick to each other along the edge via heavy duty Velcro. Each side has a flap of fabric that can cover up the Velcro so there’s none exposed to scratch delicate skin.
Each set comes...Read more
Way better than couch cushions. Extremely strong Velcro may mean adults have to help take structures apart.
Made with a steel frame and solid, non-adjustable seat, this souped up trike has a hard plastic front wheel and two caster wheels in back.
Weight limit: 160 lbs
Product weight: 15 lbs
A trike that can quickly and smoothly drift and spin, this puppy can hold up to 160lbs.
A sold body has rubberized sections on the seat and foot grips. The steering column is covered in foam to protect shins and ankles. With the wheels holding the toy only a matter of inches off the ground, fa...Read more
No pedals. No motor. Just move the wheel to propel forward. A few tries is all it takes to get racing!
Like their smaller counterpart, the Midi is made of a rubberized plastic, giving it that easy-to-grip feel and helping the pieces stick to each other. Coming in an assortment of colors (red, blue, green, ye...Read more
Made larger for smaller hands, the Midi has all the fun of the Mini.
Activated by pressing down a yellow, smiley-faced knob, the main body of the toy is an air tunnel, powered by a fan that sounds like a hair dryer. Moving through said tunnel, the balls are sent up a chute w...Read more
Watch the balls pop and zoom through the air tunnel! Fun, but sounds like a hair dryer.
Plastic toy converts from a push-walker to a ride-on with a simple locking mechanism under the top cover. The top cover forms the seat when in the riding form, then acts as the front bumper when turned into...Read more
Walker transforms into a riding toy when baby is ready. Best used on carpet, as it does tend to slide rather than roll.
Plastic table is divided into two sections. One side holds 3 gallons of water while 10 lbs of sand fills the other. A winding plastic road acts as the dividing wall. Thick plastic lid has a small roadway en...Read more
Durable table holds water, sand, pebbles, or just about anything else. Drains on both sides, doesn't leak, and lid keeps out the animals.
Little plastic rain cloud has an opening on top and several smaller ones on the bottom. It opens from the side to allow for cleaning.
Dimensions: 3.6 X 2.9 X 2.75 inches
Little rain showers in the tub make for gentle fun, but also great for rinsing soap and shampoo off a kid's head. Opens up for easy cleaning!
Made of thick, durable plastic, this ride on toy has a rounded bottom lined with silicone suction cups that make a popping noise as it moves. The toy is rounded, not just curved, so it can rock back and for...Read more
Take a stand against gravity. It teeters, it totters, it wobbles, it makes sounds like popping bubble wrap!
Rubberized plastic pieces, identical in shape and size, interlock together. Pieces are small, only 20 mm (3/4 of an inch) long.
Colors for this set include: blue, green, red, yellow, purple, or...Read more
Stretch spatial thinking skills to make remarkable 3D shapes. One of our top toy picks!
Stainless steel grocery cart has four solid plastic wheels, red plastic handle bar, and a foldable sitting area with red plastic seat. The front wheels are spring-loaded. Three stabilizing legs help prevent...Read more
High-quality metal cart is great for pretend play! Just like the real thing, avoid leaning on the handle.
Arched playset surrounds children in interactive sounds and lights. The top of the arch has five areas, each with its own color and set of sounds. (Fisher Price calls these areas “blocks,” so we...Read more
Interactive playset entices children with lights and dance music while providing a stable base to pull up from sitting to standing.
The monkey perched atop the toy can hold balls in his two hands, and will drop a ball down the ramp from his left hand. Both the swinging alligator and the hanging fruit will trigger songs and lights. The h...Read more
Though many have raved about this interactive playset, Fisher Price discontinued it. We suggest an alternative in our review.
55 pieces of connectable and interchangeable parts that can be used to build a free-from dragon, serpent, or other creature.
Pieces include eyes, wings, heads, legs, foam fire, and large ‘body...Read more
Dragons, sea serpents, wyverns, and more! Arrange the pieces to make a fierce friend, gentle guardian, or a desk buddy. The pieces hold together well, usually.
The hard plastic clinic can open up the roof to hold small pieces. Six doors, each with its own color coded key, opens up to hold one of the two stuffed animals included in this set.
Set includes cl...Read more
2 fluffy friends and 6 keys with corresponding locks, this toy engages young childrens' imagination.
Wooden pieces that interlock together to create buildings, fences, and other structures. Set comes with 699 pieces, including roofing slats, roof supports, chimneys, and logs of various lengths. All p...Read more
Stack the logs together to make a rustic town, or one mega-structure.
A large fold-out mat has 9 octagonal sections that each play a different note. Each section has a musical note symbol that lights up when played. Made out of plastic, the mat is easy to wipe clean.
...Read more
Dance and make music with this sturdy floor mat.
Made of 98% natural sand and 2% polymers, this product is non-toxic, gluten-free, and non-staining. The texture is similar to that of damp beach sand. It flows apart when pressed between the fingers, but ho...Read more
Holds a shape like the perfect beach sand but also flows over itself like lava. A soothing tactile experience.
Made of a thick, recyclable, very durable plastic, the shell shaped Bilibo can be used in a variety of ways. Two holes on one side can be used as finger holds, or as an opening to string through rope.
For some kids, this may be the one toy to rule them all.
Durable plastic airplane that can be taken apart into 21 pieces. The included drill can be switched from Forward to Reverse, and requires 2 AA batteries. Batteries must be purchased separately. The drill ha...Read more
Planes are cool. Planes you take apart and put back together are cooler.
Made of wood, this toy comes in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors, and textures, making it easy to cater to the needs and desires of the individual. Some versions are brittle while some are very flexible, ...Read more
No, really, sticks are great. Kids love sticks.
Small plastic toy made to look similar to an MP3 player with a caterpillar shaped handle. The handle has several beads that move, but not much.
Pressing the button cycles the toy through seven popul...Read more
Snippets of classical music play along to dancing lights.
Blue plastic grid snaps together by connecting the legs and slider to the main body. Players take turns dropping their red or yellow plastic disks into the grid. Winner is whoever connects 4 in a row, first...Read more
A grander version of tic-tac-toe, this game often delights children, though we did notice the production quality is less than it was several years ago.
Standing at over 2 feet tall, children can send the two included Little People cars down the Wheelies Loops 'n Swoops Amusement Park’s two tracks. Both tracks start at the top of the playset and e...Read more
It’s Little People Wheelies at the Loops ’n Swoops Amusement Park, zipping and zooming up and down and all around!
Using simple air pressure, jumping on the launch pad will send foam rockets into the sky.
Connect the three leg pieces together to form the stand, then attach the launching tube to the stand with th...Read more
Stomping is always fun, but its even better when doing it sends rockets into the sky.
Red and blue lattice-work sides, made from a flexible plastic, meet at a yellow center, decorated with a smiling caterpillar. The sides gives a little when pressed on, while the center line stays rigid. A s...Read more
After taking a long hard look at this toy, the Bendy Ball by Baby Einstein may not be all it has been cracked up to be.
8 brightly colored sections of plastic form a figure eight that twists in the middle. Two sections are covered in a thin rubber coating. Toy weighs about 3 ounces.
Adve...Read more
Colorful and twist-able, this hard plastic Figure 8 may be a better toy than a teether.
25 fruits and vegetables come in an array of colors. 5 plastic buckets can be labeled with one of two included sticker sets. One set is just the color, while the other set has the colored background with th...Read more
Beautifully colored fruits and veggies help facilitate lessons in pattern recognition.
Set comes with toy broom, hand brush, and dust pan. The toys are plastic with the exception of the broom handle, which is made from a hollow metal tube coated in plastic. Each piece has a hole in the handle...Read more
A simple broom and hand brush set for kids who want to help clean.
Square-shaped sidewalk chalks come in 48 different colors. Cardboard box can be used for storage, and displays the color names on top.
Find a sidewalk. Chalk it up! Alt...Read more
Sidewalk chalk in bright, bold, Crayola colors. Also good for chalkboards.
Sink and stove upper snaps onto red plastic basin. Faucet pump snaps together and requires a Phillips screwdriver. The playset includes 14 accessories: a pan, a spatula, a pair of tons, two plates, two cups...Read more
An afternoon of pretend cooking and cleaning is made better by a real working faucet. Splish, splash, clean!
Following the Roy G Biv color scheme, these brightly colored plastic cups fit together in multiple ways. Each cup is slightly smaller (or bigger, depending on how you look at it) than the next cup. Numbered...Read more
Children interact with a variety of numbers, colors, and textures as they develop pattern recognition and spatial skills.
Three teething keys on solid plastic key ring. Each key has a different texture, giving teething gums different sensations. The top of the key is hard plastic with rubber sides, while the lower part of the ...Read more
Made to chill in the refrigerator, this teether is a cool choice, so long as proper care is used. Just don't try to freeze them.
The Big Building Bag is filled with 80 pieces, including a stackable base with 4 wheels. Thin and lightweight, the blocks are made large, with extra long studs to help blocks balance together. Unlike other ...Read more
Build 'em up and knock 'em down! Mega Bloks delivers the classic block for tiny hands.
The Winkel has been a popular choice for parents of new children for over 25 years. Made of soft, brightly colored tubing, the Winkel consists of overlapping hoops that link together to a central cube.
The popularity of the Winkel comes from being chewy, brightly colored, and durable.
A wooden sorting cube with 12 brightly painted wooden blocks. Four of the cube’s six walls have holes for the specific shapes to fit through. The remaining two walls are solid, and covered with the Me...Read more
12 shapes make this Sorting Cube more challenging than usual, but the reports of splinters make us bristle.
The Count ‘n Play Register includes 9 thick, plastic coins, a plastic $10 bill, a plastic credit card, and the register. The register has a coin chute on top which drops coins into a trough on the reg...Read more
A toy cash register that many say can entertain a child for hours.
A wooden frame surrounds a white magnetic board, where the eight magnets and gears can be placed. The set includes five double-sided templates, each color coded so the corresponding magnet can be placed acc...Read more
A unique spin on magnetic toys, Switch & Spin Magnetic Gear Board lets kids build their own toy!